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iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentallyKathleen Keenan , Brampton, ON

iRun because people around me inspire mePina Bevilacqua , Caledon, ON

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iRun because it makes me feel powerfulCarlene Paquette , Carp, ON

iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing meTeresa Sterling , Ottawa , ON

iRun because it’s in meMichael Foley , Stittsville, ON

iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have doneJames Sauve , Ottawa, ON

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iRun because when I run I feel most aliveMeghan Lynch , Ottawa, ON

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iRun because of the peace and strength it brings meMichelle Jordan , Ottawa, ON

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iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sonsKeith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun because endorphins are freeCassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun because somebody once told me I couldn’t Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

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iRun because it’s cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter , Alberta

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iRun because I learn more about who I am with every kmSteph Mansell , Quebec

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iRun see where my feet will take me todayMegan Dolinskas , New York

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iRun because it’s better than almost everything else Nathan Carey , Ontario

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iRun iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation Georgia Ioannou , British Columbia

iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons Keith Bradbury , Newfoundland

iRun iRun because endorphins are free Cassandra Chouinard , Ontario

iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't Heidi Abbey-Der , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because couch potatoes die young Cathy Andrew , Ontario

iRun iRun because it's cheaper than therapy Leah Boulter , Alberta

iRun iRun because I like buying running clothes Pamela Blaikie , Ontario

iRun iRun slowly! Jason Hoffman , Manitoba

iRun iRun because iEat Sherry Maligaspe , British Columbia

iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km Steph Mansell , Quebec

iRun iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain Marie-Claude Gregoire , Nova Scotia

iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't Peter Cicalo , Ontario

iRun iRun because it's better than almost everything else Nathan Carey , Ontario

iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! Cathy Brzoza , British Columbia

iRun iRun to inspire my children! Wendy Bowen , Manitoba

iRun iRun because it sure beats the bus Robin Robbins , Alberta

iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live Pascale Synnott , Québec

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iRun iRun for me! Judi Wearing , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun because it's a great stress release Brooke McKenzie , Yukon

iRun iRun because i love to Mirella Petriello , Ontario

iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly Jennifer Pitts , Ontario

iRun iRun to eat Maureen Tritscher , Alberta

iRun iRun to correct years of sedentary living! Mike Scott , Ontario

iRun iRun away from the abyss Charlene Thomas , Ontario

iRun iRun all the livelong day Pierre Saint-Laurent , Québec

iRun iRun to challenge my perceived limitations Cassandra Williams , Ontario

iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state Tammy Rainville , Ontario

iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger Derek MacPhail , Ontario

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iRun iRun because I like to be healthy Melanie Oickle , New Brunswick

iRun iRun to eat more, especially sweet potatoe fries Joanna Skomra , Ontario

iRun iRun for the fresh air and adrenalin Charlyn McGregor , Saskatchewan

iRun iRun for the individual pursuit Robert Pelletier , New Brunswick

iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge Tim Nixon , British Columbia

iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment Amber Moase , Nova Scotia

iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul Sonia Mendes , Ontario

iRun iRun because walking is too slow Barry Knapp , Ontario

The Running Chef

Congrats to all finishers

June 1st, 2010

Did you run? Were you lucky enough to post a PB? Leave a comment on your impression of Ottawa Race Weekend.

I had a blast. It was my first half marathon, and I ran it as if it were my first too. I had a really great weekend. The race was really just the icing on the cake. I was fortunate enough to be at the Expo with iRun speed freak, Josh (not really a freak, but anyone who can run that fast has some freak in them). We had a ton of fun collecting iRun statements  and video. The following morning we packed the family up for the 2km family run. My two older boys did fantastic finishing in roughly 15minutes. Then came the media pass and video of the top 10km runners. What a treat to be behind the finish banner for the first runners coming in. I hope to post the video of Josh here in the coming days. He ran a blistering fast race, and came in 16th to boot. I won’t spoil his fun in letting you know his time. Make sure you check his blog for the details in his words. At home after all the fun, I had a simple pasta dinner and relaxed as best I could, for the race to come.

The following morning I biked down to the course and started my warm up. Getting into the coral was a nightmare. And finding the 1:45 pace bunny was not so easy either. I probably should have just lined up and raced my own race. The pace bunnie’s pace out of the gun was a little more than I should have been doing. It was shoulder to shoulder for the first couple of km. I think we were running harder to break free of the log jam. At the first water station I realized I need to practice drinking from a cup. I was really just throwing at my mouth and hoping to get some in. The same could be said for the gels. I dropped 3 in my race. So much for fueling on the run. IN the end my salvation was the sponges. GOD love the sponges. they saved me for sure. Our running group seemed pretty well on pace. We even had some time in the bank. I felt strong, but we still needed to cross the bridge back into Ottawa. At the end of the bridge I realized I was starting to hurt.

