Focus for the new year

2006



2007

NYC marathon report

November 6, 2005
10:10 am
NYC Verazanno Narrows Bridge
Temperature: 20 C
Humidity: present and rising

What I wore: MAA race singlet, Black Nike shorts, White quarter length low
Wrightsocks, Asics Nimbus VII, Yellow cap

What I ate for breakfast: Strawberry yogurt, 2 bananas, granola bar, grapes,
strawberries and kiwi juice.

I woke up at 5am and rushed out of bed as I was to meet the group in the hotel lobby (NYAC) in 45 minutes. The sleep was not restful. Despite having settled in on Friday, I had not gotten used to the mattress. Despite it being a hard like the one I have at home, it just was not comfortable. I could not get used to the blankets as they were too thick. Call me a princess but I require a blanket of a certain thickness. I found it too warm would end up kicking the blanket off the bed. I'd end up wrapping myself in cocoon fashion with the bed sheet only to wake up in the middle of the night to pick up the blanket off the floor and drape it on top of myself.

I woke up in the middle of the night in order to replace the ice in the sink that had melted over the course of the evening keeping my yogurt cool. For as much as I'm paying for this room, I'm surprised that a refrigerator was not included. It's hard finding a yogurt at 5am from a convenience store.

I quickly changed into my race clothes which I had laid out the night before. The bib and chip was been fastened on the night before. I place my personal effects in the ING drawstring bag that was subsequently placed in the transparent travel UPS bag that had a label of my name and bib number attached to it. I placed my camera and mobile phone in hard case soap containers to minimise the likelihood of them being damaged during their time in storage.

I applied my, "pectoral support" in banal fashion and applied pressure with both hands in simultaneous circular fashion to ensure that they had adhered properly... "What would people think if they saw me now?" I thought to myself in that moment.

I changed the ice in the buckets that had melted keeping the fruit I had setup the night before cool for Peter. Throughout the entire time that I was rushing around the room preparing my travel kit and personal effects in military fashion whilst flipping through the channels looking for the weather forecast for the day, Peter did not stir a bit.

I wanted him to take a picture of myself in my throw away clothes for posterity but it was not to be. I roused him awake and he was visibly distraught when I did so. He asked in a stern fashion, "What?" I extended my hand and wished him the best of luck for the race as I was moving out the door. We shook hands and he went back to sleep. Lucky him, ING had reserved a special bus for employees departing at 6:45am and he was sure to sleep every moment prior to its departure.

I found myself at in the lobby where everyone had assembled. Idle conversation was being exchanged about each person's respective weekend. We gathered for a group photo of ourselves. Ah... such optimism. If they only knew then, what I know now.

We left the hotel in summary fashion and found ourselves heading westward on 6th Ave. We passed the Hilton hotel where I saw Peter's bus waiting for all the ING members to assemble. The Hilton was ING's official hotel. Gee if only I could be so lucky. As we converged toward the NYC public library, we could see a steady procession of runners proceeding along a path marked out by security barriers. A phalanx of police officers were about to ensure public order. The mood was solemn as we marched in steady fashion toward the bus. I engaged in polite conversation with my running mates and was in awe about the logistics of organising such an event. The NY Road Runners, must have rented the entire fleet of buses in order to bring runners to Staten Island.

We were stuck in Sunday morning traffic getting to Fort Wadsworth. It wasn't so much actual traffic than it was waiting for buses to drop off their passengers before we could debark. For as we waited on the bridge, a fellow runner excused himself and stepped off the bus in order to relieve himself.

We all howled in laughter as several other runners followed suit. Whilst waiting we witnessed the early start for the physically challenged. It was humbling to see these people tackle such event. One person who will forever stand out in my mind was a person confined to wheelchair and had only use of one leg. He would propel himself by kicking off of his sound leg and drive backward to the finish line.

We converged upon the, "Great wall of porto-lets" in the distance and we knew that we were near. My body had finally woken up and I found the urge to relieve myself as well.

We finally debarked and were greeted by volunteers who must have been doing such a repetitive task in robotic fashion repeatedly. It was really considerate for to have volunteers come out so early to Staten Island to greet us.

The camp was divided into three different groups demarcated by green, orange and blue balloon floats. Runnners would assemble corresponding area based on the respective colour on their bib. Numbers would be assigned in chronological order and faster runners would be assigned the lower numbers. Dorys had number 976. Orange coloured bibs followed suit and the green (where yours truly had) was came in what I refer to affectionately as, "general admission".

The group exchanged their final farewells to each other and everyone split up into their respective camps. I found myself with several other runners lining up for what felt like an eternity for the porto-lets. Impatience and bursting bladders almost resulted in fisticuffs as runners tried to queue jump. The smell from 10 feet away was nauseating and would make anyone's stomach turn.

Following that unpleasant (but necessary) task, I proceeded to the bag drop off section. A wide screen television had been erected that provided the NBC broadcast of the day's events. Despite being so close to the action, we really did not have a clue as to what the developments were. I dropped off my bag and proceeded to find the area corresponding to my bib number.

Each camp was subdivided into smaller areas. Each area served as a holding pen for a corral of 1000 runners. I was fortunate to have my corral number bumped up by 7000 for line up purposes. Unfortunately I was stuck in the general admission corral. The blue and orange bib runners ran on the upper level of the bridge, where they would be able to enjoy a panoramic view and the weather. Those in general admission ran in the sub level like sewer rats.

All runners ran in separate lanes and it was only at the 8 mile mark that our paths converged. The following is a course map of the race.

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/about/coursemap.pdf

We were summoned in adhoc fashion over loud speakers that did not function too well. At that moment everyone began to collectively strip down to their running gear. We all proceeded to the on ramp where we were privileged to listen to an army sergeant's rendition of the, "Star Spangled Banner" Her performance was powerful and moving. I could not think of a better way to commence the race.

We heard the cannons boom signaling the beginning of the race and my thoughts jumped to the elite commencing the race. "Gee, what would it be like to see them begin?" I thought to myself. I shook hands with the runners to standing beside me (foreigners like myself) and we headed out.

