Other Races: 1k Kids, 5k, 10k, Half Marathon
Website: http://hamiltonmarathon.ca/
Where: Hamilton, Ontario
When: Sunday, November 3rd, 2013
Cost: April.1-Sept.30 - $88.00, Oct.1-Oct.31 -$95.00, Nov.1-$105
Start Time: 8:00 am
Aid Stations: One aid station every 3kms. Water and HoneyMaxx available at each station
Swag: Brooks technical shirt in 4 different colour options to choose from
Post Food: Water, bananas, pizza bread, soup, cookies and more
My Net Time: 3:33:59
My Gun Time: 3:34:14
Pace: 5:05/km, 8:11/mile
Mile by Mile: 7:49--7:56--7:55--7:52--7:52--7:58--7:56--7:56--7:51--7:47--7:49--7:55--7:58--7:50--7:53--7:56--7:59--7:58--7:50--8:04--8:12-8:23--8:41--9:14--9:25--9:38--8:28
Cat Place: 268/985
Gender Place: 47/386
Age Place 25-29: 9/43
Winning Women's Time: Jutta Merilainen 2:51:07
Winning Mens Time: Brendan Kenny 2:27:44
Pre Race:
This week I made sure to have my bag ready and prepared ahead of time with my hand roller, post race clothes, additional run clothes (if weather was warmer), and race shoes. I also stuffed Iyla's bag with more than enough diapers, clothes, warm blankets, toque and gloves anticipating a chilly morning! As a mum too, I had to pre-plan my entire week around pre-pumping and freezing milk for Kevin to feed her, and to account for a low supply due to physical exertion post race. During the past few months I have been mindful in staying well hydrated, and eating nutritious food without over carb-loading. The one area I lacked a real consistency was sleep. At the start of the week, Iyla was given the green light to begin introducing foods into her diet. We started this excited phase but found the changes through her digestive system and sleep pattern for a loop. We quickly realized the amount the Dr. suggested was too much for her to start with, so we backed away from 2 tbsp a day to 1 and fed this tbsp early in the morning so that by night she could sleep "like a baby". Although this made a big difference, I spent the first half of the week holding her way more than usual. Because of this, pains began to emerge and intensify in my lower back, and have continued to this day.
Race Night:
Thanks to the clocks turning back I woke up at 5am with 7hrs of sleep. It was broken sleep with Iyla's feed and my nervousness coming into my mind a bit. I was woken at one point in the night by a nightmare of having to do a full Ironman in Hamilton, in November, without a wetsuit and still expecting myself to qualify for The Boston Marathon during the Ironman. Thankfully I had a 7 and half hour sleep the night before un-broken. After waking I starting getting ready by body glyde-ing and Vaseline-ing (Vaseline acts like an insulator for your body and also helps to prevent chaffing) my full body prior to putting my crops, compression sleeves, technical tank and long sleeve on. Over top of my race outfit I wore old sweats and a jacket, that could be discarded before the race started. I woke Iyla up at 530am, got her dressed and fed then made my own breakfast to bring on the road (oatmeal with blueberries and peanut butter with honey). Before leaving I un-plugged my GPS Garmin watch to find out that it never even charged! Kev had charged his to wear with me so we decided I'd wear his and we would charge mine as best as we could in the car on the way out.
Kevin, Iyla and I were on the road and made one stop before the race to pick up our friend Doug, who came to support me. I can truly say that not many people will get up at 430am to stand outside for hours to watch a race, I am one lucky girl! Doug kept Iyla entertained in the back seat before she fell asleep. Kev drove me to the start line area (side of the road), or as close as he could get with the roads being closed. When jumping out of the car I made the mistake of not looking and landed with one foot submerged in gooey mud. What a way to start ha! So away I went to find the arena by the start line to stay warm in. I had roughly 25mins to go till race time so I went to find the restrooms. There was one inside with a massive line that I knew if I waited I'd be lucky to start on time so I went outside to the port-a-potty lines. It took about 15mins all said and done to empty my bladder and get back inside to warm-up a bit. It was the coldest morning so far this fall, in the negatives. With 5mins to go I shed my sweats and old jacket and went to find my pace group in the corral. I got my Garmin ready to go and music on. After O Canada was sung the race begun.
Race Play By Play:
5k-10k...
I stuck to my strategy right from the start, by staying between a 7:50-8:00 min/mile. No faster! It's easy to get swept with the crowd at the start when your feeling great but I know that this can cost you later a hit into what runners call, 'The Wall'. I felt at ease, comfortable and found myself really enjoying the scenery. I had Florence and The Machines, 'Cosmic Love' playing in the background as the sun was rising and beating down with no clouds. I was in awe at all the runners and their energy and physical strength. I was taking it all in, all the colourful shoes and gear, the calve muscles in front of me working away, the human body is just amazing! It was beautiful!!! Once I got to the 3k area I had the escarpment to my left and could see Toronto in the distance, it was stunning! Some runners were even taking pictures as they ran along. I had my friend Katie's voice in my head till the 8k about really having fun with the run and I can truly say I was! Around 9k I found myself surrounded by runners in front and behind me that I would see more than once that were running for the same time frame as me. All with different strategies from drafting, run/walking, 10k fast/slow mix and partner leads. It was actually a bit annoying when runners would draft behind me but not take the lead so I could draft behind them at any point.
10k-20k...
