Cool links!

A couple of cool links!

(1) Mississauga Marathon will be celebrating its 10 year.

Here are the 10 years of marathon finisher's medals: (double click for larger view) [from http://pinterest.com/saugamarathon/ which has other cool photos]

(2) Around the Bay 30 K race recognizes racers with 5+ years of participation. I made the list last year!
http://www.aroundthebayroadrace.com/stats/recog.htm#5

Spring 2013 Races

Confirmed races for 2013:

* Sunday, March 24, 2013: Around the Bay 30 K $90 + $6 process fee = $96
This will be the 6th year participating in this race. An important race to prep for the full marathon.

* Sunday, May 5, 2013: Mississauga Marathon $70 + 13% tax = $79.10
Once again, the Toronto Marathon and Mississauga Marathon are on the same day (!). I have chosen Mississauga this year since the hills in the Toronto race are draining on the legs. Will miss the huge finisher's medal, though. Haven't done the Mississauga race since 2010. This was my very first marathon as a walker.

* Sunday, May 26, 2013: Whitby International Marathon $30 + $3 process fee = $33.00 
What a bargin - how can I say no? Did this race last spring and it was great. There is running on gravel so it cannot rain.

* Saturday, June 22, 2013: Niagara 50 K Ultra $75 Did the 50K ultra last year and it was a major accomplishment. This year, no 100K race so everyone will be in the 50K. Turnaround at Niagara Falls is amazing. I should bring a camera this year.     Currently in dilemma with the fall marathons. Just found out Toronto Waterfront Marathon is a week later on Sunday, October 20. This would mean 2 weeks until the Hamilton Marathon - not good... Should I run the Niagara Falls Marathon instead?? Or 2 marathons in 2 weeks??

Embarassed it's been this long since posting! Been a busy December but have gotten a few runs in:

December 4 - 2.5 K
December 9 - 10 K LSD
December 11 - 3 K
December 15 - 12 K LSD
December 19 - 2.5 K
December 23 - 15 K LSD
December 25 - 5 K

YTD = 1413.7 K

Will post summary for year soon!

update

Been a "long" time since posting. Battled a cold for a week - coughed in the face twice by a colleague at work :-( Anyways, running less these days to allow the legs time to rejuvenate.

November 20 - 3.5 K
November 28 - 2.5 K
December 2 - 8.0 K (1 hour run without a break)

YTD = 1368.7 K

This week in review

Now that 2012 races are over, I think it'll be good to decrease the mileage to allow for any minor "tears" to heal - so nothing major occurs in the spring - when I make an annual visit to the sports medicine doctor with an injury :-| Had a deep tissue massage on Wednesday (okay, arrived on Tuesday after work only to find out I arrived on the wrong day!) - RMT said the legs were tights - so she loosened them.

Three runs this week: Tuesday = 3 K; Thursday = 3.5 K; today = 10 K [total = 16.5 K]

Today was the Santa Claus Parade. During my 10 K run, went to Bloor and Ossington (like I did last year) to see the floats. Since I arrived at 11:30 AM (got out of bed at 10 AM), many families were already lined up on the edge of the sidewalk. Santa was enthusiastic (and must be exhausted at the end of the parade).

Took Bud to the Winter Woofstock both today and yesterday. He saw many dogs. This year, the $8 on-line admission allowed for admittance to both days. Bud had a great time seeing other dogs - as well as eating scraps off the floor :-| Bought him a bone, which he enjoyed for a couple of hours yesterday. Stocked up on 4 more bones as well as some treats.

YTD = 1354.7 K

first run after Marathon

First run since the Hamilton Marathon. To avoid injury, going to take it easy on the mileage this winter. Then will begin spring training. 10 K this morning - beautiful 17C weather - on Remembrance Day!

YTD = 1338 K

Race Report: Hamilton Marathon

Left the house at 5 AM to make the trek to Hamilton for the Road2Hope Marathon. Last night, I did a quick mapquest search on directions - I should have printed it since I only wrote down to get off at exit 89, to the Red Hill Valley Parkway. I ended up past Hamilton in Ancaster! Then did a detour, exited on King Street, asked at a couple of Petro Canada gas stations and arrived at Confederation Park with minutes to go. Found a parking spot, picked up bib and tech shirt - lady was rude as she told me to take the red tech shirt - only large left - and to get on the bus. Was thrilled (relieved) I made it on the bus to make it to the start line at Arcelor Mittal Dofasco Park (in Stoney Creek). When leaving the school bus, learned the race was delayed by 10 minutes as the police were not all ready - great news!

Wore a base layer spandex as well as the Toronto Waterfront Marathon tech shirt from last year. Wore my Toronto Marathon pants. Took along my toque but left it in the car! That's what happens when rushed :-| Temperature was 2C to 4C and cloudy.

The first 5 K had 4 (?) rolling hills (!). Never fun as I did not hill train. Being on the edge of the escarpment, superb view of the city looking down. It took 16 K to reach the Red Hill Valley Parkway and the view was rural. It took about 8 K before I got in the groove of running as I opted to run fast at the beginning. Enjoyed the downhill decline of the parkway from 16 K to 22 K but the legs got tired as there were turns. 26 K to 30 K were, although slightly downward was tough since the wind blowing at us. I was confused when I saw the 33 K sign - I did not realize once we reached 32 K, we had to make a loop and repeat the route of 26 K to 30 K. The great news was there was no wind heading south (30 K to 32 K; 35 K to the finish line) - this allowed me to run "strong". There was a time mat at the 30K/34K to ensure we passed it twice (for the loop).

Took 5 gels (3 of my own and 2 from the course). A bit confusing whether volunteers were giving e-Load or water as they were in the same cup and often had to ask.

There was a lady who was taken by the paramedics to the hospital - never a good sight.

Not sure why I did not receive an e-mail outlining the race weekend - I even checked my spam.

The race was well organized - would do it again. In fact, this is the 2nd time I've done the marathon. In its first year, it was downhill on the Red Valley Parkway and then uphill - fortunately this has been changed. I remember walking the marathon - it was called the Flying Squirrel Road2Hope Marathon.

Finish = #963 out of 1082
Gun Time = 4:45:52
Chip Time = 4:45:25
Age = 124 out of 134
Gender = 621 out of 674
Pace = 6:47

Was able to exchange my red large tech shirt for a green medium shirt :-)

The spinning medal features the race logo.

And Bud enjoying my accomplishment. My accommplishment is also his accomplishment.

Marathon #14 is complete! Nothing compared to the runner who finished marathon #500 today - incredible. For the upcoming spring marathon, need to train with some speed during the weekday. I like 4 marathons and 1 ultra 50 K in a year...

YTD 1328.2 K