Boxing Day 10 miler

December 26, 2010

This is a casual race that PIH puts on each year, as a fun event to run off some of those Christmas calories.  It's a handicap race, with start times based on performance at a race from the previous year and racers start from slowest to fastest - trying to catch those in front and not be caught from behind. I started 15 minutes ahead of the fastest runner, Sean Chester.  The course is a two-lap course, with long stretches on Mt Newton Cross Road. 

It was a strange race - I got to the race start and a few people were milling about in a very relaxed fashion -- it barely felt like a race.  Other runners were heading out on their first lap, as I got ready to head out on mine.  I started at the same time as Donald Peterson, a local runner who recently ran 24 hours on a treadmill to raise funds for MS.  He wasn't sure how he'd fare on this race, after completing such an arduous event in the past two weeks.  However, as the clock ticked up to our appointed time- 10:31, we headed off at what felt like a pretty brisk pace.  (Donald ended up deciding to only complete one lap -- as he was still recovering from his treadmill ultra-marathon).

As I mentioned previously, other than a few hundred meters, most of the course is along a single road.  Mt Newton Cross Road is a country road with a few relatively significant climbs (for a road race) -- and the steepest climb of the race would come at the end. 

I started off feeling decent, and soon took the lead, running in front of Donald Peterson.  The course climbed up one hill and descended the next, and I kept hoping that the next hill would be the last before the turn-around.  Finally, I started to see the earlier runners coming back towards me, and I knew it was near.  It was fun to see the other racers out on the course, passing and greeting them in turn.  Based on their positions to mine, it seemed difficult to believe that I'd be able to catch them -- but I figured I wouldn't really know until the second lap.  I completed the first segment in 17:55.  I felt pretty happy with this time, although I wasn't really certain what to expect from this race, and wasn't gunning for a specific finishing time.

The way back, my legs really started to feel it - and the race got immensely harder.  This is where I really had to being to work to keep pushing.  At times I thought, why keep pushing - this is just a fun race after all -- let's just cruise and enjoy the run.  But, my race instinct wouldn't let go, and I wanted to try and have a decent performance without getting trampled by the fastees.  At about the mid-way point in the loop,  I saw the fastest runners on their way to the turnaround.  Boy, they looked strong -- I wondered how many I could hold off.

I finished my first loop in 36:15 (18:20 for the segment), having slowed down somewhat.  Now just to do that all over again.  Up a slight incline, down a large downhill and then back to the up, down, and short flat sections.  This third segment felt no easier, and I really felt like I was slowing.  The hills seemed to really break me down.  However, I did end up catching a few runners in front of me.  Then, as I neared the turn-around point, I noticed how I was closer to the runners who had started before me - this race worked, I was actually gaining on them.  I finished my third segment in 18:20 - exactly the same time as for the previous segment.  However, after beginning to make my way back towards the finish, I saw Nancy Baxendale, who had started four minutes after me, and I was almost certain she'd catch me, being that she was so close.  A few of the other faster runners followed, and then I saw Sean Chester.  He was really gunning it, and I figured it would only be a matter of time before I'd see him blaze past me.

This last segment of the course, I began to feel much better, and I started to pick it up a bit.  I was definiteily feeling stronger, but the wind, which had been blowing during the entire race, also seemed to pick up steam, and gave us a nasty headwind (and side-wind) on the return route.  It was definitely a slowing factor. 

I made it about 13 kilometers before Sean came barelling behind me - looking very strong.  I didn't know it at that point, but his goal was to try and break the course record that had stood for 11 years.  As soon as he passed me, I knew I had to keep going as hard as I could, to try and avoid any more fastees from passing me.  I also started to try and catch other runners in front of me.  I figured that if I could pass a few runners, then even if I was passed, I wouldn't lose any positions.  I passed one runner, and put my sights on another ahead of me, as I began the last brutal climb of the race.  The wind decided to make this challenge extra difficult, as it began blowing with extra force at this point.  As if my legs were not already tired enough - they were given an extra hurdle, and I felt like I was shuffling as I crested the hill.  Just as I made it to the top, I passed another runner, and as I looked back, I saw a pack of 4-5 runners coming up behind me.  I was only a few hundred meters from the finish - so I gave it all I had to not get passed by anyone else at this point. 

