Race Recap: Baden Road Races

This face says it all...I'm done...(yet only half way..)

Part of the Waterloo Running Series, the Baden Road Races take place in the Township of Wilmot and more importantly, just a few minutes away from my soon-to-be-sister-in-law's house. For Christmas I let Rachel know I wanted to run a race together and we agreed on this one. I ran the Rememberrun in 2014 which is also part of the Waterloo Running Series, and was interested in running more as it was well-run (haha) and had many nice added touches.

The Baden road races include a 7 mile, a 5km, a 1km and a kids 200m. The signature event is the 7miler that runs down the road towards tower hill. I shouldn't say runs "down" as it felt all up hill...both ways.

I was impressed right from the beginning. The event starts and ends at the Wilmot Recreation Complex in New Hamburg. The start time isn't until 9:30am. Not only did I get to sleep in, we got to wait in a warm area with lots of indoor washrooms. Bonus!

The finish line is inside, right in the arena. This is great for spectators but also for participants as you can watch and cheer on other finishers and feel cheered on as you finish.This event would be great for spectators due to the indoor aspect. There are many races I've run in unfavourable weather where my poor parents had to stand for extended periods of time getting cold or wet.

Rachel and I ran the 7miler; her mother also decided morning of that she too would run it, so she slipped over around 8 to register and then returned home. Our spectator was Rachel's dad and he did a great job getting photos and being at the start, near the finish and at the finish with the camera.

Just finished! Smiling because it's over!!

The course itself is easily the most challenging I've run. A 7mile equals 11.3km which isn't as long as a half-marathon but shouldn't be dismissed as a short distance as it is just that much longer than a 10km. I didn't intend to run this competitively as I'd just had my goal race, the Goodlife Half Marathon two weeks prior, and a fast 10km at the Sporting Life 10km the weekend prior. This one was to be a fun experience with my sister-to-be. I didn't take it too seriously in preparation with extra rest or any form of energy chews in advance of running. I had my music fairly low and one headphone out so we could chat.

One of my favourite shows to watch is Four Weddings and I despise when the brides judge overall experience on weather as this is a factor that no one can control. However, I will say, my overall experience of this race was greatly impacted by the weather. Rachel said last year was hot and humid which made the race a challenge. Well, this year was the opposite. It was cold, windy and rainy. It was about 9 degrees and dropping, feels like 6. The wind however was strong. In the first km a girl in front of us lost her hat as it blew off her head nearly tripping me as I was watching the spectators. On the out and back course it never seemed to be at our back or beneficial. On the way back it was a brick wall to push into. Add into the brick wall a driving rain that no matter how low I pulled my hat was still smashing into my face and that was what we had to run through.

The course has an up and down hill within the first 2 km, and from there is consistent uphills that slightly level out and rise up again. Just when you think you've reached the "hill" that this race is known for, Rachel notifies me that this sharp right turn onto a gravel hill is actually the hill before "the hill". At the bottom of "the hill" is a timing mat as the fastest hill time winners (male and female) receive a pair of saucony shoes. The actual hill is so straight up that we decided to walk it. I never walk in a race but I had nothing in me from all the other million hills that led up to this hill. At the top you can seemingly see for miles. I was notified this is the highest point in southwest Ontario. I can attest to that! At the top you get to ring a big brass bell then head back down again.

We're coming!

Where's the top? Just look down says Rachel

Seriously? Dying...

Sister pulling ahead to ring the bell!

You'd think this would be the turning point in more way that one as you now get to head downhill but with my muscles and lungs being shot (I was certain I was going to puke) and the hill being so steep and gravel it was a challenge getting back down the hill again. Of course, then the driving rain/wind started and the way back seemed to last forever, especially once we hit the long, gradual uphill with 2.5km to go. I actually felt like I couldn't go on any longer. I told Rachel: "you go ahead if you want, I'm holding you back" but being the good sister she is, she stuck with me. I realized you can't "race" three significant distance races three weeks in a row. The last km didn't feel as brutal as it levelled out and the end was in sight so the speak. It wasn't actually as it finished indoors but I could see the building and that was enough for me.

