Around The Bay Race - I DID IT!!!!!!

It feels weird to say it - but I have just completed the Around the Bay 30km Road Race. I am still in somewhat shock (and certainly in physical pain). I started running about 13 months ago and this exact time last year I finished my very first 5km. I now can say I just finished the main event (and will proudly wear the long sleeve shirt). This is going to be a long post...and I am okay with that.

First and foremost I want to say a huge thank you for all the emails, texts, notes of congratulations from everyone - it is really, really appreciated.

Okay - the emotional part will come later but I thought I would share what it was like to run this race. My family dropped me off at Copps Coliseum around 8:15. I walked over to the arena to get ready, and of course had to take another morning pee. Sorry for the description but this is very important occurance that will come back in this blog around kilometre 20. Anyways - I got to the start line with the thousands of other people, the gun goes off and about 3 minutes later I finally cross the start line. It was at this exact moment I thought - what the heck was I thinking??

So the race moves through North Hamilton and it was awesome to see so many people out supporting us - tons of older ladies out in their housecoats cheering as loud as they can. Not a real scenic route but the support was great.  I was pacing at 5:30 per km which is a bit faster than I wanted but I did feel comfortable. It was around the 6km mark I first saw my wife, daughters and my mom and dad cheering me on. It is hard to describe the emotional boost you get when you see them. Actually, the emotional boost you get from all spectators is incredible and I would encourage everyone to go watch a race (and it will motivate you).

We headed to the Beach strip around the 10km mark and the supporters were out in full force. It was at this point I could feel some tightness in my leg - certainly a signs of thing to come. At the mid-way point (15km) I was still pacing at 5:30 per km and was at 1 hour, 26 minutes - but this is when I realized I wasn't feeling great. We then crossed the Burlington lift bridge which suck as the grates hurt your feet like hell. We finally made our way up to North Shore in Burlington where the real race begins. And much to my surprise there was my full suppport team cheering me on again!! And then the hills...

I was really struggling at this point. My legs really hurt and overall I didn't feel great. It was for sure the very first team since I started running I was thinking about quitting a race - this was not good. I plodded away through the first few hills and was around the 20 kilometre mark when I realized something. I had to pee. Seriously. I noticed some port-a-potties and made the decision I was going for it. It was my first time ever having to do this on a course so it kind of felt weird. I ran up, saw one that had the vacant sign, open the door and voila - a older lady sitting there going (well to be graphic she was wiping). Gross. Disgusting. I went to the next one, emptied my blatter, and suddenly felt better. I hit the hills but I knew I had to go to a 10 and 1 mix of running and walking as my legs were totally off. I got through the two hills by Lasalle Park, hit Plains road and headed down Spring Garden road for the grand finale. Of course - all 5 members of the world's greatest cheerleading squad were waiting for me again (total surprise).

I headed down Spring Garden Road and finally heard it - the magical sound of Queen's We Will Rock You. Stan Wakeman is an Around the Bay legend. He plays this song loud and over and over again and gives high fives to all the runners and has been doing this for years. I got the high five and headed for "THE HILL". I probably ran about half of it. And it sucked. Huge. No fun whatsoever. But I made it to the top - and now 3km to go - downhill and I will be done the ATB.

But something happened. My legs cramped. Bad. Really bad. Couldn't move them. I walked for about two minutes and the cramping went away so I starting running again. Then the cramps came back in full force. I will be honest and say it has been a long time since I have experience pain like this. I realized I was going to finish however it might take me a bit longer than expected. So it was more of a 2 minute run, 1 minute walk as the cramps would come back and my legs would freeze. I had people asking me if I was okay or if I needed a medic (I guess I didn't look that good). The Grim Reapers were out at the cemetary and told me I was going to die. I agreed with them. Then I saw 29km mark and I knew I was going to finish - 1km to go.

As the finish approached I saw the great traveling cheering section just outside the arena. This time I stopped and talked, kissed, hugged, and high fived all of them. I was soaking this all in. I ran the next little bit and hit the steep ramp leading into the arena which I had to walk as the legs would not let me run that without falling. And I was emotional - even weird wet stuff was coming out of my eyes. I made the turn and ran the last final steps to the finish. I have now completed the Around the Bay 30km race - although my thunder was stolen by the couple who decided to get married at the exact moment I finished (3 hours and 13 minutes).

The competitive side of me is disappointed in my time. However, after I sit back and realize that in 13 months I have now done two 5km races, a 10km race, two half marathons, lost almost 50 pounds, and have completed my ultimate goal of the 30 km Around the Bay I need to enjoy this and realize it's been a heck of a year. Running is not about the time - it is about the accomplishment of finishing a goal.

Of course this is the time to thank everyone again - my awesome wife, kids, mom and dad, mother in law, Dave, Gary, everyone who has sent notes of congratulations and words of encouragment over this last year. Nobody will achieve a goal without the support of others.

If anyone out there wants to run - do it. Don't say you can't because you can. I will tell you honestly I didn't think I could do it. But I did it - I finished the friggin AROUND THE BAY!!! (and yes, the bacon cheeseburger, fries, gravy, wings, and beer was that good).

What's next? I need to slow down and recover (until the Good Friday Road Races).

