Ottawa Race Weekend 2014

Last night was the big night, Ottawa Race Weekend, and my first attempt at a race since my foot started giving me trouble over a year and a half ago!

This year I left early with plenty of time to pick up my friend Tracey, who was running with me and my friend Christin who is my jpmoral support in all I do and my "race day bitch". She carries all my stiff, takes picturs and will always be there when I finish. This year I decided to try parking at the World Exchange Plaza  and that was the thing to do!  It was easy to get into, lots of spots, easy to get out AND free on Saturday!  It was also just a few short blocks from the start line. 

Before we headed to out corral Tracey and I took out traditional start line picture. 

This year the start was different from the mass start of previous years. This year the corrals were started in 2 minute waves. That was the best thing they could ever do!  Instead of having to walk the first couple of minutes because the course was too crowded we were able to start running from the beginning!  Tracey and I decided to commit to two minute intervals, we ran for two, we walked for two. I would of liked to do more but my foot has been really sore for almost two weeks now and I wanted something I could maintain for 10km. The first 5km went really great, good pace. My heel had started bothering me shortly after the first kilometre, but then it always hurts. Ly left half had really tightened up too!  Around kilometre 3 the top of my left foot when numb/tingly that lasted to about kilometre 6. Then around 6-9 I felt like a cramp was coming on!   About half way through kilometre 7 that's when I started to struggle and my pace really slowed down!  But I kept going determined to keep to the plan!  

Tracey and I crossed the finish line in 1 hour 35 minutes!!!!!!  I'm very impressed with how we did, it's nowhere near as fas as when I was 40lbs lighter and running regularly but all that matters is that I did it!  That I didn't give up or just not show up!

Tracey was a superstar and helped get me through the race!  I didn't ask her to register with me, but she did within minutes of me saying I was giving to do the 10k this year. She doesn't run, and is not a runner at all!  She kept up with me the whole way and even had more oomph than I did at the end!  She is also almost 60lbs lighter than me and she does those crazy T25 and Combat videos so she's in great shape!

We have registered for a 5k in late September, the army run and were already talking about running the whole event.  I think that's an obtainable goal for both do us. 

My next step is to get into the doctor and finally have this foot seen to. I keep hoping it would go away, but it's not!

Big But Bittersweet Day Tomorrow

The first time I ran the 10K and over 40lbs lighter

Ottawa has a big run event each year, Ottawa Race Weekend which takes place tomorrow and Sunday. The races take place over the next two days, with everything from a kids race to a full marathon. There are 48,000 participants registered for the various events and I am one of those people.



I last ran it two years ago, about 10lbs heavier than the previous time

I registered in December in the 10K race, I've done this event twice in the past (and 40ish lbs lighter). I had to stop running for sometime due to foot issues. I had developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot, again. This time, not only did I have this one problem but somehow I also developed sinus tarsus syndrome in that same foot. It was a long road to start running again, physio, sports doctor, naproxen, an MRI, and two cortisone injections later I was feeling ready to start running this past October. I took it in small steps and all was well. So I felt confident I could do a 10K by the end of May.




Fast forward to March of this year and while don't a bootcamp at the gym I started experiencing pain in my left heel again, but not quite the same as before. AND I was having pain while I was exercising where I the past it was after, it took a few weeks to get things under control. I also have pain in the metatarsals of both feet of I step on something uneven and my ankles ache! Things are not improving and I find even my day-to-day is even hurting lately and there seems to be two things I can wear on my feet that are okay. Either my running shoes (Brooks Dyad) or my cheapie flip flops. Even my Birkenstocks hurt me!

I need to go to the doctor, I really do... But I keep putting it off. I also need to be assertive and insist that I get probably an MRI and a bone scan to see what's going on with my piece of shit feet. I need to see a specialist of sorts, someone good! I don't want an X-ray and to be shipped off to physiotherapy, go through that for a month or two before the physio finally decides he's not being effective neigh and says I need a specialist to figure out what's going on.



Needless to say in still register in this race, and my feet were feeling pretty good up until a week ago. I started taking it easy just over a week ago because of this event. Things were getting better, until I did something stupid last night.
My friend Tracey and I went to pick up our race bibs/shirts last night and check out the Expo and I did t think to change from flip flops to running shoes. I'm still really sore today!!! Fuck!

I had it in my mind and was training toward walk/running the race. Now I have to wait and see how I feel tomorrow and I might just be walking it. Bit at least I'm going to do it and I'm not a quitter.




