Week in Review

2 runs this week (forgot to run on Friday...):

Tuesday:

4.55 K after work. It began to rain in the middle of the run :-(


Today:

21.60 K this morning. Started the run late since my Garmin was had low battery (!). How that happened I don't know. I recharged it for over half an hour. Did the run on the Martin Goodman Trail. Debated whether to go west on the Humber River Bridge or take a turn. Chose incorrectly as it was freezing rain (!). It got so bad that I wanted to take the TTC back home. Fortunately, I didn't and the weather got better after about 10 minutes. Jacket from the Resolution Run is no longer good as the front zipper no longer works. Cold! Hope I don't get a cold from this. Treated myself to a fruit platter (ate it all!) at Metro afterwards.

YTD = 1539.5 K (2 more months to go!)

Week in Review

2 runs this week:

- Wednesday 4.21 K after work. First run since Toronto Marathon. Felt good.

- Today: 20.60 K. Rained overnight and I deliberately woke up late as I wanted the weather conditions to get better before the run. Ran on the Danforth. Bought some Chicken and Pork sticks for $1.25 each at Mr. Greek -- regular cost is $2.75 each -- their 22nd anniversary sale. Experimented with 5.00 K run followed by 0.15 K walk (X4). This is what I'll be doing from now on -- takes about 38 minutes for a slow 5 K run.

YTD = 1513.3 K (completed 75% of running goal 2010 K -- so, 1 month behind)

Toronto Marathon Race Report!

Woke up at 5:45 AM, walked and fed the dog, out the door at 6:30 AM and made the trek to Yonge and College to board the school bus at the Marriot Hotel. There were 3 buses ready. Arrived at Mel Lastman Square at about 7:30 AM. The bus headed north on Yonge Street rather than take the Don Valley Parkway route. This year, the bus wasn't free as it cost $5 to board -- no alternative but to pay.

Once I put my jacket in a Sears bag and dropped it off at the truck, I headed to the North York City Hall to stay warm. Not much to do except loosen my uper back (always stiff!) as well as stretch the left calf. I did see the half marathoners at the start which was great to see.

9 AM start. There were a total of 1991 marathoners in this year's race. Beautiful day for a fall race! A bit cool at the start but that quickly wasn't an issue.

What a beautiful route! South on Yonge Street, up the challenging Hoggs Hollow (I ran it!), and mainly downhill -- which is amazing. This is the first time I've run the full marathon and it was great to pass by Castle Loma (the downhill was very fast!) and then south on Rosedale Valley (again downhill!). Then through St. Lawrence Market before the half and full marathon route diverged. The remaining 20 K was on the Martin Goodman Trail, which I have done endless times. The wind was something at times :-| I had to power walk up the hill on the Lakeshore. The final 3 K or so north on York and University Ave were particularly challenging -- I had to stop every couple of minutes for a quick walk. Once I was close to the turn at Queen's Park to the finish line, I kept saying "Push" as I wanted to finish strong.

Place = 1061 out of 1991
Gun Time = 4:11:59.6
Chip Time = 4:10:36.2
Pace = 5:59
Age = 119/205
Gender = 813/1338
First 21.1 K = 1:56:46 (gun time)
Last 21.1 K = 2:15:14 (always happens as I struggle in the final 10 K)
Last 12 K = 1:08:16
First 30 K = 3:03:45

Overall, a truly AMAZING race! Love the route. Not the entertainment like the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. But, lots of spectators throughout the course. Never a dull moment! I did feel bad for the backlog of cars which had no where to go. What I like about this race is there isn't the feeling of elitism like the Toronto Waterfront Marathon -- no Kenyans in this race.

The usual bagels, bananas, and oranges at the finish line. But, there were vendors such as St. Yves which gave out free veggie chilli and potato chip sticks -- yum!