My parents were cheering for me at the last corner -- and it was great to see them as I dug in for the last bit.  The finish was finally in sight, and I hadn't been passed!  My final time was 1:12:49 (18:14 segment).  I had no idea if that was fast or slow, but I was just so happy to be done. 

As this is somewhat of a non-race race, I have yet to see any results.  So, I have no idea how I fared, or where I placed.  However, I did learn that Sean Chester did indeed end up breaking the course record, finishing in 55 mins XX seconds. It was a brilliant run for him, especially considering the wind, which was pretty fierce during parts of the race.  It also seemed that the gentleman who won the race outright didn't even realize that he was first.  As he was congratulated for crossing the finish line first, he exclaimed "for what?". 

It was definitely a fun race to do, and I'm glad that I decided to run it this year -- despite having a tough run.  It's enjoyable to have another type of format for a race, and a great way to do something a bit different over the holidays.

Stewart Mountain 10 miler

December 11, 2010

This is the last in the series of races that the Prairie Inn Harriers put on at Thetis Lake every Fall.  It's a great course, usually quite muddy and wet, with a fantastic climb at the mid-way point.   The Stewart Mountain climb is a pretty decent length, with some pretty steep sections and has always been a quad and lung burner.

This year, going into the race, I was feeling somewhat nervous, as I wasn't sure how I'd fare on the climb - I've never been a super confidant climber, and as I haven't been training too much on the hills, I thought it might cause me to hurt. The results from the race left me feeling both happy and dissatisfied -- overall I had a good race, but sometimes that's not enough.

The week leading up to the race, it had been raining pretty steadily, so I was pretty certain that it would be a wet course.  As we lined up on the start line, the rain had started to fall, but it wasn't too heavy.  Once we started running, I barely felt it at all.

I didn't expect this race to have a fast start, given that it's a bit of a longer race, with a difficult climb mid-way that you need to save something for.  However, was I ever mistaken - the frontrunners blasted off the start and one guy who doesn't usually lead, I believe it was Richard Knowlton, really took off.  I overheard some of his friends say "What's he doing leading like that -- that doesn't seem like a good idea!"  Apparently he was overtaken a few kilometres later, but held on for a decent finish.

So - I started out at a steady pace for me.  We got onto some smaller trails right off the start, and then wound our way up to Upper Thetis Lake.  I was running around a bunch of guys I didn't recognize and just hoped that I didn't start out too fast.  The race gets much more interesting once we head off the main Thetis Lake trails and onto the single-track. Although, it was also here, that I wanted to speed things up a bit, and found myself behind 3 other guys, who while not going slow, felt like they were holding me up a bit.  This didn't last too long - as soon as we got off the narrow, technical terrain, things sped up again.  Here, we got to maneuver over fallen logs and trash through puddles that took up the entire trail, making keeping your feet dry completely impossible.

Then came the main puddle - it's over knee deep, has a fallen log in the middle of it, and is maybe 25 metres long.  Overall it's not that deep, but it's long enough to freeze the feet.  I emerged from the puddle, with completely frozen feet and then came a gnarly, technical downhill, that my feet did not want to navigate.  At the bottom of this hill, came a gushing stream.  It had definitely expanded, and there was no way, but to run right through it.  As we neared and ran through each of these puddles and rivers, there was a guy running near me who would yelp and yeehaw, excited about each foot drenching experience. 

I knew I was pushing it pretty hard, but overall I was feeling pretty good - although some of the early short hills took it out of me a bit, and I was labouring to climb them.  I only hoped that I hadn't expended too much energy before the real climb, and that I'd be left struggling my way to the top.

Just as we made our way onto the loop that would wind our way up to Stewart Mountain, Joelle McCartie passed me.  I have trained and raced with Joelle, and while we've been similar speeds, I have always been a tad faster than her. I was surprised to see her passing me at that point, and to see how strong she looked.  I had already gone through a few points in the race, where I had battled with myself mentally to keep going hard-- as I didn't want to keep on pushing.  Once Joelle passed me, I was thrown a momentary blow.  'Is that Joelle passing me?...' I wondered.  I knew that she was a strong climber, and she had been training hard over the last year for triathlons - but I hadn't expected her to have become so fit.  I didn't want to lose sight of her, so I kept at it- and staying with Joelle remained my motivation for the rest of the race.

