Race Report - Toronto Waterfront Marathon - Marathon #7

Marathon #7 is in the books :-) Great weather for running a marathon - cloudy and cool 14C - okay, not perfect due to the winds. Yesterday was very windy. Fortunately no rain.

Set the alarm at 6:15 AM and went back to bed until 6:45 AM. Gave Bud his walk and breakfast then it was ready to get dressed. Wore last year's tech shirt. In the small pocket in my running shorts, took along my Health Card (never know), $20 bill, and house key. Tied the timing chip to my shoe using the plastic tie I bought as a package from the Dollar Store a few years ago. Had to check I was registered for the marathon (and not half-marathon) since the bib is yellow - past years has always been red. 800 m slow run to the start line, got in a bit of stretching, and then made it to the corral start line.

Happened to be appropriately placed since happened to be in the Blue colour corral start (which I registered). It took 5 minutes 5 seconds before I reached the official start line after the official gun went off. The 9 AM mass start of half- and full marathoners, as always, made it a crowded start [3955 marathoners, 8828 half marathoners 12 783 registrants in total]. All the events (5K, half, full) were sold out. The starting line was on University Avenue north of Queen Street.

Start to 5K: Perhaps having such a mass start is good since it forces one not to start too quickly. But due to the lack of room to run, one must becareful not to bump into someone else or to step into a pothole. Once we reached Wellington Street, we headed east, past the Flatiron building (corner of Wellington and Church) and then passed the Distillery District (new route) before making it to running under the Lakeshore Blvd. bridge and heading west. Water stations at 3K and 5K -- which mean a quick walk break and water. Pacing for first 5K averaged 5:45/K.

5K to 10K: Lots of spectators and entertainment as we ran west on Lakeshore Blvd West, approaching CNE. Water station at 8K, took a mix of Gatorade and water. Pacing averaged 5:29/K. Reaching the 10K timemat at 57:18. Like always, I seem to always run fast at the beginning and then struggle at the end :-| Entertainment by Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre

10K to 15K: At the 11K, reached Windemere Road and turn around (time mat here) and headed east on the Lakeshore. Ran up the 400 m hill without any difficulty (have done this many times in training on the Martin Goodman Trail). Saw my hero, 100 year old Fauja Singh, running with a group of pacers. He was surprisingly running very slowly and near the end of the runners and walkers. I was a worried since I expected him to be a bit faster (maybe since he broke 8 records a few days before). Appropriately, he is wearing bib #100 :-) Water stations at 11K and 13.5K and I drank only Gatorade at these stations. Pacing averaged 5:25/K. Entertainment called "Welcome to Swansea".

Fauja Singh finished the marathon in 8:11:05.9 :-)

15K to 20K: Past Ontario Place and Coronation Park, the banners for diverging the half- and full-marathoners at the 18K. Then it was continuing east on Queen's Quay with a much smaller group of runners. Clif Gels distributed at 16K. I took 2 gels but did not consume them yet. Water stations at 16.5K and 18.5K. Pacing averaged 5:23/K so still going strong. Entertainment by St. Christopher House.

20K to 25K: Getting tired :-| Ran east on Queen's Quay until Cherry Street and then south. Went past the bridge - fortunately, there was a mat so wouldn't be running on steel! Ran south to the Clarke Beach and then headed back north to Commissioners Street. Not an wasy route (new route this year) since there was uphill incline at times. Entertainment by "Friends of Epilepsy Toronto" shelter and a steel drum band but otherwise a quiet running route. Pacing has gone to average 5:45/K, noting the bit slower pace. Took first gel at the 21K water station. Mistakingly took water (!) at the 23K and took second gel at 24.5K water station.

25K to 30K: East on Commissioners Street. Seemed to go on forever as it was a quiet area and isolated area to run. Once we reached Leslie Street, south to Unwin (in front of Tommy Thompson Park) and then north on Leslie to Lakeshore Blvd East. Not too difficult, although the north route seemed it would be challenging. The "Taste of Little Asia" is always enjoyable entertainment. Pacing similar at 5:46/K. Water stations at 27K and 30K much needed for Gatorade. Got 2 Clif Gels at the 27K and kept them.

