Around the Bay

Lets review.....

2015- 2:48:04- Gastro

2014-2:34:40- Whatever

2013-2:38:42- Ran with a friend and sang songs.
2012- 2:54:51- Paced a friend to sub three.
2011- 2:25:20- Raced.
2010- 2:37:04- Tried to race- crashed.
2009- 2:31:27- First timers luck.

Thus this is the eight instalment in a row of ATB.... the short of it..

2016- Chip- 2:28:57, Gun - 2:29:49

I went into this race with no expectations other than to see where I was at. My plan was to run as i felt comfortable. If  I wasn't doing well back off, if I felt fine, just keep doing what I was doing. I planned to take the first kilometre at above 5:15 and avoid running like a crazy person though the crowds. It helped this year there was self seeding corrals. As usual lined up with Matt, and hoped we would stay together for as long as possible. Did not hear the gun go off but we started to move forward so I started my watch and just started running. All good until about 4k when I look at my watch and I had lost satellites, and they were not to be found again. No amount of turning my watch on and off would have them return. I would have loved to have my data from this race. In the end I just asked people around me what pace we were running at, and if they had gun time.  Apparently it was windy, didn't really notice as I tended to run behind bigger people. It was a colder year but I was fine in what I chose to wear. The water in the cups was partially frozen.  Ate my usual three things, peed on lakeshore drive behind a trailer when I realised i could not hold it any longer. Around 26k realised that if I worked hard I could likely get a silver medal if I slipped across the line before 2:30gun. I really wish I had the data for the last kilometre cause I was flying. Some spectator's cut in front and screamed 'Move'. Some men were kinda in the way as I went around the bend into the stadium and I told them I was under a deadline and they needed to get through. In the end I had 10seconds to spare. If I would have had my garmin providing splits or even the time,  I am sure it would have not been cut so close.

My second best ATB time, similar to 2011 my mileage for the winter was quite high. Although this year feel easy, vs in 2011 I know I was hurting and it was stressful. Mind you that time was three minutes faster which would have been harder.

Very OK with another silver metal for my collection, very pleased with where I am at.

Cost analysis:

Hotel: 50, Meals 44, Registration 80(ish), Fuel during race 6

$ per kilometre- $6.00