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The family that Tri s together
We had a great time last weekend, running (and riding and wading) the Sundridge Triathlon.Cameron, 10, was in the 10-11 age group. this was a relatively small group, 12 boys, 1 girl, who covered 100m in the water, 5k on the bikes and 1.5k on foot. Fitting in with the rest of the family as a weak swimmer, he was out of the water 2nd last, but managed to end up 2nd overall being beating only by a rather tall, strong 11 year old. Well done Cam!
Daughter Sarah, the Mrs, and my niece Chelsea participated in the Try-a-Tri which was a 375m swim, 10k bike and 2.5k run. They all did quite well with Sarah coming from a 15th place after the swim to 4th overall and 2nd female. Very impressive for someone who didn't really train for this, other than for the run portion. I think maybe next time around she will sink her teeth into the bike and swim and be very competitive at this sport.Gramps already has high hopes for her to be an Olympian in the event. Maybe he's right to think that.
Well done to Anita for completing her first triathlon as well as my niece whom I think may have got the big, or at least a taste of how fun it is to race. I wouldn't be surprised to see her back soon and finishing well.
I stepped it up this year and did the Sprint distance - 750m swim, 23.5k bike and 7.5k run. I did get a few opportunities to swim but again this year, not as much as I'd hoped. It always seemed too wavy when I had the time at the lake, and our tiny pool is no place to train for swimming. My biking to work definitely helped me there and my current fitness level left me with enough energy to run the 7.5k portion at marathon goal race pace which I am happy about.
Sundridge Triathlon Results
Swim 20:36 (750m swim + 100 meters of knee deep water to wade through to the mat)
Bike 54:10 (23.5km 40% hilly gravel road 60% paved road)
Run 35:07 (7.5km road)
Total: 1:49:50
Tons of fun...well, the swim was tough but I did it.
And, my placements were:
39 / 70 after the swim
22 / 70 after the bike
15 / 70 after the run
It seems I need to work on my swimming - but I can't wait to tri, er, try this again!
Some Photos...
Running - Not good for you
At least, that's what an older (65ish) lady said to me on my run the other day. She literally put her arm out to stop me. I stopped, paused my watch thinking she needed help, directions or whatever. She then said, in a thick German accent (not that that matters) "Runnink eeze not good for you". I said I disagree and so does my doctor. She said we were both terribly misinformed. So I (lied) said my dad is 95 and hasn't missed a day of running. She said again..."Runnink ezze no good for heeeere" - pointing to her midsection, hips, legs. Weird
I said listen, you don't look so good for your age, YOU should start running or you won't last much longer. I ran off too fast to get her response to that.
Ironically (coincidentally?) Anita, running later that same day, took a walk break and an elderly lady said to her..."Keep running dear, I wish I still could"
Strange days.
Training training training and not racing
It's been a while since I blogged. Probably no one coming by here anymore due to my lack of entertainment, if that's what you call this.
But I have been running, and almost as much as ever. My summer of no racing and only training is hopefully what I need to get the elusive Boston Qualification back under my belt. I am actually enjoying the challenge. It definitely is a challenge as the many marathons, 11 since qualifying for Boston in May '09 definitely wore me out and made me slower. I don't regret this, but I do know I need to change my ways in order to improve again. I will be very VERY happy to regain the fitness to run 3:20 in October at the Toronto Goodlife Marathon.
In the meantime, I have been enjoying trying to fit in as much run, bike, swim and strengthening as I can in this busy life I lead. I am managing just under 80km per week which is about 10k less that winter/spring of 2009. The difference is hopefully in the cross training. I am also biking a lot more and trying to swim whenever I can. Add to that some strengthening and hopefully the puzzle will be complete. Judging by my previous couple of weeks at running fast , er attempting to run fast, I am not quite there. But I am close, and pending my health and injury free ways continuing as they have been, I should be able to get the workouts in and build my speed back up.
This weekend is my first race in 2 months, a Sprint Triathlon. The distances are: 750m swim, 25k bike and 7.5k run. It will also double as a great training day. I am completely looking forward to it.
As for the Midsummer Night's run will be a Pacing Duty race for me and then I will find a few 5 and 10ks to work on some speed. Then, on October 2nd, 2 weeks before the Goodlife event I will be racing, sort of, the Run for the Toad 25k trail race. I won't be out to kill myself but it should be a good final long training run.
