Around The Bay Road Races, Hamilton
Sunday, March 30, 2003
Andre, Kate, Maureen N and Patricia at the ATB starting lineRace report from Kate...
Date: Mon Mar 31, 2003
Subject: 2:56!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi all,
i did the 109th around the bay race in 2:56 (chip time). wohoo!!! i'm so happy! i thought 3hrs was optomistic, but sub-3 didn't even enter my head.i had a great time. started with pat, maureen and andre, although andre and i got ahead faster than i had wanted! but i felt fine so we ran together for the first 5km and then speedy andre took off. i settled into my race plan: feel comfortable for the first 10km, dig in for the second 10km and survive for the last 10km!
i joined several runners to yell and jeer at a silly woman who was trying to back out of her driveway into the race and then was amazed and worried as i crossed the train tracks a few minutes ahead of a train (did pat and maureen get caught?) and then i met a nice couple ffrom buffalo who were hoping for a 3:06 time. so i thought i'd keep them in sight and that'd be cool. i crossed the half-way point at 1:27 and felt good. i knew i was ahead of my original goal of 6 minute/kms but thought i'd need the extra time on the hills.
when i got to 20km my old knee injury starting sending shooting pains in my knee and i got very worried. but i was able to keep my pace and actually left behind the buffalo couple - the woman was having problems.
i was on plains road about to go into the last hilly segment when i was getting frequent pains and wondering what might happen next! fortunately my head was in the race and i calmed myself down, paid attention to my gait, making it as smooth as possible and eased up a bit. when i got to the midget blaring 'we are the champions' i just started to laugh and then we went down the big hill and up the other side. it was a relief to be there because i knew i would make it and i knew i was almost done. there was a man holding a sign at the bottom of the hill that said "yes you can". it was great. i thanked him and he said 'just keep thinking that' and so i did. at the top i hooted and hollered and then my old friend and running partner diane, met me at the top and ran me in. that was when i realised that i could make a sub-3hr time.
i was really pretty happy approaching the finish line, knee pain long forgotten and it was great to hear the cheers as i saw penguins, old friends and family!
it was a wonderful race. i high-fived kids and smiled the whole way. what more can you ask for?!
off for a massage now.... :)
cheers and congrats to everyone who ran this weekend. as one spectator called out to us: you're my heroes!kate
Race report from Patricia...
Date: Mon Mar 31, 2003
Subject: ATB-Completed at Last!!!Hi everyone!
Just wanted to say that was the most exhilarating feeling I have had in a very long time. I even cried at the end...I couldn't believe I had done it and I still feel that way today.
The Saturday did not start well with my hotel reservations. My husband and I were at the Ramada who had also booked an event for 14-17 yr olds. After a week of nite shifts, all I wanted was rest, but that wasn't going to happen with all the noise I encountered in the hallway outside my room. After a huge altercation with the teens as well as their parents my husband and I were given an executive suite. The next day we encountered people who were asking for their money back it was so bad.
Once we got over that I had the challenge of talking with some very ignorant people at my pasta dinner table. The food was great, too bad the company wasn't the same. One girl felt she needed to make it quite clear that I was NOT running a marathon...technically that's true but even when I corrected myself she continued on and on with a bombardment of inappropriate questions. Her father even asked if I was born here which to me had nothing to do with the race, and asked if I thought I would be the next Tiger Woods when it came to running. Again, I was the only black person in the room (except Joseph N.-1st place finisher) which makes people very uncomfortable.
But when I left I did my best to forget those things because its their hang-up not mine. I was glad to see Maureen N. at 0900 because I felt reassured that I could do this. Then I got a real surprise when I saw Lauren, Mike and Tracey R. there to cheer us on. Boy, it was a great sight to see!
Maureen, Kate, Andre, and I started together but as you know Kate and Andre are a lot faster. So they went on their way. Maureen and I felt good until Maureen started having shoe problems at around 8k and then again at 17k, still unsure what it was. We made good time until 20k where the hills began-one after the other; 8 in a row to be exact. We met Una around the 24-25k mark taking a very long walk break, so we chatted as I had never met her before. We envisioned the foods we would be entitled to once we were done. Ran together for a bit then we saw Stan with the radio-that meant the big hill. I was determined to run up. Maureen started with me, but couldn't go on so I finished alone. Really it was not so bad however at the top I didn't want to stop running because I knew if I did I wouldn't start again.
So, I ran the last 4-5k straight, no stopping, no slouching, and the same pace. At the 29k mark I saw the Grim Reaper (hey, did you know there are 2 cemeteries to pass in this race) and waved to him to let him know I did not need his services. My husband met me for the last little bit and ran me in. I was crying at that point because I couldn't believe I had done it and remained in standing position too. Maureen was right behind me and I flagged her in. Her family was so awesome-great supporters!
