Sun Run 2007

April 15, 2007. The first time I would ever run in a race.


My pace bunny and I had meticulously planned out the meeting place, timings, procedures and processes in case we were separated and strategies to avoid being overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in such a small space -- by Canadian standards that is.

We met up -- the first part of the plan successfully executed -- and jostled our way into the crowd. It was only a few degrees Celsius, so being packed in with the other participants was a good way to stay warm. Since we were in the middle of the pack, the official start of the race would be very anti-climatic for us. All we would know is that the people in front of us would start to move.

Time ticked on and we were still in the same spot. Thoughts turned to possibly full bladders and blown knees or ankles or collisions with others. Intense scrutiny of the fashion statements of those around was the only way to avoid such negative thoughts.

Then the crowd in front began to move.

We passed the starting gate and off we went.

"Slow down!" was the first directive from the pace bunny. I was an eager beaver.

We made our way down Georgia Street and I took note of the runners that stopped running about 300 metres into the race. I felt no need to do the same.

We noticed a lot of folks doffing jackets and outer layers to the side of the road. It wasn't until much later that I learned that this clothing is gathered up and donated to a local charity. Something worth noting for future events.

We hit the 1km mark and all was well with the addition of another "Slow down!". Pace bunny was in control. I was used to women telling me this.

The one mile mark took us up a very shallow rise into the residential neighbourhood closest to Stanley Park. Even this slight elevation felt hill-like, but we continued to run. More people were walking now -- the rise too much for them.

As we ran past the Stanley Park Pitch N Putt the course narrows somewhat. This was cause for some bobbing and weaving as runners sorted out who would pass who and runners avoided those who suddenly became walkers. I am sure many heels were trodden upon, but pace bunny and I escaped all but the most glancing contact with the other racers.

On past English Bay and it was starting to feel like I could actually run the entire 10 km. Pace bunny was keeping me at slow burn making this all possible. Without her help, I would have hoofed down Georgia at full bore and have been walking by now. Phew!

Dodging thirsty participants at the water stations we passed provided added value to the race experience. I felt that I was sufficiently hydrated for the full 10 km so did not partake.

Then the hill.

The Sun Run course covers both the Burrard Street and Cambie Street bridges in Vancouver. To get up to the deck of the first bridge requires some hoofing up a steep hill. Pace bunny had warned me about this hill and we had some specific strategies in mind for it. We stayed as far left as possible, took very short steps and prepared to bob and weave around "sudden stoppers". We took advantage of all this planning and reached the bridge deck unscathed.

By this point in the race, the crowd had thinned out significantly. Because of our starting position in the race, a lot of the participants around us were not 10 km runners, so a lot of walking commenced. Pace bunny and I sailed on by with our steady pace. At this point I consulted with the Polar and was pleased to see that the old ticker was doing fine and was within the acceptable range of "hoofin' hard".

Downhill from the Burrard Street Bridge and into a light industrial neighbourhood, our hoofing was in glide phase. By now we were starting to gain on some of the slower runners in the group ahead of us. I noted to pace bunny that size and shape, within certain limits, was apparently not an indicator of how fast or slow a runner ran. Very wee people were running quick as well as very not wee people. People who appeared fit and lean were falling behind and struggling. Wow.

We passed Granville Island. Up until now, most of my Sundays at this time were spent either snoozing in late or doing the weekly shopping at the Granville Island Public Market. This was a very different perspective on a familiar place. Actually, I was so focused on the running that I didn't pay much attention to the surrounding at all, except for people running immediately in front of me and my pace bunny to one side.

As we hit the 8 km it was very obvious we were both going to run the full 10 km. The relatively flat bit at this point was allowing us to prepare for the second bridge. Cambie Street bridge does not require as extreme a hoof up as does Burrard, but the course is fairly narrow and pace bunny had advised that a lot of folks stopped running at this point.

We got to the Cambie Street Bridge on-ramp and up we went. Dodging and weaving skills were put to the test once again as we made our way around "stoppers".

We arrived at the crest of the Cambie Street Bridge.

Pace bunny turned to me and challenged me to burn it to the very end with less than 1 km to go. We had some gas left in the tank, so we went for it.

Tearing down the sloping off ramp to the finish line, we learned that I have a "high turnover rate" running style and pace bunny has a "leaping gazelle" running style when going at full bore. We somehow managed to stay neck and neck for this last bit and crossed the finish line at exactly the same time.

Despite best practices that call for gradually slowing down after running hard, we had to come to a screaming stop to avoid crashing into the other runners who felt that stopping dead was the best way to celebrate finishing the race. That in combination with the restricted room available to allow volunteers to remove your running chip meant that we need to go and do some serious stretching after.

My first race. The first time I ever ran 10 km without stopping and walking. Pace bunny and I managed to complete in just over 67 minutes and we both felt we could run some more. I was pretty happy with the results.

I was sure this would not be the only race I would ever run. But would I ever have the opportunity to run with pace bunny again?