Notes
Mistakes:
Saturday, was spent getting to and from too many places on foot. Grrrr, I said I wouldn't make this mistake again but lo and behold we walked all around, between the 5K race (the 5 and 10K races were held on the Saturday) to lunch, shopping, to dinner, back to the race 10K race to watch friends and then to the awards area where we stood forever waiting for the age group medals to be presented only to find out that age group medals are mailed out!
Race:
I was hoping for a sub 3:40 but running a HM 2 weeks ago and spending all day Saturday on my feet and not really getting a decent meal on Sat. Had me bonking pretty bad.
I started out ok with and 8:30 first mile, an 8:15 second mile but then knocked off far too many sub 8's putting me on track for a 3:30 by 10'. By the half I was still on track for sub 3:40 (1:48-) but started feeling fatigued. In fact I felt better at the half marathon I ran in 1:38 2 weeks ago than I did at this point . All I could think of was all of you Running Ahead'ers saying HTFU so I continued to average 8 minute miles until about 17 and then slowed a bit. By 20 I knew I'd overcooked this bird and hoped for the best usng all of the positive thinking and mantras I know of to get me through. Extended walk breaks came into play from here on in.
Funny thing, at mile 20, the velcro strap knee tensors I have been wearing were hot and making me feel very restricted. I pulled aside ripped them off and tossed them beside a landmark I know I would remember so I could go back and get them later. I felt much better after this and wonder if I should have done this sooner as they are more of a crutch that I use on long runs only. I did the rest of the race without issue and the old knee pains have not returned. Hmmm. By the way, we drove by that landmark later on. No knee braces to be found...sharp cleanup crew!
Slowtime: Mile 21 was over 10 minutes and 24 was almost 10 minutes. I hadn't looked at my watch for a while as I assumed I wasn't even going to break 4 hours (those walk breaks felt like eternities especially because my legs didn't respond when I told them to start euuning!) At 24.5 I finally looked and realized if I toughed it out I'd get in under 3:50 so somehow I managed to run/walk it in and actually enjoyed the beautiful finishing road alongside the Rideau Canal. although I couldn't oblige the spectators offering high fives as I didn;t have the energy to lift my arms.
With .2 to go I was walking and a race director told me to get running for the finishing photo. I just looked at him, no energy to even smile and say who cares...then I broke into stride, realized I had made it through another marathon successfully and smiled for the cameras feeling so relieved it was over and immediately looking forward to the next one. Strange ya?
MTA: It did get hot. Not many people I spoke to came close to the times they were expecting. Several strangers I spoke to said they lost it at the end due to the heat. I was constantly soaking myself with water and felt ok heat wise but a lot of people complained and I saw many at the side, with medics, towards the end. I don't particularly blame the heat for my slowdown. but who knows (it was about 75 by the end of the race)
The Pros
Great City, great start finish area, decent post race food. Medals are one of my favourites. Awesome course with some of the best fan support I have seen. The entire course, save for a few of the early mile is absolutely stunning, rolling hills, beautiful rural areas mixed will lovely old streets and picturesque downtown Ottawa areas, a lot of which runs along the canal. I highly recommend this race.
The Cons
There were limited amount of porto potties along the course although last year there were plenty. I wonder why this changed. I had no issues peeing in the bushes but I feel bad for the ladies, maybe who had to do their best squatting out of site.
Full report
http://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/6b948a0fd5714aa294516721d2f701bf