I've wanted to do this race for a long time. I actually entered it last year, but then my work travel plans got changed, routing me through Minneapolis instead of Seattle so I couldn't get to Victoria. This year, I really wanted to try to make it work because it was held on the day before my 50th birthday. What better way to celebrate the last day of the 45-49 AG than run in a beautiful PNW city? Also, I have had problems this year with sciatica and metatarsalgia, probably related conditions but the sciatica took me down hard halfway through Boston. After that disaster, Mustang Sally gave me a big hug and said "Come to Victoria. Really." And I said I would.

I had a work trip down to Dallas earlier in the week, and just stopped off in Seattle on the way back. DH came to Seattle from Fairbanks and we rented a car and drove up to Tsawwassen, ferried over to Vancouver Island and drove down to Victoria. Absolutely beautiful sunset on that trip... We had 8:30 dinner reservations at an Italian restaurant and it was very good. The weekend was off to a good start!

Victoria really is beautiful...

Empress Hotel:

The plan was to spend Saturday lazily and easy, with a trip to the Expo where we met up with Dove, and met some friends of ours from Fairbanks while checking out the goodies. Then a couple of stops at local wineries before heading to dinner with several KR friends. It was a reunion of sorts with Sans Souci, Mustang Sally, Dove and her mom, and a first time meeting for MS's DH, the Scot, as well as Labduck and Mrs. Labduck. After dinner, we all piled up for a photo. I think I heard Labduck mutter something like "eat your heart out, Ribs!" but I can't be sure...

Back at our room, I finished up final stressing about the weather (shouldn't have bothered: it was perfect!), getting my bib pinned, Gu packs packed in Spibelt, and yes... chip on my shoe! (anyone who knows me knows what that's all about) Got to bed early and slept like a rock, waking up just before my alarm went off. How often does that happen??

Goals for this race:

1) Finish healthy, happy and able to walk (hey, after Boston, that's a big one)

2) Improve on my NYC time of 3:57 (wanted to move up a few corrals at Boston 2010)

3) Crack 3:40, and hey, even a PR would be nice (sub 3:38:48 )

Race day dawned clear and crisp, about 35F with highs forecast for the upper 50's. Fashion report: Adidas black running skirt, NB black tee with maniac singlet, Asics Speedstar shoes (turquoise, hey whatever). Had long-sleeved thermal top and pants I got at the Expo, and DH's gloves for the start. Made it to the start with plenty of time, watched some of the 8k runners come in, visited the porta potty lines a couple of times, warmed up a bit then got in line.

This course is really beautiful. Really. There's not an ugly or boring part of it, even through the parks. Running by the waterfront was my favorite part. No big hills, but lots of ups and downs and lots of turns. I'm sure glad I was always in a pack because I'd have gotten lost without company! I peeled off my long-sleeved shirt and gloves by the 4k mark where DH was waiting to take them; it worked perfectly. I was moving well, and doing my usual go-out-too-fast thing but everything was feeling great. I'd been thinking I was primed for a good marathon, having done a very hilly (mountainous?) 50k just 3 weeks before. I finished that one 20 minutes ahead of where I thought I'd be and felt fine afterwards. All my runs between Equinox and RVM had been strong and fast, so I was feeling very good!

At about mile 8 I started feeling the need to find a porta-potty. Ok, I can ignore this, and managed to for awhile. By mile 11, it was getting more annoying. By the half, I was thinking I'd need to find a porta-pot or head to the bushes. This is unlike me. I usually don't need to go at all during races. The last time I saw DH before the half, I told him I was worried about finding one, but was going on. Sometime after the half, we turn up a street before the turnaround and I spot what appear to be unoccupied potties! Yay! I plan my visit for the return trip. Whew, what a relief... but... oh, gross! There's pee all over the seat! Bleh. And yes, I took the time to clean it off before using! I figure I lost about a minute or so in there, but oh how nice it was to be done with that!

Heading back to the finish now, and at the 26k I meet DH again for a Gu, drink and S-caps. Sort of a funny shot of what goes on during the race...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6sP73BbY20

The Kramers he mentions are our friends from Fairbanks. The wife of the couple usually beats me in shorter races here (HM and below).

