Sand in my shoes, tears in my eyes

[Cathy]

The day dawned early to fog everywhere.  I was up and showered by 6:30 and I when I looked out the window, I couldn?t even see across the road.  But this didn?t deter us.  We all met at Petra?s for the drive to Sandbanks Park and along the way encountered very little fog at all.  I am glad that the race didn?t include sun though.  It was just right for the run. 

Last year was the first year that I did the Sandbanks run  and Sweet Sue and I attended together.  While we were there my attention was drawn to a large group of fun loving people that just seemed to be having the time of their lives.  (We actually made it into some of their photos of the day which was cool). It seemed that I followed this group around to a couple of races after that and their spirit never changed.  This year I had the pleasure of attending the race with that same group and numerous others that I have met during that time since the 2005 race.  I didn?t think that I could top the enjoyment of  last years race  what with all the volunteers that offered such support and the finish line just about made me cry with the people yelling and encouraging you in and the cow bells ringing, but this year blew it way over the top.  It was a beautiful day for a race, so many friendly, familiar faces and so many people that have managed to accomplish so much in this past year.   As I have had the pleasure to shared in everyone?s stories of how they started running, how long they have been running and the pitfalls that have accompanied their race/running career, I just have to say that this group of individuals have grown so much and overcome so many hurtles.  You should all be proud of what and who you are and how through determination and pain you all have met the challenges you have set for yourselves and accomplished your goals.  Thank you for allowing me to share this time with you and I look forward  to being there with you when all your goals are met.

Not much of a race report but just wanted to say:
Great day,  great race, and most importantly, great friends.

[Robyn]

It was nice to see everyone having such a good time and hauling in the medals.  I didn't get a chance to talk to most of you today but I heard all your names being called as you went up to claim your prizes.  I hope everyone had as good a day as I had. 

[The Moose]

This is one of my favourite races.  The weather has always been great (at least the last 4 years.), and the crowd is awesome.
I got to see the race from a little different angle this year for 2 reasons.  1. I usually run the 10k, this time I ran the 5.  2.  I'd like to think that I'm usually a lot closer to the pointy end of the race, this year I finished firmly in the middle.

WOW!  What a different experience.  I had a great time, what a beautiful route.  It's amazing how much more you see from the middle of the pack.  Lots more smiles, plenty of suffering, you really get to see more humanity from here.  The effort, the internal struggles, the sheer joy of just being there....WOW!  I can't think of anything more beautiful than human-kind at its best.

Many thanks to Zak for helping me see more of the race, and keeping to my goal of just going "slow", having fun, and not killing myself 1 week before TWF Marathon, and congratulations to him for running a near perfect race.

Mike

P.S.  This doesn't mean I'm not trying for the sharp end anymore.

"Perfect race" for me is defined as a race that is run at a consistant pace at max speed for the distance run, with no reserves left at the finish.  That boy paced out nearly identical 5:40 kms for the last 2k after running 2k at 5:50.  (Obviously I'm a little biased, but he is my kid.)

[Heath]

Awww... Cathy, we are glad to have you as part of our group!  Great report, Moose.  Interesting observations... :)

For my race report:

First of all, I would like to congratulate everyone who ran today.  Congratulations to the runners who ran their first race and congratulations to the runners who have ran this race multiple times.  You all did so great!  Congrats to Cathy, Ryann, June and Dale for getting medals in their age groups!  Great Race!

Let's just say, it was a great day for a race! Great weather, excellent organization and lots of fun! The weather was overcast with fog slowly disappearing as the morning passed. Petra, Cathy, My mom, Adam and myself piled into Petra's van and off we went to Sandbanks Provinical Park. Before we knew it, we were there. Straight to race kit pickup. The shirts were quite nice this year. I really liked the colours!  Nice and bright.

Countdown to race start! 10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Go! The first part of the race was great! My mom, Cathy, my friend Stacey and I passed the 1K mark at 5:48... Wow... that was a fast kilometer for me! The first half of the race was good but then I started to struggle. My heartrate was way too high right from the start and my breathing was off. There is a part in this race where you have to run across a corn field. My heartrate was at 190 at this point and I knew that it was going to increase when we turned into the corn field. My friend Stacey was just bootin' it so I told her to go ahead. I stopped for a small walk break to try and lower my heartrate and I decided to take a gel. This helped a bit but I still couldn't get my breathing on track and I never did the rest of the race. The last two K's went pretty fast. At about 500m's to go according to my garmin, I was at 56:24. I knew I could make it under an hour so I decided to pick up the pace a bit. It was hard but I managed to cross the finish line at 59:12!!! I was very happy with my time since I ran 10K at Longboat last weekend in 59:31.