My strategy was to keep to conserve as much energy as possible and not get carried away by the spectators. I knew that it was going to be a hard day and figured that it was best to get carried away in the euphoria. I adopted a stoic demeanor and focused on the strategy and the tactics that I planned to follow. The intention was to run the first 10km in 53 minutes and then switch to a pace of 5 minutes per km afterward. Depending on how I felt at the 20 mile mark, I would then adjust accordingly. The goal was to record a finishing time in the neighborhood of 3:30-40.

The sheer number of runners proved to be frustrating as it resulted in a much slower pace. Then again like myself, I was in awe of seeing the sheer number of spectators who turned out to watch this event. From the sidewalks to balconies and even rooftops, this perennial event was to the delight of the locals. Then again, they could have been making fun of us for that matter but it didn't matter to us.

At the half way point of the race a feeling of uneasiness surfaced on my right side. It began as sensation and soon manifested as a tightness which eventually made my breathing laboured. This side stitch was something I never had experienced before. I was able to sustain a 5 minute per km pace for the mid 20km distances but as the symptoms became more pronounced, the pace and form deteriorated significantly.

I cannot but help to place the blame squarely on my shoulders for this set back. Perhaps it was the Argentian beef and the late night from Friday. Perhaps it was the early start for the 7km Friendship run Saturday morning. I realise that those actions could explain a slower completion time but these side stitches were honestly something I could not explain or train for.

At the 23 mile mark I met up with Dorys and I found out that all the other runners had suffered and recorded slower completion times. The heat and humidity were the cause of the side stitch. He taught me how to resolve the side stitch and when that was done, it was too late for me to mount a last ditch effort. I was exhausted and could only muster a 6 minute per km pace.

I had stopped numerous times for walk breaks and at water stations hoping to be able to regain a second wind to no avail. I tried for a sub four hour finish but realised that my hamstrings started to feel tight and my quads were feeling shattered from the hills. At that point, I decided to jog toward the finish.

The crowds in central park were nothing short of awe inspiring. The cheering was deafening and it was a pure delight to revel in it. I only wish that the race could have been completed under better circumstances.

I'm not as devasted as I thought I would be for failing to reach my objective but I realise that simply put, I had a bad day. I did my homework and I trained hard but I the elements conspired against me. Naturally, I am disappointed at the result but I realise that I did not need the time to realise that I have made significant progress year over year. If anything this has firmed my resolve to train harder for the next marathon. See you then...

Ste Anne 20 km

Definitely got more than I bargained for.

Thanks again to Ralf and L. who made my participation in this race possible. L. thanks for putting up with my cheesy jokes

Going in my legs felt heavy from an active week of training. Despite having a few minutes to myself to warm up, I just could not establish a comfortable rhythm and proper mindset.

To complicate matters, I bumped into an old friend. With Ralf having disappeared to run his errand. I stayed with him and he choose to line up near the front of the line. In hindsight, that was the worst spot to place myself. Right from the start, I felt someone kicking my heels as the aggressive flock of runners jockied to establish their position.

Having placed myself in the front to be with my running mate proved to be an exercise in abject failure as I never saw him once throughout the entire run. He began running at a modest pace and completed with one as well.

It was psychologically damning to place myself in that section of the line up. Being passed did not bother me that much (I'm used to it ) What I lament is my inability to slow down when my running mates around me are running at a pace that I cannot sustain. It's not that I'm not aware of the swift pace of the pack, (my garmin doohickey served as my sheppard for this run), but perhaps out of pride or vanity that I steadfastly refused to back down. *Ugh* why in the world do I put myself in these positions?

Once the crowd strung itself out once we left the school grounds and traversed the overpass, it was there that I was finally able to quell that irrational urge to sustain a pace that I knew I could not.

The path was consisted of two loops of a 10km that originated from the school and headed out toward a trail that looped back on to itself prior to us returning back to the school. The relief of ther terrain would be best described as a series of undulating hills. Though gradual or in one form or another (ie. overpass) that were not imperceptible.

The first 10km of the race transpired without incident. I found my way back to the school and found that runners were running all over the place. Instead of running in the right hand side of the road, runners placed themselves any and everywhere. It was a slightly chaotic but manageable.

Upon leaving the school grounds for the second time as I began my second loop of the course, fate struck me...in a big way. At this point in the race runners from the 10km race iin addition the the 20km runners were running the same course. I was headed toward the nature trail when I saw a water station in close proximity. I heard the girl chant out, "water" in successive fashion and I flagged her attention . I was running on the right hand lane of the two way road. I made eye contact with the girl and focus on the handoff. I extended my hand toward her as I drew closer and she took a step from the shoulder of the road opposte to the lane that I was running in order to make the exchange. My focus never left the cup and when the exchange was made, I went numb.

A runner had collided into me. I was stunned and stopped dead in my tracks. We stood infront of each other in a standoffish fashion and and remember having a blank expression on my face. He uttered an expletive in a sigh of resignation and took off. I don't remember the girl saying anything and I found myself slowingly moving again. I was incredulous and thought to myself, "Did what I think happened just occur?" My instinct as I resumed running was to drink the contents of my cup. Nothing was in it, it was empty. Just like myself.

I managed to regain my composure and repress thoughts of what had transpired as at the 12km mark, fatigue had caught up with me for the folly of the starting out too fast. At that moment, I found myself in the trail run segment of the race. I found myself alone for long stretches of this segment of the. Not being used to trail runs, the undulating nature of the course, fear of twisting an ankle, fatigue and not being able to see in the shade with my sunglasses on. I slowed down. I could actually feel myself slow down and could only watch as my breathing was belaboured. *ugh*, I was fading and in a bad way.

A ring of viscuous membrane formed over my lips and collected at the corner of my mouth. I remember trying to wipe it off with my hand to no avail so I ended up using my singlet as a face cloth. What is that stuff anyhow? Anyone ever have that when they run?

Fortunately I made it to the crest of the hill and had the wisdom to used the downhill segment to recover. This active rest was desperately needed as my pace stabilised and enjoyed not having to exert so much effort.

