A on-site discussion on the trials, tribulations and triumphs of some Oakville endurance runners. Use the "comments" box below the blog to add your feedback.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Niagara Marathon Forum
21 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I wanted to wish everyone good luck at the marathon this Sunday. The weather looks perfect and you are going to have an amazing time. For you first timers, there is nothing like the first time no matter how fast or slow. You are doing something that most people will never even dream of doing. Congratulations. P.S. It is socially acceptable to wear your medal for at least a week or two following your marathon because I know you will want to.
Hey...I'm sitting at an internet cafe in Vancouver and I wanted to shoot out best wishes to the Niagara marathoners. Mark Twain said that Niagara Falls was the second biggest disappontment for most honeymooners...but I know your race is going to be anything but a disappointment!
I checked the forecast at http://www.theweathernetwork.ca/weather/cities/can/Pages/CAON0475.htm...The wind looks light(15km/hr) and the skies clear and sunny. Make sure you keepwarm before the start and just head out according to pace.
And for you Tom -have a great time pal. Your humour and helpfulness on this marathon course have been remarkable and I wish you the very best for a great day!
Have a wonderful run this weekend Tom. I am sure I am on the right blog this time and yes the weather looks great for your race too. But a word of advice. I love the boots and bandana, but loose the boots for the race. B'Ann
...don't listen to them gals pardner...ah think yer cowboy boots will guarantee ya a personal best and that thar bandanna will be great ta corral yerself a little filly or two when ya cross the finishing line. So git yer chawing tobaccy ready an go out thar an skeedaddle!
lynn said... Good Luck Tom, of faithful group leader. Had a great run..loose the boots - you didn't train in them. Run it like you ran the 36K. Wish I could be there for the finish but I'll be tackling the hills of San Fran. See ya at the party!
Hey thanks everyone. I can't wait to start as I've developed heel pain, back pain, and shoulder pain during this Taper!! It's probably the cowboy boots but if that's what it takes to qualify for Boston I'll make the effort. Have a great weekend. Stompin Tom
Well Marathon #2 is on the books and another PB. It was just as painful as Ottawa but the good news is I was 55 minutes faster! (at this rate I'll qualify for Boston in 3 or 4 years).
Niagara Falls brought the complete opposite weather from Ottawa in the spring. Ottawa was + 30, humid and sun, Niagara was cloudy, felt like +4 and raining with some added wind. If it were a Sunday long run I would have opted out and just shown up a the 2nd Cup! (Does this mean my next marathon will be perfect weather??)
We loaded on school buses at 7 and were driven to the border (passports checked, aliens removed... sat in bus until the aliens were allowed back on the bus) and then we had a police motorcyle escort to the starting line.
We arrived at the Knox-Albright Art Gallery at 8:30ish and were allowed inside to stay warm until start time of 10. Viewing pieces by Monet and Warhol were an added twist to the marathon adventure. (and here's one only runners would understand - at around 930 I was sitting down doing some gentle stetches when I looked up and some guy's standing in front of a sculpture with his shirt up applying body-glide to his nipples then sticks the body glide in his groin...any other day he'd get arrested!!)
The National Anthems were sung, the wheelchair marathons started first then a minute later the rest of us. It was drizzly and I thought shorts, T, with a throw away fleece would do. I wore a garbage bag for the first 2K until I was warm and carried on. The boulevards were covered in piles of tree branches from the snow storm the week before and it was amazing the size of the branches that were sheared right off giant trees.
After the first 4 miles we crossed the Peace Bridge and the wind was howling off of Lake Erie. The noise of the wind was greater than the wind itself but I didn't want to chance getting blown off the sidewalk into the river so I ran on the road.
That drizzle turned to rain on the Canadian side but running creates enough heat to stay warm. My legs weren't hot anyway so I thought my strategy of shorts only was correct.
As advertised there were water/gatorade stations every mile with cheering high school students at many so it was very well organized. The rain was light and my pace felt good, although maybe too fast in retrospect. At 21Km I felt strong and at a 2:33 half thought I might have a 5hour run in me.
