Pitter Patter

[The Moose]

Wow, what a great day for a race.  I think I over-dressed.  Course is flat and fast, except the last 2k.  Love running uphill.
Did everyone have fun?

By the way, one down (under 40 minutes 10k, yes I know we were 200m short, but I run 200 in 40 seconds, the math says this counts).

The Zman took 6 minutes off his 5k time.  I'm so proud of the kid.

My daughter also ran the 5k (first time ever).

When are these races going to start a family plan?  If my wife starts racing this is going to get expensive.....

Mike

[Bill]

Ladies I ran my first 10k today and would like to say that I had a great time.  I ran a personal best today at 1hr 9min and 37sec not my official time but that is what my Garmin told me it also told me that we only ran 9.63km, but we will keep that to ourselves.  I would like to thatnk Jane and Cathy for running in with me, I am not sure where my wife was but you can see how much she cares. 

Is any body posting pictures for this Race? I know my picture was taken once I hope it turned out. 

See you at the next 10k if not sooner
 

[ShoppinShannon]

Awesome job Moose! 
I ran too today.  I'm still looking for my legs, as I left them somewhere near the animal shelter...ugh.
I say that only because yesterday I ran 16k.....what was I thinking?  10K today?
Well, as it turned out, I'm quite proud of myself.  I finished 1hr 4 min and 4 sec.  MY FIRST 10K!!!
I'm thinking I'll find my legs by Tuesday nights run.
Thank you Heather and Amanda for running with me and a special thanks to Jane and Cathy for helping me get to the end, it sure was nice to see your guys smiley faces, just when I needed it.
And Moose, your absolutely right about having a family run.  I would of loved to have my son with me today if they had that catagory.  I think it would of been cool.  He is only just starting to run.  Age 8.
Saw those young girls today.  They were all pretty awesome!!  Great job!


Shan

[ShoppinShannon]

Is any body posting pictures for this Race? I know my picture was taken once I hope it turned out. 
 

Hey Bill, Congrats to you too!  That is great! 
I did see Adam, (Heathers boyfriend) with a camera, and Jane and Cathy and Petra.  I'm hoping they will post them real soon because even though I brought my camera, I completely forgot to take pic's.  Too busy looking for my legs at that point.  I think I might be in one or two shots, would love to show my family!!
Once again!  Congrats!!!!

[Jane]

Hi guys -- I am in the process of uploading mine to Adam's website and he already has his there.  Check them out at www.adampaulin.ca - chose Photo Gallery on the left hand side.  Look under Running Photos.  Go to the bottom and choose page 2.  They are the last album on the second page.

Or go to:  http://www.agptechcanada.com/home/Photos/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=2635

[The Moose]

Damon's Garmin said 9.76.  I know it depends on when the watch reads the signal (sometimes it will cut a corner into a straight line).
Guess that's why we count on bike computers etc to measure these things right.  I'm still calling it 9.8k, after all, cutting corners won't make it longer, just shorter.

Hey, if we had all gone back and done the circle, would they have disqualified the lead group?  Just wondering....

Did you see the kid that won?  32 minutes flat, Holy $^%!

Congrats to everyone who finished, I hope fun was had by all.

Mike

[Jane]

First of all, I want to congratulate everyone on a really great race today!      I think everyone was happy with their results - no matter how far we ran!  Moose -- did you run the 10K?  Because I distinctly remember a hill at between 3 and 4K!  It was steeper going out and more gradual coming back.  Congratulation on your results!  And you must be so proud of your kids!  You are setting such a good example for them and they are obviously following your lead!  I know what you mean about family rates.  I usually pay for my and Heather's entry and it does get expensive.  If you are looking for a family rate, check out the Wolfe Island run on July 2.

Shannon and Bill, you two should both be very proud too of your accomplishment today!  Your first 10K will be a memory that you won't ever forget.  You both came over the finish line smiling -- that is what you want!!  Congratulations to Barb too -- I think this might have been her first race.