The city limits were in sight as I made it over the overpass over the freeway (possibly highway 40). At that point, it was still possible for me to realise my time objective for the day. The final overpass over the freeway closed to the school grounds had other ideas. It was just so demoralising as I felt a sense of urgency and despiration conspire to prevent me from succeeding. Time seemed to slow down for that final ascent and instead of accelerating, I slowed to in s deliberate and sustained fashion. Well, at least that's what I keep telling myself anyhow.

Was that was done, I had to pour it on. All my thoughts of fatigue and insecurity became ethereal. It is quite possible that the lack of oxygen contributed to my state of mental numbness that allowed me to, "go for broke" However the mental numbness affected me as I had less than 10m to the finish line.

I recall two volunteers located at the fork of a path to the finish line telling me that one path was for the half finish and the other for the 10km. It didn't make sense to me as still does not as I found out that both races share the same finish line.

In do not recall hearing what they said. I'm sure it was due to my state of fatigue but I ended up going direction at the finish. In a state of despiration I yelled, "half marathon" in an semi-incoherent way and I was redirected to the proper finish. I recall the announcer apologising to me over the,"PA". Just by chance, "L" happened to take a picture of me as I approached this fork in the road. Upon review following this event, I don't think that I completedly at fault:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?&collid=64985801308&photoid=84985801308

Despite all of these challenges I was still able to realise my time objective.

I told my story to the one of the female volunteer at the finish line and we both found that these were events that could have been easily avoided. The waterstation incident could have been avoided if there were volunteers working on either side for the road and for the finish line, if the bib's were color coded, the volunteers would be able to direct me to the proper finish.

As I sat on the grass eating the scrumptious parfait (quite tasty), a runner approached and I feel beneath his shadow. He looked at me with a stern expression on his face and said, "Are you the one I ran into" I took off my sunglasses and looked him steadfastly and said, "yes". At that point we apologised to each other and he told me that I was on the proper lane. I thought that I had drifted over to oncoming traffic but Michel confirmed otherwise. As he was barrelling down the path, he witnessed a human wall emerge out of thin air and by the time he reacted, he only had tiime to side step the volunteer who's back was faced to him and step into my lane where I was.

Ralf, I'm so jealous of you. You had your own personal companion along with way who brought you home safe and sound. Next time, I'm borrowing Grommit's services :P

Grommit. That was indeed a classy thing for you to do to bring him home in style.. Then again, from you, it's not really a surprise:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?collid=64985801308&photoid=54985801308&&refreshkey=1122843616043

All in all, a good run. a few surprises and defnitely a run a won't forget. My running shoes have since expired as I feel a pain on the outside of my respective knees and a soreness from in my shoulder from the body check.

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Base/3001/results2k5/resultats2k5_7.html#20K

Digging deep

Event: 5km Race
Location Yamachiche, Quebec
Time 8:45am
How many hours of sleep I had the night before 6 (disjoint, a segment of one hour follwed by a phone interruption an hour of trying to fall back to sleep and five.

How I felt the night before: Physically: slightly tired. Mentally prepared (as best I could -see below). Emotionally, a feeling of resignation. I felt I was in over my head for running such an event that I never trained specifically for. The

What I ate for breakfast: two slice of toast and a banana (ran out of yogurt).

What I wore, Nike white singlet, navy blue New Balance shoes, wright socks and White Asics Nimbus V. Accessories: sunglasses and Garmin Forerunner

The purpose of running this event was for projection purposes as requested by Dorys. In a previous meeting he presented a projection chart for realising specific times for specific distances. In this chart, each column represented a specific distance. This chart would be read from top to bottow, with the fastest time at the top and increasing as we read down the chart. From my understanding each column is a compilation of running statistics of 10,000 runners. Assuming that the standard normal distribution applies here ( I am slow, but not more than 3 standard deviations worth- or at least I hope not. Each column is drawn to it's own scale and placed specifically at a certain point on the sheet beside the adjacent columns.

The conventional means of, "guestimating" a marathon time is to take one's half-marathon time, double it and add 10 minutes to this time. However any conventional metric solely focuses on one reference point. However the short coming of this approach is that a countless number of regression lines can be projected through this point. Having two references points, enhances the accuracy of this estimate as only one regression line can be drawn through.

This was the purpose of my run this day. Mapping my 5km time and my half marathon time Dorys would be able to extrapolate what my finishing time would be for the full. Naturally this is an estimate and I realise that it is subject to many internal and external factors.

I awoke to the sound of both of my alarms at 6am. I had to be over at Bonnie's place for a 7am departure. My body was phyically tired from the heat and humidity outside. I had not been sleeping well. I managed to grab to quick pieces of toast layer with Skippy creamy peanut butter (mmm... trans-fat) and head front door with my packed bag at 6:30am.

We arrived in Yamachiche with 15 minutes to spare. The ride proved to be more interesting that it needed to be as we almost ran out of gas. We were fortunate enough to fnid our way to a gas station just on the outskirts of Yamachiche.

Following registration, I handed my bag to Bonnie and proceeded to the start area. With 10 minutes to the start of the run I ran up and down the finishing straight-a-way trying to warm myself up. It was then when I discovered what I was running aginst.

This was the 9th running of the Marcel Jobin half marathon. Marcel was a former Olympian in the sport of power walking. I recall seeing runners from Vainquers, Milpat, La foulée, Boreale there. It seemed that I was one of the few runners that was not affiliated with a running club. This just went to show the strength of the field

As I ran up and down the path, I fouund myself warming up faster than I normally would have. The runners eventually gathered in a huddled mass at the start line and almost in instinctive manner, I moved to the back of the pack. The event seemed to be either well organised or these field of runners present that day are used to running this event. In my estimation, probably both. Following a brief greeting and a quick overview of the course, the mayor of the town called the start of the race.

In near perfect synchronicity, we all raised our arms to start the timer on our watches. The pack quickly strung itself out with the leaders quickly disappearing from view. My attention was drawn within and my focus never sharper. There was no time for self doubt, no was the time to go.

I was surprised how easily and quickly I was able to initiate race speed when the race started. Perhaps it was the combination of the adrenaline and excitement of running with a strong field of runners that facilitated the transition. I was able to temper my enthusiasm with the reality of inexperience. Prior to this event, I had never ran a 5km race before so I kept a "comfortably difficult" pace.