9 weeks to go, and work to be done...now, if I could only give up Ice Cream!
Aside from running, - Nothing but Flowers
Canada Day Long Weekend
It was relaxing in a sense. Mentally it was but I did manage to fit in a 10k run on Thursday, a 6k run with Cam plus 5 more of hill repeats. A 24km bike ride around the lake followed by a 5.5k easy run and a long run of 25km also around the lake which is one of my favourite runs especially when the weather is nice. It was hot but bearable, especially as we started out at 7am. Anita got in 19km as per her schedule. We drove around the lake the night before and dropped off Gatorade at various spots which made it a lot nicer to run without running out of fluids.
The 4 days flew by and the traffic on the ride home was a bit of a bummer. But I can't wait to get back. These cottage weekends are the source some of my greatest memories.
My Blackberry was the source of the following photographs. Thankfully it takes decent photos as it seems to be the only camera we ever have on hand. Click the photos to view larger images.
 It seems like I have taken this photo several times. Well I have, but each time I make a stop at this point on the run around the lake, I feel compelled to capture the moment. It is just that nice of a view! This is a good spot to rest if you want to and there are porta potties if need be although the woods work just fine. |
 This is another shot from the same spot, 10km into the run at a picnic area overlooking the lake. In this shot, I'm sort of looking back to where I started. It seems further that it is but the starting point 10km earlier is at about the top middle of the horizon. I didn't take any more photos on the run this time. I did a couple of years ago . View that slide show here |
 This is a shot later that day, from our beach. The sun had set and left a peaceful blue shadow across the lake. I have taken photos from this spot many times and the colours and lighting always seem to come out different.I could sit in this chair on the beach for hours soaking up the breeze. Margaritas make sitting here even better! |
 Saturday we golfed. It was hot and humid and my first round of the year. It took me two shots plus 4 putts to make a 6 on the opening par 3 hole. Yuck. Pars on the final 2 holes helped me break 100. 98 at one time would have really upset me but this time, it's not bad considering the frequency I have played the last few years. Like marathons, golf is tough for me but as I finish a round, I start looking forward my next one! |
 It is always nice to spend some time with my brother and nephew. Andy loves and hates golf too. He looks quite upset when he's out there. But he too keeps going back for more. I beat him again. Of course I beat my dad but he may tell the story different. My nephew kicked all our butts. |
 We had a campfire Saturday night and watched the fireworks across the lake at the town dock. The small town spent $10,000 on these. Impressive. Almost as good as Ashbridges Bay's really. |
 We found an abandoned baby bird (two actually). My sister in law nursed them over the weekend. She has them at home now and plans to feed them 'til they fly. The kids got a kick out of this. I wonder if they will make it back home in the city. I guess I'll report back about that. |
 These fries were good. My dad insisted on buying them for us on our way back from my tool shopping spree. I broke down and as usual regretted it. They were tasty though. Mom made french fries for dinner too. My parents are overweight, because they don't think these things make you unhealthy. By the way, they give the fries to you half full so you can put condiments on, then you hand them back and they top them up. Kind of cool. |
Next time we make it up to north country., there will be a no fries rule in effect. I say that now... |
Niagara Ultra 50k - 2010 Race Report
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...
Ottawa Marathon Race Report 2010
Click pictures to view larger...
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.
This year we ended up with 15 people staying together which is the best part of renting houses / cottages / chalets etc.
Saturday AM was spent in Ottawa mostly. First we had the Running Room friendship run where we donned our Bunny Attire and met up with some of the people we would be pacing the next day. After the 3k run, a few of us were interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. Here is what we had to say....
- Article Link -
Saturday afternoon evening is when the 5 and 10 km races took place. At 5pm, Cameron and I took on the 5k, in 27 degree heat, and a crazy crowded course with 8,800 people! The route is pretty nice, going along the canal on one side and back down the canal finish, same as what the marathon does. Unfortunately though, we are in plain sunlight the whole way through. We'd love to get a nice cool cloudy day for this next year!
