Despite achieving my best 10K to date, the Sun Run just wasn't fun for me because of the cold I was suffering at that time. As luck would have it, the race itself seemed to have chased off the last remnants of the virus and I was feeling quite well by the middle of the following week. And what does one do after running a race that just wasn't as fun as it could have been? Why, sign up for another one right away, of course!
Since the missus and I were due to visit her Mom in Victoria, I decided that I would enter in that city's Sun Run equivalent: the Victoria Times-Colonist 10K. I had heard good things about this race and knew the route overlapped alot with the Victoria Marathon, so I thought it was a good opportunity to have a fun race.
We arrived on Saturday afternoon and help my Mom-in-law with various chores and such and for dinner enjoyed some fine pizza from the neighbourhood pizzeria Prima Strada located in the Cook Street Village. Now I know that pasta is the standard pre-race dinner of choice, but this pizza is so good I recommend it as an alternative.
Sunday was a beautiful day for a foot race in Victoria. My Mom-in-law lives less than 1km from the start of the Times Colonist 10K start line, so I had plenty of time to get up, shower and have a relaxed breakfast and a good stretch.
I had a good warmup run to the race start line, entertained by people driving around the mostly residential neighbourhood looking for parking. No doubt this would be their race warm up, if for no other reason than to get the stress levels and heart rate up! I conservatively put down my completion time at 1 hour as I was of the mind to take it easy in this event, so I was given a red bib number which placed me squarely in the middle of the field of about 10,000 runners and walkers. The race started on a two lane street so the line was quite narrow and drawn out, but fortunately I didn't feel too cramped in. I listened to various folks talk about their training and past experiences at this race.
The race announcer came onto the PA and started the wheelchair event. Shortly after, the main event started. I started out with some serious shuffling as the narrow stream of runners funneled in towards the even narrower start gate. Then I was off. I started with an easy pace, if for no other reason there were too many people in front of me. I was elbowed a few times and then, despite my best Canadian manners and behaviour, I started to elbow my way into a clear zone where I would feel comfortable setting my own pace. The race starts on a very gentle down slope and then weaves through Beacon Hill Park, so by the time we hit the 2k mark the field was reasonably strung out because that is the part that has the most gain in elevation and the run/walkers had slowed down to their first walk break. I found myself passing a lot of people but still very relaxed, shoulders low and with a nice turnover rate. I had my iPod on and the tune selection seemed to be just right for this course. By the time I had done 3k the sun was shining strong and I was in a great frame of mind. By starting relaxed and focusing inward, rather than glancing at my watch alot and gauging myself against the other runners, I found I was making good time when I did look at my watch. So I began to think, maybe this will be more than a mellow jog for me after all? As I moved into about the 3.5k mark I saw the race leader (and the winner, I found out later) heading back along Dallas road, as the course loops back upon itself. This dude was looking like he was doing ballet, his shoulders low and relaxed, his legs in perfect form. It looked like he was running slower than me, he was so relaxed, but I knew better. I then had to refocus on the runners around me as the field was tightening up again because we were heading up an incline and I had managed to get into a faster "pelaton" of people. Despite the inclines I had gone through, I was still feeling quite relaxed and motivated. I recalled the advice about discomfort in from my yoga instructor Mike Dennison. I realized that pushing myself a bit put me into mild discomfort but that it wasn't pain. So I was pushing myself a bit but it felt strangely good. Unlike last week, the respiration and heart rate were in their proper zone. I am sure the bright sunny day helped alot too!
I rounded the switchback at the 4k mark. Unlike some other races I have been at, this tight 180 was reasonable and the people running around me were good at making room for one another. I enjoyed the downhill and took a bit of time to observe those behind me. It was quite a diverse pack of runners, all ages and colours and sizes. As I passed the 6k mark I passed a group of paramedics who were attending someone flat out still on the ground. Looked like a really young guy who was unconscious. Maybe he partied all night long and hadn't trained. I didn't hear anything on the news that evening so I guess he just passed out. I am very happy I take a conservative approach to my training and running.
Then something odd happened. I gained on and passed a wheelchair racer. She was struggling somewhat and my first instinct was to stop and offer help, but then I realized that was probably the last thing she wanted to hear...this was a race after all! I passed her and glanced back giving her a thumbs up and said "you're doing fine, keep going".
I got to the 8k mark and what a difference from last week. I was feeling...GOOD...working hard for sure but I was in a very upbeat mood. I looked at my watch and I saw I was on the same pace as my 8k race in March. Ack! Maybe I was going too fast, would I burn out? But damn I was feeling good so I thought, let's go for it and I kept on going. The faint outline of the blue track left from the 1994 Commonwealth games was still visible on the street (that gives you an idea as to when this part of Victoria last saw a road crew!!!) so I followed that thinking it would give me the most efficient line into the finish area. There is a slight incline just outside the 9k mark and this had quite an impact on those around me but I just visualized a trail race and a 200m 20% incline and it wasn't so bad after all!! The course finishes up with a zig-zag through the James Bay neighbourhood and then onto Belleville St where the parliament buildings are. Despite the blare of AC/DC on my iPod I heard a gaggle of girlies give a cheer and then blast by me en masse as they sprinted to the finish line. I saw the finish line and decided that there was enough in the tank, I was feeling good, the warm but not too hot sun was beaming at me so I engaged warp drive and blew past the finish line. That just felt damn good. Fortunately the volunteers were keeping people moving at the finish so I did not have to use anyone as a crashpad. I grabbed some water and fruit and walked out the remaining nervous energy. Ack, compared to last week, it was like I was a different person. I felt better after the run than before. I checked my watch for my time and much to my surprise I broke 54 minutes. I looked in the paper the next day and to my surprise my time was 53:39. So that is two PBs a week apart, but boy did it feel a lot better running without a cold.
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