Following the first km (4:16 according to Garmin) I entered a comfort zone where I came to the realisation that I could run this event and my body fell into the natural rhythm that it does after a half hour of base running. I was able to maintain a similar pace without over exerting myself. Time according to Garmin 4:18

The effects of fatigue began to show as I my focus was shattered by thoughts of were the turnaround point was. The race was essentially a 2.5km out and 2.5km back. My body could no longer sustain that pace and settled down to 4:21 for the third and fourth km.

My legs felt heavy and my breathing laboured as I as found it harder and harder to maintain my composure. My thoughts were chaotic and nonsensical. Despite the intensity as I made my way back, I was not aware of what was happening in my surroundings. I rounded the cornered and with 100m to go I remember mustering a final effort as my arms were being drawn back as hard as possible. Final km time according to Garmin 4:07.

My only regret is having looked at my watch a moment before crossing the finish line. However I was able to record a time of 21:32.

As I look back, I am surprised that I was able to sustain such an intensity despite not having trained for it. If I had to think about why I was able to record such a time, I would credit my base training.

Bonnie and the kids' arrived 5 minutes later and Bonnie had to go to the washroom, she had expected me to arrive later. So did I.

I hate bonking

Time 9am
Start place gym downtown
Weather conditions: 10 C breezy, overcast with intermittent showers.
Distance 20km
Path gym-Notre Dame-De La Montagne-Bridge-Irlandais-Pierre Dupuis-Pont De la Concorde-Tour de L'ile-Jacque Cartier-De Lorimier-De Maisoneuve-Papineau- 1.5 laps of Lafontaine park-Rachel-Olmstead until Peel exit-gym.
Time to completion: Bah... about 2:15:00


Objective: LSD run with heart rate less than 152bpm

What I ate: two bananas, no yogurt
How much sleep I had the night before: 7 hours
What I wore: Nike white run cap. Blue sugoi long sleeve, NB blue short. wright sock, White Asics Nimbus V

Preconditions: Just recovering from a cold. Intermittent runny nose as and dry cough. I need to remmeber to take cough syrup with expectorant to manage this for the next run.

I felt fine starting off. I considered the initial difficulty just part of my warmup process. The temperature was slightly cooler than I anticipated

For the first 10km the effort was consumerate with the heart rate that I was expecting. Following that, the winds picked up and everything starting to decompose. My posture, cadence (turnover) gait. Everything that I had taken as a given was put into question. I had to stop several times for walk breaks. *sigh* I hate gallow-wimping.

Upward drift brought the rate close to 160bpm. As soon as I would take a walk break, I could see the rate drop quickly but not below 130. I wasn't short of breath but I was running out of gas- fast.

I didn't break any water and I felt a viscous film forming on my lips. I fault myself for not having eaten that yogurt and not having brought a water supply with me.

Even as I type this, 2 hours later, after having transitioned properly (strech, shower, eat), fatigue has not left my body yet.

Thoughts during race: heat training is something I need to do.

Perspective

Having been bed ridden for the past two days, it came to no surprise that I lept at the chance to unwind with several good friends of mine. I needed to step out, if just for a moment, to regain my sanity. I did was not able to train in the last 48 hours at all. No hard nor soft of any kind. I had to forgo a race on Saturday along with my running and yoga today. I had to marshall all my strength to lay siege on this virus that incapcitated me. Even as I type this message, I am still suffering the lingering effects of this stubborn virus (stuffy nose and sporadic dry cough) that is even more stubborn than myself. Hmm... I can't think of a better well suited adversary for me.

Naturally, meeting up with, "the boys" was defnitely the distraction that I needed. No sympathy from them, no slack accorded to me for not being quick on the uptake. Gosh, it's times like these that you learn the true value of the simple things in life. They are worth their weight in gold.

Sunday is our, "male bonding" day. We eat, laugh, make fun of each other, eat, (did I already mention that one) and ... eat some more. Our travels brought us to a buffet near my home by the name of, "Casa Corfu" on Masson and 9th St. It had been a while since we've been to a buffet. In all fairness with Mike working at one, I saw no reason why we would ever find our way, during his off hours, there.

We ate aplenty and I grossed out Mike by bring back a plate of dessert with a glistening piece of chicken on the side. For Mike that total confuses him From a professional perspective waitresses at the buffet do not know whether to bring you your bill or not. Normally dessert signals the end of a meal so it's opportune for them to present the bill at that time. However the chicken throws everything off. From a personal perspective, the fact that I would munch on a piece of chicken and then take a nimble of my cake and ice cream really grossed Mike out. Too funny cuz Kev returned shortly with a piece of calimari that mysteriously appeared beside his cake and ice cream as well.

Mike and Kev took off for their final round at the dessert bar. As I was catching my breath after a third plate and feeling the effects of a glaze forming over my eyes, I noticed something that freaked me out.

It was a a girl wearing a pink summery dress sporting matching flip-flops. She must have been no more that 12-14 years of age and she was carrying two full plates back to her table. This child was obese. I had never seen anthing like that at all. Had she worn something that was long, dark coloured and loose, you would have been still able to discern how rotund she was. The fact that it was a tight pink summery dress just excentuated her rolls of fat bulging from her torse and pockets of fact bursting from her sandeled feet.

I was literally beside myself and would dare to liken my reaction to that of an allergic one. I was stuck somewhere between incredulity and being numb. How could something like this occur? Mike told me that about a fifth of his clientele would be deemed, "Heiffers" another third of the total would be fat. That means that at least 50% of total clientele are fat.

Once I calmed down, I realise why my reaction was as strong as it was. I must have been projecting thoughts of myself from once upon a yester-year when I saw that 12 year old child. I don't recall whether my condition was comparable to hers but the fact that I was able to break that cycle of child obesity and become the person who I am today made me want to do something about it.

I'm glad I don't go to buffets too often, regardless of how much you eat, it just leaves a bitter after taste when you leave.