The rain stayed constant, the wind wasn't noticeable after leaving Lake Erie behind, and the run felt good.....then,,
At 33K or so the hip flexors got tight, the calf muscles felt a bit more sore and my pace slowed down. The walking breaks became longer but I felt like I was lactic acid from hips to toes (very wet toes).
So this was the point where the psychological games start and walking/running to complete the marathon is all in your head.
The post mortem of marathons is fun. Dissecting the training under the microscope to come up with a better plan next time all the while realizing a great achievement and great gains in health and wellness. However, prior to the post mortem analysis at the party I had to stay focused to complete the run.
Humour is better than sadness so here were my Top Ten Thoughts on the final 10 Km in the rain en route to Niagara Falls.
#10- It seemed like a good idea to sign up for the clinic in June! #9- What happened? I did more long runs, more midweek runs and even did cross training with the BrokeBack Boys? #8- Marathoners require 2 types of DNA... a running gene and a Stubborn gene (I only have the Stubborn gene today)! #7- Hey, that guy I gave the Gel to at Mile 4 in Buffalo just passed me! #6- Hey, that woman who said she blew out her knee at 15K just passed me! #5- How do Barb, Dave, Heather and the rest do 14 hour Ironman's? #4- Next marathon get a prescription from that MD in the course for Morphine and really smile at the Finish! #3-Is it raining harder or am I overhydrated? #2-Oh man it's cold, I can see my breath? #1- I think my Mojo's frozen!
21 comments:
I wanted to wish everyone good luck at the marathon this Sunday. The weather looks perfect and you are going to have an amazing time.
For you first timers, there is nothing like the first time no matter how fast or slow. You are doing something that most people will never even dream of doing.
Congratulations.
P.S. It is socially acceptable to wear your medal for at least a week or two following your marathon because I know you will want to.
Hey...I'm sitting at an internet cafe in Vancouver and I wanted to shoot out best wishes to the Niagara marathoners. Mark Twain said that Niagara Falls was the second biggest disappontment for most honeymooners...but I know your race is going to be anything but a disappointment!
I checked the forecast at http://www.theweathernetwork.ca/weather/cities/can/Pages/CAON0475.htm...The wind looks light(15km/hr) and the skies clear and sunny. Make sure you keepwarm before the start and just head out according to pace.
And for you Tom -have a great time pal. Your humour and helpfulness on this marathon course have been remarkable and I wish you the very best for a great day!
Good Luck Tom!!!!!!!!!!
France
Good luck this weekend Tom!
Wishing for you an awesome race!
Mary Lynn
Hey Tom have a great time on Sunday I have a feeling it'll be a PB with or without those cowboy boots.
Jo
Have a wonderful run this weekend Tom. I am sure I am on the right blog this time and yes the weather looks great for your race too.
But a word of advice. I love the boots and bandana, but loose the boots for the race.
B'Ann
I would definitely keep the bandana...nothing more sexy...then a sweaty runners bandana! LOL :)
Have an awesome Race Tom!
Grace
...don't listen to them gals pardner...ah think yer cowboy boots will guarantee ya a personal best and that thar bandanna will be great ta corral yerself a little filly or two when ya cross the finishing line. So git yer chawing tobaccy ready an go out thar an skeedaddle!
Hey Tom,
Enjoy your race this weekend.
Chris
lynn said...
Good Luck Tom, of faithful group leader. Had a great run..loose the boots - you didn't train in them. Run it like you ran the 36K. Wish I could be there for the finish but I'll be tackling the hills of San Fran. See ya at the party!
Lynn
Hey thanks everyone.
I can't wait to start as I've developed heel pain, back pain, and shoulder pain during this Taper!!
It's probably the cowboy boots but if that's what it takes to qualify for Boston I'll make the effort.
Have a great weekend.
Stompin Tom
Stompin Tom,
Congratulations on another marathon. Now you can put your feet up and relax.
B'Ann
Hey Tom:
Congratulations on your marathon! You did great and would love to hear your stories of the race.
See you at the re-union
Mario
Well Marathon #2 is on the books and another PB. It was just as painful as Ottawa but the good news is I was 55 minutes faster! (at this rate I'll qualify for Boston in 3 or 4 years).
