race day

My friend Jim and I, at the pasta supper on the eve of our first 1/2 marathon race.

All packed and ready to go, I tried to get to sleep early, finally falling into bed at around 10 pm. Could I sleep? Oh no.

I had had a very exciting lesson with my Amharic tutor in Toronto, Saturday morning. He asked me if it would be okay with me if he gave me the names of some people I could visit and stay with in Addis, and if I'd have room in my luggage for a few items he and his wife would like to send to their family in Addis.

It would make my dreams come true! Imagine, not having to stay in some impersonal hotel room, but to be invited into somebody's home! Why would I say no to that??

And, I had already planned on taking two suitcases: a larger suitcase filled with clothing, etc., that would hopefully benefit somebody, and just stuffing my smaller suitcase into the larger, for my return trip.

Then, I barely had time to do some laundry, so that my running gear would be clean and dry for the morning, before dashing out again to a pasta supper with the gang on the eve of our big race.

It seemed so difficult to turn my mind off, to get to sleep, because I just wanted to think about all the exciting possibilities before me. Back and forth, my thoughts flicked from wondering how the race would go to imagining what my upcoming trip to Ethiopia will be like.

I did finally sleep, but I woke up at midnight, at 3 am, & at 3:20 am. Finally giving up at 3:40 am, I got out of bed to eat a runner's breakfast of rolled oats (raw), organic meusli, slivered almonds, plain yogurt and pineapple. Shower, dress, another paranoid check of my check-list.

• eload capsules (my stomach goes into knots with Gatorade as an electrolyte supplement during races) -- check
• GU (one of my favorite energy gels to restore energy consumed during a race, plus it's tolerated by my stomach and tastebuds) -- check
• change of clothes and warmup jacket for after the race -- check
• cellphone in case I lose my running buddies after the race -- check
• receipt to present (if needed, as I prepaid for this) for my 15 minute massage post race -- check
• camera -- check
• $20 in a pocket of my belt in case I need it after the race -- check

Okay: I'm dressed. Race bib is not upside down (how embarrassing!).Timing chip is secured to my shoe. I have my hair-elastics and running cap to keep my hair & the sun/rain out of my eyes.

Last minute thoughts: throw in plastic containers of fruit, of cereal, left-over rice & curry (not eaten.) Add a pullover to my bag in case it's cold by the lake ( I used the pullover because I got rid of the mylar blanket provided after the race too soon and had to retrieve the pullover from the car when I started to chill.)

The race itself was an incredible experience. And many, many thanks go to Mary and Kieran, our 1/2 marathon clinic leaders, for their time, dedication and insights. Andrew (our 2:15 pacer)ran with me for over 1/2 of the race, bathroom break and all, encouraging me to keep going. Davey G. (the 1:50 pacer) popped up near the 19 km mark to cheer me on (it's wonderful when somebody pronounces my name right from the sidelines!). As I approached the last uphill and the last 800 m, I thought of my mom and my kids, particularly my son, and I ran for them. Some fool at the 700m mark thought it would be encouraging to yell "only 700 m to go..." It might have as well have been 700 km. Not helpful. At 300 m I was determined not to walk. I was determined I'd run in, one step at a time, and finish standing up and smiling. At 100 m, I heard my name again, but couldn't look to see who it was. I realized later that it must have been Chris and Wade. Thanks, guys!!

An amazing feeling. Sweaty, congratulatory hugs all around. Then my wonderful massage...

Of course we had to stay to watch the full-marathon runners come in. Mary & Kieran were special to us, having been our clinic leaders for the 10 km, and then the 1/2!

No pics allowed of the party after the race. I certainly wasn't up to operating a camera any more. I had already taken about 2 min worth of video featuring my left shoe at one point...

A beer on arrival back in Whitby, another at Melanie Pringle's, a marguerita & mexican fare at the Mexican restaurant at Taunton and Gerrard...I felt so tired and fuzzy when I got home, I could barely find the cold water tap for a therapeutic bath for my tired legs (brrrr! still an insane things to do -- sorry, Davey G.! -- but I've gotta believe it helped).

Philly's Fools

March 30, when I rolled out of bed, slightly anxious, not really knowing what to expect, the day looked okay, sunny, maybe slightly breezy.

My first race ever, since school picnics in elementary school days! I had entered with some others from my running clinic to run the 5 km race. There was also a 10 km run, as well as walkers doing both distances.

Philly's Fools is put on by a dedicated group of runners and raises money for different charities each year. This year's beneficiaries were the Sea Cadets. Sea Cadets were on hand with music to start off the festivities with a bang. Hosted by the Running Room, the headquarters on race day was the Whitby Marina Club House and it turned out to be a wonderful place to get out of the freezing wind!

Anyhow, nerves and all, I thought the sun would be warmer than it was, so I left off some of my usual wintry layers. Hah! What a mistake. As soon as we arrived by the lake, I realized I'd made a huge mistake! The wind from the east was icy!

Well, the festivities pre-race seemed interminable, but finally we were outside at the finish line, after adjustments were made to the course due to dangerous patches of ice across the path in places.

Not too bad, I thought, not too bad. It's taking me a while to get warmed up. I'm freezing my ass off, but this is not too bad. Maybe I'll run it under 30 min. That was my goal. The course made a U-turn at the half-way mark and that's when the laces on my right shoe came untied. I had been running more or less with Kelly until then. I kept her in sight after I re-tied the laces (lesson learned about knots for the next race).

Not too bad. Not too bad. I'm getting into a nice rhythm now. Maybe on the turn across the bottom of the bay I'll push my speed up a bit to be sure I get in under 30 min, I'm thinking. Pass Chris. Kelly is way ahead of me. Turn into the stretch across the bottom of the bay. AND get HIT in the face with a huge, bitterly cold easterly wind that nearly takes my breath away! Humph! Keep running. Just keep running.

Zip! A long-legged blond-haired youngster with pink cheeks flies past me. I cross the finish line at 34 min 49 sec for my 5 km, short of my goal, but not bad, I think.

The blond gazelle won the 10 km, coming across the finish line ahead of me at something like 32 min. Geez!!

(more photos of organizers, etc. can be seen at http://www.snapwhitby.com/ )