Time: 5:17:45 ( PB for this race - 4:39:30 )

Weather: 22c at start, 30c at highest. no rain, light breeze.

Course: Mostly bike trail, some road, some grass, some touristy cobblestone paths by Niagara Falls

Never again. I can't imagine running that long again.. certainly not until I can solve some nausea issues. The heat was tough. Not ungodly, but tough enough as everyone who has done this race before seemed to be well behind their usual time. Duff, myself and a few other people we know were about 40-45 minutes slower than last year.

First of all, I shamefully admit to getting to the start late, despite staying in the hotel across the road from the start line! Yes, I thought I had more time to spare. I was getting my chip when the gun went off. I could have used another washroom trip too. Anita was more upset than I was though. It was after all, chip time. I ran fast to catch up with everyone. I caught Duff and Frank and ran with them for a bit and then pushed ahead, with thoughts of beating mother nature and last year`s time of 4:39. Oops.

The first 20k was awesome. I felt great, well trained and had to force myself to slow down as I hit sub 5:15 per km. I really felt like the heat was not an issue and I took my salt pills, water, some gels and assumed I would feel this good the whole way. Up the big hill and to the hydro tower and I realized I hadn`t stopped to walk yet, other than a brief stop at the eater station to refill my bottles. This was 20k and we were heading into the tourist area, it is funny to watch everyone look at us like were nuts...we are...and it was funny trying to navigate through the 50+ Amish people, dressed like it was minus 5 degrees and they were all dressed in blue, head to toe. Weird. I moved on and was glad to be halfway, The mist at the falls was lovely. I saw the fairy lady Frank spoke of. She said she's training for a 100 miler and was just taking it easy. Nice lady, nice.

I got to the halfway point, in 2:20 which was 5 minutes slower than last year. I was still feeling fine at this point but it seemed as soon as I changed directions I was going downhill. I took my shirt off and planned to pawn off my belt  as soon as I saw someone to take it.  Nir did, I saw him at 30k. When I saw Nir, I didn't even want anything. I couldn't stomach any more water, Gatorade or anything food like. All I wanted at the aid stations was gingerale. I felt so nauseous by 35k that I considered bailing. I haven't bailed yet and I didn't want this to be the first. I decided to run - walk the remaining 15k.

At the 38km mark, Julie, Cam and Anita were waiting. It was the bottom of the long 1km downhill where even gravity couldn't pull me faster than 6:00/km pace without my upper stomach feeling like it would burst. They had everything there, oranges, bananas, bars, water, pretzels but I still wanted nothing. I had been suppressing the rising liquids from my unwilling stomach and was constantly reminded what it was like to be hung over. I wanted to stay and hang with the gang but I needed to press on. I accepted the challenge to run in this state and knew I was only suffering from nausea and not dehydration. I felt the need to pee and was still sweating, both which are good signs.

My legs kept feeling great and they were asking me to run harder. I did the entire race with no pain, no sore feet, no tired legs, that part was lovely. But the nausea just wouldn't lift. Ginger ale with stolen ice at each water stopped made me feel good for a minute but that was it. I just focused on moving forward, long since abandoning any time goals.

Anita and Cam biked ahead and waited for me every few kms. The water they had was good for dousing my hat. I tried to keep drinking a little just to be safe. Every step at this point was tough, but inside was loving the challenge - hating the nausea but masochistically enjoying beating it and plowing through.

3km to go, it was like a dream, I knew Anita and Cam would be at 1k which gave me something to look forward to. I pretty much ran the final 3k as the excitement of finishing pulled me through. the last km was filled with the satisfaction of finishing and looking forward to a beer, a shower and a nap...an no more nausea!

Finally, the last 100m, on grass and the finish line in site. People were cheering and I heard none of it. One lady told me to smile....huh? Cam caught me and ran with me, so nice and I crossed the line. 5:17:46...38 minutes slower than last year but feeling just as satisfied with the result.

I headed straight for a picnic table and buried my head in my hands. I couldn't take deep breaths without coughing and the nausea was taking it's time in dying off. Anita finally got me to get up and walk around. I grabbed a beer (hey, they're free!) and downed half giving the rest to Nir. I laid down on the grass and started to feel better. I got up, grabbed another beer and a slice of pizza and boom, I felt right again. So nice...when is the next race? Hahahaha.

Nir, Julie, Anita, Cam and myself went back to the Pillar and Post for a nice swim and shower and lunch as we were allowed to hang out all day as we stayed there the night before. Worth the extra cash spent on hotel. thanks to Anita for letting me nap on the drive home!

