Motivational Quote

Remember that great things are worth working hard for, and that means leaving your comfort zone to get there.

Oasis Zoo Run

The Oasis Zoo Run (10km run, 5km run/walk and 1km cub run) was held Saturday morning, Sept 20 at the Toronto Zoo in Scarborough. This race sold out in advance with 3500 runners competing in the 10km, 2000 in the 5km, and 500 kiddies in the cub run.   

http://www.canadarunningseries.com/zoorun/index.htm   

This unique race was part of the Canada Running Series, and was definitely one of the more adventurous courses on the circuit.  It was by far, the hilliest course I’ve competed on this season (and by that I mean lots of uphill).  The 10km of paved roads and trail circled outside the zoo grounds then had the runners weave through the hilly and winding trails inside the zoo grounds amongst all the lions, tigers and bears! Oh My! 

Besides the exotic and speedy creatures of the jungle, I was also running in a more elite pack of runners on this course.  This race was also hosting the 10km national championships, so I was excited and humbled to be running in the same corral as the Canadian marathon record holder, Lanni Marchant, and course record holders, Eric Gillis and Rachel Hannah.  Even though Marchant and Hannah blew past me after the first hill (as the elites tend to do when they can pace at 3:20min/km) it was still cool to know we were competing on the same course that day.   

While I had done lots of run training this season, the conditioning and prep work I did for this course was a little different because of the hilly terrain. Jogging on flat surfaces wouldn’t cut it here.  In the weeks leading up to this race, I spent more time running hill sprints up the slope of Riverdale Park East and setting the treadmill on an incline to get those leg muscles geared up for the climb. I was so glad for that hill training once I reached the first hill (of many) at the 1.5km point! 

I felt the first 3km of the course was the hardest.  I’m not sure if it just took me that long to find my groove, or if it just took me that long to look up and around and enjoy the company of the wildlife around me.  Somewhere around the halfway mark I felt more settled into the rolling hills pattern, and starting pointing out the jaguars, flamingos and foxes to my fellow runners, which always gives way to a smile despite the lactic acid building up.  The run seemed much more fun then. 

The race organizers had some interesting music playing at different points along the course to keep us going.  First we passed a Caribbean inspired steel drum band around the 3km point, next was a more heavily inspired percussion and didgeridoo duo near the 6-7km point, and then I believe I heard ‘Florence and the Machine - Dog Days are Over’ playing on the loud speakers as I crossed the finish line at the 10km mark.  All of which seemed to be fittingly good choices for a zoo run.  I might also have added in Iron Maiden's - Run to the Hills, run for your life - which seemed appropriate for this course as well. 

According to SportsStats (http://www.sportstats.ca) I held a pace of 5:08, and finished in a time of 0:51:18, which was over 12min faster than the average 10km run time of 1:03:28.  Overall, I placed 131/1557 (top 8.4%) in my gender category, and 21/276 (top 7.6%) in my age category.  I’m feeling pretty good about those results.    

Overall, if was a really fun road race and I’d highly recommend it to others in the future.  Although its challenging due to the hills, you can choose to do either the longer 10km or the shorter 5km if you prefer, and its fun for the whole family as it also hosts a shorter cub run for the kids.   Many racers also dressed up in animal inspired costumes so there was always something catching your eye along the course, including my ziger (zebra/tiger inspired) patterned leggings.  Racers also get free admission to the zoo so you can check out all the wildlife you were going too fast to notice earlier ;)  

What else can I say besides it was a grrrrrreat race!!! 

Quads on Fire!

And after finishing 2 unintended duathlons this past month (D1: 7km run/23km bike and D2: 15km run/40km bike) I've been singing a new tune...

Anyone else know this song?  lol!!  Happy recovery week everyone.

Wasaga Beach Triathlon

It seems that Wasaga Beach has never been kind to me.  Every time I go up to the longest stretch of sandy, freshwater beach here in Ontario, Canada, mother nature unleashes her wrath upon all the racers who dared ventured out for the challenge.  The last time I went up to race this course there was a monsoon weather force that cancelled the swim and forced us to do a duathlon, and this year was no exception.  