Second race of the season

Nike 1/2 marathon
April 24, 2005
Place Ile Notre Dame, Ile Jean Drapeau.
Time 10am, Temperature 10 C slight breeze

What I wore, Blue Sugoi top, Nike run shorts, wright socks, White Nimbus V, Garmin Forerunner

What I ate before: 2 yogurt and 1 banana
Slept 7 hours the night before

How I felt going into the race:

I approached this race with trepidation and apprehension as the only running that I did was lsd (about 6min/km) and interval training. There were no Endurance II runs. Physically, I was well rested. I treated myself to a massage on my legs and greatly reduced my mileage during the week. (8km on Tuesday, 8km interval on Wednesday and 12 km on Thursday).

Race strategy: Completion of the race recording a time of 1:45-1:50. In my mind, I would come close to 1:50. I had bad luck the previous year at this race and that weighed heavily on my mind. Being the first major race since my injury in Toronto, the fact that it was at a race where I did poorly the year before weighed heavy on my heart. I could not withstand a repeat of last year. I had to run this race conservatively.

Logistics: I was fortunate to have been offered a lift by Karl, who picked up Sophie as well. They arrived at my door around 8:30am, and their sight softened my tense mood. Karl had not slept much as he had a dinner party the previous evening. He as not happy because his dog had just chewed up his Garmin. He showed it to me with the cracked screen. Sophie had back problems which plagued her all week. I suggested we stop at the Pharmaprix on Ste Catherine east near Berri UQAM metro station. Karl offered my bagel on the way to the subway. I explained to him how sensitive my stomach is. He was surprised when I told him that I'd start to fade if I were to have, "complex" food. Hence the yogurt and banana I munch on.

We parked the car at Berri station and took the subway there. Everyone in the subway station was dressed in their running attire, headed toward the big dance. Where else would people be headed so early on Sunday. It was interesting to see people headed home from their after hour party. There is quite a few after hours clubs in that area.

On the subway platform, I bumped into Allison (works for the Gazette as a reporter and a member of the gym) and her friend Gill. Both of them are fast runners Gill told me that he was aiming to run 4:30/km and Allison was gunning for a time between 1:40-1:45. People in the train were giggling when I showed them Karl's chewed up Garmin.

We arrive at Ile Jean Drapeu metro station and half of the people in the train disembarked. Everyone was dressed in track pants and jackets. I stored my jacket, ball cap and track pants in my backpack. We were waiting for Jurgen to at the entrance to the station. We took that moment to use the facilities and I decided to change on the spot to stay warm by throwing on these extra layers on top of my race outfit.

Jurgen never appeared so Karl, Sophie and I headed toward the race site around 9:30pm Allison and Gill had taken off earlier. As we arrived on site, the crowds were thick and the line up to the washroom were long and baggage check was even longer. I separated from Karl and Sophie and walked around the area looking for other members of the Running Room.

I bumped into the Cool Runners in front of the baggage storage area. I saw KJ, Grommit, Mr and Mrs Omni, Mr and Mrs Mars and Chops. I changed out of my clothes and donned on my sexy translucent garbage bag, KJ and Mrs Mars were laughing. Chops had on his green garbage bag and I took heart in knowing that I was not the only one foolhardy enough to wear a garbage to keep myself warm. I took that moment to share hand my camera over to Mrs Mars and demonstrated how to use it. She took a candid photo of Chops and myself. Tom walked by and we were ready to do battle on this glorious day. We had it in our plans that I would pace him for the first 10km by running 5 min/km and then he would venture forward on his own.

After some brief conversation with them, I headed over to drop off my bag and the the baggage claim. Many were surprised and even aghast that I would contemplate donning on a garbage bag. Many of them wore their running jackets and track pants for the event. Some even chose to wear their Nike t-shirt on top of their jacket. This raised an interesting question. Is it appropriate to wear the shirt prior to the run? After all, we haven't actually earned the right to wear the shirt until after we complete.

The people working at the baggage claim were working at a frenetic pace to keep up with the influx of runners dropping their personal effects. I was joking with one of the women working the station and told her that she should deserve a medal for working so hard. I added, that we were just a bunch of posers in short shorts and t shirts standing around looking good (especially the one with the sexy garbage bag). She howled in laughter and that made my day as I found my way back to the group.

After some more idle conversation waiting for the others to return from the baggage check, it was time to assemble in the starting corral. "Moo" I thought in my mind as all the runners were being herded together. The start line was beside a series of port-o-lets where everyone was lining up. I think people read too much about dehydration and they all end up drinking to the point of bursting their bladder. Let's just say, it was very, "fragant" standing in the adjacent area waiting for the event to start.

The weather had stabilised as the rain and winds had ceased. The sky was overcast and I felt my body starting to warm up. I separated from Tom to discard my improvised poncho and as I was returning to meet Tom in the thickening crowd, I bumped in to the Running Room crew. It was really sweet to see everyone from the 2004 marathon Clinic. Josée, Jurgen, Samir, Sangeeta, Karl, Sophie, Nolain and others I can't remember. It was truly a treat for me. We exchanged greetings and best wishes for a successful race. I was surprise that Josée recognised my from behind as she gave me a hug. Everyone knew each other's paces so they did not mind that I did not run with them.

My intention was to run with Chops and Mars but I lost them in the crowd. At that point, I thought that we would all meet up once the crowd thinned out into their respective pace groups.

Tom introduced me to his friends who were running as well. A couple who want nothing but to simply enjoy this experience. That was really touching and nice to see. His friend was sporting the Garmin Forerunner 301 and boy was I salivating. I'm using the 201 model and I was fawning over the integrated HRM in new unit. Yep, what can I say? Toys for big boys... How about running hard? Nah... I'd rather spend more money on gizmos rather than put in an honest days' work.

I didn't hear the gun go off but I do remember clapping as everyone's attention was directed forward. The race started and in typical fashion, everyone took one quick step forward only to slow down due to the bottle neck at the start. We all chuckled as we knew this always happens. People slow down as the step on the carpet to start their watch or to step a few extra steps on the carpet to ensure that their time is being recorded by the machine.

Tom and I were fortunate as there was not that much human traffic to negotiate. Perhaps it was because of the wide road, lack of participants or our placement in the crowd that made this possible. In all fairness, I think it was a combination of all three, but mainly the second and third reason.