We crossed the finish line side by side and had identical times of 1:01:11. There was live music at the finish line as well as quite the spread to eat. They had watermelon, bananas, bagels, grapes, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and pizza!! Lots and lots of pizza. Though it was 10:30/10:45ish and I wasn't hungry I figured I should eat knowing this would be my lunch and lately have felt nauseous a few hours after racing, potentially due to not eating. I was excited to get a coffee and the watermelon for sure. The pizza was also delicious.

At the finish line after getting medals. Thankful for hot coffee!

Not long after the results were posted and I saw my time was good enough for a 3rd place finish in my category (F25-29). Also in my category was Rachel who unfortunately got 4th because though our times were identical, alphabetically I come first. Though they don't have finishers medals they do have age category medals and new this year they allowed you to line up to receive your medal, rather than wait for the ceremony.

Sad sister...but check out the spread of food being brought home. She's the real winner!

Overall, the race is a great, challenging course that I wasn't prepared for. The weather certainly added to the challenge and running on tired legs didn't help. I was thankful for the chance to run with my sister and will be looking for a chance to run another run in the Waterloo Running series.

Race Recap: Sporting Life 10km

After the race!

This is my 3rd year running the Sporting Life 10km and first time running the same event for the 3rd time. Sporting Life is such an all-around great race and one that I intend to participate in year after year as long as I can. Here's why:

Great course
Great cause
Great Atmosphere
Well Organized

When you sign up for the race the early bird cost is $40 and you get a $35 sporting life gift card as well as a discount code for New Balance. I've never done a race before that essentially pays you to run it. Speaking of which, if you raise $250 for the charity sponsor Camp Ooch, you get reimbursed your registration cost!

Mostly downhill the course runs down Yonge Street and has so much to look at. Just shy of 7km the course turns west and zig zags slightly until it runs over a beautiful bridge where you cross over the train tracks and have a great view of the CN tower. It then turns and runs down below an overpass and over the finish line. It has a tracking mat at the halfway mark which is neat to compare the first half to the second half of your race.

With runners in the 10's and 20's of thousands it's such an incredible feeling to run down a major city street with fellow runners. You almost feel like you're moving as a group, as if you're a small part of something much bigger than yourself. Of course, there's so much truth in this as the event supports Camp Ooch, a camp for kids with cancer.

No person should have to endure what cancer does to a body, to a spirit, to a family. No person let alone a child. I've learned first hand the every day impact of childhood cancer on a child, his brother and his parents. It was Mr. Rogers who said, "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" Even though childhood cancer is scary, places like Camp Ooch and the people who run it bring light to the darkness, they are the helpers. I've heard about the constant events and special moments they create not only for the children who have cancer but for their siblings and parents as well. I will continue to support this fantastic organization.

In the past the event struggled with natural congestion that comes from 20,000+ runners but over the years has refined the process so well that it all runs (in my perception) seamlessly. I add in the bracketed disclaimer as I run in the first corral and therefore when I cross the finish line, get my medal, water and food I am not battling the bulk of the participants. However, I can see from the way they've continued to tweak some locations of medals and other after party items that they are further improving the event year after year. The best choice they make is colour coded corrals being released at least 5 minutes apart to relieve congestion on course.

This year the weather was ideal. It was cool, about 6-8 degrees. They pushed the start time to 7:30am which was early, but a better chance of cooler temperatures ideal for running. No rain, slight breeze. Being one week after a half marathon PB and unable to walk proper for the bulk of the week I didn't know what to expect. I took my GuChomps and decided to give it what I had. Right from the start my watch was off so I decided to switch to the second page of my Polar M400 and manually mark my kms as I passed the markers. This is a plan B strategy as it truly only gives me pacing feedback at each km marker so if I'm slower than desired all I can do is try to improve for the next km. I'm basically running blind other than that brief feedback. Running by feel doesn't really work either because who knew what these legs would feel this close to a half marathon PB. I did notice the side pain pretty soon in which made me make a mental note that I need more cardio in my life (harder runs, hills, something else). I miss going to my bootcamp class, it was the best cross training.