After a few more twists and turns, and a few more puddles, we started the climb.  It's a two part climb - whereby you get a few steep sections, then a slight levelling out for a few hundred meters, and then the second part of the climb begins as we turn onto a wide road that leads us near the top.  As in previous years, it was tough.  However, I felt better than I had before, and was even able to switch between power hiking and jogging throughout the climb.  Near the top, we get off the main trail and head into the woods for the final push.  A guy who was running ahead of me, missed the turnoff.  I tried to yell at him 'Left!  You missed!' was all I was able to muster between deep breaths.  He heard me, but it didn't register until someone behind me yelled 'You've gone too far, turn back!' in a loud commanding voice.  This last part had us scrambling over large rocks, until we hit the summit and had our photo taken.

Photo credit: Adam Lawrence

Then came the descent.  It's somewhat technical to begin with, as it's steep and there's lots of loose rock.  I felt confidant in some parts and let my feet roll with it, and then tensed up in other parts.  Once we got off the loose stuff, I let my legs completely go.  Once you've ascended the hill, the rest of the race much easier.  There are a few climbs on the return route, but overall it's much more downhill on the way back.  It's a nice treat, as you're able to push it, and still feel relatively well.

Throughout this entire time, I kept Joelle in sight, but wasn't able to get much closer to her.  It was somewhat frustrating, as I had thought that perhaps on the downhill I could catch up to her. Once we got back off the Stewart Mountain loop, it was back along many of the trails we'd taken on the way out.  More puddles and rivers to run through, but luckily we didn't have to do the monster puddle again.  As we neared the finish, there were moments when I'd come close to catching Joelle, but then she'd put some distance on me again, and it was definitely starting to feel like there would be no catching her this time.

As we were running some of the final bends around Upper Thetis, I was passed by another strong female runner, who I've trained with.  Although this one I had been expecting.  Kirsten Arensen passed me with a vengeance.  I had been expecting her to come up from behind me, as she generally takes a more conservative start and then finishes strong.  While I'd beat her at many races earlier in the year, she had posted some faster times than me on some of the later races, and I knew that she was fit.  I knew there was no catching her as she pushed hard, while passing me.  This by and of itself would have been okay, but being the third female in a row of three was somewhat demoralizing.

Then, we made our way back onto the final stretch, and while I knew I was only about 5 minutes from the finish, it would be a tough last bit, as we had 3 steep hills to climb: Little Gunner, Big Gunner and Big Bugger.  This is where Joelle and Kirsten got some extra time on me, as my hill strength wasn't quite there.  I did run each of them, but really struggled.  After ascending the last one, there was a fantastic downhill and I pushed it hard to the finish.  As I crossed the finish line, the clock read 1:22:45.  I was around 5 minutes faster than last year, 18 seconds behind Joelle and around 40 seconds behind Kirsten.  Overall I had a great race, posted a faster time than the previous year by a pretty good margin, but I finished feeling unhappy with the race because of my placing (I ended up 7th female, out of fourth place by under a minute).  I was happy for Joelle - she took close to 10 minutes off her time from last year and really had a fantastic race.  However, it was still mentally challenging to have 3 women so close to me, but all beat me.  Although, I cannot be unhappy with my performance, as I felt pretty good during the race, felt better on the climbs than in previous years and posted a faster time than previously - and this is what I  need to keep in mind.

Shane had a fantastic race all-round and won the race overall.  There was some speculation that Bruce Deacon, a previous Olympian, who is still a fantastic masters runner, and who'd shown up for the race last minute, might come out on top.  However, this type of race isn't really his forte, and while he was still the top master, he ended up 3 minutes back from Shane. Shane still had to work for his win though, holding off Trevor Ruck - but congrats to him for his time of 1:04:56. Sarah Baker came in as the top women in 1:14:40 - a really strong showing.  Full results are here.