Next time it`s hot, I will forgo all time goals and try to enjoy the run. I think I am eating too much the night before and morning of the race...too close to race time perhaps. More experimenting will tell. If I never see another gel again it will be too soon.

Thanks so much to my wonderful Anita and Cam, Julie and of course Nir, for putting in 50k on his bike! Great support guys!

I know this race report might not get anyone excited to run 50k, but hopefully it will inspire you to push yourself to some new limits. It always feels great when the agony is a distant memory and the good parts remain etched in your mind. :)

I may have said never again but...

The weekend wasn't really about racing. It was about fun, and sharing some laughs with our friends in the running community. We rented a cool ranch house in Quebec, about 30 minutes drive from downtown Ottawa. Like last year, we had the luxury of cooking our own meals and saving a bundle on food and booze costs. Like last year, we spent a lot of time in the car. It is worth it though.

At 6:30, the 10k race set off and Anita toed the line again for the first time since the Beaches Spring Sprint. Still fighting nagging injuries and perpetual soreness from her Personal Trainer (no, not me) she ran a comfy 1:06 and finished all smiles once again. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and we will see her on the starting line of the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon.

Oh ya, The race report? I was the 4hr bunny and got the job done. 3:59:38. Of all my pace bunny efforts, this was my furthest time from the exact pace time but I couldn't help it, I had Boston Qualifiers running in with  and I wanted to keep up with them as they sprinted ahead.he, 22 seconds is not too bad.The race itself was fun. I always enjoy being the pace bunny. With it being the 3rd marathon in 15 days, I was a bit tired which made the 4hr pace a challenge but very gratifying all the same and I had my largest group yet. Several finished a few seconds ahead of me, several a few seconds behind, and  a bunch more just off the 4hr pace but happy to have gotten personal best times. I really enjoyed this race, the new route and the post race meet-up in the park and the local pub. It's hard not to want to do this race again next year which is why we are doing the Canadian Looney Challenge. What's this? Stay tuned, but it does involve running multiple races next year with the gold medal and highest points going to those that run the 5k, 10k and marathon. You in?

I am looking forward to the next month or so. There are several races I enjoy immensely this time of year, finishing off with the Niagara on the Lake 50K Ultra Marathon.

This week's Mississauga will be the toughest of the 3. A Boston Qualifying attempt of 3:20:59 or better will take all I have got. It is actually a good thing I was guest speaker at the Rosedale Running room tonight. The topic was Race Prep and it got me to dig up my racde prep notes and tweak them. This caused me to really look at them andf remind me of several items I tend to forget. View that article here

Next up is Whitby International North Marathon. I definitely want to run the inaugral event and insert number 2 into my already planned Mississauga / Ottawa. This will be the easiest of the 3 as I will run it with no time goal...other than keeping my sub 4 hour streak alive at 17/17. Ottawa may be tough. I am the 4 hour pace bunny but it will be the 3rd in 3 weeks and I am running the 5k with Cameron the eve before. At sub 21:00 this will be a fairly tough task butr I am up for the challenge. I better be, as the pace bunny devotees will be counting on me. And Ottawa has proven to be a tough event.

Last is the 50k Ultra, but I will have 3 weeks after Ottawa to get ready/ One week of easy running. One week of back to back long runs and a one week taper. Goal for that race is to beat last year's 4 hours 39 minutes.

Then, Summer to get ready for Scotia (another BQ attempt if....well...) plus Goodlife Marathon, prince Edward county, Niagara Falls and Hamilton Marathons for my new task - the "Cinqo de Maro" - 5 marathons over a 5 week and 1 day period. (6 weekends)

Now, need to get to sleep...rest is needed for Mississauga!

Boston Marathon 2010 - first of hopefully many trips to Boston for me.

Here's how it played out...

Friday

We drove there after work hoping to make good time and get there around 1am. Between Toronto and Hamilton we hit tons of traffic, lot's of stress and had to cut the drive at midnight a few hours away to shack up. Good call.

Saturday

Got to Boston, checked in and hit the Race Expo (Amazing!) and met for lunch with an old friend who moved to Boston, and some of our group of Boston Qualifiers and spouses. Oh,m yes, of course I bought this years celebration jacket and a few other things. For dinner we went to the north end with 12 of our group of 16. Nice restaurant, great food, good vibe.

Sunday

We were up early for the 5k race. Anita, Cam and Sarah plus a few friends and spouses of our group ran as well.

Sarah, 16yr, finished 3rd with a 19:44 in the 15-19 age group, 18th woman overall. Cam, 9yr, ran 21:39 and finished 12th in the 10-14 age group. Very cool. Very proud.

Anita limped through with a nagging hip injury and simply took it all in. She is a trooper!