Unflattering race photos

I was pleased to cross the half way point at 22:58 (my 5km PB is 22:50) but the second half didn't go as well with my blind kms (2 of them being over 5min/km) and then crossing the finish at 47:37. My personal best was on this course two years prior at 47:20. I wasn't mad to be 17 seconds off a PB, in fact I was pleased to be so close to it as it's been a long time since I've gotten anything close. It gives me hope for a potential at a 5km PB in the future. I ran strong and I felt pretty good after. When I got to medals and saw my boys, time somehow didn't matter in the least. I am blessed as a teacher to teach some of the greatest kids. One of them has watched his younger brother battle and beat cancer and for the past two years their family has handed out medals. Getting my medal from them means more than any other moment of this race.

Getting my medal  from these two sweet boys

I grabbed my water, gatorade, bagel, banana and stood in line for some clif bars. I thought about the new juicy blister I had brewing on my right foot below my big toe and how this would be the last race these running shoes would run (just bought my next pair the day prior). The after party area is always a great time with high energy and lots to do and see.

My boyfriend Mark has now officially become my personal spectator. After doing a top-notch job last weekend at the Goodlife Toronto Half Marathon I knew this weekend would be no different. I had a great plan that we'd park at the start, he'd see me off then subway down to the finish line.

I'm in my corral and he's on the outside because there was security ensuring only red bibs went into the first corral

Well, I thought it was a great plan. Last year I ran with my cousin and his friend. We had no spectators and we subwayed back to the start line after we were done so it seemed like an easy thing to do. What I didn't think about this year was that the race was now starting half an hour earlier (the subway doesn't start running until 8am on weekends). So Mark unfortunately missed me finish and the two of us set off walking towards one another and met up somewhere on the waterfront. Even when I have terrible plans he still goes along with them in order to support me. He's pretty great.

After the race all I wanted was an iced coffee from Mcdonalds. Yum! Though I am not a "mother" myself I still call myself a dog mom to this beautiful fluff ball!

My Zoe girl

Overall I chalk this year's Sporting Life 10km up as another great success! I can't wait to sign up for next year's event!

Race Review: The Goodlife Toronto Half Marathon

The 2016 racing season is off to a great start for me! The Goodlife Toronto Half Marathon marks my 7th half marathon. It also happened to be my 2nd half marathon two years ago in 2014. This is the second time I've ran a half marathon course for the second time. It's interesting to repeat a course. Some would say it's beneficial as you know what to expect; others would say it's detrimental because you know what to expect. For me, with a two year gap, it was a bit of both. Read on.

Packet Pick Up:
One of the benefits of a large event like the Goodlife Toronto races is the expo. Held at the Enercare Centre at the Exhibition place, the Expo always means some freebies and the chance to check out some new gear, accessories, clothing and nutrition/hydration products (usually at a discounted rate). Also I've learned to print final information emails for races and highlight pertinent information. This saved me $4.00 on parking as we would have had to pay the regular $14.00 cost had I not asked the parking attendant, "Is it not $10.00 for the Goodlife Marathon expo?" Being organized pays off!

The expo entrance

The expo was smaller than I remember it being two years ago. Shaped like a U the starting point is the Goodlife booth where you get a free bag and a 7-visit pass for completing the survey. If I lived closer to a Goodlife I would definitely take advantage of this 7-visit pass. One day! From there it was easy to get my bib (because I knew my number) and I was told to follow the U to the sportstats tent to activate my bib. It was fun to see the print outs on the wall of all the participants in each of the events. The Goodlife races include a 5km run, a 5km walk, a 10km run, the half marathon and the marathon. Just looking at the print outs on the wall it was very obvious that the half marathon distance was the most popular with more than double the next largest event, the marathon.

Finding my name on the wall

After activating my bib I was given my shirt. I really liked the shirts this year as they are simple, black, have a nice v-neck for the women and red lettering. I like simple black tops because I have a number of patterny, flashy bottoms.

The shirt and bib

The rest of the U included the usual vendors for other races or selling different running goodies. I looked longingly at some sporty sunglasses but couldn't justify the price, even those that were discounted. It was lots of fun, but I still feel like there were more free goodies and better discounts at the 2014 expo.

