Training is for "Sucka's" - Vancouver Half Marathon Race report - Part 1

Okay firstly, is it wrong to just post my normal blog here? There is only SO much semi-intelligent thought I can manage in a certain time. To have to write a separate blog entry for BRS - I mean the Internet can only stand so much. Let's not push it people! So here is my first ever (hijacked from blogspot) BRS blog entry!



The title pretty much sums up this post. (And YES Larry I know this race report is 4 days late! It takes time to perfect such humour!)

I ran the Vancouver Half-Marathon last Sunday, in one of those, "I haven't planned it, why not? I don't need legs, do I?" moments.

So with NO training, (does a couple of 10K and a handful of 5K's in a 2 month period count as training?), I decided to run the half. I suppose I had more than a couple of personal reasons to run the half. My mother died a few weeks ago and I knew she wouldn't want me to quit on something I love because of her. She would also want me to try regardless, no matter what. I also wanted to run for my Dad; who about 7-8 months ago had to have a leg amputated. I wanted to run for myself; my running mojo has been severely lacking lately and I needed to kick-start myself. Add the fact that I have some INSANE running friends who think it is hilarious when I do something stupid, who persuade me whilst I am in a drunken moment, then stand on the virtual sidelines and laugh at me groaning the mantra "Why did I agree to this?". It's okay Guys, I know who you are, and you know I would do the exact same if the tables were reversed!

In my usual style, I did the packet pickup registration. I had at some point managed to convince my 2 Sunday "Walk/Run/Let's have an excuse for coffee" partners to do the accompanying 5K race. I have NO idea how I managed to do it and I am not even sure they know either. It might have had something to do with the "I will pick you up and take you to registration at 9AM tomorrow". I am not that big, but obviously I must be scary!! I wondered why they had a look of fear when I picked them up; I thought it was due to pre-race jitters, but thinking on, perhaps it was more of a "Don't argue with the crazy lady" look.

I picked up my friends after my sports physio appointment. I DID NOT mention I was running the half; the Dr. has a silly idea that because I am ITB prone I should limit my long runs to 8-10K. This was probably not something he would want to know about. I haven't the heart to tell him about the MTD's Ultra 2011!. We all tootled down to the Empire Hotel. "Tootled", I like that word; sounds like something you do to someone when they aren't looking. The drive was uneventful; I beeped my horn at some cops having coffee and made some of them jump, but that doesn't count right? (Thanks for not getting us pulled over Mel! Blame your wife!)

I am not sure if my friends have ever been to a packet pickup expo before and it must have seemed strange to them. It is a strange place to the un-initiated. A place where you are given free handouts of deodorant and Advil. Where you walk around stalls trying to sell foam rollers and other medical items that look as if they landed from a medieval torture chamber. They were very sweet and brought me a beautiful necklace to say thank you for being their coach. I was fairly sure they would change their minds the next day

I tried to give them advice on the way back, but frankly I was more concerned on how I was NOT going to break myself. As I had contemplated the time I should put on the form; I had put down 2hr 15min, (this was the time I had on my last half 2 months ago - the one where I had little training as opposed to none); I wondered if I had over-estimated myself. I wasn't up to my normal level of fitness and my ITBS had only recently recovered. Then I realised it didn't matter - I mean, my aim was to make the half a source of comic entertainment. This I could do perfectly!

So what would happen race day?

Tune into the next installment of the race report, which will be written as soon as I return from making another cup of tea!

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