Would I do it again? You bet I would! Still considering the full for May-Ottawa because at the end of this one I think I could have done more. What did I learn from this race? The mind is a very powerful thing! At times I had to chat against it and block out a lot of crap that crept in. I think that's why I cried at the end, some because I managed to finish, some because the physical beating was over but mainly because I was able to beat the mind barrier. Now I know I can do anything!!!
Hugs, Patricia :-)
Stats:
Official Time: 3:53:24.7
Chip Time 3:50:42.5
Place 1303/1351
Women 30-34: 274/279
Race report from Una...
Date: Mon Mar 31, 2003
Subject: ATB 30k Race ReportHi Everybody!
Wow, thanks for the flurry of email folks! You really do know how to make one feel special, when you come home and there are a mass of Una-ATB emails afloat! :)
The story.... I left Steve's at 6:30 AM yesterday, because he told me it would take me a couple of hours to get to Hamilton from Toronto, and I was meeting Gisele at 8:30 at her hotel. Sure enough, I was sitting in the Tim Horton's parking lot one block from her hotel at 7:15 AM. eating my package of oatmeal in a Tim Horton's cup of hot water (which they charged me $0.10 for, 12 cents with tax, but the spoon was free??!!??, whatever... I can't believe they charged me for a cup of hot water. I wish I had won the SUV. Now that would have been sweet justice!). I buzzed Giselle at 7:45 and sat in her cozy chair for a bit, yawning, and looking at my race kit. Nice shirt ATB organizers!! Una-likee!
It was a windy cool (-2C) morning, but not so bad at all. I found it fresh. I was pretty tired from helping Steve pack the night before (he wasn't cheering me on, as he moved on race morning), and sleeping on the floor.
We found our pace bunny Jim, who looked a little concerned about the whole thing, but was in good spirits, hugging us, his friendly faces from his home team. The gun sounded, and we were off. As per usual, we stopped, then slowly walked to the start line. This took a few minutes. Ok, now we're off!! Gisele and I gook a nice slow pace, this was our Sunday LSD after all. We chatted for the first 15km feeling really good. We lost Jim, and according to Gisele's GPS, we were running a 6:15/km pace.... Jim was supposed to be running a 7 min pace... hmmm... either he's going too fast, or there's something wrong with her GPS! Anyway, we motored on. The houses through the first 15km were not terribly inspiring, although the people who came out to cheer were. One sweet great grandma type was ringing bells, had balloons, and was cheering away, all by herself. She was so awesome!! This led to the "what type of old ladies are we going to be" chat. I figured I'd be that lady, when not racing, cheering everyone madly in my crazy-lady clothes, then leaving to feed the 75 cats living in my house.... Gisele figured she'd be the crabby old lady yelling at the kids to stay off the lawn, and keeping the Frisbees from her yard in the storage shed forever. LOL It was fun. The bridge at 15k was grated. It wasn't very long, but the footing was nasty as it wasn't covered. One older gentlemen was being helped into an ambulance, wearing a neck brace, his face smashed pretty bad. Poor man, what a way to end his race. Over the bridge was our first encounter with Brightroom. Gisele mentioned that at the pasta dinner one of the speakers said that raising your arms in the air in victory was passé, that the hip way to do it was to wave one finger showing that I'm number one.... so we did! We were giggling madly.
Next thing I knew we were in a lovely area with beautiful homes. Wow. Now that was inspiring, although there were only a few brave souls out to cheer us. The route was getting hilly and my tummy was acting up so I decided to walk the uphills and run the downs and flats. Gisele continued on. I took this time to chat up the runners around me. At 23k I looked around and realized that I was at "Penguin Field", what an awesome feeling that was! I had no idea that I would pass the start/finish of my first half from the Penguin Conference last year. I'm in Burlington now! I walked to the Tim Horton's tent, and there was nothing there. :( Lots of orange peels (I briefly entertained the thought of grabbing a few tasted oranges from the road <uck I know>), I was starving, I think. Suddenly Maureen and Patricia are behind me calling out to me! Yay!! It was awesome to meet them there, I'm not sure how the heck they knew it was me from behind, but I was thrilled to see them! They got me running again... at least for one interval! We met the man at the bottom of the hill, "We will Rock you" blaring from the sound system. What a jolt of joy he brings to the race :) . We crossed the little bridge, no way I'm running that hill! We hit it. THE HILL. Tuesday night's clinic advice was, do not run the hill!! Not going to hear a fight from me. Well don't these little Toronto Penguins (from hereon in to be known as Toronto Mountain Goats) get running and motor up that hill. WOW!!! I was so freaken thrilled for them!! The hill was somewhere short of 1km, and steep (not good with grades so don't ask!), and once you thought you were at the top you'd turn the corner and realize, nuh uh!
