Buffalo ½ Marathon!!! 100km marker hit

As I passed the 12 mile marker, I was 63 miles (100km) into the 500 miles for the year. I had to stop and take a photo so that I could send a text out to people that have pledged to donate so much per 100km, which is fantastic, as it is a little goal to hit within my bigger goal for the year.

As you can tell by the tracker on top of the page, I am at 64.1 miles this year with some big days to come throughout the summer. This weekend coming is the Heart & Stroke, Ride for Heart which will be a 75km ride, then on the 14th of June will be the Niagara Ultra 50k, which goes from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls and back.

Saturday afternoon, Steve and I headed down to Buffalo to do the bib packet pickup, nice drive down. We checked into the hotel, walked over to the convention centre with about an hour left before they closed at 4pm. We walked around looking at the booths and then headed for pick up. After pick up we got in line for our pasta dinner ticket and were set for 6:30 seating. Walked back to the Hotel relaxed a bit then made our way to the church for dinner. We walked into the church and the place was packed, hard to find a seat. Pasta was ok, meatballs were great, bread and FREE beer lol.

After dinner we walked around Downtown Buffalo looked at some of the old buildings and the architect designs and stone work were amazing to see. In Toronto on a Saturday evening downtown is packed of people walking and driving, well not downtown Buffalo, we had to walk a while before seeing any movement. We then headed back to the hotel for an early evening to get some rest.

Sunday morning came at 4:45, got up slowly got this machine oiled (put a coffee on) and moving around. Steve and I left at 6:30 for a nice mile walk to the start line and as you came up Franklin to the start line area, there were crowds of people. The corral was one mass as the race was a chip race as opposed to gun time race, so it really didn't matter where you were if you were trying to qualify for Boston.

Start Line ahead

Behind for many blocks

Weather was a little cool at the start with a breeze, but it didn't take long to warm up. Star, Spangled, Banner was sung, then shortly after the horn blasted and everyone at the start line was off. About and minute and a half Steve and I made it to the start line to begin our ½.  

Steve and I and Thousands more

Steve and I at the Start Line Back right hand side, Me in the Red RunningFree.com Jersey
 and my K-Swiss Kona Canada Shoes 

Took my heart rate pill about now and the just before the start line a GU Espresso Love, since I didn't get my regular routine of Timmies in the morning before going into the start corral. We saw one the night before, closed, but not on the way to the start line, so second best is the Expresso Love GU.  We crossed the start line and we were off. I kept up to Steve for about a half mile, then patted him on the back and said see you at the finish line, break the 2 hour mark. We were in a big crowd and still doing a 5:45/km and that was wayyyy to fast for me, but it felt real good doing it and it would be amazing to be able to keep that for a whole ½.  So Steve found the pace bunny ahead and kept going. I dropped off to the left and slowed the pace down a little bit.

We headed up Franklin to Main on our way to the 5K mark just outside Delaware Park. The road was split with nice houses and spectators all along the route. We made it to the turn around and then on our way to the 10K mark on Delaware. As I turned, took another GU and looked up and saw a climb long and straight. Okay, find a spot ahead and go to it and don't stop. That didn't happen, had to slow down and walk (HR was getting to high). The sun was out now and started to really warm up, forgot my hat, so the sweat was just rolling down my face into the eyes, that burns.

As we topped the hill at the 4 mile mark, you can see all the way down the hill right into downtown. Such a beautiful sight with all the old buildings. By about the 5 mile mark, I was really wanting a Timmies and it made it worse by every cop that I passed at the lights was holding a Timmies I almost ran over, grabbed the cup out of one of the hands but thought, don't need to get arrested. I don't know how friendly they are first thing in the morning.

I made the 10K mark back in the downtown area without any problems, feeling pretty good, made the right turn to head out along Niagara Street for just over a mile, then turned towards the water front area for another mile into LaSalle Park. I saw a sign that said Peace Bridge - Canada, I thought maybe turn here and just run home LOL. Getting into LaSalle Park, this is where my right lower leg went one way and my upper went the opposite and a twist happened.  I had to pull up for about 10 minutes or so. No medics around, I was in between aid/water stations so decided to just rest it a bit. As I was waiting there, the BFD had there Water Pumper Boat on the canal spewing water out.

