Registered for the Montreal Marathon!

This evening, I registered for the Montreal Marathon on Sunday, September 28, 2014. I'm making the trek to Montreal by VIA train on Saturday morning and then returning to Toronto on Sunday evening - so I won't miss work.

Hoping this experience will be worth every penny: [total = $372.87]

* Registration = $125 + $12.99 = $137.99
* VIA train = $125 + 13% tax = $141.25
* 1 night hotel = $78 + taxes + fees = $93.63

Week in Review

Happy to report 3 runs this week :-)

* Monday - 5 K after work
* Wednesday - 2 K after work
* Today - 21.1 K - summer has definitely arrived! Sunny and a bit humid - cool breeze at lake.

YTD = 664.5 K

Next Saturday is the Niagara Ultra 50 K. Looking forward to taking lots of photos and posting my photo race report. Will be the 3rd year in a row running this one. Starts in St. Catherines, with 25 K turnaround at the Niagara Falls, and then back. This race is so rewarding - especially the distance from 42.2 K to the finish line.

18 K LSD

Only 1 run this week. Today = 18 K on the Lower Don Valley Trail. Weather in the low to mid 20s and sunny.

YTD = 636.4 K

Proud little brother!

Ottawa Marathon Photo Race Report

Ottawa Marathon Photo Race Report - Sunday, May 25, 2014

Marathon #22 is now in the books. An amazing experience! Race very well organized. 7000 registrants for the marathon - year #40. Total 28 000 registered for the race weekend (half, 10K, 5K, 2K). 

Summary:

* First 3 K was slower start than usual - great idea

* Got into comfortable running pace for race - around 5:30 minutes/K

* About 25 K, started to slow down - it's the age!

* Knees tightened and were in pain - not sure what happened - have experienced this before in a race. Walked and bended - need to figure this out!

* Kudos to race director - such a well organized race - looking forward to 50th anniversary in May 2024

Saturday - on trek to Ottawa, Expo, visit to Parliament Buildings

 Photo 1: Train passed by Belleville - back field of my former school, Quinte Secondary School

 Photo 2: Yeah! Train arrived in Ottawa.

 Photo 3: Rideau Canal - amazing view with Parliament Buildings in the background. Photo taken making trek to race expo at Ottawa Convention Centre.

 Photo 4: At the expo with Newby (Newbalance mascot!)

 Photos 5 & 6: Love the tech shirt!!! Ended up wearing it in the race - first time I wore the tech shirt before earning it. Too nice not to wear!

 Photo 7: Autographed copy of complimentary book to commemorate Ottawa Marathon's 40th anniversary.

Photo 8: Bib - in and out to pick up bib and tech shirt within minutes. Well organized.

At the expo, I signed up for the Niagara International Marathon. Couldn't resist - was given the cheapest registration fee without on-line processing fee - also got last year's tech shirt. This race will start in Buffalo, NY and end up at the Niagara Falls. Now to get my Passport updated.

 Photos 9 & 10: Rideau Canal - just outside the Ottawa Convention Centre

 Photo 11: Parliament Buildings - breathless building

Photo 12: Peace Fire

 Photo 13: View of Gatineau (Hall), Quebec

 Photo 14: Library

 Photo 15: View of Supreme Court of Canada

 Photo 16: View of House of Commons (through glass)

 Photo 17: Inside view of library

 Photo 18: Inside the Senate

 Photo 19: Look at the structure!

Photo 20: Honouring 5 women 

Sunday, May 25 - The Race!

Photo 21: Start line - positioned in Green corral. Total of 6 corrals with 2 minute break between corrals. This really helped to increase running room. 

 Photo 12: Race started with overcast weather - but no rain! This photo was taken about 10 K. Unfortunately when downloading photos, the order got messed up - not sure why - argh! First few Ks were parallel to the Rideau Canal. This route is repeated in the final several Ks - photos are there. I found 5 K to 18 K fairly dull and boring. The rest of the route was spectacular.

 Photo 13: Uphill incline. Yeah - walked it!

 Photo 14: Approaching Little Italy.

 Photo 15: At the 19 K mark - on Ottawa River Parkway

 Photo 16: Entering Gatineau Quebec!

 Photo 17: Wow - look at the Ottawa River!

 Photo 18: At the 22 K mark. Scenic

 Photo 19: Still in Quebec - at the 24 K

 Photo 20: At the 25 K

 Photo 21: Great peaceful view

 Photo 22: Time to return to Ottawa. This is the Alexandra Bridge (past 25 K mark)

Photo 23: A spectator took this photo of me! Great background view of the Parliament Buildings

 Photo 24: Great view of spectators from the bridge

 Photo 25: Royal Canadian Mint

Photo 26: At the 30 K mark -great view and getting hotter

 Photo 26: South on Sussex Drive.

Photo 27: At the 30 K - has gotten humid

 Photo 28: Route from 30 K to 35 K scenic

 Photos 29 to 32: Quotes!

 Photo 33: At 32 K

 Photo 34: Another scenic photo

 Photo 35: At the 39 K south on the Rideau Canal

 Photo 36: This runner is cool!

Photo 37: At the 40 K mark. Almost there. Still running south on Rideau Canal.

 Photo 38: All the cups after the fluid station

 Photo 39: Go Habs Go - okay for Ottawa since Montreal is the only Canadian team in the playoffs.

 Photo 40: Almost there

 Photo 41: Spectator's sign says it all!

 Photo 42: I touched this shoe earlier in the race. Read about this man! He has 1/2 shoe stuck to a board.

Photo 43: Nice view

 Photo 44: Almost at the finish line!

Photo 45: Great finisher's medal!

 Photo 46: Visit to the Royal Canadian Mint. The gold bar is worth $600 000. Free tour (promotion).

Photo 47: Photo with Oscar Peterson

 Photo 48: Ottawa's a great city to host a marathon. Lots of spectators

Photo 49: Canadian hero

Photo 50: Train has arrived back in Toronto. What an amazing weekend!

Just downloaded my finisher's certificate

YTD = 618.4 K

Eyeing the Montreal marathon in late September. 

Looking forward to the Niagara Ultra 50 K on Saturday, June 14. Less than 3 weeks away!