A Mid-Summer Night 30km Race Report

On Saturday Night I competed in my second Mid Summer Nights Run...Last year I rocked it in 3:09:53 and this year I was hoping for a 3:03:00..

We drove down to Toronto on Saturday after a really nice morning where I could sleep in!! Love sleeping in...

The night before we went to a local Spaghetti Place and I stuffed my face!!! So good...this was a good strategy for me as I knew that with a 5:30pm race start it would be tricky for me to eat before...I drove down with Catherine and Lindsay and we had a great time as usual...My brother and Sister-In Law were actually away this weekend so we were able to crash at their place which was awesome! We hung out there and took our time getting ready and headed down to the race start...we picked up our race kits and then chatted with friends (Lot's of local London Runners: Angela, Amanda,Madeline, Meghan, Kellie, Erin, Camille, Scott, Rebecca and Gillian).




Here is a Map of the 30km Run

Right before the Start I saw Marlene and I know there were a WHOLE bunch of other bloggers there as well who I missed...Next year we need a BIG BLOGGY meet up!!!


So before the start I had told my former Clinic Instructor and Friend Rebecca that I had thought I wanted to do a 3:03 and if feeling up to it potentially a 3:00h...She is an amazing pacer and decided to take on the task of helping me get there...We lined up with the 10min Run/1min Walk 3hour pace bunny...We started off with him but he started his walks at a different time...we ended up getting thrown off and she restarted her watch and we stayed with them for about 10km....At this point we were feeling steady and strong and pulled ahead slightly...

The heat and humidity were tough...but I felt REALLY steady we ended up catching up with the 3hour continuous pacer...I have no idea of what was going on but most of the Pacers were well off...This is probably due to the fact that the course was measuring short by 500m-600m...ugh...

Anyway...The first 10km went by easily...we hit the 15km mark and Rebecca took a quick pit stop and encouraged me to go on...I was NERVOUS...she was great company for the first half and I had fun catching up with her...I soon passed the 3hour continuous pace bunny and tried to hold on for dear life...

With Rebecca I was consistently taking walk breaks every 10mins....After Rebecca left I only took walk breaks at the 3 remaining rest stations...I had one or two GU chomps the entire time...I had a water belt with G2 but my stomach was having none of it...It didn't want anything...I was starting to slow down because of the humidity by the time I left Tommy Thompson park there was no breeze...As I headed into the Leslie Spit and into Ashbridges Bay Park I thought the route would be changing as the km markers were so off..this began to make me a little confused like many others...I decided to just keep focusing on my Average Pace...I was steadily at a 5:56/km for the first 23km but had dropped to a 5:58/km for the next bit...after completing the loop and knowing I only had 3km left I was desperately trying to keep and hold that pace for a strong finish...I was totally going to bonk as I could not take in as much water and Gatorade as I should have...

about 100m before the finish Rebecca caught up to me and said she had been running behind me and was there "just in case" but kept telling me how strong I was and that I was going to have a "2" as the first number in my finish time...

Chip Time: 2:55:50
Race adjusted time would be about a 2:58:50 to a 2:59:59 soooo........SUB 3HOURS!

I cannot tell you how ecstatic I was...I know the end I let my pace down a bit but I did not have good nutrition during the run and my walk breaks weren't consistent...I am so happy with this run...I PR'd by 9mins and am feeling more confident about Chicago...It makes me really believe that I created a great training plan and am having some success this cycle despite the heat and triathlon training...I am so lucky to have great friends...I was also pumped for Lindsay who pulled out a huge PR and for Catherine who completed her FIRST 30km race...


The 3 of us after the race with our HUGE Bling and awesome race shirts :)




Me, My pacer Rebecca, Gillian and Lindsay


I might actually have to order my race photo...I am pretty happy with this one:



Happy Running....Only 47 days until Chicago Marathon

Niagara Sprint Tri Race Report

On August 7th, 2011 I participated in the Niagara Sprint Triathlon

750m Swim
25km Bike
7km Run

Pre-Race: The night before the race I headed out to dinner with friends and found out my favourite sushi restaurant had shut down :( So we headed to a different restaurant and I had some pasta...When I got home I had planned to pack up and go to bed very early...I got home and had very unexpected call from work needing some on-call assistance. I wasn't required to go by any means but I thought it would be good if I did to assist...so I headed into work for a few hours...got home and quickly packed...

While I was at work my amazing Hubby washed and cleaned by bike and tuned it all up...I have the BEST race Sherpa ever!


Morning Of: The hubby and I left the house by 5am to head to Niagara and I had a coffee and bagel...we loaded up the car and got to the Transition area with plenty of time to set up, and get body marked...

We checked out the swim area...I decided not to do a warm up as I thought that would get me a little more anxious...I knew that since it was a wave start I would have lots of time to get in the water and get adjusted!



I opted to wear a Tri-Suit for the race...was super happy I did..despite it being not the most flattering...lets be honest...tri clothes in general aren't the most forgiving...