So there I was, resting and a rainbow appears from beside the boat. Well, I got up and said I won't make a PB today but lets go for under 2:50 then. Made it out of LaSalle Park, through some nice townhomes, then around to the Erie Basin Marina for an out and back. 

Just before we went into the Marina, on the left was the road straight up to Franklin where the Finish Line is. That was a tease!!! Came out of the Marina, along side the Naval Museum with a few ships there past First Niagara Centre (Buffalo Sabres Home) and I thought we were going to turn left up the road to the finish line.... NOPE, they had to tease you AGAIN. Make a right towards First Niagara and then go around a block for a mile, took my final GU Roctaine and then a half mile up is where I stopped for the 12 Mile mark photo. Made it back to the start of the block and looked at the Garmin and didn't think I was going to make the 2:50 as it was 2:46 and I was in pain. I am cursing to myself trying to get myself to go faster and not stop, but as I made the right turn onto Washington Street, there is a climb, short steep climb for the Streetcars and I started to give up. Then this guy comes up behind me and says you can make it lets go and started pushing me to get up the hill. I make the top and had to slow to a walk and he said, I'll be back. He went back to get his wife up the hill, then came back to me with his wife as we were turning onto Franklin for the final stretch home. 

We are climbing a little grade to the finish line and about 400 metres away, him and his wife are telling me to go, go, go and started doing the theme from Rocky (da na naaaa, da na nawww) I laughed and said thank you so much for pushing me and ran the rest of the way to the finish line.  2:54:17, best ½ this year so far, but 12 min off a PB. I looked for them after the finish, but they were no where to be found, maybe they were doing the full marathon. It wasn't that hot, that I got delirious thinking that this all happened, but then again stranger things have happened to me.

This year was the first year that the finish line was being live broadcast over the web until the finish. Ivana didn't come down with us, so she was at home watching Steve cross the finish line in 2:10 he had a difficult time on the course as well and me cross the finish line. As I crossed there are two chutes right for the ½ and left for the full. I saw two video cameras at the finish line and I went to the one as I crossed and blew a kiss for Ivana who would be watching, the guy on the ladder with the video camera looked at me really really strange. No big deal I didn't care I crossed the finish line, had a fantastic day and passed the 100km mark.  

Well, I watched the video when I got home Sunday night and I blew the kiss in the wrong camera, that was for the Full marathon and the video for the ½ was on the far right hand side sort of getting a side profile of me doing it.  I didn't even see that camera, I was like a horse with blinders on, saw something in front and went right for it.

Thanks to all the Volunteers working the water stations, the aid stations and at the expo and post race. Oh, I loved the Pizza and Beer at 10 in the morning, wish we had that in the Ontario races. I missed you at the finish line Ivana, but thanks for watching.

Doing some yard work at home now and getting the knee to be ready for Niagara on the 14th.

Thanks again, Steve, it was a great weekend. The Damaged Hearts In Motion, RunningFree.com, Heart & Stroke Machine is mending again and will be at it on the weekend for the Ride for Heart.

Damaged Heart

Good Life ½ Marathon and 5K

So..... I posted the other day about Finisher's Pride, the medal frames. Well I had received an email from them, saying that I won their give away which was a Skinni Frame to put my medal and bib in.

Finisher's Pride Frame

Well, it just came in the mail today, FAST DELIVERY.  Well I have immediately put the bib and medal in and will be sending them a HUGH thank you and posting it up for them. Very easy to put together with the bib and frame and bang right on a wall.

If anyone wants to get one of these or they have a mini as well, just click on the link above and it will take you right there. It looks like a nice way to mix the two frames together on a wall for display.

Thanks again, Finisher's Pride, nice product.

There was a lot of people at the Good Life Toronto Marathon on Sunday. The full marathon went off at 7:30 and I guess it went well. The winners were, Brendan Kenny of Dundas, ON for the males at 2:26:25 and the top female was, Rachel Sinasac of Toronto with a time of 2:55:18, Great Work both of you.

