What’s Meant To Be ?
2 May
Yesterday I was consumed with worry. Personal troubles aside, I couldn’t stop thinking about my leg and how my injury has negatively impacted my last three weeks of training. I hadn’t had a decent run in forever “Can you forget how to run?” I kept thinking to myself.
My girlfriend Alicia brought me out for a pre-race meal at the KEG. Filet minion, baked potato and spinach salad! Yum… I tried to fall asleep early but I kept tossing and turning. This was not my usual pre-race excitement but more worry that leg may not carry me to the finish line.
I woke to overcast skies… rain was definitely upon me. Most of you know how I loathe running in the rain. “Just hold off for a few hours” I thought to myself as I stood fidgeting with my iPod in the crowd of anxious BMO runners.
The gun went off and instantly I felt a rain drop. “For f** sakes…PMS, a damaged leg and rain… this is not my race…” I cursed crossing the start line.
Amazingly, 27 minutes in I was right on pace at five kilometers. “Ok, I can do this…” I forced myself to think of nothing but my breathing. Thoughts of current events kept popping in my head and I kept pushing them aside. “Nothing else matter right now…” As I entered Stanley Park, I saw Mike and Michelle, I waved. “Hey…” Mike said starting to run alongside me “You’re doing great!! 2 hour pace bunny is way behind you! Keep it up!” Kilometers ten I was at 55 minutes. I started to brace myself as the hilliest part was coming up: seventy five meters of elevation between twelve and fourteen kilometers and half way up the sharp pulling pain in the back of my leg made a furious return. I slowed down but refused to stop (or walk) “This is not even a hill compared to the UBC!! SUCK IT UP!!!” I yelled inside.
Around kilometer sixteen Mike popped out of nowhere again running with me. “How are you feeling? You want me to run with you?” I gratefully declined knowing I would use him as a crutch. Whenever someone runs with me I automatically start whining “I’m tired, it hurts, omg… blah blah blah…” I was already a bit behind pace “Thanks Mike I’m good… gotta focus!” I pointed ahead. “Ok push it!” he yelled!
Mental battles, trying to ignore my leg pain as I pushed up the last hill under the Granville Bridge. Then my caves started to cramp making me jump out of stride. The finished line was so close. I saw Julie to my left “Go Banana!!!” then Alicia and Chris “CRANK IT!!” and I crossed the finish line…soaking wet, absolutely frozen and wobbling off my left leg. My Garmin said 1:59:30… I should be happy? But I wasn’t… I knew I didn’t officially make it in less than 2 hours. The damn chip says 2:00:46 (MOFO, Shit… *@%^@ *!&** ….there aren’t enough swear words) Afterward I kept replaying the race in my head …and it came to me…the damn water stations!! I had pre-picked three stations to hydrate (6km, 11km and 16km) But it tasted so good… I grabbed water five times, coming to a complete stop at the last one…IDIOT! In the end I did shaved off three minutes from last year’s race time, felt exhilarated from the actual run and was super grateful to be surrounded by great friends. But I don’t feel the sense of accomplishment I was hoping for. Luckily I’ve already signed up for the Scotia Half marathon in June to redeem myself!
PS – whoever says the BMO half marathon is flat and fast is full of SHIT!
Regardless of my performance I would still like to give thanks:
Eric of deWolf Training: My personal trainer who has a very unique way of pushing me…wouldn’t have it any other way.
Witch Dr. from 6th street Chiropractor & Wellness: without him there is no doubt I wouldn’t have been able to run this race. He helped immensely with my ridiculous self inflicted injuries.
Toby from the Sinclair Wellness Center: Female massage therapist who has just the right touch!
Support & self esteem team: Mike and Hank who are always there to listen to my PT and fitness dramas.
Cheering Team: Iron Mike, Michelle, Julie, Alicia and Chris. (Eric the Billy Goat Gruff was under the bridge…but I didn’t see him)
PT Girl xo
That’s an incredible time that I wish I could do! 2 hours is excellent!
Sorry that your leg pain didn’t take a day off, but you finished! I’m proud for you, since you won’t be proud of yourself!!
YOU did AWESOME. Sorry to tell you but you did freaking awesome. Enjoy the day. The race was yours. Sure we can make whine about it but wait till afterward and even then only for 5 minutes.
Don’t forget, you ran in the rain, coming back from an injury and when you put all that together…YOU CRUSHED IT.
And all this means that for the next race, you will crush it again and even more then the last.
Rest up. ENJOY. And rock it.
i think you did an amazing job!!! It’s always disappointing to fall short of your goals, but it’s still an awesome time and you should be really proud of yourself!
Way to go you! You did a fantastic job in your half-marathon!!!
I’m going to have to live vicariously through you for the next year because I still can barely walk nevermind run
Congratulations on finishing the BMO Half! Don’t beat yourself up too much; you still beat last year’s time! Hopefully you’ll find your stride for the Scotia. You should beat up instead the person who told you this half is flat. I think that description is meant for the 8k race.
You did awesome! I am so jealous … I’ll run with you in June though.
You knocked time off from last year, that is awesome! Good luck with the next one at the end of June.
Congrats!!! Love your dedication.