Flat Amelia the night before, though I traded out the short sleeve for the long sleeve the morning of

bad snapchat grammar, delicious dinner made by the sweetest boyfriend

Race day!
The half marathon started promptly at 8:30am. I was nervous as all else! After 6 half marathons I feel an added pressure to continue to better myself and my time. I've consistently done so (except for half #3 but that was to be expected) until half number 6 where I missed a PB by 9 seconds. I mean, it was still my first half marathon with my boyfriend Mark watching and the first time he said "I love you" so it was still super special but what could he do at this half to soften the blow of missing another chance to PB? Also it was my first half marathon without my parents. Usually my mom is the nervous one so I don't have to be. I'm sure she was still nervous from home, but it's not the same.

I was up for 6am and was able to eat an english muffin with peanut butter, get a coffee in and out and walk the dog. It was about a 20 minute drive for us and Mark was great at finding a place to park while we walked to the start line. The benefit of having run this race was that I knew where the start line was. There was rain in the forecast and it was about 6 degrees. There was also wind, but they said it would be at my back. I actually don't mind running in rain (as long as it's not too heavy) or anywhere from 5-10 degrees, especially when racing. I wore compression socks, shorts and a long sleeved shirt. Part of me wanted to wear a T-shirt as I can't stand being too hot, but I also don't like when my arms are cold. I'm glad I went with the choice I did.

I see the start line!

Me and my guy at the start line!

Before peeling all the layers

We arrived with enough time for me to comfortably strip my extra layers, get my headphones set up, my playlist ready, my roadID app ready (so Mark knew where I was on course), eat my GUchomps AND use the bathroom (for the 4th time that morning). I was really impressed with how many portapotties there were at the start as I didn't have to wait in a line at all. This NEVER happens at race start lines. I was happy I got to go one last time before running. I found my place in the corral with about 7 minutes to go. With about a minute left I started up my playlist. Mark made me a spotify playlist the night before of high energy, fun songs. I chose many of the songs and we found lists of good running songs as well. The playlist made a huge difference as the songs drowned out my breathing and distracted my mind. For the first few kms I was bopping away to the music and had to refrain from dancing or singing along.

The start line from my corral (Actually I got in the wrong one by accident but it all worked out)

The selfie I sent my mom before heading off

Stills from the starting video, smiling at my boy

Blowing kisses to Mark

The benefit of knowing the course is I knew the one BIG hill was at km 3. I powered up the hill with gusto and passed some people. The lung burn hit hard as I crested the hill and thought whew, now that I've done that it's all downhill! This is where I was wrong because I'd somehow forgotten the other rolling hills. Willful ignorance I suppose. I made sure to accommodate for the uphills by letting myself fly down the downs. I knew I'd need somewhere between a 4:58-5:12min/km and for the first half my watch said I was maintaining an average 5:01min/km. I knew that was slightly off as my watch would announce a km slightly before I actually passed the km marker, about 100m off to be exact. However, I knew a 5:01 watch reading wouldn't be too far off.

At about km 8 I ate my second GUchomps pack. I usually don't do this and then find out it's too late once I start to fatigue to get it back so I thought it would be smart to take these in advance of half way, and on a downhill. I was happy to see Mark again just past half way. I had a huge grin on my face, I felt strong, I was pleased with keeping up my pace.

