The BRC Members Forum

Sari replied ...

I'll go first (so I can be 1st at something heheh)

Four months ago when I joined this clinic, I had no idea what would become of me.

Today, I found out. I had such positive energy all day on Saturday because for the first time in a long time, I had no pains in my hips. That was such a great feeling. I barely slept on Sat night so I stayed up reading 26.2 Marathon Stories by Katherine Switzer, and having met her that day gave me such a boost.  When the gun went off I could feel the excitement and held onto my pace band. I really hoped to finish in about 5 hours or so. Let's be honest, I'm not a fast runner, but I figured I might be able to pull that off.  Strange things really can happen to the human body during a Marathon.  I really thought that I'd be feeling great up to 32K  or so, because that's the farthest I'd ever run. So, why at 9KM was I feeling spent? I was angry at that. I looked at the Garmin and could feel my legs slowing down. I fought back, and after 20mins was back to normal.  I loved the Rosedale Valley Road, so peaceful. In fact, many parts of this race just felt like a long run since I was alone, or with just a few people for most of the way.  It's a nice course, but when outsiders think that they can ride their bikes on the acutal course TOWARDS you as you're running, it's a little bit of a piss off. Some "lady" (I had another word for her but I won't say) came at me with her bike. I thought "wow, what a nutcase race crew member" until I had to leap out of HER way  during MY race to avoid being hit. Expletives!!  I used my cell phone and took a few video commentaries, and some pictures along the way. By the turnaround point I was ready to throw in the towel. But, I didn't. I was still shocked that my hips were behaving, but to make up for it everything else was on fire. My calves were like bricks, quite impressive to look at actually.  There were some people that I kept passing, and who kept passing me for many miles. I had to take care of that situation, and I never saw them again. That felt good.  By 37K, I was feeling much better, picked up the pace, and ran quite well until I had to walk again at 40K. When I saw the sign that read "40K" I nearly cried. I was a mess.  I knew I had to keep it together for the finish line cameras, and come in smiling.  Fred and a few friends lined the route before the turn into the final 300mtrs. I do remember yelling at him "Where the f*** is the finish line!??" And then, there they were. You know who you are. The Glorious Team of supporters, and the biggest cheering squad any 1st time marathoner could ever hope for. Thank you so much for all of your kind words, encouragement, support and most of all ...for WAITING forever! It was the best part of my journey. It pushed me through to the finish line with glossed over eyes, and pride. Who would have thought I could run for that many hours? 5:34 I think it was. I still have to check the stats. Not the time that I had hoped for, but I'll take it.

Crossing the Marathon finish line for the first time, is something I will never experience again but will remember forever. Will I do it a second time?  Hell Yeah!  Hope to see you all in training in January. I do have a PB to tackle after all. (shouldn't be too difficult, didn't raise the bar too high lol)

See you all at the Pub for some Marathon beer drinkin!

Posted on: Sunday October 18 07:06 PM | Quote This Reply

John Rose replied ...
I knew something was wrong when I woke up and realized my alarm didn't go off! Grrrr. Scrambling through breakfast and out the door didn't help, but I tried to keep focussed, and ran well enough right up to the... half-way point. Then I pretty much walked and stumbled it in. Posted on: Monday October 19 08:59 AM | Quote This Reply

Matt Sylvain replied ...
Way to go Sari and John! Posted on: Monday October 19 09:26 AM | Quote This Reply

  Dave replied ...
Great reports!

Sari - the highlight of my day (other than the beer and burger at Bedford Academy) was hanging around the finish line cheering people in and it was our pleasure to be there for you!

Many thanks to our good friends Heather, Graham, Julie, Mary and Mary Ellen, all who came out as spectators! More thanks to Walter, Anita who hung around after the half marathon to cheer everyone in, and I mean everyone.

I can still hear Walter now "300 metres to go, now's the time. Show your boobs bib!"

Some more thanks goes out to our own Frank Tom, volunteering as a marshal. Mike H for being out there cheering, Boston Bob out there at a few spots along the way, Beth and Sia hanging around the tough home stretch. Jeremy (our RR compadre) at his usual spot on University and Larry Distillio biking around various spots and kind enough to carry my hat and arm warmers the last 10k for me. If I've forgotten anyone, please forgive me :)

Huge congratulations go out to our fearless leader Duff - BOSTON BOUND! - Duff carried out his 4 hour pacing duties and again qualified himself for Boston. We are tremendously proud and happy for you Duff and looking forward to making the trip there with you!

I also want to congratulate those clinic members who ran Goodlife, either as their first or 2nd marathon in 3 weeks. Well done!

This race took a lot out of me, attempting to run a PR and realizing at 30K I was not going to do so. I was nearly on track at half way (1:40) but would have had to pick it up to beat 3:19. I did for a while but realized at 30 the tank was empty. I took a nice long walk break, soaked up the atmosphere and great weather and then shuffled in with a whopping 15 minute longer second half.  I  was prepared for this as I did not train nearly as hard as I did for Mississauga. Oh well, it was worth a shot. By the way, I beat last year's Goodlife time by .4 seconds (3:35:01.7 vs 3:35:02.3) - I thought that was pretty funny.

I will blog more about this later - have to work today! Posted on: Monday October 19 09:20 AM | Quote This Reply

Duff replied ...

Hello Marathon Runners: You have all graduated. We are so proud and YOU should feel PROUD of your own accomplishments. Not many people can run marathons and you did. A GOOD time is truly what is important.

Hope all is well today (my hips are the sorest, my knee is actully quite ok).