Besides the potty stop, I had a couple miles where my pace seemed to "slow" because of stops like the one above, and I got some tightness in my lower back, glute and hamstring reminding me of Boston last April. Eek! So I stopped a couple times in the last 10k to stretch and press on my right SI joint, which seemed to help. DH got another short clip of me "powering" (his words) up the hill at 39k, I guess there are a lot of people walking at that point and I was running up to my water stop!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAVU4YHsRM4

Still, I was able to maintain pretty good pace all the way to the end, but I really didn't have much "kick" left to cross the finish. DH got a fuzzy video of me at the finish, showing not a struggle really, but no "sproink" as I crossed the mats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDpysUYpp8s

For the data hungry... Garmin mile splits:

Mile 1 8:04

Mile 2 7:52

Mile 3 7:55

Mile 4 8:02

Mile 5 7:49

Mile 6 7:54

Mile 7 8:05

Mile 8 8:03

Mile 9 8:10

Mile 10 7:50

Mile 11 8:01

Mile 12 8:05

Mile 13 8:06

Mile 14 7:59

Mile 15 9:15 (ah.... porta potty stop!)

Mile 16 8:07

Mile 17 8:25

Mile 18 8:17

Mile 19 8:16

Mile 20 8:17

Mile 21 8:31

Mile 22 9:22 (stretch break)

Mile 23 8:42

Mile 24 10:03 (another stop to stretch)

Mile 25 9:11

Mile 26 8:28

Last .2 (Garmin had .37) 7:37 pace

Final time: 3:39:36 (48 seconds slower than PR pace from Boston 2008), avg pace 8:23

7th out of 180 in F45-49 AG

117 out of 1122 women

629th place overall

Time at half was 1:45:24, so definitely NOT a negative split, but I've never done one of those before, why start now?

After the race, we waited for our friends from Fairbanks to finish (she got 3:44 something and a BQ), then for Dove to finish. Back to the room for an ice bath, shower, recovery and get ready for dinner. Canadian Thanksgiving at Mustang Sally's! What a spread. Great food, good friends, lovely wine... what's not to like?

We drove back to Seattle on Monday, my birthday, via the ferry to Anacortes. Then a stop for dinner at the Steelhead Diner in Pike's Market, then to the airport for our flight home. I can't imagine a better marathon weekend or birthday present than this great time with DH and friends, and an excellent marathon experience in ideal conditions.

Thanks, Mustang Sally and Victoria!!

Great illustrated report!  I feel like we were there!

 

 

So happy that all your parts behaved themselves and you finished this one strong. That's quite an accomplishment after finishing your first ultra (Equinox!)  just a few weeks ago.   This sounds like a great weekend all around, and puts this race firmly on our list for "someday".   I love Victoria.

 

Congratulations on hitting goals 1, 2 and 3.

Great race and report, evan.  You had it all, good conditions, good friends and get togethers, and met most of your goals.  Thanks for the pictures.  Congratulations.

 

TomS

Great report.  Thanks for sharing.  Congratulations on a well run race and happy belated 50th.

Great race, Erika!! and you don't look 50 ... sounds like a perfect  combination of the race and good food and friends. BC is a long way from here but maybe some day... We were in Vancouver once after climbing Mt Rainier and Mt Baker, but no racing.  I remember the area as very beautiful with good  food.

 

I will be 50 in a little over a year, so this is inspiration!

 

Congratulations again...

Loved the comment about "Ribs, eat your heart out!"

 

Sounds like a fun way to celebrate your 50th birthday and Canadian Thanksgiving. Great RR.

I can't imagine a better marathon weekend or birthday present than this great time with DH and friends, and an excellent marathon experience in ideal conditions.

 

You said it all right there.  Your race was excellent, well-run and speedy (in spite of potty/stretch breaks – congratulations on your PR!), but so many more things go into the whole experience, and you had all the right ingredients here – a great support team and husband, wonderful get-together with friends, beautiful locale, great weather – all together makes a fabulous experience.   Great race and report!

Excellent race and report!

Loved the photos, too, thanks for those.

 

You are just running so well, Erika, it's wonderful to see.  Your discipline and prep work always impresses me, and it's just so grand to see all that is paying off for you.  Congrats! 

 

And I really need to look into that race, what a course description.....

 

grins,

A

 

ps: what, no champagne to celebrate?