In an effort to coax my reluctant body into running faster than a snail’s pace I signed up for a couple of pre-Boston race-runs. This weekend was the Chilly 1/2 marathon. Although it was not so much chilly as it was snowy and slushy (and windy). The 35-40km/hr winds were not as bothersome as expected, just a little tough on the few short northbound portions. It could have been much worse. ATB, coming up in three weeks, is always much worse.
Now that I’m in Monster Month 21.1k isn’t enough mileage, so I also ran an easy 10k before the race, ran the 1/2, then finished with a 3k cool-down. A little choppy, but I got in the distance. The aim was to run the 21.1k at marathon race pace or a bit faster and Mission Accomplished. The road this year was a slushy foot-soaking mess (near record rainfall followed by an overnight blast of snow), so I think my miles are worth an extra 10% in effort.
This popular event is worthy of a few words. It’s the only local (local = within 90 minutes) 1/2 marathon in the early spring, but given the location (the ‘burbs) I’ve never run this race. I would definitely go back to run it again. It wasn’t the stereotypical suburbs of identical houses and expensive sounding street names, but a quaint waterfront village. The organizers are lovely (the same group puts on the Santa Shuffle – you may recall my one and only foray into costumed running) and have a reputation for well-run races. The start line corrals were a bit broad (e.g. 1.30 to 2.00 hours) but for the most part people did an okay job of self-sorting and there were lots of pace bunnies around for folks looking for company (including this guy). I wasn’t blockaded before kilometre three, as is the case when there is rampant over-optimisim in the starting corrals. The aid stations were reliably spaced every 3K and the volunteers eager and at the ready. They even had a gel station and an orange/banana station, which is rare for this distance. The course is scenic, running almost entirely along the shores of Lake Ontario, and traffic free. It’s also relatively flat, which I know is appealing to some. There were some slight elevation changes to relieve the repetitive stress of flat running. So all in all, a decent event/course and well worth the drive out of the city. My one recommendation is same day kit pick-up for out-of-towners … it is a long drive to get the kit and then return the next day to run. If it helps my cause, same day pick-up would be better for the environment and not just my lazy ways.
My own run was uneventful. It usually is. I ran like a metronome, without varying from my pace even when briefly chatting with friends on the course. I’ve never been one for k by k breakdowns, mostly because I forget things almost as they are happening. A few notable exceptions: I kept my record intact and finished ahead of the costumed runner (a red hot chilly pepper, of course), I narrowly missed a direct hit by a giant spit ball (the man apologized multiple times as his phlegm grazed my eyelashes), I felt sorry for one poor lady who never learned the ‘do not wear yoga pants in soggy weather because they will grow to three times their length’ lesson and by 2K she was already struggling to keep her pants up, a hyper-competitive woman with no control over her flailing arms and legs raced passed me then slowed three times -tripped me once- before falling behind never to be seen again around the 10K mark, and I sped ate a powdered doughnut at the finish line before my cooldown and ran the next 3K with bright white lips.
Title: the Eagles – Desperado. 1973.
I think husband should go with the 
Ahh, the August civic holiday long weekend. Seems like so long ago. Sun, sand, great lakes and the always smoking hot 58th running of the 