All the other people from our group -- you all looked great coming over that finish line.  Looking at Adam's photos, I don't know how anyone can say that running isn't good for you when you see the expressions on the faces of the people finishing! 

Now for my report!  Sorry - it is long like usual. 

When is 10K not 10K?  When it is 9.75 or 9.8K! 

Well, Cathy and I should have known that there was something wrong when we ran the first km of the race in 4 min!  I mean the heart rate training makes you run faster, but THAT MUCH faster???  So?. It appears that all the runners missed doing that first loop around the parking lot.  I know that they reviewed the route with us before hand ? but do they really expect 150+ hyper runners to be listening to them???  After the race Damon Allen said he knew that we were supposed to go around, but he would have looked pretty silly taking off in that direction while everyone continued on! 

So? 10K wasn?t really 10K but it was still a good race.  Thinking we ran a 4:00 first km kind of psyched Cathy and me out and we resolved to slow down the pace.  Did we?  Not by much, I don?t think.  I remember Cathy saying that we were at 9-something minutes after 2K.  So we were still doing an under 6 min km. 

The weather was great for the run and by the time we got to the first water station we were feeling pretty warm.  We ran for awhile with a very nice lady who is a high school teacher in Madoc.  We talked with her about her first half marathon coming up in Ottawa.  We hit the half way point where we walked to have a gel.  I don?t know what was in that Gulp & Go, but it totally energized me!  (Or maybe it was the coffee I had first thing this morning that helped to jumpstart me!)  As I went on, I felt great ? better than I have in a long time.  I felt like I was working, but it was a really good feeling!  I think I was on one of those runners highs.  I have no idea what my heart rate was ? I forgot my heart rate monitor at home.  Maybe this was done subconsciously so I wouldn?t get fixated on it.   Poor Cathy was having various issues (I will let her fill you in on the details, if she wants), but her heart rate was in the 170s, and I felt for her.  But not enough that I wanted to let her slack off!!!  We were less than a KM from the finish line and she really wanted to break one hour!!  We managed to get a good sprint going the last hundred meters or so, even though Cathy said she didn?t have it in her.   See Cathy ? even when you think you don?t have it, you can muster it from down deep!  We made it over the finish line in 57:02 which they changed to 57:12 afterwards.  I know that I had time to walk ahead, have them rip my number off my bib and turn around and walk back and the clock said 57:13, so I think they were correct with the 57:02 in the first place.  But it doesn?t matter.  We broke one hour and even if you prorate that missed 200 meters into the distance, we would have had 58:30, so we still would have broken an hour. 

It was a great race ? the food was good, the volunteers were good, the weather was good.  It was all good ? even if I didn?t win a door prize (which were good too!), or place in my age group.  All I can say is --- Next year you better watch out all you 50 year old women ? because I am going to be in your age category and I am going to be fighting you for those medals!!!  (How?s THAT for throwing down the gauntlet???)

[Heath]

It was a great day for a race!!!  I had a great run and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  I ran with Amanda and Shannon and my goal was to get Amanda over the finish line with a PB and we did it!  Our time was 1:03:50 and she needed to beat 1:10 minutes!!!  I was so happy for her!  And Shannon has an awesome first 10K and I was sooo proud of her!

Congratulations to everyone who ran today... special congrats to my other half clinic members that ran the 5K, Tracy and Barb!  Great race, Ladies!!!

I really enjoyed the whole day, especially the food after at Cora's with Cathy, Petra, Tina (it was great to see you again), Shannon, my mom and Adam.  It was sooo yummy.  We even took pictures of it! :)  

The pictures turned out great and my mom has already posted the link below.  Carole, you were soooo photogenic today!  I think you were smiling in every picture that was taken of you.  

[sweetsue]

Great Pic's Adam.  It is always great to see the pictures and to be able to go back and remember your accomplishments.