The night before the race a severe thunder and lightening storm swept through the area, complete with high winds and intense downpours.  Even though the rain, thunder and lightening had all passed through by the morning, the gusty winds (45km/hr) still prevailed and wrecked havoc on the course.  There were high swells of 5-7ft on the lake making the swim course too dangerous, and even the backup swim location, the Nottawasaga River, had too high E. coli levels from the rainfall, forcing race organizers to cancel the swim altogether.  The only option left was to modify the triathlon to a duathlon. So what was supposed to be an olympic distance triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) was changed to an international distance duathlon (10km run, 40km bike, 5km run).  

I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be getting to swim. I had really been looking forward to challenging myself with this course in particular, as I had been focussed on training for the 1.5 km olympic swim that was longer than my usual 750m sprint swim distance.  

Besides that, I had only been expecting to run 10km that morning, and not 15km.  I knew I could do it, but was a little concerned how my legs would hold up going into the 40km bike after doing a 10km run instead of a 1.5km swim.  Fatigue was definitely going to be a bigger factor for my legs than I had anticipated.  But there was no time to complain or worry, I just had to suck it up and do the course. 

The first 10km run went well, I did it in a time of 48:46 (pace of 4:53), which is what I had expected, and was happy with.  However, the discomfort really hit when I got into the bike course.  I had done some brick training this summer, but it was usually bike then run, not run then bike, so I found it difficult to get my legs into a comfortable cycling rhythm.  Besides the leg fatigue, the wind was gusting to 45km/hr and I had to fight it either head-on or side-on for the majority of the course. In the end, it took me 1:42:35 to complete the 40km cycle, which was 17min longer than I had expected. Not my best showing on the bike this year.  I kept my second transition time under a minute though (0:59) and finished with a decent second run, 5km in 28:23 (pace of 5:41).  I completed the course in 3:02:17, which was still good enough for a top ten finish in my age group (9th place). 

While it wasn’t as strong a finish as I would have liked (considering my last 2 races, Belwood & OWT, were top 5 finishes), I have to consider that the racing conditions were not ideal, weather-wise, and that I had not trained for this specific distance duathlon in particular, so I did well under the circumstances I suppose. 

Even though I inadvertently end up doing a couple duathlons each season (when swims are cancelled) I can’t say they’ve grown on me much over time.  I definitely prefer racing triathlon.  There’s just something so great about the swim portion.  For me, personally, part of it is the physical aspect (where I can take the pressure off my legs and onto my upper body for a portion of the race), and the other part of it is psychological (the superhero feeling you get when you slip into your wetsuit and into a whole different element).  I must admit, I'm already looking forward to the next season of triathlon.  Its hard to believe its September and the end of racing season already.  Canada has such a short triathlon season, we really must make the most of each opportunity we get, and have no regrets!!        

Ten sure signs you’re a triathlete

I’ve borrowed this list from Triathlon Magazine, its too funny (and true) not to share. 

http://triathlonmagazine.ca/news/10-sure-signs-youre-triathlete/ 

I can relate to every point on this list, but my favourite would have to be #5. 

10. You can change remarkably fast.

- Whether it is in a mall change room or getting ready for a party, you often amaze your friends with your ability to transition from one outfit to the next.

9. The idea of running without socks does not scare you. 

- Those who only run may look aghast at the idea of running without socks. Triathletes know how hard socks are to pull on wet feet.

8. You have seen something at the bottom of a lake that you would rather forget about. 

- We know you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.

7. When people ask whether you prefer exercising in the morning or evening, your response is: “both”. 

- It mystifies you why people feel the need to categorize themselves as solely an A.M. or P.M. athlete.

6. You have gone out in public with a number written down your arm or leg. 

- Permanent marker is the devil to get off. You don’t really mind your temporary tattoo though.

5. You are willing to argue that it is not breakfast that is the most important meal of the day, but rather the second breakfast (which occurs after your morning workout). 

- First breakfast is usually only a banana or some easily digestible snack. Second breakfast though – yum.

4. You’re not afraid of commitment.

- Triathlon is a sport that will kick your butt if you’re not willing to put in the training.

3. You have experienced not only ‘runner’s high’, but also ‘swimmer’s high’ and ‘cyclist’s high’.

- You appreciate endorphins in all their shapes and sizes.

2. Your workout wardrobe is almost as extensive as your regular wardrobe. 

- It has to be – no one wants to do laundry that frequently.

1. You’re always up for a challenge.   

- After crossing the finish line, your next thought is: “okay, what’s next?"