My mom took this picture of me just before the finish line:



There are more pictures from today on Adam's Website.  Adam did his best to get everyone he could coming over the finish line but his camera battery died and it had to be changed.

But overall, it was a great day!  We had a fun time on the way home, too.  We stopped for ice cream, chocolate covered ju-jubes and homemade donuts.  Ice cream is the best recovery treat!!!

[patti]

Hey Mike,
The next time you are in the store I have a picture of you and Zak coming to the finish.
I've also got most of Elizbeth's group.  I will have the copies at the store for everyone.
patti

[Jane]

Wow, Cathy, that wasn't really a report on your race, but it sure was a great composition!  You made me want to cry!!!  I am glad that you are part of our group too.  You add so much to every trip that we take and it fun to have you with us!!  I can't believe that you've been with us less than a year!  It feels like I've known you forever (and that is in a good way!   ).

Cathy, being her usual modest self, neglected to tell us about her FIRST PLACE age group medal.  

Check out this link of her with her first place medal, and Jim Gore with his second place and Lisa Bradley with her third place!  

http://www.agptechcanada.com/home/Photos/main.php?g2_itemId=9852&g2_navId=x305d54e7

Cathy you did GREAT!!

My report:

I enjoyed the run today.  I was running at my happy pace for about the first 6K.  I was determined I was just going to relax and enjoy the day.  Something happened to me at 6K.  I think it actually started at 5K where the man called out my time of 29:15 and I realized I wanted to at least keep that pace and finish in under an hour.  So much for being careful in anticipation of the Toad.

My heart rate had been about 155 or so, and at this point it increased to the 160s and sometimes the 170s.  I saw Robyn at the 6K -- it's nice to see a familiar face out there.  Then came the LONG road through the corn field, or alongside it.  One way or another, it seems to go on forever....  



I was trying to pass this young girl - I think she was in the under 18 age group.  These old legs just couldn't move fast enough.  Oh well....  You have to be realistic, I guess....    We ended up back out on the road and I could see Petra!  Petra had pulled ahead right at the start.  But I could see her red top and was trying to catch her.  At about 8K I was passed by a lady in black who was moving at a good speed.  I tried to move my legs to her pace but couldn't keep up.    Oh well.....  At the water station I whipped my hat off to dump water on my head (I was HOT) and forgot about my sunglasses!  They flew to the road and I had to run back several feet to get them.  Thanks to the guy who picked them up for me.  I had been getting closer to Petra, but now there was more space between us again.  She was just a little dynamo!!

Next came the part through the woods - my favourite part because it is as close to trail running as you can get on this 10K.  I hardly noticed it today though.  It seemed like there were so many turns and I was trying to keep an eye on Petra.  I kept expecting we were going to bounce out onto the road and turn left, but it took a long time coming....  

Finally there was the road again.  I turned left and headed into the last 700 meters or so to the finish line.  Hey!! There was the lady in black who had passed me about 1.5K earlier.  I was trying to figure out when to start speeding up for my finish.  But when I saw her, I really wanted to pass her.  I am not competitive,    but I really really wanted to pass her.       And I did!  And I went on to pass another lady too!  I don't think they were happy I passed them - they made these funny sounds.  Or maybe they were just trying to breathe.  I probably sounded funny too!  And my stomach was flipping and flopping and my heart rate was up to 183.  Just a second -- don't I explode at 171???  I guess I don't.  And I went on to pass two men too.  That felt even better than passing the two women.  I won't forget the voice from a lady on the side of the road saying, "Yay, you go girl, pass the men!!"  I don't think I have ever run that fast for so long and thank goodness I didn't embarrass myself and puke at the finish line!  I sure felt like it.  

I never did catch Petra -- she was just a running machine out there!  But I was happy with my time (56:25) considering my run of 56:36 last weekend and then our 23K run on Tuesday.  And the fact that my legs were sore for most of the rest of the week!  

