Monday, September 28, 2009
x2
I may be finding a new passion: Cross Country. The trails at work are getting soggy and muddy. I had my first wipe-out today (and sprained my finger!). I'm lovin' it. I've been hiding a heel/ankle injury/"strange sensation" for 6 weeks now, but it doesn't seem to bother me on the trails.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
X-country
I had a nice cross-country run today. About 5K on the trails around the office. What a rush. My calfs are complaining right now, but I think I am going to make this a regular routine.
It's been dry lately, so the trail was pretty firm. I'm actually kind of looking forward to some mud though. Road running is so 2008.
No. Not me.
It's been dry lately, so the trail was pretty firm. I'm actually kind of looking forward to some mud though. Road running is so 2008.
No. Not me.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Race Report: Montreal Oasis 5K
CMC Labour Day chase was the dress rehearsal for Andrew. Montreal was the The Big Dance. 5K in the streets of Montreal, ending inside the Big-O. Over 13,000 competitors in races from 1K to Marathon. 1800 alone in the 5K.
We had gone up to Montreal the night before and stayed at France's parents' house. We were 4 families. 8 adults, 8 kids: all racing.
Pre-race, Andrew was cool as a cucumber. I was nervous. I had to pee. 1800 other people had too pee too (it seemed). We jumped form one porta-potty line to another. "5-4-3-2-1-Go!" - we were finally inside, when the race started. "Don't worry, we'll be fine". And we were. We emerged just on time to join the slow-moving-starting grid about a minute behind the start. We approached the timing mat. "Beep" and we were off.
The first kilometer is uphill (aparently), but it didn't seem to phase us. We did just fine, getting our groove on. Andrew was weaving and bobbing through the traffic. Anytime someone passed him, he'd surge and re-pass. I started telling him not to worry about it. It wasn't having any effect, so I figured I'd let him do his thing. "Don't worry about me" I said, "I'll always be behind you. You do what you want to do."
"Dad, there's so many people in front of us" he said. "Turn around and take a look" I replied. There were hundreds of people behind us. "You're way in front of all those people!". I think the magnitude of that really hit him. "Cool!"
Our goal for the race was to beat last week's time (of 29:19). I wasn't too sure if that was possible. But I tried to keep him on pace. It was obvious he was running on heart from about 3.8 k on. That's when he saw the 4K banner and thought it was the finish line. "1 more K to go" I said. His response was heart-breaking, but he soldiered on. "OK, I can do this" he said.
We hit the downward slope to the Big-O. "Run down it, don't worry, you won't fall!" He took off, we passed about 30 people on the finish stretch. And then finally our faces on the big screen. The finish line.
We did it! I stopped my watch and couldn't believe it -- 28:30! Andrew smoked his PB by 49 seconds.
I missed the 2K split - but we kept on pace - you can see where he put the jets on for the grand finale
From SportStats (Funny thing is that they didn't have a category for anything under 18.):
Andrew thought it was pretty cool that he was on Youtube
All in all, it was a great race day for everyone. Lot's of PB's: Laura for the 1K (beating 695 boys and 707 other girls) and Guylaine in the 10K (top 16% in her category).
And of course, Cupajoe going way-sub 40 on 10K DESPITE having extra cake the night before.
We had gone up to Montreal the night before and stayed at France's parents' house. We were 4 families. 8 adults, 8 kids: all racing.
Pre-race, Andrew was cool as a cucumber. I was nervous. I had to pee. 1800 other people had too pee too (it seemed). We jumped form one porta-potty line to another. "5-4-3-2-1-Go!" - we were finally inside, when the race started. "Don't worry, we'll be fine". And we were. We emerged just on time to join the slow-moving-starting grid about a minute behind the start. We approached the timing mat. "Beep" and we were off.
The first kilometer is uphill (aparently), but it didn't seem to phase us. We did just fine, getting our groove on. Andrew was weaving and bobbing through the traffic. Anytime someone passed him, he'd surge and re-pass. I started telling him not to worry about it. It wasn't having any effect, so I figured I'd let him do his thing. "Don't worry about me" I said, "I'll always be behind you. You do what you want to do."
"Dad, there's so many people in front of us" he said. "Turn around and take a look" I replied. There were hundreds of people behind us. "You're way in front of all those people!". I think the magnitude of that really hit him. "Cool!"
Our goal for the race was to beat last week's time (of 29:19). I wasn't too sure if that was possible. But I tried to keep him on pace. It was obvious he was running on heart from about 3.8 k on. That's when he saw the 4K banner and thought it was the finish line. "1 more K to go" I said. His response was heart-breaking, but he soldiered on. "OK, I can do this" he said.
We hit the downward slope to the Big-O. "Run down it, don't worry, you won't fall!" He took off, we passed about 30 people on the finish stretch. And then finally our faces on the big screen. The finish line.
We did it! I stopped my watch and couldn't believe it -- 28:30! Andrew smoked his PB by 49 seconds.