I have to agree with everyone, it was a great day for a run.  Although, I did not break one hour (congrats to Cathy and Jane for your times), I felt good about my run.  I ran with Carole, and it was great to have the company.  Thanks to Carole, she kept my pace steady and kept me going when during the last km, I was ready to give in. 

This was the first time that I had run the 10km, I had run the 5 km before.  I enjoyed the scenery, but as you all know, I love looking around when running in new places.

Bill, I am very proud of you and your amazing time.  As everyone is aware, I did not go out and run in with Bill (apparently that is another one of my jobs that I was unaware of, like many others), like Cathy and Jane did,  but I was the one screaming at the finish line.  I am looking forward to our races we have planned to do this year together.

Susan

[Jane]

Sue, I didn't know that was your first 10K!!  Way to go!  You and Carole looked great in that photo running in to the finish line! 

I think it was important for you to be at the finish line for Bill!  I am sure that he appreciated it!  And he was quite enjoying the company of the nice police officer on the bike (although I did comment that he would have liked the company of a young female policewoman more, I am sure!).     I think it is great that you two are into running together, even if it is hard for both of you to get out and do it at the same time when you have a young family.  I wish that I had started younger.

[Cathy]

Late as usual, but here it goes:

Well it was quite a showing our little group made yesterday at the Pitter Patter in Belleville.  Sandy we should look into getting shirts or bibs or something.  It would help Adam identify us in the field as well as most importantly business promotion in all aspects.  And we would all look pretty spiffy to boot.  By the way Adam, as usual your pictures were wonderful.  You really caught everyone at their best.  Thank you for giving your time to shoot all of us. 

First, there were several people who were running their first 10k.  Congratulations to all.  You certainly had a lovely day to put in your scrapbooks.  You took up the challenge and completed the task in a true display of determination and confidence.  This also applies to all those who were making it their first run ever.  You all should be proud.  And Bill, your pictures were adorable.  You looked like an old pro.  Well not that old.

The morning started early with first waking up at 3, then 4, then 5, then giving up and getting up at 5:40.  I woke with a headache and the knowledge that today I would race with Jane.  I found out the news from Jane?s daughter Heather the day before at Tim?s and hadn?t been able to get it out of my head since.  Now Jane and I have ran together on lots of occasions but never at a race.  I usually run by myself and can?t at this time think of anytime that I had ever actually ran with  anyone.  So with nerves to start the day I set off to do something else that I normally don?t do on race day.  EAT.  Drink lots but never EAT.  I was ready cloths wise the night before so after taking some mortin was out the door in plenty of time to pick up my partner, Heather and Adam.  There was quite a large group already at the school when we arrived so there were lots of people to talk to and pass the time before the race began.

We got our instructions at 10:02 and we were off after a short delay because of a false start.  Although it appears that we missed the a loop in the first k we at this point didn?t know it.  It was interesting to have Jane telling me that we were going to fast to start and then hitting that 1k marker and looking at my time and seeing 4 minutes.  That was a bit of a shocker.  But after all we did just follow the pack.  My heart rate was good at this point and other than a slight cramp in the back of my right leg was feeling pretty good. So other than adjusting my stride and trying to slow up a bit we continued on into a cool breeze and full sun.  Just past the 2k mark we started to see the pack of 5kers coming back past us. Should have known from them and our time around 9 minutes that this was going to be a fast race.  We made our stop for water and continued on route heading for the 5k marker. Our time at the 5k point was 27:01.  On the way we (mostly Jane) spent quite a bit of time talking to a teacher that I had the pleasure of running sort of with at the Freezing 5.  She is really a lovely person.  And her and Jane were just glidding along with no cares in the world.  I was beginning to have breathing problems and an issue the crap in my throat. I usually chew gum and forgot to put that in my belt too.  DA ??? Plus I was certainly running faster than I have probably ran before which doesn?t help.  That Jane is sure smooth. Never missed a beat and kept me motivated the whole way to boot.

