Last Chance Half - Nov 12

Last Chance Half Marathon, Calgary AB
Chip: 1:38
Pace: 4:40 min/km

Heard about this race from Cross Calgary director C. Lowery. Was not enthused about doing this at all - not prepared. but, would be a great training run for Sacramento so decided to show up. worked at RR day before so did not get a chance to pick up kit until race day - a little disorganized.

10AM start, Eau Claire
very rushed warmup - very stiff and no chance to warmup properly. see John at start. lined up and see the guy I met at Ottawa and Kelowna, so I say hi and move back in the lineup. not in any rush.

to 14th street
feeling very long, trying to relax and not pass too many people right away. slope under 10 St bridge feels harder than I'd like. trying very hard not to compare other runners' skinny legs with my own.

to Zoo
extremely slippery and frustrating on bumpy ice. slide down under bridges and consider DNF for injury prevention. feeling very tight and tense. jumping into snowbank to pass or trying to navigate around people extremely energy consuming. people wearing headphones can't hear me requesting to pass. people stopping at aid stations without warning and me trying not to slide into them. race etiquette???!!!

to 17 Ave
loose snow - RD Cheryl Lowery describes it as being like sand - which it is. decide to settle into a pace instead of passing

Inglewood turnaround
uneventful

to Center Street
have never been on this path, so a mix of curious interest and apprehension. some sections clear and now able to pick up the pace. See John which is a pleasant surprise.

To Eau Claire
mixed feelings on whether or not I will do this again next year. Footing made it very unpleasant, but I realize that it's an uncontrollable factor. Organization OK overall.

Postrace food at Eau Claire is fantastic. working at RR the rest of the afternoon and then dinner at Marco's so no chance to shower until later!

Okanagan Marathon - Oct 8

Okanagan Marathon
Chip: 3:26:13 (10th F; 4 F(20-29))
Pace: 4:53.4 min/km

So, I have finally moved to Calgary, which meant that I had to make the difficult decision of forfeiting my start at Chicago Marathon and miss seeing the old LRDC group. Instead went to Kelowna with mom and Christine, who had a great time doing the Mission Hill wine tour while I ran. Also saw the Chinook and Sockeye salmon runs - amazing.

Saturday
Went to view the start, and while leaving race site, were caught in a 4 car accident caused by a drunk driver, right outside the Athletic Center. Didn't get to bed until quite late.

Sunday
6AM - breakfast at hotel - unappetizing
7AM - Dave (Eau Claire RR manager) is pacing 4:30
8AM - confusing start - 3:30 pacer was behind the 2:00 half pacer. So I kept moving up the line until the gun went off. light rain is already making my Saucony Fastwitch wet.

5k in 0:26
slow and uninteresting - kind of in a daze and don't come out of it until 5k. See Krys at turnaround; she's going for 3:25 and I call out her name but she's pretty focussed and listening to her ipod. start to pick it up.

10k
have caught up to 3:30 pace group who push me to pick it up - want to stay with them but they're doing 10:1 so I leave them at their walk break and promise myself I'll stay in front of them

16k
have caught up to 1:45 pace group (??) who tell me I'm on 3:26 pace. have a little panic moment when we come around to the start line again but am quickly reasurred that am on the right path

22k
see mom and christine, which is a surprise. 22k is a dirt road up the escarpment and some slight rolling hill afterward. the view is worth the climb but dirt path was unexpected. Also running beside a line of cars waiting for runners to cross the road. kind of motivating - nobody wants to walk while everyone is watching from their cars. See no women around so have no idea where I stand - but not worried about place at all

30k in 2:30
not wearing a watch, so this is what I'm told by the man next to me. bodes well and am feeling fine although pinned gel is chafing my waist. I know it will hurt later.

35k
trying to pick it up because only 7k left and time running out. legs are not moving well due to lack of speedwork.

42.2k
way too much left at the end, but a very satisfying run. At massage I see a few people from RR and Calgary Roadrunners, and a man I met at Ottawa Marathon in May so we chat a while. massage. walk 2 hrs back to hotel. long shower, eat junk and sleep the rest of the afternoon.

Apparently my running partner fell ill and didn't get to do Chicago after all. Chris and (2:31) and Steve (2:45) did well.