I'm very happy with this race. Surprised how well I did considering I ran the Toronto Waterfront 3 weeks ago. My finish time was only 4.5 seconds longer. The best part was the HEAVY finish medals -- puts the Mississauga Marathon medal to shame :-|

I will definitely run the Toronto Marathon next year on May 15, 2011. Love the downhill!

And Bud is proud to wear my finisher's medal!

Toronto Marathon Expo

Went this morning to pick up my bib and tech shirt for the Toronto Marathon. This year, the expo has moved from the Sheraton on Queen Street (great location) to the Direct Energy Place in the CNE (same location as the expo for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon). Interestingly, not the entire room was used. Picked up bib and tech shirt:


I particularly like the tech shirt -- just have no idea why I selected Large -- which I couldn't change. A few years ago, I selected small. I tried the Large on and it'll do. There were previous years' shirts at the expo selling for $5. I would prefer the timing chip but this race is using the bib chip. Since I won't be wearing my Garmin, this shouldn't be an issue.

At the expo, I shopped at the Toronto Marathon booth and bought a jacket (to wear, not to run in). The jacket I really wanted was in medium size and too big. I needed a small and settled with:

Also bought 3 gels (although they're giving gels during the race tomorrow). Walked the expo 4 times and then made the trek back home.

Goal: To FINISH the 42.2 K tomorrow morning

Prize: Finisher's Medal that is 5 inches in diameter! Wow -- the Toronto Waterfront medal is 2.5 inches.

Thursday's run

1 run on the weekday as I have some "down time" to get ready for my second marathon in 3 weeks. 4.48 K. YTD = 1446.3 K

LSD in beautiful fall weather!

What a beautiful fall day! No humidity, cool morning for running, warm afternoon. 26.22 K this morning using 30:1 (X6). The final 30 minutes were challenging which makes me wonder if the 42.2 K next week is going to be challenging or unbearable (!). Reminds me to respect the distance. Goal is to finish next week's Toronto Marathon by running it. Looking forward to the expo and the actual race :-) YTD = 1441.8 K on this special day of 10-10-10.

Expensive!

Just registered for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon -- their early bird special until November 10. Wow -- it's $75.00 + HST ($9.75) + on-line processing fee ($6.78) = $91.53. The full marathon will be well over $100.00. Expensive!!! Reminds me the only races I'm signing up for in the year 2011 will be half marathons, 30 Ks, and full marathons. I just cannot afford paying over $50 for a 10 K anymore :-(

Yesterday's Run + Marathons

Got in 4.30 K after work yesterday in my school neighbourhood. Glad I got it in as I want to continue to routine of weekday runs. YTD = 1415.6 K

Just received an e-mail that I am bib #52 for Sunday, October 17th Toronto Marathon. 1.5 weeks away! Continue to feel good recovering from the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 26th. The upcoming weekend is supposed to be great weather -- 20C :-) Hope to get in 25.5 K and then that's it until marathon day. It's going to be challenging to complete the marathon but my goal is to finish the 42.2 K.

There's an early bird for registering for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. $75 until November 10. But there's also a $5.50 on-line fee not to mention having to add on HST. Ouch! Not really an early bird fee :-|

Week in Review

Recovery week from the full marathon last week. The evening of running the marathon was tough -- the legs were VERY sore. The next day ditto. Tuesday felt good. 3 days rest in total and then on Thursday ran for 30 minutes (4.26 K). This morning, ran 21.1 K along the Martin Goodman Trail -- wow, it was cool! Wore track pants and a jacket. Windy when running east. YTD = 1411.3 K

Here is the link that shows me running to the finish line at last week's Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I was super exhausted and once I hit the first mat, I stopped running (!). I think it's the 2nd mat that determines one's time.
http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=63213&BIB=3546&VLOC=Full%20Marathon%20Finish%20Line

Reflecting on last week's marathon, glad I did it! What I need to do differently for the spring 2011 is to include some strength training. From 32 K to the finish line is soooo tough!