Race Report - Around the Bay 30 K

Around the Bay 30 K Road Race in Hamilton is the oldest race in North America, began in 1894, and 3 years older than Boston (as they proudly display on their tech shirt). The above photo was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_Bay_Road_Race

Left the house at 7:45 AM and made the trek to Hamilton for the 9:30 AM start. Wore last year's tech shirt and shorts. Opted to take off the jacket and leave in the car since forecast was 17C. Weather conditions were great as it was cloudy and 9C at the start. Got off the QEW at the Main Street East exit and parked the car on a side street for free (Park St South) - need to remember to do this in the future rather than pay for parking. Did a slow run of 2.17 K to the start - good thing I did since the race had already started.

I started with the end of the pack and it was tight to run past people. Here is what I remember:
* The first 20 K was relatively flat, with an uphill incline for the 15 K harbour bridge (not fun running on steel).
* First 5 K or so was quite packed - couldn't really see the residential areas as was focused on getting on pack below 6 minutes/km.
* 20 K to 23 K was rolling hills - I enjoyed running downhill but power walked the uphill
* 25 K - fixture with man playing Queens. Always nice to high 5 him
* 26 K Valley Inn Rd hill - power walked it with many others - no way was going to run it and destroy the legs
* 27 K to finish was downhill incline :-)So didn't stop and kept running
* Always nice to high 5 the Grim Reaper - another fixture!
* Sun came out at about 23 K and made it more difficult to run
* Lots of volunteers at the fluid stations (although didn't know which was water and gatorade unless heard the yell); also lots of volunteers to distribute the food and medal
* Residential areas had people clapping and banging pot pans - it is a great race in which is a tradition for Hamilton
* with 200 m finish into Copps Collesium, was careful this year not to have any accidents - think it was 2 years ago, nearly twisted the left leg?
* Only concern was using escalators to go up to street level -- there are 2 escalators and 1 was not in use (!) Huge back log of people

Went to the Swiss Chalet for lunch - ordered take-out and at it at the neighbouring mall. Thrilled with getting under 3 hours and in addition to the 2.17 K slow warm-up run, that brings today's mileage to 32.17 K. (YTD = 266.17 K) No issues during the race so am on track for the Toronto Marathon on May 6th. Just need to continually stretch, stretch, stretch. Did feel tightness on the left calf - so will stretch that as well (last spring's running injury).

Gun Time = 3:03:52.8
Chip Time = 2:58:34.4
Pace = 5.58
Place = 3546 out of 7444
Age Category = 365 out of 492
Gender Category = 2213 out of 3139
10 K Split = 1:02:46.7
15 K Split = 1:30:43.2
20 K Spolit = 1:59:22.4