By the 14km mark I was toast. I had nothing left to give and had to let go of the pace bunny. We had a minute or two in the bank, but they were still going hard. I was hardly going. After passing people for 1:20 I was relegated to watching everyone pass me. Totally infuriating. I had made the rookie mistake of going out too hard. Oh well, at least I was still in front of the 1:50 bunny. Not for long though, by 1:40 that bunny had come right up on my heels. I now had to dig deep into some place I didn’t know existed. I could pick up the pace for about 20 sec. then back down to shuffling speed. All I could do was hope my repeated bursts were enough to stay ahead.

With 1km to go the crowds were all the endorphins I required. I must make a heartfelt huge thank you to all the amazing spectators lining the streets. And to all of you who read my bib and encouraged me by name…..I owe you huge! That is an amazing feeling. At 750m I started to sprint. I couldn’t believe it. Where did this energy come from? I crossed the line just in front of the 1:50 pace bunny. Agony and extacy at the same time. Another race in the books, and one I will not forget anytime soon. Especially now that I have a PB to beat in the next half.

Again congrats to all finishers. Leave me a post on your feelings. It might just get you some iRun swag.

And to keep it somewhat about the food. Was there something you ate after your race that rewarded you for your effort? Even if you were taken out for dinner (especially in Ottawa) let me know where and how it went. I would love to hear from you.

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8 Responses to “Congrats to all finishers”
  1. TreenaG Says:

    Bunny breakfast at the Fox and Feather – so worth it to meet Rick Ball. Later when the appetite was properly back – chicken and ribs at the Foolish Chicken was a cost effective way to fill a big hole.
    Congrats on your run!

  2. Finola Says:

    I did my first half too and I loved it, though I was much slower than you were. Congratulations to you! I must agree about the wonderful spectators that got me through those last few kilometers.
    Post-race, my Bridgehead coffee was just divine.

    I posted my version of the race at http://www.finolablog.com/2010/05/21735.html

    Congrats to you

  3. Grant Says:

    Congrats.

    I didn’t set a PB, but I set a PB for lunch. I went to The Diner in Westboro and had a 3 Egg Frittata, home fries and toast and also a breakfast poutine (homefries and cheese covered in hollandaise sauce).

    Grant

  4. Marissa Ptak Says:

    I also ran my first half at Ottawa and I agree with all of your comments about the spectators and the heaven-sent sponges . I ran a comfortable 12 minutes better than my goal time of 2:30 and finished in 2:18:45. I kept waiting for it to get hard, but the people lining the streets (especially in the last 1000m) kept the “hard part” at bay and I managed to sprint to the finish. What a weekend!
    Lunch was the California Chicken Club at the Wood on Wellington. What a great post-race treat.
    Thanks to all in Ottawa for making my first half marathon so memorable.

  5. EricM Says:

    This was my 2nd full, and 1st ever attempt to BQ (requiring a 26 minute PR). There’s a long description that I wrote up for myself to remember it, but the short version is that it was brutal. The 3:30 pacer (my BQ time) went out too fast, just a bit, but enough that I let him go at the 11km mark & never saw him again. Hit the halfway point with 1.5 minutes banked, and 40km mark with the bank slightly overdrawn. Crowd in the homestretch was amazing, and I made my BQ time by 23 seconds. Found out later that the 3:30 bunny finished in 4:09 – Ouch.

    Really liked the full route this year, hope they keep it!

  6. JRoundel Says:

    This aught to make some people cringe. Within 2 hours post 10k race:
    -750ml gatorade
    -Mars Bar
    -1/4 bag of bits and bites
    -250mL Choc Milk
    -2 Large Slices Pizza
    -2 Beer

    Don’t worry I paid for it, my entire night was spend in and around the loo…yay me

  7. the-running-chef Says:

    Eric, congrats on your time and finish. I really liked my PaceBunny, but she was just a little too fast for me. I had trained at 4:55km and felt comfy there. So 4:30 or so were just too much to sustain for me.
    Marissa, great going on beating your PB. The sandwich sounds like it was just the thing.
    Grant, man that’s quite the meal. Don’t know if my system could have handled that.
    Treena, Great job on your pace bunny duties.Foolish chicken would have been great.
    Josh, well what can I say. After the performance I saw, you pretty much had the right to eat anything you wanted. As for the loo, well that was probably inevitable.

  8. Sherri O'Halloran Says:

    Congratulations!!! This was my first marathon and I tell you it was one of the greatest days of my life so far!!! I still cry when I think about crossing that finish line in under 6 hours(my goal):) I enjoyed every second of my run, every pain, every water station, every little boy or girl that was out on that cousre to give me a high five!!! I did miss our 4 boys that were at home with my husband though…this was the first race that they were not at the finish line to yell “Go Mom Go”(why I run) but somewhere along the course there was “Go Mom Go” sign and I pretended that it was for me;) I looked at my new tattoo(which I got in Ottawa btw!!!) and ran as hard as I could for myself and for my family at home!! And of course for the 2 suppers that I got to eat after, one at Milestones and the other at The Heart and Crown!!Our group of Newfoundlanders will be back for next year’s race weekend that I can guarentee, Ottawa rocks!!!!!

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