I ran walked the next few kms as my tummy allowed, met up with the Grim Reaper (gave him a high five, to see if he'd snatch me, he said I was too smiley to be taken yet!). I danced with the Police officers who were up to the challenge. (Note to self - you would get to the finish much faster if you didn't goof around so much!) At 29k, the last water station, I was asked if I wouldn't mind posing for a photo to catch the spirit of the water table. Well of course!!! We stood and chatted for a few minutes, snapped some photos while I drank some Gatorade, and off I went. I ran the last half km, and there was Gisele in her space blanket, she ran me in. I'm not sure what the photo will look like at the finish because I was giggling so much at Gisele screaming at me. It was done!!
I offered my medal to a cadet in exchange for his pizza, no go. Oh well.
Strange thing happened in the convention centre, my tummy was still icky (can someone please teach this 36 yo how to belch!!!), and everything started going black. Not sure why I felt faint, but once I got outside I felt fine. Needed air I guess.
Stats:
3257/3306 Runners
Gun Time: 4:03:03.6
8:07/km; 12:54/mile
Chip Time: 4:00:34.1
1321/1351 Gender
278/279 Women 35 - 39
Splits: 1:53:17 2:09:48Gisele's GPS was wrong... Jim the Bunny finished in 3:28:00, right on target!
We got back to Steve's new apt (it's gorgeous - and he has a sauna in it!!!), I took on the kitchen, Gisele took a nap, we went to dinner, came home and watched some TV then off to bed. Drove home this morning at 7:00AM.
I feel AWESOME today! Nothing hurts at all, I've done an hour of yoga, and lots of laundry. I feel phenomenal! I wish the marathon were a couple of weeks further because I think another week of this distance and I'd be fine at it. Oh well, I can handle 42k.
Mau and Patricia, I couldn't find you at the end, but saw that you had awesome times. Thanks for rescuing me :) I'll read up on your reports shortly. Martians - congrats to all, will catch up on your reports too. And Julie-Sweetie, I hope you are feeling tip top. I thought of you on race day.
Oh ya! Mommy and I will start long walk Saturdays this weekend - she's walking her first half marathon on Mother's Day (where I'll be attempting my first full), at the age of 76! She can't wait to see Julie and Karl again, and meet the other Penguins who mean so much to me. Go Nana!!
Love to all, thanks for reading!
Una :)
Race report from Maureen N...
Date: Mon Mar 31, 2003
Subject: ATB reportOK! Here it goes. After a long days work, 2 1/2 glasses of wine, (I have made at least 7-8 spelling, typing mistakes so far, no make that 10-11!!!)
It was good. Good but tough! Tough but exhilarating!! Pat was amazing to run with. I tend to get internal on long runs and I don’t take much but she hung in there with me. I wish so much that I could have finished with her but I couldn’t do it. Thanks for the Kleenex! This solved my shoe problem completely, what a relief! It hurt so much I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to finish the race!
At 24k my stomach started to bug me. This happened in training too so I think I might start using E-Load.
At the big hill I just had to stop half way through for a wee break and that is where I lost Pat, Andre and Kate we lost long time ago!! Speedy little monkeys!! 2:35 and 2:56!!! Yikes!!!
I had suggested to Pat earlier that after 27 or 28 k we should skip walk breaks and she kept to it. I don’t think I have ever been able to do this!! I only stopped twice though. I was going to stick my tongue out at the Grim Reaper but he wasn’t wearing an ugly mask and he was clapping and cheering me on! I kept looking at him knowing I couldn’t do this to someone being so nice and then he said, “You don’t need me right now do you.” And I shook my head and said no! I am such a rebel!!
Then there was the cute cop riding in his car beside me for a while. That was nice and the other drivers who honked their horns and shouted out to me. I really liked the lady who said, “God damm what a woman!” as I ran by. I like her.
I could see the finish line! What a beautiful sight! Then I saw my big sister jumping and waving at me! What a beautiful sight! The crowds, what was left of them, were cheering and I could see the rest of my family, mom, husband, his cousin and my kids. Perfect!!!!
I actually had enough energy to speed up down the chute! I don’t anyone else would realize I had sped up, but I knew.
Finished!!! What a relief! I was smiling but I was in pain. My Mom was in tears! My daughter had flowers. Lots of kisses and hugs. Even the lady who put my medal on gave me a hug. That is sooo nice!
I found Pat and we congratulated each other, laughed and posed for pictures. I was happy, very happy, but I was also in a lot of pain. I had to leave ASAP! I just wanted to stop and get off my feet. I knew I could not have done more.
When I think about it I only had two months to train for this race so maybe if I had had more time I would have been a bit stronger but I am still happy and proud of my finish. I wore my medal at work today, all day!
I am sorry Una that I wasn’t there at the finish for you. You weren’t too far behind me but I could hardly stand.
Congratulations to all who ran this weekend! We are Penguins and we should be very proud because we are soooo cool and we rock!
Love,
Maureen N
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