I am so fortunate to have used my Garmin as it recorded my pace per kilometer. The first kilometer was a slow one at 5:10km due to human traffic. Normally I would have started a touch slower but I had a mission to pace Tom.

At the fourth km, Tom ventured out on his own and I did not see him until the end. I was so caught up with my the pace according to my watch that I barely noticed my surroundings. I do remember seeing a guy peeing in the bushes by the basin. Now I know why the plants in their are so rich and green. I remember seeing many runners either carrying their jackets or tieing them around their waist due to the weather warming up. I felt the effects of heat as well and regretted not having worn a singlet.

Because I was so adamant on adhering to that pace that I can't help but to wonder how successful would I have been had I ran without it. If I ran this event completely devoid of any expectation or responsibility, would I have been able to record such a time.

I remember landing on the first timing carpet signaling completion of 6km at 30:40. I do because I remember cursing at myself for being behind. I don't remind how I felt at the 10m mark but according the split times provided by the official records I was on my way. I think I must have been flirting with the idea of a 1:40 completion. I think that provided to be a critical factor in my undoing. I'm pretty sure that I found myself succumbing to the temptation of such an elusive goal that I pushed myself. I can substantiate such a claim when I refer to the statistics that I downloaded from the Garmin. Between the 10-21km I found myself running on a faster pace per km and I was punished for my greed. Greed made for a poor tactician that day as I almost failed in realising my running objective. Then again it could have been my vanity as well.

The course is layed out in such a fashion that runners revisit certain segments of the course that they had orginally run.. This would provide opportunities for friends to see runners heading out and returning back. As my run found it's way through the course, I saw Mrs. Mars and Mrs Omni cheerleading. With my spirits lifted by their cheers, I extend my arms toward them and blew air kisses in their direction in appreciation. This occurred on more than one occassion and upon reflection, perhaps the cost of doing so was at the expense of a faster time or the extra effort exerted to obtain the recorded time.


Mentally the most demanding aspect of the run was the final 2 km which I dub the, "doubleback" Running along the F1 track on the 19km mark, I would see runners on the other side of the concrete barrier running the opposite direction to the finish line. Knowing that the end was near as the ambient level of noise rose, I would find myself running a at a faster pace. But I had to temper this urge with the knowledge that my body was riddled with fatigue and that I was running on borrowed time. It was just a matter of time before someone collected. I knew that if I were to slow down, for any reason, I would not be able to resume my previous pace.

To counter that urge to sprint, I would deliberate look at toward the runners on the other side of the barrier headed toward the finish line. By not focusing ahead, this would force my body to slow down allowing me to actively rest as the I made my way toward completion of this long arduous journey. I got the opportunity to see those who had passed me.

I spotted Tom and in one sharp blast, called his name. It broke his concentration as he directed his concentration toward my direction and shouted words of encouragement. He cracked a smile and took off toward the finish line. I stared at my watch and he was about 8 minutes ahead of me. Eight more minutes, I thought to myself, eight more minutes.

There were so many times that I would see a opening in the concrete divider separating the runners on the F1 track and those headed toward the finish line on the basin. So many more times, I would contemplate taking a short cut just to end my misery. But like so many others before me, I somehow summoned the courage and determination continue.

I found my way to the doubleback point and I felt elated. I felt as if I was the beneficiary of a major sugar rush. Knowing that the finish line was just 1.1km away was the best thing that could happen to me. Fatigue was banging loudly on the door and I knew it was just a matter of time before it came charging in.

I continued to look toward the other side of the concrete barrier to those who were catching up. Someone actually called out my name. It was Chops! I had forgotten about them during the race but his presence was definitely a sight for sore eyes. However, I did not see Mars with him. It was only a mater of time before we all got the chance to see each other at the finish line. Fate smiled upon me as I heard me name being called out again. This time it was Karl. At that point I was concentrating hard to maintain my composure and could only expend just enough energy to wave toward him. The crowds grew larger and noiser and everyone headed toward the finish line.

With approximately 200m remaining, I saw Dorys in the horizon. Dressed in black and always staring at his watch, he jogged toward me and in his eternal enthusiasm urged me to speed up and be able to record a faster time. I was at the cusp of exhaustion when he challenged me to sprint to catch a runner just ahead of me. I could not even articulate an answer as I waved at him that I would not. I saw Tom headed toward me as he shouted words of encouragement to add some spark to my fading spirit. I guess the saying is true, third time's a charm, as I heard the Cool Runners in the stand cheering and could not ignore the hails of Grommit for me to, "move my fast ass"

At that point, I went for broke and charged the finish line. I crossed and felt like crumbling. My breathing was erratic and could not make sense of the environnment around me. I was handed the completion medal and could not stand still as the volunteers removed the timing anklet. Tom passed through to congratulate me and we proceed to head toward the food :)

My quads were slightly shattered but what took me by surprise as I performed an audit of my body was that my shoulders were tremendously sore. I must have shrugged my shoulders in a runners' fury for over an hour. By far the shoulder pains were the most significant of all issues.

Tom and I made our way to the baggage claim first to retrieve our personal effects. We wanted to avoid the rush on runners that would ensue. Furthermore I needed to put on some dry clothes. The weather conditions had started to deteriorate, the winds were picking up and the rain started to fall again. I threw on a pair of track pants, a running jacket and a ball cap. Tom did the same and we proceeded to toward the concession stand. It was sponsored by Nike so we were entitled to water, apples, bananas, bagels and waffles. There was no syrup for the waffles, just butter. However the waffles they made did taste pretty good. Shucks, no yogurt. There were big screen televisions displaying Nike shoes, including the Air Max Moto and the Nike Free. I did not care for a demonstration at this point. I needed to continue moving.

As Tom and I left the tent, we encountered a deluge of runners who had just crossed bearing their medals lining up for the food. I'm glad that I was able to completed ahead of the main rush. Heading back toward the finish line to greet those in the stands who cheered, I encountered, Mars, Chops, Karl and the remainder of the Running Room gang. They were content to have completed. Not in a talkative mood they were exhausted and headed toward the food stand.