I missed the 2K split - but we kept on pace - you can see where he put the jets on for the grand finale
From SportStats (Funny thing is that they didn't have a category for anything under 18.):
| Place | Name | City | Bib | Gun | Chip | Pace | Category | Division | Gender |
| 770 | 13726 | 29:31.4 | 28:29.2 | 5:55 | |||||
| 771 | 13725 | 29:31.7 | 28:30.4 | 5:55 |
Andrew thought it was pretty cool that he was on Youtube
All in all, it was a great race day for everyone. Lot's of PB's: Laura for the 1K (beating 695 boys and 707 other girls) and Guylaine in the 10K (top 16% in her category).
And of course, Cupajoe going way-sub 40 on 10K DESPITE having extra cake the night before.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Garmin Geek, Junior
Andrew ran 5 laps at the school track with the Garmin today. Chip of the ol' block!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
CMC Labour Day Chase - 5K - Race Report
I have officially lost my mojo for the year. The last ounce oozed out of me on the finish line at the Cornwall Tri. Maybe I shouldn't have shaved my legs -- Samson's hair(?). It doesn't matter - the last few weeks have been some of the most pleasurable in my "racing career". Last Monday, I helped Andrew through the 1-10-2 club duathlon; and on Monday, we set a PB together. His first attempt at 5K. He finished! He shattered 30 minutes.
The Labour Day chase, was a follow-up to the Victoria Day Chase. That day, I channeled, Phil the Thrill, and ran a (good-for-the-start-of-season-considering-I-was-in-hospital-2-months-earlier) 22:38. Although, I let down a legion of fans (maybe that's stretching it), Phil the Thrill was left at home yesterday. My goal for this race was helping Andrew.
In reality, he didn't need help. He did it on his own. But, it was awesome to be with him along the way. We all lined up at 9:30, and I left him with the M14 and under corral. My start time was about 90 seconds after his. My plan was to catch him in the first K-or so, and then run the rest with him. In the pre-race chatter, I missed watching his start - the deal was that he was going to take it easy! But I'm sure he took off like a bat out of hell. Shortly after, my group started. In the distance, I could only just make out Andrew's shorts and shirt. He was way out there. I got the first kilometer marker at 4 minutes on the dot, Andrew was still way ahead. Finally, I reeled him in at about 1.5K, and slowed from 4 minute pace to 5:20-ish, "How ya doin?"
"Good" was the reply. He was doing great. We ran the rest of the race together. We walked a few times - but he was determined to not walk too much. After 4K, I noticed the time, and figured he had a good chance at going under 30 minutes.
"Dude" (Sometimes I call him that), "I know it's hard-- but if we pick it up a bit, and don't walk anymore, you can definitely go under 30 minutes"
"Really?" (I'm sure he had no idea what that really meant, but he probably inferred from my tone, that it was a good thing.)
We picked it up a bit. Coming along the back 300 meters, various finishers had walked back, and were cheering us on. Andrew was seriously getting his groove on. Guylaine met us at about 150 meters, she looked surprised that we had made it so quickly. And then, he spotted his target. A woman about 20 meters in front of him. The sole object between himself and the finish line. "Poof" he was off like a child possessed. I honestly couldn't keep up with him. She edged him at the line by a second. But whoa. What a race. 29:19 for the little guy.
Andrew surges for the finish line. Leaving me in his dust, and taking 5 seconds on me in the last 20 meters.
The Labour Day chase, was a follow-up to the Victoria Day Chase. That day, I channeled, Phil the Thrill, and ran a (good-for-the-start-of-season-considering-I-was-in-hospital-2-months-earlier) 22:38. Although, I let down a legion of fans (maybe that's stretching it), Phil the Thrill was left at home yesterday. My goal for this race was helping Andrew.
In reality, he didn't need help. He did it on his own. But, it was awesome to be with him along the way. We all lined up at 9:30, and I left him with the M14 and under corral. My start time was about 90 seconds after his. My plan was to catch him in the first K-or so, and then run the rest with him. In the pre-race chatter, I missed watching his start - the deal was that he was going to take it easy! But I'm sure he took off like a bat out of hell. Shortly after, my group started. In the distance, I could only just make out Andrew's shorts and shirt. He was way out there. I got the first kilometer marker at 4 minutes on the dot, Andrew was still way ahead. Finally, I reeled him in at about 1.5K, and slowed from 4 minute pace to 5:20-ish, "How ya doin?"
"Good" was the reply. He was doing great. We ran the rest of the race together. We walked a few times - but he was determined to not walk too much. After 4K, I noticed the time, and figured he had a good chance at going under 30 minutes.
"Dude" (Sometimes I call him that), "I know it's hard-- but if we pick it up a bit, and don't walk anymore, you can definitely go under 30 minutes"
"Really?" (I'm sure he had no idea what that really meant, but he probably inferred from my tone, that it was a good thing.)
We picked it up a bit. Coming along the back 300 meters, various finishers had walked back, and were cheering us on. Andrew was seriously getting his groove on. Guylaine met us at about 150 meters, she looked surprised that we had made it so quickly. And then, he spotted his target. A woman about 20 meters in front of him. The sole object between himself and the finish line. "Poof" he was off like a child possessed. I honestly couldn't keep up with him. She edged him at the line by a second. But whoa. What a race. 29:19 for the little guy.
Andrew surges for the finish line. Leaving me in his dust, and taking 5 seconds on me in the last 20 meters.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)