It was worth my while last night going to check out the Expo, there were some great deals to be had! I'm super stoked about these shoes!!! I got myself a new pair of my shoe! Brooks Dyad, but last years model and I'm really cool with that!



As you can see, I got a deal, because I paid full price for my 7’s and I NEEDED new shoes. Also this is not a shoe you find in stock in every shoe/sports/running stores. I even trolled the interwebs and couldn't find a deal.



I also spied these Adidas No-Slip headbands loved the colours and grabbed them! I have a love/hate relationship with headbands. Either they're too big for my wee head (I get migraines cause my brain is soooo big ;-) ) or they don't stay put because I have super straight baby fine hair... It takes paying a professional to get a single curl in this hair. Well, I wore one thos orning, and it didn't even last 15 minutes before I could feel it start to slide back, back, back. What a disappointment and a waste of money.

So wish me luck tomorrow, I'm hoping the running gods will smile down on me and let me run as much of the race as possible!

- thanks for reading!

One of Life's Proud Moments

Despite all that's going on I am still finding moments for life and commitments I have made and following through with them.  This past Sunday was an event I had committed to back in the spring by registering for the Army Run 1/2 Marathon!  I had every excuse in the book to drop out, to sell my race bib this year.

I used the heat as an excuse not to get out and run often and far enough (wasn't it stinkin' hot this year?).  Then almost 3 weeks prior to Race Day life was turned upside down with Mum's hospitalization.  I didn't let any of those excuses hold me back or stop me ... I spent the week leading up to race day freaking out, worried about how prepared I wasn't and so on.  As Nike says: "Just Do It" and that's what I intended to do.  My goal was just to cross the finish line, I didn't care how I did it, or how long it would take!

 This is what Freakin' Dark O'Clock looks like

I woke up Sunday morning at Freakin' Dark O'Clock!  Not my favourite time of the day.  With my bag packed the night before, and running clothes set out, I made a fantastic protein smoothie for breakfast and set out for what I was considering to be the craziest day of my life!

 Can't you tell I LOVE mornings?

Witness our nervous smiles?

I met up with my friends Amy and Marline.  Amy was supposed to walk the 1/2 marathon (21.1 K) but she sadly declared when I saw her at the end of August that she was "broken again" but that she would be my "Race Day Bitch" aka: chauffeur, photographer, Sherpa, water boy and more!  I couldn't turn that down.  Amy was going to take care of both Marline and I that day, Marline was doing her first race ever, the 5K event and I was doing the 1/2 marathon (did I mention that's 21.1K?). 

 Marline and I in our Army Run swat.  Black = 1/2 marathon, White = 5K

The morning started off cold, pretty darned cold!  I started the morning in a sweater but I gave it to Amy once I went to find my starting corral.  I didn't want to be burdened and I knew as soon as I got started I would be warm enough.  By the end of my race, it was a perfect day, sunny and 20c the conditions couldn't of been better!

 Injured Soldiers getting ready to start the 5K race

The 5K race started at 8am.  There was lots of ceremony to the event, the Governor General's Band was there to lead us through O'Canada, there were MC's, lots of press and more.  The start the race with the injured soldiers who get a head start.  That was one of the most emotional things I have ever witnessed!  You saw all kinds of injured soldiers some in chairs, some with one prosthetic leg, some with two.  There were wheelchairs, crutches, canes and more.  It was truly moving to see all these men and women whose life have been changed forever serving our country.  Marline used to serve in the military and she was doing the race with a friend of hers who was injured while in the service, she's in a back brace.  Amy and I both had tears rolling down our faces.  Then the 5K runners were off!

 5K Runners waiting to start

Not long after they took off, I had time for a quick visit to the porta-potty and I had to go find my corral.  I had initially pegged myself as finishing in 2hr 30min.  I knew after the summer I had that this wasn't a reality, I figured I would be more in the 3hr range.  The next thing I knew the Howlizter Cannon went off and it was time to get moving!  I turned my music on as I crossed the start line and off I went to conquer 21.1 K as best as I could!

 Getting a high-five from Marline at the 18K mark

The course took us past Parliament Hill, The Supreme Court, National Library & Archives Canada, National War Museum, across the river and into the province of Quebec for a jog through downtown Hull, back across the Alexandria Bridge, past the National Art Gallery, National Mint, 24 Sussex Drive (the PM's house) and up to Rideau Hall then back towards the Rideau Center, down once side of the Rideau Canal across it and back up the other side to the finish line.

