I’ve been blessed to know so many fantastic runners. The running community in general is fabulous. In an effort to share the run love, I’ve opened up my blog to allow other runners to share their story, race reports, or anything running related. I’m starting with Robert Carroll, who is originally from Sydney, N.S. but now calls Grande Prairie, Alta. home.
5K. Something for everyone!
HIGHLIGHTS
The spectacle of it all – I got a sense how many people are in this race with me when I hit a turnaround point at 11K and noticed the sea of people behind me. The noise that the running shoes make. Organization and logistics of the event.
I have been a race director for much smaller events compared to this one. And I am amazed at how an event of this size takes place. Someday I would love to race direct an event of this size.
A big chunk of the Toronto gets shut down for the race and most people in the city (not sure about the mayor) are ok with that … except for one lady who somehow got her car trapped by the race and the cop she was complaining to told her to “get out of your car and cheer them on!”
Volunteers and water stops … Everyone is smiling and having a great time even though they are getting soaked in Gatorade!
The race course itself is flat, fast and a tour of downtown Toronto (not that I was looking at the scenery very much!). The weather was perfect – It was sunny, 10C, and no wind. You can’t ask for better weather.
The Kenyans –– I caught a glimpse of them when I was at 8k and they were around 13K. Amazing to say the least! Dumping out all of my fluids I was carrying at around 15K. You don’t need to carry anything and it felt like I lost 10 lbs. The pack of women runners that passed me (see below)
Qualified for Boston. Too bad it’s already filled!
Got to catch up with Eric Gillis at the Expo who finished 5th overall. He and I ran together well not really “together” back in Antigonish.The finish line – Crossing the line always feel good no matter your time. Giving my son a high five just as I finished was awesome.
LOWLIGHTS
- Annoying runners…..the dude with 10 bucks in change jingling in his fanny pack….the guy with 12 gels flopping around his waist….the two guys carrying on a good old chat like they are out for a Saturday morning run while I’m gasping for air…the pack of women runners that passed me (see above also)….Mr Thankful who thanks everybody he sees…again while I’m gasping for air!
- Hamstring seized up under the 40k sign…wish I had a picture of that! But the nice couple who were doing what they could to encourage me on was wonderful!
- Getting caught up in the wrong corral (my fault)….I had no idea how long it take to weave through thousands of people to get to where I was supposed to be at the start so I missed my start time…but thanks to chip timing it all worked out…and I got to pass thousands of people.
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