Loved that I had a Pink Cap!




The Swim:

I was totally anxious about the swim...I am a strong swimmer but not a FAST swimmer...I got anxious with the swim and ended up swimming the majority of it with breast stroke...not the best and I know as I swim more I'll get more comfortable...I was happy with my time considering it was with breast stroke pretty much the whole way...

SWIM TIME: 17:52 pace/2:23/100m 17/25 in Age Category



T1:2:05

Transition went well...It is still a learning process...I got my socks, bike shoes, bib, helmet all on and just gave'r....I had great placement with my bike and found it easily...

Bike:

I knew that I was going to have a HUGE hill called the "Best of the East" right away...I really practiced my hill climbs in Muskoka the week before and was feeling confident...I got to the first part of the hill...it was a BEAST they weren't lying...I changed gears but kept going and despite it being challenging I was moving really well and passing a number of people....everyone was going slow or walking the hill...as I was passing a man he lost all momentum and fell over on the bike directly on me...I was SOOO LUCKY I was able to clip my one leg out and save myself from a fall...

I was pretty upset as the pitch of the hill was too steep for me to get back on...I started to RUN up the hill as there was a bit of a plateau...I got back on and slowly started to recover...and then all of a sudden the SAME thing happened again...two woman collided as they could not get momentum up the hill and it caused another collision with several riders...I had un-clipped but had to walk the rest of the hill...This dropped my average pace to 16km per hour...

I was really disappointed that this happened...the entire hill was carnage...I learned that for the next time I need to really watch my surroundings a big more and STAY away from slower riders...

This next part is where I called it operation get my speed back...I passed quite a few people and was able to finish the bike extremely strong...

25km: 56:54: 26.4km/hour 16/25 in my age category



T2: 1:25 I grabbed my visor, switched shoes and grabbed a gel and some fruit snacks...then I headed into the run...

Run: I hadn't had anything beside G2 on the bike...so I took a gel as soon as I hit the road...my garmin did not hook in right away so I pace was a little wonky...At this point it was REALLY hot and humid...the aid stations were every km due to the course being an out and back loopy thing...I dumped water on me to help get my heart rate down and alternated between water and gatorade...my legs felt tired for the first little bit but I soon figured it out and got going...it was nice being able to see runners coming back in...it was mostly residential but parts went by the water and in a cool little trail...I don't really remember too much...the whole experience just flew by...


39:54 (5:42 km)

TOTAL: 1:58:09




Overall Thoughts: I LOVED it....I had such a blast...and I cannot wait to do it again!!! I know that with more training I could get better and feel more comfortable...During the week of the race I had done 2 long runs (26km and 19km), speed work(6km) and a hill workout(12.45)...I look forward to the day when I can focus more on one race as opposed to fitting one in during marathon training...


A special thanks to the Hubby for being the best support ever! As well as a close friend of ours Fraser for coming out! We also ran into a close friend who was doing the Tri so it was nice to have her there and her husband kept my Sherpa company. I was so fortunate to have great cheerleaders on the course!!!


In Summary: I think I might have a triathlon problem :)

July 2011 in Pictures

I have TOTALLY been failing with the blog...I think that I have been just so busy with summer, training, spending time with family and friends and training that I haven't been able to make this a priority....I am sorry for that...here are some pictures to recap my amazing month of July...

I ran a total of 192km this month...I am REALLY happy with that number...I only missed out on running about 30km total for the month...I skipped that because of the MS bike tour(88km the first day and 77km the next)...I cycled 288km this month (more than that actually because I don't count my cruiser bike KM or my KM to work and back)! Happy with that number for sure! I also have been swimming :)


We bought Cruiser bikes (because we don't own enough with mountain and road...) and we completely fixed them up...we ride them everywhere!




This is us on Canada Day!!!


We went to the U2 Concert :)



We completed a two day bike tour...88km the First day followed by 77km the next...we biked from Grand Bend Ontario to London and back the next day...The Hubby started a team this year called "On Your left". He did an amazing job..check out the sweet jersey's he designed...let me say...we looked AWESOME on the big day...






I have not only been training for Chicago Marathon but also the Niagara Triathlon: 750m Swim, 25km Bike, and 7km Run...I am really nervous and excited at the same time...I knew that eventually I would do a triathlon...I love swimming and I really started to get into cycling last year with the MS ride and the purchase of a Road Bike...I thought that this one best fit into my Marathon Training Cycle...Sunday is going to be an exciting day!!!



This years MS ride gave me a lot of confidence for the actual bike ride...if all goes well with this race and I can see myself enjoying the sport I know that I would love to do a "Half Ironman" next summer so...we will see what Sunday Brings!!


After the Bike Ride I headed straight up to Muskoka for the Week...I spent time with my family...It was much needed....I don't want to Taper too much so I will play this week by ear...I am hoping to get at least one more swim in this week!

Happy Running Everyone!!!!