The half started at 8:30, so we got to sleep a little bit in the morning, which I really needed to after the night before doing the 10K in Mississauga. We were going to pick up our friend Kelly at 7:30 so that I could get to the start line in time and then Ivana and Kelly could make their way down to the finish line. 

The wind was blowing really good in the morning, chilly and I am just in shorts and a shirt. Not wanting to put anything extra on as I knew that I would be getting warm not too far into the race.  Well, we didn't pick Kelly up until 8:00, I was moving really slow, knees were hurting and I didn't want to move that fast.  

We showed up to the start line at Mel Lastman's Square in the upper North York area of Toronto, not far from home at least, with about 4 minutes to spare. As we are walking to the start line I hear that there is one minute until race time, ooooopppsss a quick kiss and off I run to the start. I guess that was my warm up LOL.  I watched as the runners were starting and I waited a bit and then jumped into the line and started.

I really had to get the legs moving as they were just telling me to stop and go home to rest.  I made it around the first couple of turns and then onto Yonge Street for a bit of a downhill until the 4K mark where we are now into Hog's Hollow. I think this is a 1K climb of a fairly steep hill. I power walked up the hill it okay time, and found a water station on the other side, good timing. I must say that I loved that there was aid stations about every 2K along the course. There was a lot of people out cheering everyone on, a lot of signs and I saw this one and I had to stop to take a picture of it. Cute!

Run Now, Poop Later

I had tried to set out to do the ½ in about 2:50, and I was on pace for that. I hit the 10K mark and I was 1:19:23, now I am saying, I know you're sore, but you are going to make this even with a couple of minutes to spare, keep chugging along.   Well, 14K hit and somebody, (without my knowledge) swapped out my legs for two Tree Trunks with roots imbedded and my quads felt like concrete. It was the hardest 7K left that I have ever done. All the way to the finish line it was trot, walk and almost crawl my way. We came across King Street and then the wind was REALLY blowing head on, just what I needed, more resistance. I am looking down at the Garmin and seeing my time just slipping away and I couldn't do anything about it, except know that I will finish this race and knock down 13.1 more miles off my goal for this year.

I was sucking back GU and water just to get my body to say YES I can finish this. 

As I was coming up to the finish line, I saw Ivana and Kelly there just before the bend to the finish line chute. I saw as sign on my right and laughed and Ivana had taken a pic of it. This is true, I was almost the size of him as well when I had my heart attack (289lbs).... If Rob Ford can run so can you.  Very true.

So here I am coming of the last bit before the finish chute. In pain, arm just dangling on my side, but glad that I had finished 10K the night before and now 21.1K 3:08:36, not my best but not my worst.

I know the other day I said that I was going to try for a TriFecta doing the 10K, 21.1K and a 5K...... well no!!!  I went and watched Ivana and Kelly start their 5K, took some pics and crawled my way to the car, laid the seat back, ate some food, drank some Gatorade and relaxed for a bit.

Then lifted one leg at a time and then my body out of the car got back to the finish line and waited for the girls to arrive.  I am waiting and waiting and still they weren't there. Maybe I missed them, nope. The course wasn't really marked that well, there were no volunteers at the turn around to say where they had to go, so they kept walking along with a lot of others truing to find their way.  Well it happened that they just turned around when they hit the Boulevard Club. They went about 1 ½ km further then turned around, so just over an hour they were coming up to the finish line finally. Good walk for them.   They both did a great job on Sunday as well. This race was Ivana's Valentines Gift from me to enter this race. I know my bad for pushing it, but she has been working towards it and I hope she had fun.

Here comes that Nascar Driver again, the Damaged Hearts In Motion, Heart & Stroke, Running Free.com Machine had a Blast this weekend, running, walking, crawling and spending the whole weekend with Ivana. Now I am ready for Sporting Life 10K on Sunday and then my friend Steve and I are off to Buffalo at the end of May for the ½ marathon there.

Thanks again to Finisher's Pride and to Running Free in Markham, OH and to Amy W, I really appreciate what you did.

Finisher's Pride on Facebook

Damaged Heart