Thanks to Bob Reid, race director and for the Prairie Inn Harriers for putting on such a fantastic race -it was exceptionally marked, with enough course marshals, and definitely enough wet -- I finished the race completely soaked to the bone with the combination of puddles and rain.  But all in all it was a fun day!

Gunner Shaw 10 km

November 27, 2010

This is part of a series of races put on by the Prairie Inn Harriers on the Thetis Lake trails every fall.  This race is a classic fall race in Victoria that is popular and known for its puddles and muddy terrain.  This year it was a slightly different story though, as we got an early cold snap in Victoria that dusted the ground with snow that lasted for a week.  While the snow had melted in other parts of the city, the trails in Thetis Lake were still completely snow covered, and it would be a slippery run.  Luckily, I had created some 'screw shoes' last year out of an old pair of trail runners, and after seeing the conditions of the trails, I knew they would be perfect for this race. 

It was a beautiful day for a race, the sun was shining and the rays felt quite warm on this autumn day. In the forest, it felt a bit cooler, but the temperature was still great for racing.  I made it to the start line, just in time for the final words by the race director, Bob Reid, and then the countdown.  The race started off fast, as I knew it would.  I didn't want to kill myself right off the bat, so I just tried to maintain a steady effort.  The start of a race is always chaotic, as there's tons of people running all around, and it's amazing we don't all trip over each other. 

I was feeling pretty good and felt like I was maintaining a decent speed.  There were a number of women running around me, who I didn't recognize, but my competitiveness came out and I was determined to try and beat them.  Within the first few kilometres, Antonia Grady, passed me - and my goal then became to latch on to her and stay with her for as long as possible.  Antonia is a fantastic runner, and is somewhat faster than me, so I knew it would be challenging to stick with her, but it would also be a good motivator.  She was pushing it, and was slowly passing other racers as we weaved along the course.  I was following along, passing the same racers, as we went along. 

This year, due to the snow and cold weather, we bypassed the main puddle, as there was still ice on it, and it would have been treacherous to run through it, and likely would have caused some bloody knees.  Just after bypassing the puddle, Antonia and I caught up to the few other women who had been ahead of us.  We tagged along behind them for some time, as I was thinking to myself, 'Ok, Antonia, let's pass them...'.    Soon enough, Antonia made the first pass, and I followed close behind.  I was still feeling pretty good at this point, and was happy that I was able to keep up with Antonia. 

We had now passed the half-way mark, and were on our way back.  The route back went along a few different trails, and we took Sue Reid trail, which is a good single-track section on the way back.  This is one of my favorite parts of this race.  I love this section of the course, as we get onto some more technical terrain that snakes around, and is fun to blast through.  Just as we got near the exit of this trail onto the main trail that passes around Upper Thetis Lake, I couldn't match Antonia's speed anymore.  She was continuing to push hard, and I no longer had it in me to keep up.  I kept her in my sights as we made our way forward, but knew that she would be gone soon enough.  I had to scale it back a bit, but didn't want to slow down completely, as I knew those other women were just behind, and I didn't want them to pass me. 

Soon I was on the last section of the course -- although it's a bit of a cruel end, as it requires us to scale three steep hills, just as the legs are super tired.  I struggled my way up each one in turn, and then came a really fun downhill finish.  I was able to just let my legs spin, and push around the final few bends, before I was spat out into Thetis Lake.  For the very last part of the course, everyone is forced to run through the shallow part of the lake -- it's a fun way to finish the race, and some even decide to dive in and go for a little swim.  I wasn't quite that ambitious - so I kept my top dry.  My finishing time was: 43:57, and I was the fifth female overall.  Thanks to Antonia for giving me the push to work as hard as I did! 

The screw shoes were definitely a good idea - as they really helped with the traction.  After the race I heard about many others who had found the conditions slippery - but I didn't find it too bad.  It also really helped with my confidence, as I didn't feel the need to be tentative out there, either on the up or downhills. 

Shane had a good race as well - coming in 2nd overall, just behind Shawn Nelson, who is running extremely well, and is definitely the force to beat locally on the trails.  Melanie McQuaid was the female winner, coming in at 39:08.  The results are here.

Congrats to all of the racers, and thanks to Prairie Inn Harriers and Bob Reid for putting on another fantastic event!