NFIM

 

 

This photo is now on my fridge. This photo will remind me on a daily basis until the ironman that you have to work hard for what you want and nothing replaces proper training. It will remind me that I am over just showing up to finish, I want to do better than that. It will remind me of bad it hurts to fail.

 

My motivation to complete the Niagara falls marathon was basically my friends. I am always sad when they go out for training runs with out me, and when they go away to races and have a good time I am devastated. I just do want to miss any of the good times. Everybody was going, one of my friends was trying for her Boston time, there is the appeal of crossing the peace bridge, and it is a flat course so I signed up. My training volume was not the worst, and there was cross training in the form of swim/ bike  but what I see of the meat and potatoes of successful marathon running is the long runs and  just wasn't there. I have reviewed marathon training plans and I was at 50-60% distance volume I should have been.

 

In summery I had one run of 33k, one 28K, one 25K and several around 18-22 leading up to the race. Some might feel that is adequate preparation, and for them perhaps it is good. I just can not pull it off.

 

Race started in Buffalo, around 6k of turn of the century  tree line streets. Very nice. Crossed the bridge with quite a wind. Was running with a friend intermittently. Went pee at the first porta potty I  saw around 10kish. Started to hurt around 15k. Held onto a 5:10ish pace for the first half in 1:49ish. . Was fueling really well. Salt tabs taken. Felt like I had energy but my legs just hurt so bad and they kept slowing down. When the 3:45 pace bunny passed me and there was no chance of hanging with, the only goal I had was to get to the end. I made a deal with myself that I could walk all aid stations with water and for a little break every two songs. Well wouldn't you know there wasn't enough water stations. At the top of the hill before the finish I saw Luke and was just sad at my state, stopped and walked with him for a bit. He offered to run with me in, but I hate how that looks so I kept on going. Saw some friends and completely stopped again, only kept going cause they told me to.  Slowly ran the finish shoot, marvelling  at my personal worseness. Realising that this was my worst death march... and vowed never again will I just come to do the distance cause it sucks.

 

 

 

 

No Winter Maintenance

 

Now that summer has passed and some time has passed to allow for healing, I can share this adventure from summer.

 

On a fine day, I thought it would be a marvellous idea to take the children to Metcalfe rock to hike and play on the rocks. I also think it is rather marvellous to take a new way every time I go somewhere, you never know what adventures may come.

 

Thus, on Grey road 13 I turned left. I was looking at a several editions old copy of the Bruce trail map and google maps on my phone. I knew  I had to head north- west and I would get there eventually. If a road looked interesting I went that way. Eventually I landed on a no winter maintenance road and I thought what fun! The road was rough, but not bad. However,  it just started getting worse. The puddles were getting bigger and bigger, and I realised I could not turn around, and I really didn't want to drive through what I had already driven though again. The hope was it would get better.

 

It didn't.

 

Then I hit the puddle, and got though it, well just to the edge and the car stalled. I had flooded the engine.

 

I didn't want to call Luke right away, I thought we would wait 20minites and try the car again. Meanwhile the children played with frogs and played in the forest. Silently I am freaking out with my mind going 10, 00miles of possibilities.

 

The 20minites did not help. Car would not start. Call Luke and admit I have done a very bad thing.

What follows is three hours of getting a CAA membership on my rapidly declining cell phone, and figuring out exactly where I was only to realise I WAS NOT ON A ROAD!

 

Apparently, I had gone off the no winter maintenance road to a snowmobile trail. No warning, no nothing. Thing is, CAA only responds to calls on roads. So I was kind of in the middle of no where with very happy and agreeable Ever and whining/ complaining Maya. Sure we could walk out of there but what about the car. Leave it for deer hunters??

 

Meanwhile, all afternoon in between my mental breakdowns and fits of crying we had been working. In the forest we had found three landscaping buckets, you know with the holes in them. We spent hours bailing out that puddle, it had actually been to the height of the grass. Head to toe we were covered in mud when a bearded man on a ATV found us.

 

He told me how you are not suppose to drive this way cause it is a swap. How when he was a teenager it was a corduroy road  and on the weekends he would drive home from Collingwood this way but big trucks mudding had wreaked the road, and he told me he could get the car out of the puddle. I had never prayed so hard as when he made several attempts to get the engine started. I had never cheered so loud when he got through the puddle. I cried and hugged him freely. Which to those who know me is very rare. I offered him any amount of money he wanted. He refused, but I got his name and when I made it back to town I bought a case of beer cause that is what he drinks and made sure he would get it.