My initial goal was to run as long as I could, I figured somewhere between 5-8K the do the rest of the distance at a run/walk (10 min/1 min).  I even surprised myself and RAN THE FIRST 14 KM!  Well over half of the distance!

 Mark who had already run the 1/2 Marathon talking me through the last 2K to the finish line

I knew a couple of other people who were running the 1/2 Marathon that day.  My buddy Mark from Taekwon-do passed me when I was at the 3K mark and he was at the 6K mark.  Carrie from work passed when I was at the 14K mark and she at the 16K mark.  It really was a bolster to see friends running too!  I had the best surprise when I hit the 19K mark and I was starting to run out of steam and my body was starting to protest.  Mark who had already ran the 1/2 marathon was waiting for me and asked me if I'd like him to run the last few KMs with me.  I certainly didn't turn down the offer.  Mark was amazing, he kept up this continuous pep-talk to keep my moving and my spirits up when I was nearing the end of my endurance.  Because of Mark I finished, and I finished strong!

 V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!

I couldn't believe it as the finish line came into sight and I saw 2:55:10 on the clock!  I was going to cross the line in UNDER 3 hours!  2:49:42.6 was my official time when you take into account the time difference between the gun going off and when I actually crossed the start line.

 Receiving my medal from a Canadian Soldier

Nice touch!  Dog tags for medals!

Looking amazingly fresh and happy after finishing my FIRST Half Marathon

This was one of the most amazing, empowering, and positive moments in my life!  Right now I feel like I could do anything!  I'd like to think that one of my strengths is how when I put my mind to accomplishing something I WILL accomplish it no matter how hard the challenge is.

 Cooling down afterwards and using my cool silver blankie as a super-hero cape!  I felt like a super-hero!

I went from this fat, unhealthy 200+ pound girl in 2007 who the only time you would of seen her running was out of a burning building, to running a 1/2 Marathon 21.1 K!!!

You can do truly amazing things when you're stubborn!

Perth Kilt Run

 

Lookin' Sassy In Me Kilt - waiting for the bagpipe procession to the Starting line

This evening I participated in my second race which happened to be the 2nd annual Perth Kilt Run.  Its an 8K/5mile race through the historic town of Perth and one of the oldest golf courses in the area.  To participate in this run, the kilt is mandatory!  You can either use your own or purchase one with registration.  Despite having Scottish ancestry I sadly do not own a kilt!  Well I do now!  It may not be my family tartan, but it is the tartan of the Province of Ontario.  I also got a nice new top from the Running Room for the race, they went on sale just before Canada Day (which was yesterday).  I really like it, its comfortable, and well I look great in red!

Posing in front of the Tay River before going to the start area

Waiting for the signal to start

Today was going to prove to be beautiful and HOT!  Sadly at gun time (6PM) it was still about 30c far to hot to set a new personal best!  I was determined to just have fun with this run and not to take it or myself too seriously.  I would of liked to have run the entire distance but I only made it to the 3.5K mark when it was time to turn on my interval timer to do a 5:1 run/walk interval.  My pace was really suffering for the heat!  Also despite claims that it wasn't a very hilly course... boy it was!  Especially when we were going through the golf course.  At the 6K mark I got hit with bad cramp in my side.  So all plans to keep up with my intervals went out the window.  I walked when it hurt and I ran when it didn't.

 A piper on the green

 The finish line

It was a hard grueling run and my pace was down quite a bit!  I finished the 8K race in 63 minutes.  I imagine if I could of run at a better pace I could of done it in the 50's!  Oh well, there will be more races!

L to R Vincent (Jason's brother in law), Jason and baby Logan, Richard, me

I didn't enter the race alone, my friends Jason (new Daddy!) and Richard from Taekwon-Do ran the race as well.  We all agreed it was a tough course and a hot day!  None of us set a personal best today!

At the moment my next race will be at the end of September the Army Run 1/2 Marathon!  I am still shaking my head over entering this one!  I think if I do any more races between now and then they will just be smaller ones, 5K's.

I DID it!!!!