Niagara Falls brought the complete opposite weather from Ottawa in the spring. Ottawa was + 30, humid and sun, Niagara was cloudy, felt like +4 and raining with some added wind. If it were a Sunday long run I would have opted out and just shown up a the 2nd Cup! (Does this mean my next marathon will be perfect weather??)
We loaded on school buses at 7 and were driven to the border (passports checked, aliens removed... sat in bus until the aliens were allowed back on the bus) and then we had a police motorcyle escort to the starting line.
We arrived at the Knox-Albright Art Gallery at 8:30ish and were allowed inside to stay warm until start time of 10. Viewing pieces by Monet and Warhol were an added twist to the marathon adventure.
(and here's one only runners would understand - at around 930 I was sitting down doing some gentle stetches when I looked up and some guy's standing in front of a sculpture with his shirt up applying body-glide to his nipples then sticks the body glide in his groin...any other day he'd get arrested!!)
The National Anthems were sung, the wheelchair marathons started first then a minute later the rest of us. It was drizzly and I thought shorts, T, with a throw away fleece would do. I wore a garbage bag for the first 2K until I was warm and carried on. The boulevards were covered in piles of tree branches from the snow storm the week before and it was amazing the size of the branches that were sheared right off giant trees.
After the first 4 miles we crossed the Peace Bridge and the wind was howling off of Lake Erie. The noise of the wind was greater than the wind itself but I didn't want to chance getting blown off the sidewalk into the river so I ran on the road.
That drizzle turned to rain on the Canadian side but running creates enough heat to stay warm. My legs weren't hot anyway so I thought my strategy of shorts only was correct.
As advertised there were water/gatorade stations every mile with cheering high school students at many so it was very well organized.
The rain was light and my pace felt good, although maybe too fast in retrospect. At 21Km I felt strong and at a 2:33 half thought I might have a 5hour run in me.
The rain stayed constant, the wind wasn't noticeable after leaving Lake Erie behind, and the run felt good.....then,,
At 33K or so the hip flexors got tight, the calf muscles felt a bit more sore and my pace slowed down. The walking breaks became longer but I felt like I was lactic acid from hips to toes (very wet toes).
So this was the point where the psychological games start and walking/running to complete the marathon is all in your head.
The post mortem of marathons is fun. Dissecting the training under the microscope to come up with a better plan next time all the while realizing a great achievement and great gains in health and wellness.
However, prior to the post mortem analysis at the party I had to stay focused to complete the run.
Humour is better than sadness so here were my Top Ten Thoughts on the final 10 Km in the rain en route to Niagara Falls.
#10- It seemed like a good idea to sign up for the clinic in June!
#9- What happened? I did more long runs, more midweek runs and even did cross training with the BrokeBack Boys?
#8- Marathoners require 2 types of DNA... a running gene and a Stubborn gene (I only have the Stubborn gene today)!
#7- Hey, that guy I gave the Gel to at Mile 4 in Buffalo just passed me!
#6- Hey, that woman who said she blew out her knee at 15K just passed me!
#5- How do Barb, Dave, Heather and the rest do 14 hour Ironman's?
#4- Next marathon get a prescription from that MD in the course for Morphine and really smile at the Finish!
#3-Is it raining harder or am I overhydrated?
#2-Oh man it's cold, I can see my breath?
#1- I think my Mojo's frozen!
Good luck in Detroit Gang!!
Well done Tom!
Looking forward to talking with you about the race soon.
Congrats!
Jamie
Haha - I hope your mojo has thawed out by now Tom! Congrats on a PB and I do think the stubborn gene is more important than the running gene.
Well done Tom! Looks like you had a great marathon, and a PB ... that is excellent!!!
Mary Lynn
Tom,
Way to go. The Stuborn gene is the most important gene for that last 10 k and I love your top 10.
Well done. Hope to see you Thurs.
B'Ann
Send that Top Ten list to David Letterman! Man you're funny.
See you Thursday.
4:17
Thanks everyone, see you Thursday.
Tom
Ha Ha, thanks Mark.
Fortunately the wind was behind me pushing me to the finish.
Tom
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