After the 5k we went to the 'All Canadian Brunch' put on by MyNextRace.com and was sponsored by Porter and Tim Hortons. That was pretty cool. Another trip to the expo...yes, this was necessary.

We enjoyed a nice dinner in a cool Sth Boston small restaurant (224 Boston Street) at a tiny restaurant near our apartment, just with the fam and our room mate, Duff, my good friend/mentor who made his 3rd trip Boston

Unfortunately I slept like crap. Nervous about missing the alarm combined with loud talkers outside out window, major traffic and footsteps from floor above. I knew it was going to be a tough race.

Monday

Managed to wake up early somehow. Excited! Duff and I got in a mess of traffic and got lost trying to meet our friend Nir to then walk to the buses. So I never did see Nir until after the race. Even though wee weren't going to run together, it would have been nice to hang out beforehand. Nir ran a PB of 3:16 by the way. He proved hard work pays off again. So Duff and I waited forever for the buses, then a long line up for the porta potties but there was much excitement to make the long line ups bearable...nothing but good memories despite the waiting and stressing. The spirit was wicked.

As for the race...

As you can see, well off my best time but not too bad all things considered. I hoped I would be feeling better, in order to be in the 3:25 range and still feeling good enough to enjoy the whole race. I did race my plan which was to test the waters after this year's intermittent training by going out in 1:40 and take it easy in the 2nd half if I felt I was risking a struggle to finish at that pace.

I got to the half in 1:42 thinking if I tried to run a negative split I'd be crawling in based on how I felt. I wanted to enjoy my first trip to Boston so I shut it down and managed to enjoy the entire race, the entire day. From the Athletes Village and the long walk to the start. Feeling 'dead' after the first downhill. (who bonks in the first mile?) All the great spectators and all of the landmarks.

Heartbreak Hill.

We've heard so much about it. It is not a terribly steep hill but it is long and it does hit you just after mile 20. Even though I was going easy at this point, I still found it tough. It follows several other hills and is followed by several more. despite the net downhill course, the rolling hills are tough on the legs....and tiring.

I spent the entire last 5 miles high fiving despite my tired arms from the constant high fives along the way. I often ran way off yo high five people on the outside of the turns that were not getting their chance for high fives. I am nice that way. The constant cheering and exuberance was awesome. Simply awesome. I texted my wife at a porta potty stop at mile 21 to tell her not to worry, and that I was going to cruise in and soak it up.

Wearing a Canada shirt paid off huge, must have received over 300 'Go Canada' and other runners around me were bummed that I was getting cheers and their local university shirts weren't. I still can't believe how great the spectators were. And the race direction...my god the BAA organization is overwhelmingly impressive.

The Citgo sign came into view, I got a bit emotional here, and a bit upset I wasn't able to race harder, but that passed. Because I was running the tangents long and to the outside, I was able to hear my family calling my name. I stopped and snapped a photo of them and gave them all kisses.

Almost done

But not necessarily happy about that. I really didn't want this one to end. After I saw the fam, I had 1 mile to go, it flew by, I ran it pretty slow, second slowest mile of the race, chatted with spectators, asked for some of their beer and was offered one, but I declined.

Right on Hereford, left on Boylston. I ran to the far side and got loud cheers as nobody else was going that far over. It was a fun way to finish. The famous blue and gold finish arch got closer and I worked my way through, crossed the line and threw my arms up in triumph, not because it was a fast time but just because it was the celebration of finishing a big goal. Man was it cool. The post race volunteers were so nice, congratulating and smiling, seeming so happy to be a part of the race themselves. And this is after 11,000 other runners had already finished.

Monday night, we partied back at our apartment, pizza, junk food, beer, laughs, all of the stories. Everyone had a great time at the race and we celebrated a couple of PRs a couple of blow ups and a few ran like me, just enough to finish in a decent time and still enjoy the race. I slept much better Monday night!

Tuesday

We got early to drive Duff to the airport. He is doing 'Boston to Big Sur' next weekend in California. First 400 to sign up for both races gets special shirts, jackets and medals. Sweet, I'd like to do this next year, or some time. It turned out Duff got his flight time wrong and rushed off in a cab, making it there just in time.

The drive home was much smoother despite frequent stops to keep the legs moving. We saw Boston shirts and jackets at each stop (we stopped 8 times) and had some good chats at each stop. The running community rocks.

The final word

I did not get Boston out of my system so to speak. It doesn't work that way.It's definitely not a feeling of 'been there done that'. In fact it is more like a drug, you try it, you like it, you want more, you need more. It's a good thing  that this drug won't have too many adverse side effects.

I can't wait to do it all again!