30K to 35K: Always the toughest part of the race since the final 1/3 of the race is never easy. Longest run has been 32K so depending on the spectators and the other runners to motivate me to the finish line. To assist, I tried to find a runner at a good pace -- found one person but he ended up too slow; found another but she was too fast and disappeared. The "rolling hills" were not as challenging as last year. Last year, the 4 hour pace bunny surpassed me at the 32K; this year, that happened at 33K, so I knew I was doing well. The crowds on the Queen Street were great (Beach Neighbourhood) -- just the uphills (!) were not easy. Entertainment from the Beaches Community at Kew Gardens Park and at Kingston Road. Once we reached Neville Park Blvd, turned around and headed weat. Took 3rd gel at 30K and then Gatorade at 31.5K and believe I took my 4th gel at 34K. Pacing shows my struggle, averaging 6:09/K. Tired (exhausted??) and the legs have had their beating.

35K to 40K: Once reaching Coxwell Avenue, that meant the worst is over. Heading west on Eastern Avenue would have been easy since it is fairly flat or slight downhill. But with the rolling hills in the Beaches neighbourhood, the running was slower - and needed quick walk breaks. Power walked up the Don Valley Flyover - no way I could run it. Even the Power walk seemed slow. Wow was I exhausted. Each K seemed to go on and on -- not to mention we were running INTO the wind -- aargh! Pacing averaged 7:00/K -- and this is on flat surface! Took 5th gel (I purchased this one at the expo) at the 38K, I believe. Gatorade at the 36K.

40K to finish line: Continued to run into the wind. Ran on Front Street, through St. Lawrence Market, past Flatiron Building and then on Wellington Street. Route had us running on the hard surface of the streetcar tracks. Saw the 500 m sign and then continued to run as fast as I could (and it was not fast since there was nothing left in me) to the finish line -- I like the signs "400 m left", "300 m left", "200 m left", "100 m left"). Pacing averaged 7:35/K. Final water station at 40K. Lots of spectators cheering the racers to the finish line (not at City Hall this year).

Post Race: Got 2 bananas, an apple, and 2 bagels. Kept walking slowly -- wow once I reached the finish line the legs were hurting (more than usual). The space blanket was great as I did not bring a jacket -- wore the space blanket home. Enjoyed the OASIS orange juice samples. I overheard one man say that he was going in the underground plaza -- I opted not to since walking stairs was tough. Hope the legs will not be too sore tomorrow. Need to take care since immune to viruses the next few days after a marathon.

Garmin recorded I ran 42.55K (extra 350 m as the route is measured with the shortest distance at turns). Average pacing is 5:54/K, which is fine since it is under my goal of 6 min/K.

Gun Time = 4:15:59.3
Chip Time = 4:10:54.3
Pace = 6:04 (gun time)
Age Category = 300 out of 443
Gender Category = 1500 out of 2552

Reached 10K at 57:18
Reached 21.1K at 1:57:49
Reached 30K at 2:49:53
Reached 35K at 3:20:20
Reached 40K at 3:55:18


Happy Marathon #7 is now in the books. Never easy to complete. The final 10K always so challenging.

When I got home, radio was reporting a 27-year old man died of a heart attack in the half marathon -- collapsed with 300 m to go. Perhaps he sprinted to the finish line. Always scary when this happens.

Two Canadians qualified for the 2012 London Olympics! Eric Gillis and Reid Coolsat. I picked up an autograph from Eric Gillis at the running expo -- but didn't get to meet him. It says he ran more than 2400K in the past year, hoping to reduce his finish time by 40 seconds.

And Fauja Singh, 100 years old, is the oldest man ever to finish a marathon. I will pick up my 11x14 photo taken with Fauja after work tomorrow from Walmart. Will go up in my office very soon.

The question...do I sign up for the Hamilton Marathon which takes place in 3 weeks? Running is an addiction...