Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

I am home now from Toronto and have had some time to reflect on my marathon experience on Sunday. Going in to Sunday's race I knew I was fit and ready to run a great race, I also recognized that this is a marathon and sometimes it doesn't matter how fit and ready you are things happen and the race doesn't unfold as expected. Although I say that, I went in to this race truly believing that great things could happen and that this could be the day that I finally get this marathon thing right. My training all pointed to that, and the half marathon I had run 2 weeks prior also indicated I was on the right path. I was feeling pretty confident that this marathon would go well.

I had been pretty open regarding my goals this training cycle, which can be a scary thing. My A goal being to PB and break the Canadian 45+  marathon record currently held by the amazing Marilyn Arsenault, my B goal to place in the top 10 of Canadian athletes (this race also doubled as the Canadian National Marathon Championships ) and my C goal to get to the start line healthy.  It's hard to put goals out publicly sometimes as sometimes it feels hard when you don't achieve them. I do truly believe however that it doesn't mean you fail, it just means that this wasn't the right time . It also means I am dreaming big and aspiring to higher goals, which is necessary to grow as an athlete and person. I was able to achieve both my B and C goals which is ok but I did want more. I"m not going to lie, I am disappointed in my time result. I wanted more, I trained for more but it just wasn't there that day. In fact it wasn't there from quite early on in the race which made the entire race much more of a mental than physical race for me.

Standing on the start line was amazing. Alan Brookes and Clifton Cunningham of the Canada Running Series had put together a fantastic elite field and provided us with all the support needed to help us achieve our goals, including pacers. My plan was to run behind our 2:39 pacer Johanna for as long as he stayed in the race. I was really excited as there were several women also hoping to achieve similar times, meaning I would have other women to run with over the next 42km. The conditions were pretty nice at the start, a bit warmer than I would have liked and also higher humidity than ideal but I still felt the temps were manageable. I have definitely competed in worse conditions (Pan Am Games Marathon 2015).

The horn blew and we started, Johanna said something and seemed to bolt ahead. I didn't quite catch what he said but Melanie Myrand thought he said we would all connect around 1k, so Melanie, Anna Boniface Lyndsay Tessier, Kate Toohey, Faviola Perez and I set off together. Lyndsay was only with us briefly before she moved ahead, a very wise move, as she had a stellar race with a huge pb and a second place Canadian placing!  It wasn't long before the rest of us connected with Johanna and we formed a strong crew all working together. We ensured we gave each other space around getting our bottles and would move up and down positions within the group. It really was a fantastic group of women to work with and I feel extremely lucky that I had them. Running always feels easier when you are working in a pack.

I had decided before the race to only look at my splits at 5k intervals as I don't like to get caught up in splits too early. I had wanted to run by feel, plus having a pacer took much of the guess work out. The pace felt pretty comfortable early on so I just went with it. Our first 5k split was slightly faster than our goal time  at 18:39 (goal was 18:50) however the next 5k went by in  18:27. This meant our first 10k was in 37:06. Around this time we also arrived on Lakeshore Drive.A nice long stretch of road, however it was in full sunlight with no shade to be had. I started pouring water on my head during this stretch to ensure I didn't get to overheated as I was definitely feeling a bit warmer.

Our little group stuck together for around another 6-7k but around this time Faviola and I fell off the back of the pace group, Anna disappeared (I found out after her foot was injured and she had to DNF)  and Kate had also fallen back behind us. This left Melanie with the pacer and she was running really well (she finished 3rd Canadian in 2:39, great racing). Up ahead we could see Natasha Lebeaud and her husband Marco.  Natasha was having a rough day and had to DNF but she was really encouraging to me and told me to keep going even though I wasn't feeling great. Basically at 16-18k I was feeling like I thought I would feel at 35k. Part of me thought maybe this was just a rough patch and things would improve but sadly that wasn't the case.

I was definitely slowing and then my stomach began to churn. I have experienced GI issues several times in marathons and I really had thought I was on top of it this time as was only taking in liquid fuel and had taken Immodium prior to racing. Sadly though at 23k I had to pull off to the bathroom. Never a fun moment but thankfully it was only the once i had to stop. When I came out of the bathroom I was on an out and back stretch of the course and was able to see Leslie Sexton, Tish Jones and Lyndsay coming by the other way and all looking strong. I yelled encouragement at them and then continued to grind out my miles.

Basically from here until the finish of the marathon I was in survival mode. I was dealing with a bit of  calf cramping and my body just didn't want to cooperate. 19k is a long way to be in survival mode and it took a lot of mental grit to keep moving forward.  For me it was really important that I finished this race. I already knew there was no way I was going to get the record but I did know that I would feel so much better going home having gone the distance. I also knew there was still a strong possibility of achieving my B goal of top 10 Canadian. So I kept running.

