Marilyn Arsenault: Back to School
Update
August 19th, 2009Training has been going well since I last posted. After the show closed in London, I met my husband Joey in Montreal and we visited with his family there for a few days and even got a couple of runs in with Malcolm Balk, my friend who encouraged me to start training and racing at the age of 35. Joey and I then flew to Scotland. We flew into Glasgow and and spent a day and a half there before taking a train to Balloch, a small town in the Vale of Leven. Jon suggested I race the Polaroid 10km there as it was the Scottish 10km road Champs. I ran the race the next day and was the first woman to cross the line in 35:39. The race was so fun and I was surprised I pulled off a decent time on a tough course. Joey and I then took the train to Aberdeen and were picked up by our family to spend the next week and half in Inverurie at their home. It was a wonderful trip! When I returned to Victoria added a second quality workout to my training week. I knew I was getting faster and stronger and when we found out there would be another 5000m race on August 14th, we decided I would aim to take a proper shot at running under 17 minutes. Jon suffered a hamstring injury as he was preparing for the World Marathon Championships which was extremely unfortunate for him. He couldn’t run at his usual speed without feeling the injury flaring up. Not fun for him but this meant that I had a world-class training partner to run my workouts with. How lucky was I!? Jon doesn’t believe you have to hammer out track workouts weeks on end in order to run fast on the track. Most of workouts with the exception of a track session once a week three weeks prior to the race were done on grass fields or gravel paths. I knew two weeks before the race after a session of 4 by a mile on the track that I would be able to run under 17 minutes. I did it!
Here’s the race write up:
BLACK PRESS 5000 – Victoria, BC
Friday, August 14, 2009
I did an easy 15′ run this morning around the neighborhood as soon as I got up. Eddie and Jennie were taking the kids to Durance Lake so it killed me that I had to head to work and miss out on the fun!
Juice and I got to the track a good hour before he had to run his heat. We hung out in the sun on the in-field, trying to stay warm. We had a some rain storm last night and the winds still hadn’t died down making it tricky for Chris to get the advertising plackards to stay up and sign-up sheets to remain on the tables! Jon had a bunch of us laughing at the sign-up table. When asked his name he replied, “Bugs Bunny.” Good one!
Juice ran in the first heat and ran a steady-paced race, looking smooth from beginning to end. He was disappointed with his time as he was about 20″ off his goal but I think with the windy conditions and the fact that it was his first track race, he ran very well.
Joey!
Jon and I did a warm-up in the field next to the track. We went over the plan for the race which was simply to aim for 80″ laps. I was excited to race and actually looking forward to seeing how I would do. We had a pretty decent field with myself, a girl named Natasha and some guys who were all hoping to run under 17 for the first time. Lucy was going to run under 17 without a thought so I knew we wouldn’t be strung out too much! After a few words from Bob Reid, we lined up and off we went. We were all in a bunch for almost a lap before we found our places in a line with Jon leading like the Pied Piper!
(the photographs above were taken by Glenn Bartley)
The first mile went by very easily. Lucy led a few of the runners past Jon and me at one point. Jon let them go holding 80″ pace. I could see that although the small group had gapped us a little bit, they were not pulling away. I sensed Jon was wanting to catch back up to them so I just said “yep!” and we slowly moved back up behind them and then took the lead again. We hit 3km right on pace and still I felt ok (normally at 3km I am starting to really hurt). I actually didn’t feel any extreme discomfort until the final two laps. It was here that things started to wind up. Jon started to pick it up just a smidgen and Lucy responded. With one lap to go, Lucy took the lead, Jon ran aside to let me respond directly behind Lucy. That last lap was a brute as I tried with all my might to hold on to her but she pulled away. I didn’t have it in my legs tonight to meet the challenge of her final sprint. As I approached the line my eye caught the time on the clock, I almost didn’t believe what I saw! I was so focused on the final laps, I didn’t notice the splits. Not only had I run my first sub-17 minute 5km, I ran well under 17 minutes! Well, if you didn’t see me last night, you missed me acting like a ten-year old who had just won their first race. I was very close to doing a cart-wheel! haha! Eddie and Jennie came with the kids who were I am sure, wondering what their crazy Auntie was up to!
Congrats to everyone! Natasha also ran under 17 minutes so a great night for her and Lucy unofficially broke the Canadian Master’s record. Results are here. The men’s elite race was pretty good too. The young Cam Levins ran an impressive 14:09 with Richard Mosley in second place in 14:19.
The Fast Old Farts Embracing!
Needless to say, I owe a huge thank you to Bugs! Not just for pacing so well in the race but for preparing me physically and mentally to run a 42″ PB! His hard work has paid off – now he doesn’t have to hear my insistant whining about wanting to run under 17 minutes for the 5km…now I’ll move on to wanting to run under 16:20! haha! Let the whining begin!!
Mar & Jon
Also, everyone who ran in or watched the events last night owe Chris Kelsall an enormous thank you! If you see him in person this week, give him a big hug! He (along with his volunteers) worked his butt off to put this race on and I don’t think anyone can deny what a first-class event he organized once again. The need for a track series here in Victoria in the summer was evident both in the quality of the races and the huge spectator turn-out. Thanks Slaw!
Then there is Sylvan who aced the timing gig, as usual! Results were up before we finished the race!
We spent the rest of the night at the Sticky Wicket. We didn’t eat until after 9pm. It was the worst post-race recovery I have ever done, drinking two beer on an empty stomach. Jennie took the kids home so Eddie could join me and Joey at the pub with about 15 other runners. It was a good night!
Mar Syl and Kev
Jo and Slaw!
Mar & Syl!
Juice and Eddie!
Schester!
My Big Bro!