Everyone began to leave the premises, seeking shelter from the wind and rain. However, in my mind it was sunny inside and tears of joy on the outside. Not because of the time but because I had people around me telling me to, "move my fat ass"

Here's a link to a several pics of yours truly suffering

http://www.global-pix.com/marathonphotossite/marathon.html?job=Sports%2F2005%20Sports%2FCanada%2FMontreal%20Half%20Marathon;match=1653

Here's a link to the course itself

http://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/21kmtlmap1.jpg

http://www.canadarunningseries.com/monthalf/21kmtlmap2.jpg

First race of the season

Time 9:35am
Place: Pearson Adult Center (LaSalle)
Temperature -5 C
Wind: neglible
Distance 10km

Course: Flat http://www.geocities.com/enducircuit/pics/parcourlasalle2k5s.jpg

What I ate for breakfast: yogurt and banana
What I wore: Sugoi long sleeve, tights, Asics Nimbus V (blue) NB tuque, MJ shades

How I felt before:

Physically: when I woke up I was stiff. I had taken the previous 3 days off leading up to this event. I practised 15 min of yoga at home and jogged around the race area prior to the start.

Mentally: Being able to record of a time of 46:50 was my objective as this time was what was returned by the McMillan run calculator in order to obtain a marathon time of 3:40. Slightly stressed but not ovewhelmed. I was running with Karl and that proved to be boon for for me. He was kind enough of offer me a lift to and from the site which removed any stress as a result from the logistics of going and returning.

What I found really suprising is that being the senior runner between us, sharing my insights and running experiences provided to be a great mode of relaxation.

Meeting the crew at the registration center was neat: Grommit, MLC, Joeboxter, Omni (Mr and Mrs) DF7 was inspiring. We'd all gather in our little circle and boast who would come in last! :) It was fun.

Being one of the early races in the season, the majority of the participants would be what I would consider to be serious runners. A large segment of these runners haled from different run clubs (Vainquers, Boreal) and local triathalon teams). Seeing some many runners congregated in one area (I deem them to be serious based on their physique, attitude and the clothes that they wear).

The group disbanded and everyone executed their race strategy. The horn sounded and being in the middle of the pack, I followed the pack as everyone took off. Thinking back, I don't even know where the official start line was. I was running for about 10 seconds hoping to synchronise the start of my watch with the start line to no avail. I started it right afteward and noticed that at the end of the race I had registered 10.27km on my watch. I knew something was amiss as my watch would recognise completion of a km before I crossed the sign. That issue was marginal compared with what I had to contend with this day.

Being my first race since the marathon last October and 9 months since my last 10km I had no concept of what pace to maintain. Overall, I am content with my time but I lament the herculean effort used to record such a time. I was flying for the first 3km, paid the piper on km 4-6, rebounded until the 9th and was fading fast (and not in a good way) for that last segment of the run. So much for a final kick (ha).

It was really inspiring when I saw a woman pushing her baby carriage and blow right by me. Aside from the, "Not again!" lament. I applaud such an effort. I wish Ville de Montreal had a snow removal crew drive as fast as her.

It was great crossing through the finish and headed into the corral. There, standing in line I saw friend from the McGill tri club. Montreal is such a small place. It was really neat. There were no time chips to speak of. When I crossed, I was handed a ticket that was to be match with a tear away section from my run bib and remitted to the race organisers. I would how that process is used to render a time.

As I exited the chute, I saw the other runners there congradulate, ol' Turtleboy. It was really nice to have your respective peers cheer on for you. Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Karl! Neat, he was only 2 minutes behind me. He's such a gifted runner. I work hard to attain what genetics has blessed him with. I keep reiterating this to him to goad him into running another full. We'll see about that.

It was about 10 minutes later that everyone from our little group had assembled itself. By that time, I started to feel cold. The dampness from the sweat and inactivity made things slightly uncomfortable. Karl was a sport to stick around and wait for us to take a group picture. With myself as a new member of this crew. I felt all warm and fuzzy all over. Apparently from my posts, DF and Coureur refer to me as the, "poet". Egads, what kind of impression have I left upon them.

Karl and I were both hungry and thirsty so we headed back to the center for food and beverage. Never in all of the races that I attended did we have to work so hard to find something to eat. Normally, the concession stand is located just as you exit the chute. We had to navigate a labyrinthe of corridors as we went from the main to the upper and ultimately to the basement to locate our food. I should have brought a dog, it would have made things easier.

Finally, we manage our way to the basement whereby there's a huge line up toward a the entrance of what appears to be a cafeteria. The dining room was located in front of the entrance and we could not tell whether or not we had to pay for the stuff. I did not have any money on hand as I left my personal effects in the car. Karl and I turned away in frustration, completely exasperated by such poor organising and decided to leave. It was just by happenstance that there happened to be a water fountain with reach of where we were. It was only then that I had my first tiny sip of water since the race began.

We headed back to the the finish line to bid farewell to my running mates. Unfortunately, they were no where to be found. Instead we were pleasantly surprised by the 1km toddler race. It was neat seeing parents encourage their tiny tots to plod along. I quipped in jest, I bet one of those psycho parents told their kid if they did not win they would go to bed without dinner :P Karl laughed. What was interesting about this race was the presennce of a 10km walk event. Nothing abnormal about that but the fact that they obtained finisher medals whilst we did not seemed odd to say the least. It would have been nice to obtain something for our consideration. Okay, Karl and I are still a bit miffed about not receiving any food for our efforts.

All in all it was a fun today as I got to spend time with my new running mates. Looking forward to the next one.

changes

It's really special when you discover that someone is about to embark on a meaningful journey. However what resounds even more is the when you realise that you are the hand by which this change is realised.

The funny thing is that in the back of my mind, meaningful changes have always equated to large fundamental changes that change the landscape. A paradigm shift for which there is no parallel. So you could imagine how suprised I was when the actual event was so subtle that I almost missed recongising it.

It's always been about the little things, the ground work if you will. Laborious tasks that receive little (if any adjulation) or fanfare. It's almost ironic that the things that we don't celebrate are the most important.