The cheering from your friends is one of the most inspiring sounds you hear. And each one of them is sincere in their praise of you.

The Marathon "doublers".. who would have thought, eh? Extra congrats to you.

Even running a half marathon two weeks after a marathon is commendable.

For those of you who did not get your Plan A .. so what you did finish upright. That in itself is tremendous.

Can't wait to here more stories on Wednesday.. and finding your attitude after you have recovered for a few days.

and applogies in advance.. the ceremony is UPSTAIRS (lol).

WELL DONE ALL.

btw.. I will be back for the January 2010 clinic

Posted on: Monday October 19 12:22 PM | Quote This Reply

heather replied ...
Congratulations everyone!We were so happy to be there to share in your day. (I think that Walter has a future as a rental for parties!) I still get "welled up" watching you all come along for the final 300 m at Queen's Park. I hope that most of you will be back in January (since Duff will be back instructing) as I approach my training for my very first marathon. Posted on: Monday October 19 06:46 PM | Quote This Reply

Nir replied ...
Ouch!......going up & down stairs hurts......blisters are there.....not running again...maybe Sunday.


Toronto marathon Story by 1st time bunny:

Ran Scotia a few weeks earlier and that was awesome....Ran with Boston Bob.

Then started to contemplate the task of being the 3:45 bunny for Toronto. I can handle letting myself down but to disappoint others, I was not going to let that happen. What if I run too slow and brought them in after the time?...what if I go out too fast and they can't finish. Did not help that each person at the expo kept telling me what a huge responsibility it was to pace. What the hell, I'll give it a shot.

Race day came and I grabbed my bunny ears & sign and we made our way up to the start.

Left my sign at the North York running room! NOT a good start. Still had my ears so I stood tall and 'hopped' to the start line. There I quickly made new friends. All with many questions for me.

Are you doing 10 & 1's , what pace will you be running, how fast is that in miles, do you have any extra pace bands?

Can we start the race already so I can get going!!

Now , being a bunny is kind of a lonely job at times. Everybody is your friend early and as the run goes along people come and go.

But what holds true is that they always want you to lead, you never really see who is running with you at all times - not until we cross that finish line do I get an idea of just who is with you and how we did.

Getting hugs(no kisses) from strangers was great! high fives and handshakes from people I did not even know -  I couldn't have done it without you! they actually said that to me.

It was pretty amazing now that I look back on it - and to think yesterday afternoon I said "never again" But bunnies can't help doing things more than once, so I will give it another go if they'll have me.

Next time I will pace a little better and not come in too fast! 3:42 is just a tad too fast. Better a few minutes ahead then miss the time.

Huge thanks to all those I saw and heard on the course! To all the cheering fans, you guys are the best!

To my fellow runners, I am so fuckin proud of all of us!' (sorry bout the swearing)

Congrats to all the Scotia,Toronto and Chicago runners!..New York, Washington, Niagara and Hamilton awaits others and I for one am envious of all of you.

More to share during brag nite!..see you Wednesday.

What's up doc? Posted on: Monday October 19 10:23 PM | Quote This Reply

Anita replied ...

I intended to be in the marathon clinic with you all  with Scotia as my goal race.  Sometimes injuries and life happen.
I have had nagging hamstring issues for the past year.  I decided to be smart and let my body rest.  I have been doing core strengthening, weights and trying to run more consistently.  After running the 15K at Midsummer Night's and the 10K Labour Day race, I tried to get a few longer runs in and 2 weeks ago signed up for the Toronto Half.  With my longest run  in months being 16K I was a little concerned about completing.

Dave and I have been running with the Achilles Track Club and one of the athletes asked me to guide her in the half.  Rhonda and I set a meeting spot and agreed that we would text race morning.  She wanted to run between 2:45 and 3 hours so I was confident that we would have a good race.  Sometimes the best laid plans......Race morning, parked at the finish and Nir, Julie and Duff drove us to the start line.  I realized that I forgot my phone in the car.  I had no way to reach Rhonda. Went to our meeting spot, she wasn't there, waited around, finally went to start line and started looking for her.  I literally waited to cross the line at the end of all 5000 runners hoping I would see her.  I then weaved my way around those at the back.  I saw Dave, Duff and Nir on Yonge St and stopped to talk to them and asked Dave to continue to look for Rhonda in the crowd.  Dave gave me his phone and told me he would call me if he saw her so that I could wait.  So I ran backwards and sideways looking at all the runners faces trying to find her, I felt terrible.  Now she had another guide but I had made a commitment.  At 6km Dave called to say that I should just run so that I did. 

At 12K I paused my Garmin by accident, at 16K my friend who had Cam called so I stopped to talk and also listen to a message. At 20K the police decided to let a streetcar through the route. So I had a few time setbacks on route.   I rounded Queens Park and there they were Julie, Ginny and Walter, I was so happy to see them.  I crossed in 2:25, not a PR but also not a PW.  I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the run.

Cheering in all the marathoners was such a pleasure and an inspiration.  They came in all sizes and times.  I had so much fun.
I have a special place for Sari completing her first marathon. For those who know her, she has been battling her own issues and I am so proud that she saw it through and completed.
So a great day, this weekend is the Niagara Half and next weekend Hamilton.
If the running gods allow, I will be training with you all for a Spring Marathon!
Congratulations and stay tuned..... Posted on: Tuesday October 20 10:12 PM | Quote This Reply

  Dave replied ...
I have a special place for you Anita!

About time you got your report in :)
Posted on: Friday October 23 10:09 PM | Quote This Reply