It was great to see everyone out there running and walking -- special mention to Sandy and her Dad (who won a medal) and her Mom & Ryann who both got medals.  Also Elizabeth's half marathon group (can't wait to see you girls at the finish line of PEC!) and Sue from Bloomfield, who is going to do fantastic in her full at PEC!  

It was a great day -- and I don't even want to think about all the ice cream, chocolate and donuts we ate on the way home.    

[Jane]

Moose, I loved your report.  It was good to read that you could identify with us middle of the packers, since you are such a normally speedy guy!!  I saw you running with your son after the 5K turn around and you both looked great!  You did look like you were enjoying yourself and I could see the pride in your eyes while you were running with him!  Isn't it fun sometimes to throw aside your goals and help other people in theirs?  Especially when it is one of your children!   

There were a lot of participants out there today who were a part of family groups.  This is what it is all about - to encourage physical fitness and activity, to achieve goals and to have fun.  And if you can do it with your family members, what a bonus!!

[Robyn]

Hey Moose, if you really want to see some suffering and humanity, come for a run with me.  I can show you some internal struggling, and teach you a few curse words at the same time.     Glad you had a good time, it is an awesome route.

[ShoppinShannon]

Wow, great race reports everyone....
I can't belive I missed out on the sandbanks fun run....my life has been so nuts these past 2 weeks, it completly slipped my mind.
Kudos to everyone!  Wish I could have been there to watch you all come in!!!

Shan

[Sue]

Wonderfully put Cathy!  It was an awesome morning!  I have truly met the best people since I have started running!  Congratulations on your first place medal!  You have done so well in such a short amount of time.  I'm hoping with some more training that someday I can run along with you guys!
Congratulations also to Sandy's Mom and Dad for their wonderful acheivements today.  It must have been so nice for Sandy's mom to run with her Grandaughter as well as for Sandy to run with her Dad.  That was cool!  Congratulations to Heather and Jane as they both had great races!  Heather you are doing so well (under an hour, my dream).  Adam thanks so much for taking the pics today! They're great!
Congratulations to Mike and his son Zak as well, sorry I didn't get to meet you today!  I always enjoy reading your posts.  Petra it was great to see you today as well! You had a great race too, you make it look so easy!  Sorry I missed our shopping date on Firday!   I have to mention that a friend of mine Darlene just started running a couple of months ago and ran her first race today 5k in 33.06.  She's really enjoying it and is hooked like the rest of us!
It was so nice to see everyone today! Congratulations to everyone!

[sweetsue]

Sorry I wasn't able to join everyone at Sandbanks.  I ran it last year with Cathy and I must say it is a nice place to run.

Susan

[ironman]

Hi all
Nice to see everyone out have fun.  It was a beautiful day.  Little rough by the water, but I love the trails.  I ran a nice race. Was looking for 37mins, but will settle for 38:49.  I was a little disappointed about the how unorganized the awards were.  I couldn't hear haft the names and it seemed like some of the age groups were skipped over, but most of all when you end up 2nd over all in a race and have to fight for your medal.  The medal didn't matter to me as much as not even being recognized for the hard work I put into my running. I guess its like Mike said 2nd is just the first loser (just a joke).  Over all it was my PP and I know I could have won.  I guess its something to laugh at now.  Couldn't ask for a better day to race.  Just hope PEC is cool and raining.  Just my preference.  Good job everyone and good luck to everyone running in PEC.  Hope to see you all there in 3:10:00. BOSTON here I come.......lol
Later

[The Moose]

Hey,
I was just kidding.

It's going to suck for weekend weather for the next little while.  I'm hoping for a little drizzle this Sunday as well (no heat is a good thing.)

Good luck to everyone at PEC, I plan to be there on 2 wheels to harass you all, we'll see if I live through TWF first though.

Mike

[Jane]

Yes, the awards did seem very disorganized.  Maybe it was because it was their first time using that new program??  I didn't win one so maybe that was why I wasn't all that concerned about it.  But it did seem like they jumped all over the place. 

I kind of like it too when they announce the winners if they take a couple of extra seconds to announce their times as well.  Just so that I know, as a strictly non-competitive runner  how far off their pace I was (for future reference for speed training, you know!)

[Robyn]

Jane, everytime you say you're not competitive I choke on my coffee.    The first time you said that I believed you, but not anymore...