We kept pace with the teacher through the water station turnabout, a gel and  the 6.5 mark then she left us in the dust so to speak.  By the 7k my legs were feeling pretty good, no problem with that cramp but I just couldn?t get the breathing thing straightened out and that was causing my to slow down.  We hit the last water station and headed for home.  One more stop for a drink just coming up the hill we strode off toward the finish line.  With the last corner in view and Jane telling me that I was just letting her go ahead because she wasn?t in my age group and me whinning that I had had enough, she called me out for that last sprint to the finish.  I usually don?t have a problem with doing that, it just happens when the finish line is in view.  The legs pick up pace and you pump those arms and your off like a rocket. (just like at the start)  But today I had to talk myself into rushing the gate with all I had left.  We crossed the finish line with smiles on both our faces (love that shot by the way) and my stomach in my throat.  After a bit of a walk about I was greeted with hugs from Elizabeth and joined the rest of the group to await our friends arrivals.  Jane, I only wanted to break 60 minutes.  But I must admit I sure enjoyed the whole experience right down to the walk through the trees at the finish.  Thanks so much for both pushing me and making me realized how important pacing really is.  The time really means nothing to the pleasure to crossing the finish line with you beside me.  So when is our next date or do I have to send you flowers first??

It was such a delight to know so many wonderful people, having the pleasure of meeting them on their way to the finish and being able to accompany them that last .5k or so.  You all worked hard and certainly deserve a great big group hug.

Is anyone crying yet???
 

[Jane]

  You didn't HAVE to run with me, Cathy!  I didn't realize that I scared you all that much!     Actually, I was worried about being able to keep up with you and that I was going to have to tell you go on ahead.  I hope I didn't push you too hard and scare you off running!     Oh, no.  I doubt that will happen!! 

I am glad that looking back on it it wasn't really all that bad an experience (just like childbirth, right??).  The bad parts fade fast in the memory.  I was actually surprised that I had that much get up and go in me, as I hadn't really been running for speed much in a long time. 

Sorry to abandon you after the finish line -- I was actually watching you, but as I said "I don't do puke."  I figured if I saw you sick or going down I would send Nurse Elizabeth over to look after you -- as I am useless in an emergency! 

Get ready for the next run, Miss Cathy!!  Want to try and break 55 minutes?     Just joking!

[Sandy]

Well I must say congratulations to every one!  I have to admit I am a little jealeous as I have never run this race, always worked it.  Where exactally does the 10k course go?

[Cathy]

I guess the thought that you and I would ever race together never crossed my mind before.  I had a great time and don't do puke either.  Too much speed at the finish is all.

I doubt that you could scare me off running.  You wait, I get my new feet and I will be up for another challenge.  And just think that the more time I have to run the better I will get.  But when you change age categories, you are on your own.  I'll stay with you for as long as you like and then you can fly to the finish.  I'll just take second behind you.  Certainly no shame in that.

55 mins sounds good.  Wolfe Island and the hills???

Sandy, you will have to change places with one of us next year.  The course heads down to the animal hospital and to the underpass on hwy 2 and then back again.  Mostly flat and non eventful.  But still a lovely run.  The part through those houses near the school was the same last year.  Quite sheltered there and was really warm too. 

[Jane]

Well I must say congratulations to every one!  I have to admit I am a little jealeous as I have never run this race, always worked it.  Where exactally does the 10k course go?

Where does it go?  Or where is it SUPPOSED to go???     We were fine following the route once we got out of the parking lot!  You SHOULD run it sometime Sandy!  You want to run with Cathy and me?  If we can't break 55 minutes at Wolfe Island, then we will be trying at the Pitter Patter next year!     Just joking!

Actually 55 minutes would be hard at Wolfe Island, between the heat and the hills.  I would probably settle for an hour at that one!