What I will say is when you are in that zone of hurt it's amazing the power of someone yelling your name or encouraging you. I may not have looked up or over every time but the crowd really made a huge difference to me being able to push forward. When I see the photos from the race, I see how deeply focused I was on moving forward. I am very proud that I was able to be that mentally tough for so long and it did pay off. I was able to finish. No it wasn't pretty and yes I did almost collapse at the line but I finished and to me that was everything that day. My time at 2:49 was well off my goal but it represented mental strength and perseverance and that means a lot. That time did give me the Canadian National Masters Marathon win and took me to a top 10 performance overall and 5th Canadian.

What do I take away from this experience

1. the marathon is tough. it is a beast and it beats you up but it also can give you the highest of highs. Three women: Leslie, Lyndsay and Melanie killed it out there and had those highest of high experiences. They ran well and they deserve a huge congratulations for their efforts.Watching them achieve that makes me want to get out there and chase that feeling again, maybe not in the marathon for a while but I love that feeling when it comes, that elusive feeling when it all comes together and you just flow

2. The race is just the pinnacle of the hard work you put in. It is important to celebrate the journey there, and  I loved the journey. This training cycle was a huge confidence builder for me and even though it didn't come together in the race all that work is still there and will pay dividends going forward

3. Our running community is amazing. I had the opportunity to run with some amazing women and we all worked together. I also got to meet marathoners from other countries and that is always fun. The crowd support out on the course was phenomenal as was the support from runners on the course.

4. It's ok to dream big and not reach those goals right away. Yes it's disappointing but it's ok. It's not the end and there is always more time to grow.

5. Getting selected for doping control post marathon it is tough to pee! I spent a long time trying to produce a sample but I am extremely grateful to be part of a running community that respects the integrity of sport and importance of athletes competing clean. Thank you Canada Running Series and Athletics Canada for ensuring drug testing is in place at these competitions.

Lastly I need to say a huge thank you to so many:

Firstly my family, who support me in this passion of mine for running, my friends and running community who sent me so many beautiful messages both before and after the race. Seriously they brought me such joy and lifted me up. My friend and Oiselle Team Mate Sasha Gollish who hosted for a few days before I moved into the hotel.

My coach Richard Lee who knows what to say even in those tough moments. My BC Endurance Project teammates who encouraged me in workouts, who sent me funny messages about oatmeal, who all love this sport as much as me. Also a huge thanks to Brian McCalder and BC athletics for supporting and believing in high performance training groups.

Alan Brookes, Clifton Cunningham and all the Canada Running Series Staff who put on an exceptional event and really promote the sport of running here in Canada.

The volunteers who ensured we were fed, well rested and got where we needed to be over the weekend.

Lastly thanks to my sponsors who have supported me as a masters athlete. Not all companies are willing to support older athletes and I love that these companies believe in the life long pursuit of goals and running. Oiselle, Nuun, Zensah, Addaday Canada, Forerunners, New Balance Canada Thank you !


                JP Bedard &  I. JP  ran 6 marathons over  the course of the weekend to raise awareness for childhood sexual abuse. What an accomplishment and inspiration!                  

Sasha and I after my last workout pre marathon! best host and pacer around 

 Me in my focused zone through the beaches (thanks Claire for the pics)

 the final push to the finish (thx Mimi for the photo) 

Time for a break

Today is a beautiful fall day and it felt like the perfect time to sit down and write about running. Normally on a day like today I would be out running but I'm not as I am on a running break. This break came a few weeks earlier than I had anticipated, however, I am trying to embrace the rest and let my body and mind recover from a huge year of training and competing. Originally my break was scheduled for after October 18th, when I was hoping to be competing at the Canadian Marathon Championships in Toronto at STWM. That goal has now been put to the side.

When I came back from Pan Ams in July, my coach Richard Lee and I sat down to determine my fall goals. Knowing I had already run 3 marathons, Houston, Eugene and Pan Ams we knew aiming for a 4th was a gamble, however, I had managed to stay healthy throughout the training, and with Pan Ams not having a marathon build training cycle prior, due to the short notice, I had really only completed two marathon training cycles. We recognized it was a gamble as to whether I would remain healthy building to Toronto and were cognizant that I may have to pull out if my body or mind led me to. Richard developed a training plan for me that included 2 lead up races, the Eastside 10k in Vancouver, followed by the San Jose half marathon in California.

With it being summer I also had a couple of trips planned. In August, I had the opportunity to go to Bird Camp. This is a camp put on by my sponsor Oiselle and was held in Leavenworth Washington at the beautiful Sleeping Lady Resort. Prior to camp I had only met my team mates via social media, so I  was really excited to meet them in person. What an incredible experience. Oiselle is a company that truly practices what it preaches. Oiselle's love of running, along with their belief in pure sport, and their creation of communities and relationships made me even more proud to be a part of their team. I met some amazing women and had some incredible experiences that included running, hiking, eating, river floating, meditation, yoga and core work.

Following camp, I headed with my family to Naramata in the Okanagon. This is a usually one of my favourite trips as it is a beautiful lake getaway. The running involves lots of hills and it is typically hot but it is a great strength builder during a marathon build. Unfortunately, this year the forest fires from Washington were enclosing the area in a smoke filled haze. The air quality wasn't great and it made running not so much fun. It caused my asthma to flare up which made running more difficult but I was able to continue running.

