Niagara Falls International Marathon - Expo

Niagara Falls International Marathon - Expo

Tomorrow will be full/ultra marathon #26. One run this week - Thursday in the dark after work - 2.3 K - no issues (thank goodness). Had a massage focussed on the legs and upper back on Tuesday after work. Not looking for a good time - just to finish tomorrow. Plan is slower run with more walk breaks.

Excited about tomorrow's race as it starts in Buffalo, New York and ends at the Niagara Falls. I have until Wednesday to determine if I want to register (at the last minute) for the Hamilton Marathon next Sunday.

YTD = 1344.4 K

Verified bib. It is activated and ready to go for tomorrow.

Here's the actual bib I will be wearing. 

Tech shirt. I signed up for large when I was at the Ottawa Marathon expo in late May. Fortunately, I was able to change to medium. 

The expo was located at the Niagara Square Shopping Centre. After picking up bib and tech shirt, visited the expo vendors as well as the mall stores. There is a treasure trove of stuff at Furnishings Plus Niagara. Took home a new "friend" - although this dog is a statue - looks real with the details. Listed price of $299 reduced to $260 with no tax as I paid cash. Just hope Bud doesn't jump on it with excitement.

Race photos posted!

Toronto Waterfront Marathon Photo Race Report

Marathon #25 Photo Race Report

Starting line in green corral. 3C at start. Wore 2 tech shirts as well as last year's Toronto Waterfront tech shirt.

Left start line at 9:02 AM. Live coverage on YouTube. 

Reaching 1 K - Queen's Park.

Passing by Royal Ontario Museum at 2 K - the crystal!

Approaching OISE/UT. 

Passing by the Beta Shoe Museum.

Passed 3 K. Honest Ed's on Bloor and Bathurst. About to head south. 

To the left is Central Technical High School. 

To the left is King Edward Public School. I attended summer school there in grade 7. 

Alexandra Park to the left. 5 K done. 

Bathurst and Front Streets. 

Slight downhill. Gardner Expressway view. 

Fort York to the right. 7 K done. 

Princess Gates at the Canadian National Exhibition. Lots of spectators here. 

Ontario Place! 8 K done. 

Cool costume. Fluid station well organized with Gatorade first and then water at all stations. 

Yeah! Reaching the 10 K. Time mat. 

Really like the out-and-back route. Get to see the runners on the other side. 

Approaching a Power Gel station at 11.5 K. Took 3 gels for later in the race. Find this gel station too early - for the half marathon folks. 

Continuing to head west on the Lakeshore. Leavesturning colour. 

Now heading east after a turn around. More nice leaf colours. 

York University Lions steelband. 

15 K done. Can see the windmill at the CNE. 

Last racers followed by police cars. 

Scenic view with CN Tower in background. 

Approaching CNE to the left. Scenic. 

More scenery. 

Omni TV station to the right. Lakeshore and Bathurst.

Oh - uphill "climb". 

Nice view of CN Tower and Rogers Centre. 18 K done. 

Time for half and full marathoners to diverge. 

We turned left here. At the Ferries to the Toronto Islands on Bay and Queen's Quay. 

Yeah - reaching half way there. On Lakeshore. To the right is George Brown College and Sugar Beach.

Must be a new route due to construction. Running underneath the Gardner Expressway. 

Heading north on Cherry Street. To the left is the Distillery District. 22 K done. 

The first half of the marathon is scenic. The second half seems to be a struggle to find the mileage. Some turns. 

Heading north on Bayview Avenue. Nice colours. No spectators here. 

Approaching Riverdale Park. Turnaround. 

25 K done! At the 23 K, my Garmin ran out of battery. Time to get a new running watch :-|

Aargh - too steep of a climb to run. So time to powerwalk. 

Another steep uphill climb. This is the route leading to the Don Valley Parkway.

Entertainment from Green Town! 23 K done. 

30 K mark. Coxwell and Lakeshore.

Woodbine Park to the right. Have passed Ashbridges Bay. Scenic with autumn colours.

Yeah - 32 K done. Heading east on Queen Street East. Not that many spectators as in other years, though.

The 4:55 pace bunny surpasses me. Knew this was going to happen but not sure when.

Now heading west on Queen Street East. Almost at Woodbine. There's a golden retriever on the right!

Lady wearing a fire figher's uniform - including oxygen tank. She finished slightly after 6 hours. Incredible. 

35 K done. Another time mat. 

McDonald's!!!

Last racers with police car trailing.

At 39 K. Powerwalking uphill. Cars exiting the DVP and heading to either Eastern or Richmond.

Nice view of the city!

40 K.

St. Lawrence Market tot he left. 

Flat Iron building.

On Wellington. Approaching Yonge Street.

500 m to go. This is tough as uphill incline. Nice view of the old City Hall. 

400 m to go.

300 m to go.

200 m to go. Still tough to run. Walking.

The sign says it all :-)

Have passed the finish line. Turned back and took a photo.

Finisher's medal.

Proud little brother. Thanks to Bud for his support!

Finisher's medal. 

Overall, another well organized Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Great weather for a marathon - last few Ks had the wind blowing at us. Looking forward to next year's race.

You Tube video link of finish line. See 1:20:50 to 1:21:14   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1_yke6dx8g#t=4882 

YTD = 1342.1 K

1 week rest and then Niagara Falls International Marathon. Need to purchase a new Garmin watch. Also looking at compression for calfs (not socks version). 

Very rewarding to have completed full/ultra marathon #25. I am addicted to running.