Around 6miles/10k I could feel my lower back so I moved my bib belt to a different position which helped take the stress off of it (my belt typically sits at the small of my waist, and for whatever reason this was straining my back). This part of the race had a strong side wind because we were running out in the country with nothing to block it. At times I felt it was going to blow me off the road! The water stations and volunteers were GREAT. All had the cups pre-pinched, making it easy to drink and filled with the right amount of fluid. I didn't even have to dump water out pre-drink. I was still feeling very strong at this point and so happy that I was maintaining still between 7:50/8min/miles.
20k-30k...
The downhill section, I celebrated the win of getting to this and was planning to pick up my pace a bit here to a 7:45min/mile avg. This strategy quickly switched when I realized we were now running straight into the wind. I backed off a bit and instead kept my pace between my 7:50-8min/mile average. There were bands now on the route playing away. I can't really tell you too much about them because I was jamming to my own music and trying hard not to sing along so that I didn't waste any energy ha. I so wanted to! I found during this 10k I passed quite a few female and male runners, I didn't know at the time if their strategy was to slow down and/or they had maybe started too quickly and now were dying off? After the downhill we were on a trail to the water, this trail surprised me because there were some hills. I LOVE HILLS (never thought I'd say this), I felt strong on the trail and continued to pass many runners and was at a 3:27 marathon finish pace when I spotted Kev up ahead to join me.
30k-35k...
This was one of my favourite parts of the run because with Kevin joining me I also got to see my friends cheering me on. They even made signs and one for Iyla to hold/put on her stroller. When Kevin joined I decided to take my earbud out of one ear so I could hear him/talk. Not such a good call, I felt off when I did this so I quickly put it back in only my fingers were frozen and it took me about 5mins to get it back in place. The first 2k with Kevin I was still running strong but around an 8min or just over pace. I was actually starting to feel my legs tire and my mind began to wonder as my pace increased. I wasn't worried though because I knew I had a seven minute buffer still on my BQ time. Unfortunately as I slowed some of the girls I passed were now passing me which mentally through me off a bit and I slowed even more. I felt as if the 35.5km/22mile mark - and turning point - couldn't come soon enough! I felt we were running further and further away and I was past ready to turn around and just head towards the finish.
35k-40k...
Things started going downhill! I took my last gel at the 35.5 and it was a GU with caffeine. I purposely didn't train with caffeine gels because when you do they can lose their effectiveness of giving you extra energy since your body gets used to it. My mistake! Because I haven't had caffeine not only in gels but anything due to breastfeeding my body didn't like it AT ALL. I ended almost puking it all up, but I managed to swallow it and thanks to the water station close by I washed it down. I felt nauseas from this point on and my pace slowed further. Poor Kevin didn't know what time I was at and was getting super worried I wasn't going to make it. Again I couldn't hear him but I could sense it as he was picking up pace and I could see him trying to tell me to use my arms, or lean forward during any slight downhill. I did during the last gel point doubt myself for a minute but after doing the math I knew I would qualify still as long as I stayed under a 10min/mile pace....drifting as high as a 9:38min/mile on mile 26 (the last mile).
40k-42k...
The crowd was starting to come into play and I took my headphones out of my ears so I could hear the cheering. I could finally hear Kevin now too and could see my friend Boris running towards me telling me the finish line was just around the corner. I started to move my feet quicker with little steps and could feel my muscles aching with pain as I did so, I felt as if my calves might even give out. I wanted to push out whatever I had left and cut down my time as low as I could since I know that the better I qualify in the better chance I have to get into Boston sooner. Kevin left me and said to "soak it up", "it's all you" and ducked out with about 100 yards to go. I strided out to the finish as I heard the announcer say my name, where I was from and that I had QUALIFIED FOR BOSTON !!!!!!!!!!!!! A dream now COME TRUE.
It was the best and hardest marathon I have done to this point. It is now a PB (personal best) of over 12minutes since I last ran a marathon now over 2 years ago. When I think back to the start of my first marathon race 4hrs45mins. I have cut down my time by an hour and 12minutes...CRAZY. When I think back to the first long training run towards this marathon I remember struggling with those 8miles and could barely keep it below a 9min/mile pace. Dedication, hardwork, and having a support network does pay off. I truly believe you have to put in the time and effort and take into account the controllables.
Celebration:
After the race none of the post-race food seemed appealing so I met up with my support crew and we went to Buffalo Wild Wings where I enjoying a pint of cider, cherry limeade and delicious boneless honey garlic and parmesan wings! Sadly I could only eat about 4 of them, and finished them off later once I was home and my stomach settled. I did however finish my drinks!!!
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| Sarah, Boris, Doug, Kevin, Katie, Georgia and Iyla and I after the race |
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| Kev, Iyla and I with the signs Sarah made |
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| Yum |
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| A drink to celebrate, my first cider since having Iyla |
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| Family photo |
- Train with caffeine if you plan to have it race day
- Start out even slower at the beginning of a race, try to make your second half of your race faster
- I will next time have Kevin or whoever jump in to run with me with only 3-4miles to go because I feel I run stronger knowing I have someone up ahead and I think I had Kev jump in too early with me
- I will safety pin my bib instead of wearing my bib belt
- I will take my music out for the last 5k when I need that encouragement versus getting in my own head
- I'd consider training for a quicker marathon. I trained for a 3:30 and hit a 3:33, so I think if I train for a 3:25 I'd hit closer to that 3:30
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