Category Archives: Race Recap

Race Recap: Paris to Ancaster 60k

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This one is easy:  I did not go.

Reasons (aka excuses): Crappy weather, which is status quo for this spring so far.  I woke up at 7 AM to get ready to go, looked at the weather website and it said: 2C, wind 60 kph, windchill -5C, with chance of rain/flurries.  I went back to bed.  I’m not that desperate to prove I can do this race to suffer through something that insane.

…and from what I read on various sites, it was worse than I even imagined it would have been.

Yeah...tons of fun.

They sure look like they're having a ball!

I'm envyous...NOT!

Note to self: Do not register for this race next year….it’s not worth it.

NEXT!

 

Race Recap: Around the Bay 30k Road Race

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Well it’s done, my first “A” race of the 2011 season and for some reason, I have mixed emotions about it.

My day started off at 6:45 AM with my usual breakfast, then followed up with packing and getting ready.  Mrs. Fat Guy and Fat Guys mom were on board for the trip to the event.  We arrived around 8:45 AM which was 45 mins before the start of the race.  Plenty of time I thought, but I was wrong.  Because of the huge crowd of over 10,000 runners + their “support staff”, it made it hard to navigate to get to the bathroom for a final pre-race pitstop.  When everything was said and done, I had no time for a warmup as I had to head to the start line.

Here was my pacing strategy for the race:

  • Start to 4k -> 5:45 min/km
  • 4k to 19k -> 5:25 min/km
  • 19k to 27k -> 5:35 min/km (hilly area)
  • 27k to end -> 5:20 min/km (finishing kick)

That would have given me a 5:30 min/k average pace and a 2:45 finishing time.

Although I had a goal of 2:45 finish time, I placed myself near the 2:30 pace bunny hoping it would help with traffic, but it didn’t.  At 9:30 AM, the gun when off, but it was almost 3 mins before I even crossed the start line, and the first 2 kms I was mainly fighting traffic.  I wasn’t able to maintain my planned 5:45 min/k pace for those first few kms, but I made it for it in the following 2k.  Average pace for the first 4k = 5:43 min/k – A little better than planned.

After the first 4 kms, I fought to maintain my planned 5:25 min/k pace, but wasn’t always successful because of traffic, and the odd walk through the aid stations.  I felt good though and was having a good time.  My legs felt great to this point and I had no gastro issues.  I followed my planned nutrition strategy, and was on track.  Average pave from 4 to 19k = 5:26 min/k.  A little behind planned pace.

Around the 19-20 k mark is where the hills start.  I was already a little behind on my planned pace, but since I still felt good, I decided to push my pace a little through the section.  As I indicated above, my plan was a 5:35 min/k for this phase, but I tried to go with a 5:30 to make up some ground, especially on the downhills.  I was somewhat successful, but it came at a price.  I totally cooked my legs pushing these hills too hard.  It didn’t help that I had very little to no hill training.  Average pace from 19k to 27k = 5:36 min/k.  Again, a little behind planned pace.

The last 3k were simply, PAINFUL.  I had no juice left in the legs.  Felt like I was dragging around cinder block at the end of my feet.  I tried to maintain a 5:20 pace, but ended up walking 2-3 times in that last section which totally negatived any progress I was making.   This is were I lost all my time to meet my 2:45 goal.  Average pace from 27k to the end = 5:24 min/k.  Significantly off planned pace.

Bottomline: I finished, and whether I feel it or not, I actually did really well for my first time at this distance.  Some people that have done the race 2-3 times already are still slower, and they’re not carrying around 212 lbs of weight doing it either.  Had my training been a little more consistent, my weight a little less, and more hill training, I know I could have blown 2:45 out of the water, maybe even a 2:40.  Maybe next year. :)

Here’s the Garmin data for the race: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75375350

Official Results HERE.

Results Recap:

Official Chip Time: 2:46:32
Avg. Pace: 5:33 mins/km (8:56 mins/mile)
Age Group Rank (M35-39): 226 of 413 (55%)
Overall Rank: 1997 of 5878 (34%)

Next on the race agenda:  Paris to Ancaster 60k Mountain Bike race on April 17th…less than 3 weeks away.  Given my bike training has significantly slacked off in the last couple months, I have some work ahead of me.

 

Race Recap: Grimsby 3k Road Race – Feb 27, 2011

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Well, the first official race of 2011 has come and gone, and it’s off to a great start!  The weather this year was almost identical to last year for the same race…perfect for a brisk morning race.

I was up by 6:45 AM, did my usual thing and left for the venue with Mrs. Fat Guy, and Mr. Fat Guys mother, also know as the “Cheering Committee”.  We arrived at 8:15 AM, picked up my bib, got changed, and warmed up with a 1k run on part of the race course.

Up the hill at the start.

At approx. 9:10 AM I lined up at the start line, in front to make sure I didn’t have to dodge slower runners.  The start horn went off at exactly 9:15 AM.  The first 300m was on a slight uphill, and snow covered road.  Once passed the right turn at the top, it was asphalt/slush combo.  I made the mistake of starting off too strong, and my pace was somewhat downhill from there until the last little kick at the end.

The last 500m is a decent uphill and it took alot out of me.  I was surprised that no one was around me though at that point.  Rounding the last corner going to the finish line is a slight snow covered downhill and I pushed with whatever I had left.

When I crossed the finish line, I was totally spent, but extremely happy.  Not only did a meet my aggressive goal of 14 mins, I smashed it, finishing in 13:46 which is almost 3 minutes faster than the same race last year.