Oh one more thing. I can't wait until March 24, 2013 - next year's Around the Bay.

It's race week....OMG, OMG, OMG

Thank you to AJ for helping me with this week's post title.

I am in a bit of shock. It's Around the Bay race week. Crazy to think next Sunday is the oldest race in North America - a 30km race inlcuding 10km of hills - and I am going to be running this. Never, ever, ever did I think I would be doing it. However now that I am doing this thing called "tapering" all is sinking in - it is almost race time.

I am certainly having doubts about running the race. But one thing I have learned over the past year is to trust your training. I have been very consistent with long runs in the last 6 weeks of 20km, 22km, 22km, 25km, 21km, and 25km. With the exception of the 21km Half Marathon all of the long runs have been on the course allowing me to experience the hills. I have been pretty good during the week with at least 3 other runs including my 12km Tuesday run. I have done pretty much everything I can - and my body is telling me that. If I am to continue on I need to work on my diet and cross training for sure. I also know once I finish this thing I need to take a break. Well, not much of a break as I have signed up for the Good Friday races with both Emma & Kloe running the bunny run! This is why I love to run - getting to share it with the kids is such an amazing experience. I know of 6 other kids running this race - it is a great family run.

One of the fun things I have used during the last year of running is listening to music. I am a music runner, although I do enjoy the occasional run without music just to listen to yourself breath and to listen to your foot steps. I realized during the Chilly Half just how diverse my playlist it - artists including Motley Crue, Van Halen, Triumph, Styx, The Killers, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Charlie Daniels, Blue Rodeo, Foo Fighters, Biggie Smalls, heck I even have a Bieber song on it (Emma put in on and I have never taken it off). It is a weird and diverse playlist but it works for me.

It has been quite a ride this last year. To set a pretty big goal and be almost there is exciting, nervous, and a whole bunch of other emotions. It's going to be tough to get in the last runs this week without constantly

thinking about this race. It's almost here - and I can't wait.

Chilly Half Marathon - Race Review

What a beautiful day for a run!!! Sunny, not too much wind, it was perfect. Yes, I was terrified due to the 85km/hour winds on Saturday but they let up and conditions were ideal. I also must be honest - I felt way too relaxed leading up to this race. I didn't really have the nerves, stomach issues, etc as I did for my first half marathon. That certainly changed Sunday morning as the nerves, stomach, etc made their appearance. Wide awake way too early, couldn't really eat breakfast, numerous "nervous" pees (sorry for being too descriptive), the nerves were back and I was feeling it. Thankfully I have the greatest cheerleading section ever - complete with their awesome signs.

The race starts in Downtown Burlington - getting their was easy, parking was easy, even the lineups for the port-a-potties wasn't that bad. It was a little Chilly (get it??) waiting around but not too bad. The race goes down Brant Street, over to old Lakeshore, down to about the lift bridge, back to Lakeshore - then out to Burloak and back. I got to the starting area a little late as always and couldn't make my way to the front so I was with the 2:30 crowd. This was probably a good thing as it forced me to run a little slower out of the starting gate.

RACE TIME!! The gun goes off and it seems like it takes about 5 minutes to get across the start line. I did push myself a bit to try to get around the slower runners (weird coming from me) but it was a must. We turned down old Lakeshore and my pace was great until we were forced into one lane as the lead runners were coming back. WAY too many runners in one small lane. Couldn't pass, getting pushed, it was frustrating. We hit the turnaround, and the crowd seemed spread out a bit, but still very congested. I hit Lakeshore and the 5km mark and was pacing at a 5:15 clip - faster then I wanted but I was okay with that. I saw the best cheering section again (thanks Eri and the girls) which gave me a great boost and was off again.

I did use energy gels for this half - something I did not do in the first one. I didn't believe they would help back then but they certainly do. They are a must for races of half marathon or longer. I completely felt the difference in my legs and overall energy levels. There were plenty of water stations (about every 3.5km) to help wash those things down.

Coming back on Lakeshore I saw Eri and the girls (and Allison and the kids - thank you!) for the greatest energy boost ever. It was around 16kms and I still felt strong, no pains, and was really happy with my pace. I had a water break (walk for about 45 seconds) at the 19km mark and knew at that point that was it - no more stops, pick up the pace and finish this thing strong. I passed the 20km mark and of course a really cold headwind hits me but I did learn from my first half - just ignore it as it will go away eventually. I also realized I was under my goal pace for the race and I was less than half a km away from finishing this thing.

I crossed the finish line with a time around 1 hour 54 minutes. I felt 100 times better compared to my first half - no knee pain, remember crossing the line, even gave it a little kick to finish it off. My goal was 2 hours as I believe that is where I want to be at the 21km mark of the Around the Bay course.

Overall - it is a great half marathon course, it was organized very well, and would totally recommend others to run this course. They did serve food after (including chili) but the last thing my stomach wants is food after I run so I did not indulge (really who wants chili after a run??). Instead I got great hugs from my cheerleaders, got a really nice medal, got to the car, changed, and was ready for home.

I felt great after this race - but the realization that for the ATB I would just be hitting the hills and would have 9km still go is a little daunting. It is only 3 weeks away....and I can't wait!!!

Crazy to think I have run two half marathons..wait - two 21.1km races within the last year. Crazy.