After having to shuffle the first 50 metres of this race, then dash around the walkers and plodders, which is fine, just please, please please, not at the front of a 8800 person race, Cam managed to run 21:34, just 4 seconds shy of his personal best which considering the conditions was awesome result. This got him 4/124 in the boys - 9-10 category. He's 10 again next year and hoped to return for the number one spot again. I lagged behind him a bit with a 22:45 to save some energy for the next day's marathon.
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.
Saturday night was spent relaxing and we took it easy as the morning wake up call was for 4:30 am! Our pal Duff, not feeling well, passed the 4:15 bunny torch over to friends Ron and Anne who teamed up to carry out the task. Rob did this, on hardly any training, running only 10k in the last month after foot surgery. This was also after a little...er, a lot too much to drink Friday night....Rob surely wins the HTFU award for this year!
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?
Sunday night topped off the weekend with a fantastic BBQ and several glasses of wine, or beer. We also celebrated our 18th anniversary and it was lovely to spend it with good friends ... and many many laughs, echoing well into the night....long after I went to bed. What troopers.
We capped the weekend off with a breakfast just as good, minus the spirits and said goodbye to the ranch, it's private lake, 2 dogs, 6 horses, cat and lush, pollen dusted surroundings and wished we could stay another day.
Well, we'll see you next year. I wonder if the dogs which were not to be seen Monday morning, ever returned? Bob, where are they?
Whitby Internation North Marathon Race Report
Well, that title is a mouthful. The race itself ... a handful. Especially the week after a hard effort marathon. I ran this with Nir who himself ran the Mississauga half marathon, is the 3:50 bunny for next week's Ottawa marathon and somehow let me talk him into running this marathon with me, which I am very glad he did as it would have been tougher and lonelier without him there! The race was actually very well run and the volunteers, water stations, course marshals and all were fabulous. it is a good thing there were a lot of volunteers as it made up for the very small amount of spectators and crowd support.
The route was interesting to say the least. Definitely more tiring than your average route as there were about 60 turns. There were well over fifty 90-degree turns, several sweeping curved turns plus 6 of the dreaded u-turns where we'd hear the marshals call out 'around the last pylon boys' ...
Some of the course was really cool and different form most marathons. There were trails that led from one rural side street to another, tree lined roads, waterfront paths, boardwalk, grass for a few hundred metres, wooden foot bridge, metal foot bridge over marshes but unfortunately there was also the 26-32km portion of mostly desolate commercial / industrial which wasn't so bad if not for all of the turning around pylons!
It was overcast for the first half of the race which of course kept me from putting on the necessary amount of sunscreen! And I wore a singlet to boot so the sunny 2nd half, well, 18k onwards actually, got me pretty good and now I have a neat temporary tattoo of a singlet on my upper body.
Water stations were every 3km and well manned with water and e-load drinks as well as e-load gels at 26km and 32 km. I staggered home with Nir urging me on to 'get it over with' but I was really tired and the heat got to me, and for the 2nd week in a row I was quite nauseous. Up until 40k I felt great, but had really tired legs. for the final 2k it was fatigue everywhere and I was reminded of how much I dislike running long distances in hot weather. The last 90 degree turn was at 39k and then back up a hill where I was running so slow that I walked to pick up the pace! I usually enjoy the final 2k even when that tired as I get excited to see the finish but this time with no spectators and the sun beating down and vomit barely staying down and wondering if I am going to feel this crap next week, well let's just say it was not my favourite final 2k! That said, within a few minutes I was my old self again and I actually felt pretty good on Monday. Much better than last week and today, I definitely notice better recovery from a the 3:56 time vs the previous week's 3:35 so I am not fearing Ottawa's 4:00 pace bunny task.
The finish area was a bit cramped despite the fact there was a huge field right next to it and we had to walk across the field and road to get to the post race food, which was well worth the walk as they served us turkey subs, chips, cookies, apples, bananas and ICE CREAM. Best post race food ever!
It was a small town race with a great small town feel. Definitely a mental struggle in parts and a very challenging route but also very satisfying to complete and despite the fact it was my slowest ever non-pace-bunny race, I feel good about it under the circumstances. I am getting older, I am going to have to learn to deal with the fact there may not be a 3 at the beginning of my multiple-week-marathon results much longer!
Thanks for joining me Nir. I owe you. That's 2 marathons in a row that you helped me finish! Can you come back and get me next week after you complete your 3:50 task? Thanks in advance!
~Dave
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