Amy & I after the race

What an emotional roller coaster yesterday was for me!  Amy was telling me by Thursday she had butterflies in her stomach!  I didn't have any, but boy I sure had them by Saturday afternoon.  I think there's nothing I hate more than waiting to go somewhere, which I was waiting to leave, and hoping Todd would get home in time to come with me.  I think that's the least I can ask for my partner to be at the finish line for my first race!

It took us a little longer than expected to get downtown (we had picked up my best friend Christin on the way, being at the finish line is also a best friend duty).  There was a bad accident that really backed traffic up, and of course we were reaching 30 minutes before race time so there I was FREAKING out.  So at an opportune moment I jumped out of the car to walk to the starting corrals.  I was in the purple corral which is for those of us who think we can finish the 10K in 71-80 minutes, the corral right before the walkers.  Yes, I'm that slow!

I was somewhere around this group of people its the purple corral coming through but neither of my photographers managed to spot me at the start line

For awhile I milled around in my corral with all the other cattle.  Suddenly a cheer went up, it was 6:30 and the race was starting.  Of course it was a little while before we started to even move (being that far back), we walked most of the way up to the start line then off we went in a slow jog.  It was pretty warm and humid out so I made up my mind within the first few minutes to just take it at an easy pace (for me) and not kill myself.  Also considering this was my first 10K and there were sooo many people that at times you slow down navigating around walkers and slower runners.

Its a huge event imagine everyone with faster finish times than 71 minutes had already gone by!

Before WW

I had a couple of emotional moments shortly after the start when I was running along Queen Street in Downtown Ottawa.  The tears started to well up and my breathing got ragged, I just wanted to cry.  Just amazed at how far I've gone/come since I started my Weight Watchers journey in February 2008.  Once upon a time I was over 200 lbs, with a badly injured foot (torn & partially torn ligaments, because I was over 200 lbs doing Taekwon-Do), and even before that injury the only time you would catch me running was out of a burning house with a cat under each arm. 

Here I am about three and a half years later having lost all my weight (well pretty much, the last 10lbs just won't budge), something I would never imagined I could have done at some point.  I thought that I was just meant to be fat, that it was genetics.  Not only did I loose over 60lbs, but here I am, I find myself a RUNNER!  Something I started doing because it was my Achilles heel, my most hated and dreaded activity.  Not only was I running, but I was running a 10K in Downtown Ottawa at the year's biggest running event!  I can tell you its not easy running and crying at the same time.  I had to get my emotions under control and choke my tears back and just RUN!

What was my other emotional point you might ask, why the obvious moment of course!  CROSSING THE FINISH LINE!!! 

The race wasn't as easy as I had imagined it would be, part of that I would put down to the humidity and the heat (not that it was that hot, but I'm still getting used to running in warmer temperatures).  I was very glad for the new hydration pack I bought at the Sports Expo on Friday when I picked up my race kit.  I did need sips of water as I went along (I don't normally run with water on me) and we didn't get our first water station until 5K and well when you're running you know you end up wearing more of that water than drinking it!

The first kilometer felt very long, but tings didn't feel rough until I hit the 8 KM mark I was really struggling in terms of my pace and psychologically!  Up to that point I had managed to catch up to and get ahead of the 70 minute pace bunny, but slowly that slipped away and I just didn't have the omph to go any faster and I could feel my pace really struggling until I got to that last kilometer.  The crowds thickened, with cheering, cow bells and noise makers.  Little kids were reaching out for high fives (and I made a point of getting a few along the way).  As I got closer to the finish, I could hear people in the crowd cheering go Danielle!  There were complete strangers taking the time to pick up my name off of my race bib and cheering me on!  What a pick me up that was!

Sadly the closest Todd & Christin could get was just after the finish line so no victory shot but I will probably buy the over priced official photograph when they're posted!

When I reached that finished line I threw my hands up in the air, tears in my eyes.  There it was, I had done it, it was over!

After the race with my first run medal ever! 

I posted a finish time of 1:11:29 (or 71 minutes and 29 seconds), exactly where I had pictured myself to finish.  So now I have a baseline, and can stat to look towards setting a personal best!

The stats from my Nike+ sensor (see how I slowed at the last 2K)

My next race?  Why I've registered for the 2nd Annual Perth Kilt run!  This is an 8K race, where the kilt is mandatory!  I really can't wait this run is going to be so much fun, and hopefully I'll have some fun photos for you, I might just try to run with my camera, who knows.  I won't be doing this race alone, my two buddies from Taekwon-Do will be doing the run as well!

Amy & OMG we're athletes!!!