New sights and sounds

I met up with the crew of the online forum that I've been frequently for the last two weeks. Thanks to Silly Saly for introducing me to the crew: Mr. Lambchops, Mountmars, Mr and Mrs. Omni.

I arrived late at Hurley's but there they were still around swapping tales of glory and woe. It was great to meet up with them Silly Sally was so energertic that I had to fight to get a word in. It was so funny when she attempted to explain the mechanics of my running style to me, something she never tried before.

The group was surprised how I run. I didn't really matter I explained to them since I run so slow compared to them. Lambchops seemed to be fascinated as I told him I enjoyed hill training. He revealed that he lives in NDG and loves hills. On and on the coversation went and then he asked me if I wanted to run Whiteface with him this June. I heard that it was a tough course and here they are talking about how they make it an annual tradition. *gulp* I told them I'd get back to them on it.

In all fairness, Turtleboy was having fun that night and after half an hour of conversation I was able get Mountmars and Lambchop to reveal their master plan for the group. They would like the group once they find enough people to participate in the, "Reach for the Beach" relay race. That defintely appealed to me and Silly Sally quickly quipped to the group, "Turtleboy" will do it!

In all fairness she wasn't completely off the mark. I read up about the race and viewed the promotional video clip about it. Now in its 6th running, I think this would be great opportunity that will leave me with memories (if not scars) that will last a lifetime.

It's so funny. Here I am still sporting a sprained ankle and I'm dreaming of the stars. I haven't even run with them yet and here I am contemplating such a commitment. I just hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew.

Fatigue

Time 10:15am
Place University and Pine
On the menu 17.5km
Weather -10 No wind
How I felt tired, out of sorts and twisted my left ankle at intersection of Pine and University.

Trajectory: Piine-Cote Des Neiges-Boulevard-Cote St Luc Road-Connaught, Chester- Nortview, West Minister, Sherbrooke Peel

Pace slow.. about 8min per km on Garmin
Heart rate always below 150. That was today's objective.

On on set of fatigue was slow and insidious. I'm am used to feeling fatigue and reaching exhaustion after a hard sprint but today's session was different. While maintain a low heart rate. I felt myself slowing down over time in order to maintain that ceiling. Every stride became less and less fluid and required more effort and concentration. On the way back from Sherbrooke, I was looking forward to red lights at intersections.

I'm glad that it's over and done with. Honouring the heart race self imposed ceiling is something that I'll have work on.

Intentions

It feels good knowing my intentions are translating into tangible results in this new formed run group. Whilst still at an embryonic stage, I can feel a momentum propelling us forward. I'm not sure how long this motley crew of runners of varying skill levels will last but I'm an privileged to be part of it.

I've never taken the initiative to adopting the role of a co-ordinator. It feels great that people are joining us. Even more peculiar is that I'm in the process of convincing two girls to be my running mates this year to achieve a time of 3:40:00 in the marathon this year. This time will allow them to qualify for Boston.


I'm not sure why these guys and gals allow me to run with them. I chat a lot, wax poetic, and dream in technicolor and I relay to them my running goals. They are so fast! I am definitely a Turtleboy. But I won't back down. If anything, it galvanises me in a way I never have been. The motivation for running has always stemmed from within me. It feels strange yet exhilarating to be on the receiving end.

It seems that this group is getting a life of its own and now I'm being swept away by its undercurrent. I think that it's best that I sit back and enjoy the ride. I'll find out this Thursday from Dorys whether or not 3:40:00 is possible.

reward myself

I took a moment today to let go and relax and munching with reckless abandon. My legs feel like jello and I should have had some. However, I found my way to Chinatown during lunch today and ordered a, "Yin-Yang" fried rice and had a side order of egg tarts to go. They came fresh out of the oven and the yolk part was still partially liquified. Fresh and piping hot, I was able to bring them back from the store to the office in cold weather and they still remained nice and warm. I offered two to my colleagues and they both enjoyed it. Nice and fresh. Yum... I threatened being insulted for having ventured out in the cold if they did not take. They really enjoyed it. Oof. my stomach is full. I can't believe I finished the entire dish in one sitting. I feel bloated but unremorselful if such a word exists.

ugh *yum* ugh

Taking a moment

It's been a while since I've blogged. With training season in full swing, I find myself adopting blinders that focus my attention to my running and studies. Everything else seems to have cast to the periphery.

In light of being self absorbed in my training, I find myself the strange situation of having an acolyte. He's a buddy that I met a year ago at the Running Room. Really a cheery guy with a pleasant disposition. I assisted him in providing him a few nuggets of wisdom of what to consider and practise while running. You can tell that his really, "wet behind the ears" if he's taking direction from me.

However, in recent conversations, he has expressed interest in mirroiring my training schedule and practising the cross training that I do. I have no issue with that at all. In fact I'm really flattered and would greatly enjoy the company on what would be a a solitary journey. However, a concern that has recently manifested is that I am beginning to feel responsible should he not be able to attain his goal of a sub four time this year. I feel some type of fiduciary duty to him.

For the record, I am not selfish and I do want to help him but I'm worried that the opportunity cost of doing so would be my time goal for this year. I've forwarded to him my training schedule along with my what I practise in terms of strength training for my legs and yoga in order to enhance my flexibility.

However this is where, as if by a strange twist of fate, I find myself being hypocritical for doing so. For me to critcise openly would be akin to, "the pot calling the kettle black" My new running crew consists of two triathletes, a cyclist on the McGill team and and Ironman who is also the coach of the McGill cycling team. Naturally, I am the slowest of the group during our long runs. I feel privileged to belong to such a training group and I wonder when I'm with them if I am holding them back. However, they are all class and enjoy the courses that I map out a week in advance. They enjoy my company and we have great exchanges. The best thing about these people is that they are regular people who are successful in their field. I find that totally awesome. Being with them galvanises me and I am greatful that they tolerate my slower pace.

Is it possible that my acolyte feels toward me the way I do with my running group? Perhaps I am overthinking this issue. If they are willing to tolerate my, "slowness" and yet still be able to realise their objectives, perhaps I can do so as well. Then again, they do run at a faster pace than I.

Food for thought.