This will be a relatively short write-up, as I'm heading over to Vancouver to run the 'other' Gunner Shaw race tomorrow morning. Bruce 'Gunner' Shaw was one of the founding members of the Prairie Inn Harriers running club, and was an inspirational runner and individual. He also lived and raced in Vancouver, and for that reason has races named after him in both locations.
The Victoria Gunner Shaw race takes place around Thetis Lake, which was one of 'Gunner's' favorite places to run in Victoria. Bob Reid established the run to honour his friend, and it has become one of the most popular cross-country races in Canada. This year it attracted around 430 runners, all ready to get wet and muddy - an unavoidable part of the race.
The race course was tons of fun this year. The race started under a cloudy sky, with light rain falling. We started off the race up a road, and then soon headed on to the trails. It had been extremely wet and rainy the past few weeks leading up to the race, so I knew there would be lots of puddles and streams everywhere- and there certainly was. While, I had fun tromping through the water, not even trying to keep my feet dry - my lungs certainly did not.
I had a difficult time getting enough air into my lungs, and I was wheezing the entire race. I generally work hard in a race, but this felt different than simply pushing yourself. I felt that I was breathing harder than I should have been based on my effort, and I was not able to take a deep breath -- all of my breaths felt shallow. So, I think I may have EIA - exercise induced asthma. Either that, or something is going on - because this definitely did not feel 'normal'. I will be getting this checked soon, so hopefully I'll have a definite answer for the cause of the wheezing, and maybe even get a solution that would allow me to push even harder.
Other than my breathing difficulties, I enjoyed the race. The course was a mixture of wider, easy trails, single-track more technical trails, a few hills, lots of water, two puddles and a finish in the lake. Bob had added a second puddle to the race this year, since the previous puddle had been partially filled in. In order to get us wetter - Bob went looking for a larger puddle, that would ensure we would get wet. This puddle was about thigh height and even had a log in the middle that required you to climb over. The puddles weren't too bad to tromp through, except for their smell and the feet that burned with cold for some moments after you got through.
There was also a new single-track section, which was TONS of fun. Many of the runners who participate in this race don't run trails much, so some are more tentative on the more technical sections. For myself, this was the most fun part of the course and I was able to pick up the speed on the windy trail, as I bounded over roots, logs and rocks.
Then end of the race featured the three ' bugger' hills again. Although short, they are steep and definitely a challenge at the end of a race. But, I was happy to see them in a way, as it meant the finish line was nearby. After the three hills were over, there was a short downhill section, and I let my legs fly - allowing me to pass a few people. I love the downhill sections in a race, as I usually tend to pass people on these parts. It was great to have it at the end of the race, as it allowed me to pick up a few placings. :-) The race ended in Thetis Lake, as we ran through the lake near the shoreline. The water was frigid, but by that point I really wanted to finish the race, so I ran as much as I could through the water. My finishing time was 47.05, and I was 6th woman out of 49 in my category of 30-39.
While the race wasn't a disaster, it was somewhat frustrating and disappointing, as I felt I could have performed better. Either way, it was a really fun course and extremely well organized with great volunteers. Thanks to everyone who helped make it happen! Hopefully I'll have better luck with my lungs at tomorrow's race!
Running through Thetis Lake at the end of the race.
Photo: Tony Austin
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