 

Lesson learned: You have to drive slowly though water, and maybe the road well travelled is Ok sometimes.

 

Barrelman

I am sure what made me sign up for Barrelman. The concept of the locale, the flat roads, the chance to do another build for the big build of 2015? Regardless, I signed up and did not prepare to race it. Mentally, I prepared like I was going into to do a sprint tri, or a little 5k. Six hours racing just does not compare. It hurts a tremendous amount more.

The race has two transitions, and we had to rack and register the day prior in Welland. Nice touch having my name on the wrist band. Interesting touch that nobody actually checked my photo ID. Shirt was ugly so didn't bother trying to change it for one that fit. Lesson learned: I hate women's cut shirts. Scoop neck shirts make me look like I am a waitress fishing for tips. 

The day dawned dark with rain clouds forming. Caught a ride  with friends from our hotel to the buses that transported people from T2 to the swim start. If they had not been coming Luke would have had to get up at 6am to take me. Unfortunately a logistical problem is the buses leave from a parking lot that is not within walking distance from downtown, which if you are coming with family who expect a lie in on a Sunday morning is rather inconvenient. A taxi may be in order. My usual routine of running my coffee purchased the night before though the coffee maker and eating cold porridge out of a zip lock bag was employed on the bus ride over. Got off the bus and it was pouring rain. Hid out in the arena for awhile. Rain let off and got my bike and all my bags ready. Went back into the arena for some morning business and chats with internet friends, and finally made my way down to the water.
Had some hopes that current assisted swim would magically make for a fast swim. But I always suck at swimming apparently. 44: and change. Got a bit choppy toward the end and it started to rain. Was thinking, 'great here is the rain'. Was prepared to spend the entire day wet as the forecast was not looking nice. I didn't care. Meant I didn't have to worry about sun screen.


The transition zone was wedged between the Welland arena another building. Felt clausiphobic. There was a rather large parking lot beside the water at a community wellness centre, not sure why they could not support a active activity and let us use the parking lot?
As soon as I got out of the water I started running, though my transition was pretty OK. I did put on socks but really 4 mins?? I didn't stop for tea so have no idea why so slow.

So I didn't exactly train for the bike. I mean. I may have last biked 90k at Tremblant. I had maybe three rides over 50k since then. But really it was a flat course, couldn't be any worse then my 20k ride into work right??? So wrong. There was a wind. Sure the tail wind was tremendous, but the cross and head winds were so much work. I honestly thought I would blow off the road at times. It was the windiest riding I have ever done. Oh and I had sprained my ankle again on the Monday prior and actually got a bit of whip lash to my neck which also caused some tension to my head so for three hours I had a pounding headache.  Never so happy to get out of aero when it was done. The course was pretty enough. A section beside Lake Erie, crossing bridges, and riding under the Welland canal was very cool. I actually pushed that bike as hard as I could that day, happy to say my split was 3:07 for 92k. An added bonus was the sun came out.

On to the run. Some spectator guy was waiting to get into the port a loo outside of transition, and I just ran right in. I counted, I was less then 20sec. but a slight dick move. I just really had to pee and I did not want a repeat of every other race with the worlds worst chaffing.
The run course was very challenging. Some nice sections intermingled with urban, full sun. The back end was just kind depressing. Some long suffering uphill's. There was lots of volunteers and police presence but in general did not actually notice anybody spectating near the falls. Enough aid stations.
I had hoped to go sub 1:50 off the bike which I know I have in me, but ended the day with 1:56. On the first lap I just felt sorry for myself. My head was pounding to the extent I may have cursed at a medic for not having Tylenol. It was no electrolyte problem- I just had tension. I just could not find that happy place. Found my family towards the end of the first lap and saw some friend which helped. Worked hard to catch up to my friend Dave. I had really hoped we could run it in together but it just was not his day. Post race I diagnosed an allergy to honey on him. Due to the lack of  spectators just found the day quiet. The aid stations did not even have music. I was even hoping for Christian music at the aid station on the grounds of a monastery, all I had was the pounding of my head to keep me company. Found it frustrating not knowing which runners were on their first or second lap of the 10k course. Also found it frustrating watching people cheat on an out and back section.

 

Completed in 5:55, which is ok. Could I have done better with proper training and a better mental attitude, yes.

 

Oh and this is why you are always  nice to front desk clerks- best rooms with a view.

 

On another note, Luke and the kids had brought bikes in anticipation of paid parking and thought it would be simplest just to park once and ride around and to the race site from there. We are actually not sure how any family made it to Kingsbridge park as the roads were all closed leading to it.