Crossing the Finish Line

After a little walking around and stretching, and got changed and waited for the posted results to see if I actually won anything. Approx. 30 mins later the results were posted and there it was; I had won my 40-44 Age Group and by a significant margin. 2nd place was almost 3 mins behind me. My time also placed me 24th out of 127 overall!

Here I am with my "Gold" medal.

Here are the Official Results.

Overall: 24 of 127 runner (19%)
Age Group: 1 of 4 runners
Official Time: 13:46.0
Avg. Pace: 4:36 min/km (7:23 min/mile)

Here is all the data from my Garmin FR305:  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70418616

Next on the race agenda: The Hamilton Around the Bay 30k…the oldest road race in North America.  I have quite a few run miles to log in before this race in less than 26 days.

 

Race Recap: Liberty Off-Road Squeezer MTB Race – Sept 26, 2010

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Another race I was under trained for. :roll:    It’s a good thing I did a little 45 min pre-ride the day before to see if I remembered how to ride a mountain bike..LOL

I parked at my buddy Shawn’s place which is only a few KMs from the start of the race.  Unloaded, got prepped and biked to the event.  Good way to warm up the legs at the same time.

When I registered a few weeks back, I signed up in the D1 Wave which is considered the “Moderate Enthusiasts” class, but in hindsight, I should of signed up in the C Wave. Also, after looking over the course map it was evident that there was plenty of road sections, which works to my benefit considering my on-road training.  With that said I decided to start right at the front of the wave to get a clear shot at everything.

Once the horn went off, I was out like a bat out of hell.  The first 1.5kms is on city paved streets so I pushed the speed big time….probably a little too much.

The extra weight I’ve added over the summer, and the lack of riding for the last 3 weeks certainly made things harder.  After the paved section, it went into a gravel road/path.  A handful of us had broken away from the rest, but I could tell I was already pushing too hard too early in the race so I started slowing down a little before hitting the single track.

There were plenty of challenging climbs including going up the Decew Rd. hill…TWICE!  Because I had pushed so hard earlier, and adding those 2 big road climbs, trying to maintain 30 KPH on the road sections was difficult.  My average in those areas probably closer to 27 KPH.  Total climb for the race was close to 1000 ft.

There were a few new single track sections that were really nice & challenging.  Then it was down the Hydro Hill section.  One of the sections of single track had a very rocky portion.  The speed I was carrying down the hill, I hit a few rocks fairly hard.  I was sure to get a flat front tire, but nothing…..until 2-3 mins later crossing a short field section I heard the dreaded…PPSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…down the front tire with only 5 kms to go….AAAHHHHHH.

I lost approx. 7 mins fixing the flat.  This could have been a little better if I had not forgotten to bring a tire wedge.

Once I got going again, I was stuck behind alot of slower people and given the last remaining 5k was mostly single track, I lost more time here also.

Overall though, the race was very well organized, trail well marked, good support, and great volunteers cheering everyone on.  Next year I will be better prepared with some hill training.



Official Results Here

Results Recap:

  • Official Time: 1h 59m 59s
  • Overall: 469 of 769 competitors (61%)
  • Age Group(M30-39):  88 of 115  (77%)

Race Recap: Thunder Bay Half-Marathon – Sept 19, 2010

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Got up at 5:30 AM to make sure I could get my breakfast in at least 2.5 hrs before race start.  Sleep was borderline adequate.

Weather: Damn chilly!  At 6 AM it was still 0C with a mild wind.  By 7 AM, it was 2C.  That means I wore long sleeves without a doubt.

We left (brother-in-law, my wife & I) the house at 7:35 AM, got to the race start around 7:50 AM.  We were parked only a few blocks away so I used that as my warm-up to the start line area.


At 12km mark...

There was alot of energy in the air, and a great turnout crowd.  Announcer indicated the start was in 5 mins so I planted myself on the left edge approx. mid pack…..not long after, the horn went off.

My strategy for the race was to finish under 2 hrs which meant a 5:40 min/km average pace.  Since the first 6.5 kms was mostly uphill I was planning to go 5:45 pace

Finish line

for that first section, then catch up on the downhill sections.

After the horn went off, I was just going with the flow for the first 1km until people started sorting themselves out.  I did pass a few people that obviously were pacing way slower than I was.  But, I noticed even going up the hill on Villa St. that I was maintaining a sub 5:40 pace & felt comfortable doing it, and my heart rate was in check, so I just kept it going.  Average HR for the first 5km was 152 BMP which is my Zone 3…right where it’s suppose to be.

After the 6.5 km turnaround, the general profile is suppose to be downhill for the next 10 kms, but there were a few uphills.  In that section my AHR went to 157, but the average pace also went down to 5:25.  I was really getting in the groove in this section, and felt great.

Billie & I, post-race.

The last 6 kms were getting a little hard.  I started getting a hotspot/blister on my left foot in the usually spot around the 17k mark, and in general my legs were getting really ache.  But I kept at it, picked up the pace a little more.  The heart rate jumped up to the low 160s, but my cardio still felt great.

The the final straw…going up the hill on Park Ave..  That was tough, but there was light at the end of the tunnel.  A couple more turns & it’s done.

I turned the corner on Red River Rd…the final 200m length.  I dropped the hammer with whatever I had left.

I crossed the finish line with an official time of 1:54:25 which is a 5:25 min/km average pace.  My goal was under 2 hrs, and I SMASHED IT! :mrgreen:


Here’s a little video montage.  Thanks to my brother-in-law Shawn B. for the clips:


Official Results Here (Male, Half Marathon)

Results Recap:

  • Official Time: 1h 54m 25s (5:25 min/km avg pace)
  • Overall: 156 of 463 competitors (34%)
  • Age Group(M30-39):  20 of 39  (51%)