Respecting the distance

Tshirt and bib

On Saturday evening, at 5:30 pm, I participated in the Midsummer Night 30k race. This was our "midterm" exam so to speak. This was the race that we were to use to determine where we're at in our training. I was fairly excited about this race. I have done the distance before but still it was always in a training group run environment. You do lots of stops, the pace is slower, there is no pressure. This was a race and like it or not, there is always a tiny bit of pressure during a race.

This was NOT our shuttle bus...

Day of, I'm careful NOT to do too much even though we went to the CanFit Pro conference. Walking around checking things out really tires your legs. I was home by noonish, ate, showered and was asleep by 1:30 for an hour or so. I was careful to drink lots of water but to stop/diminish it about 1 hour before start of race. Finally meet a few friends to take the shuttle to the race. As I walk towards the hotel, I see this beautiful car and giggle thinking how great it would be to arrive in style... alas, a school bus is our transportation du jour :)

Running peeps getting ready

We eventually arrive at the race. Great ambiance. It's not a huge race but well attended and it sells out every year. In addition to the marathon clinic, I see a few people I know, especially someone I respect immensely as a runner, Dave Emilio. He runs out of the Beach area. We had a little chat, he tells me he's been following my updates on Facebook and that it looks like my training is going well for Montreal. He's very encouraging.

Running peeps

It's a hot and humid afternoon and the sun is again behind the clouds. After the group photos and a quick 2k warmup run, we line up. I position myself between the 3:15 and 3:30 pace fairies. The plan is to sort of start with the 3:15 and fall back to 3:30 if I'm tired. "Officially" I aim for 3:30 but secretly I'm hoping for 3:15. Anything less than 3:15 would be a dream but I also know that it's a race environment so anything can happen.

And we're off. A few of my peeps are at the front, some in the middle and I'm towards the back. I quickly lose the 3:15 so fall into the 3:30. She doesn't seem to follow the same time pace as me. I'm fast by about 10 seconds. Not keen on this. Then I heard her asking the people if the pace was ok??? This is not what one expects from a pace fairy. Second walking break, she's way off than my watch so since I felt good, I decide to continue on my own. I'm not that much faster anyway. At the 10k mark, I look at my watch - 1:05. Quick calculation... if I do every 10k like this, the 3:15 is in my sight. I'm happy with that. If I can, I will speed up towards the end.

Finally good race pictures!!

Second 10k is a little more laborious. I'm getting tired, the combination of heat/humidity/gels and gatorade is not working well with my body. My tummy is taking it but I'm feeling sluggish. I soldier on. Man that Leslie Spit is desolate, beautiful scenery with great lanscape of downtown Toronto in the background but not much else. I'm still ok, totally enjoying the new sense of freedom that comes from running without music. At one point I hear steps behind me, fast steps. Someone I know (he runs with the Longboats and the Rats) zooms by me, followed by others. Zoom, zoom, zoom, one after the other. WTF???? then I remember, the 15k group started at 6:45. That explains it. Soon my little steady pace is pushed a bit by them. I then hear a familiar voice behind me saying "On lache pas Sylvie" and my spirits instantly lift. It's a guy who runs in my clinic, a real sweetheart from Quebec with his wife from the US and they are so nice, genuine, down to earth.

We finally make it around the lighthouse, turning around to come out of the spit. I know the route, I did it last weekend so I know where we are. I'm tired at that point, taking more walking breaks than I should. I drink gatorade and it's making me a bit nauseous. I take a gel and immediately realize it's a mistake. I didn't throw up but felt close many times. So this is how one feels... lol

I finally reach the end of the spit. Never have been so happy to see the exit. I have 7k to go. A friend is at the exit, she runs a few steps with me, asking me if I'm ok. I'm ok but tired is all I can manage. I soldier on. I see other friends with one who bailed out (I found out later that another one had been taken to hospital due to dehydration). They are all cheering us, giving me high five and my spirits start to soar. This is not the end by any means, I still have another 1/2 hour or so to go. I'm not even looking at my watch, I don't want to stress. All I do is look at how much time I have left till my walking break.

Not the best quality but a great finish :)

Last 2 ks felt surreal. I passed many people I knew, some I didn't know. I heard the conversations, the support, the encouragement. I reached the street, I couldn't remember how far it was. I took as many walking breaks as I could and walked very fast when I did. Then I'd run some more. Finally I saw someone I knew encouraging us and he said "it's just around the corner" and I knew he was right, turned the corner, started to speed up. Crossed the finish line with the biggest smile on my face. Hit the pause button, grabbed a bottle of water, looked down at my watch and couldn't believe my eyes... 3:16! I had done it! I had, almost, reached my goal! I got all teary.

Then nausea set in. I couldn't stand still I had to move but I was totally uncoordinated. Someone asked me if I was ok, I met a few friends, sat down but couldn't bear looking at food. Talked about the race, got cold and went to fetch my bag. Found another few friends, still couldn't eat. Someone put a beer in front of me and I didn't think I could drink it but it went down ok :) I guess I'm tougher than I thought :)

Went home, took my wet/sweaty clothes off put on bathrobe, laid down on couch. An hour later, the shivers started. Couldn't get warm. I should have drank a cup of tea but I was too tired to make one. This is one of the situations where you really would like to be with someone... Went to bed, took Ibuprofen and waited for it to kick in.

So I learned a few things about this race:

1. I run well without music. I didn't miss it at all.
2. I still have to work on that "race pace", I'm hoping the pace bunny in Montreal will be more reliable.
3. Heat/humidity is still my nemesis.
4. Gatorade and gels are NOT good in my system on long runs.
5. 30k is a long distance, 42.2k even more. Respect the distance, pace accordingly.
6. It will be awesome to have someone pacing me at the 30k mark.
7. I will not hesitate to encourage spectators to cheer us and I will encourage other runners.

Went for breakfast with some friends the next morning. I felt a bit better after ingesting some food and rehashing the race with them. One did a DNF as she had all the signs of dehydration. 

Yummy crepe

Lovely 3:16 medal...

I will be back Midsummer Night. Maybe not next year but one day...