I felt good and was loving the downhills until about km 13. After running a slight downhill through a park the course started to flatten out and enter downtown. I started to feel tired and feel some aches in my hamstrings. I kept on pushing but noticed my time slowing on my watch. I turned my music up even louder and tried to focus on the songs and keeping chugging on. At km 15 I grabbed my sport beans out of my pocket and started to slowly chew on these. The sticky sweet wasn't overly appealing but I was hoping they'd give me a sugar jump to help my slowing time. The course was doing some weird turns that I remembered again from 2 years prior. The course certainly had more fun things to look at during this leg like the Kensington Market and the building that comes to a point but when I'm that deep into a race I don't want to see anything but a finish line. At km 17 I had to tell myself only 2 more km until I see my friend Candice and then only 2km after that til I'm done! This is also about where my gps went crazy haywire with all the buildings. My watch would say I was running a 7:30min/km and then a 3:30min/km. Neither of which were true. But it was truly hard to tell what my pacing actually was as I was growing very tired. It was fun to see Candice at km 19 with a sign! (I bribed her into this, I'm glad she fell for the peer pressure. Though it didn't say Go Amelia Go! It did say Run Like You Stole Something and that made me giggle). She saw me at just the right time and we gave each other a giant wave. As I passed the km 19 mark I got the great idea to flip my watch the second page which tells me my overall time. Remember, my watch was telling me I was averaging 5:01/km still at this point which would mean a sizeable PB. I was happy until I saw that overall time. At km 19 it said I was at 1:40...this scared me. My current PB was 1:50:38. This meant I needed to run sub 5:00kms for the last two to get a PB, on very tired legs. I sucked it up and pushed, and stressed, and pushed while consistently watching the time count up. I ran under the bridge where I knew the sporting life 10km and yonge street 10km races usually have a finish line (this is where the 20km marker was), down to the corner and turned to the right. I still couldn't see the finish banner. I pushed and pushed until it finally came into sight. It still seemed so far. I felt like I was pushing so hard but was hardly moving. I couldn't even tell you what song was on at the time, I didn't even look for Mark. Nothing else was on my mind but crossing that line. I finally got to my last turn and booked it until I crossed the finish line and stopped my watch.

Coming around the final turn

Just trying to get to that finish line

 I could have cried when I saw 1:49:22. I finally broke my 1:50 and got myself a shiny new PB by more than a minute. I saw a friend who was waiting for her husband and gave her a sweaty hug. She was the first person I got to tell proudly that I had a new PB! Soon after that I heard my name as Mark came alongside the fence. I grabbed my medal and before I could say it he said "You got a PB!". They say joy is doubled when shared. I instantly felt my joy grow and I saw his smile. The joy continued to grow as I told my parents and running partner in crime as well as my best friend via text message.

Proud of this new hardware

Even better than I thought, 1:49:20!!

The finish area was lack lustre at best. Again, not like I'd remembered it from two years prior. This could have been a result of the rain and overall "bad weather". (When it came to running in it I found the weather near ideal. I did feel bad for Mark as it was sucky weather for a spectator. I was thankful my parents didn't have to stand out in the bad weather. Unfortunately for Mark this is just going to be part of life being my partner). I brought Mark through the food tent with me. They had those flatbread circles with gross things in them (probably raisins or other disappointments), apples, green bananas and mini cliff bars. The only thing I liked there were the cliff bars. I also couldn't find water. Regular water. There was sickly sweet honey water and gatorade. But I couldn't find water. I looked around, saw the massage tent and the First Aid tent and that was about it. "Well, we can go" I said to Mark and off we walked (waddled) to the car. This was when he told me he found a pair of sport sunglasses for me. It warmed my heart as he knew I was looking for a pair and I love found gifts. They almost mean more than purchased gifts as when I was little my Dad used to bring home found gifts for my brother and I all the time.

Mom said "send me a picture of both of you" as we were on route to get me a mcdonalds iced coffee. mmm

Overall I am pleased as punch with a new PB. The weather was great (to me!) and my body cooperated (I had no burning ankles or painful/numb toes like I've had lately). Though I didn't have my parents there I was happy to have my love there. He did a great job as a spectator by taking a video at the start and finish and seeing me half way. This is not easy to do for a Toronto race as traffic is a pain with road closures and such. The course is a great one with a few uphills but predominantly downhill. I did tattoo their race logo on my leg so chances are I will likely race this course again one day. When I do I need to remember to stretch and recover better after. It's been a painful few days.

Race photos:

The look of intensity? 

Just gotta cross that line...

Not all race photos are glamorous (okay none of them are)

I feel like this was early on, yet I look like I'm hardly doing anything...

No desire to smile for cameras or ham it up, only about that time!!

I used to have a face...

Rainy day

Stopping the watch, stopping the run

Good thing these photos are so lack lustre, no desire to buy them!