Upon returning to Vancouver, my running workouts were going okay. I didn't feel as fresh as I had hoped to and I was experiencing a bit of a foot niggle with my left foot. It was strange as the bottom of my foot began to feel bruised. The pain wasn't anywhere specific and it tended to come and go and move around. I had a callous buildup on the ball of my foot, and some swelling on the top of my foot, but again this came and went and with treatment would often dissipate. I consulted with my sports med Dr Bovard and with my physio Marilou Lamy and we determined that I could continue to train as long as the pain didn't increase. 

My first race, the Eastside 10k was on September 19th. It was a very wet rainy day making the roads a bit slick. I warmed up for the race with a group of running friends and did not feel fresh, although I often feel this way in the warm up. I also was aware of my foot as it was hurting a bit. I didn't feel the pain was greater than usual and believed I would be fine to race. I put on my flats, the gun went off and I started to run. I knew from the start something was off. My left side just wasn't turning over probably and I had limited power from my left foot. I wasn't able to turnover any faster and it was frustrating. I didn't feel any pain in my foot, however, I was aware I wasn't planting my foot properly. I finished the race pain free but nowhere near as fast as I knew I was capable of. Starting on my cool down my foot started to really hurt. I realized I was limping and this scared me.

Fortunately I had a pre-booked appointment with my sports med doc for the Tuesday following the race. When I saw him and explained what had happened he decided we needed to do some testing to see what was going on. He sent me for an X-ray and a bone scan. He also told me I needed to stop running as he suspected a stress reaction or fracture. The X-ray came back clear and the bone scan showed a hot spot. I am still waiting on final results from the bone scan as they had a CT component that should be able to pinpoint whether there is a fracture or not.

After meeting with Dr. Bovard, prior to the tests,  I talked with Richard again and we decided it was time to call it a season. There is  no point in trying to recoup quickly from this. We both know it is better for me to get healthy and strong again for the spring season. So where does that leave me now?I know I am not running until I am pain free. I will start cross training next week, but until then I am having two full weeks off to recover from the year. It has been quite a while since I had a long break and I am managing it quite well at the moment. I always find it hard when it is a beautiful running day and I wish I was out there doing what I love to do, but I know I need to be smart, patient and remain positive if I want to come back and compete.

I am also embracing running by cheering on my friends who still are running. So many of my amazing running friends will be competing in marathons over the next few weeks and I can't wait to see how all their hard work pays off. I will continue to enjoy the journey as I get healthy and strong.

A huge thank you again to my coach Richard Lee, whose guidance and support are exactly what I need. Also to my sponsor Oiselle, who not only make the most kick ass running gear, but who are an example of the power of a running community that speaks up for what it believes in. Thanks to Nuun who keep me hydrated by making such yummy flavours (especially watermelon and grape). Thanks to Sports Uber and Zensah Compression who make sure whenever my calves get tight or I am flying somewhere that I am compressed and supported. Also thanks to Fast and Female, for whom I am an ambassador. They work hard to help motivate girls to stay in sport. check them out!!

                                                 Enjoying the view after a hike at Bird Camp

 
                                                  A beautiful long run with Oiselle team mates

                                                   Some of the Oiselle crew post long run

With Leanna Keto, a fellow Canadian Oiselle team mate and Kristin Metcalfe the best team leader!

                                           post long tempo run in the smoky Naramata haze

       
                                          A Naramata sunset our last night, after the smoke cleared

                                             The start of the Eastside 10k in Vancouver
                                                photo cred: Dave Burroughs

                                                  Racing the raindrops in the Eastside 10k
                                                     photo cred : Dave Burroughs

The week that was Pan Ams #PanAmazing

Wow, where to begin. I have just returned home from one of the most incredible weeks and I am still relishing the experience. What a crazy ride life is and I am certainly enjoying it.

About 4 weeks ago, or 3 weeks before the Pan Am games marathon I received a call from Athletics Canada offering me a spot on the Pan Am marathon team. I had pretty much put aside my dream of competing for Canada at the Pan Am games after my Eugene marathon, so this call came as a complete surprise. It turned out that a spot had opened up after another athlete decided to compete in a different event. I immediately said YES! The next question from Athletics Canada inquired as to my fitness. Well I was fit but not necessarily marathon fit. Post Eugene I had taken a break and some down time in training so I had only been doing workouts for a couple of weeks and was still at relatively low milage. A call to my amazing coach Richard Lee was made and he said that YES we could be ready in 3 weeks and that instead of a taper we would build to the marathon.  Now that the decision was made the work began.

Three weeks to a marathon is not ideal but I was determined to get there and to be able to compete. Instead of a typical taper my 3 weeks pre marathon consisted of long progression runs, long interval workouts and an increase in milage. My body seemed to remember and I was running quite well. I was also getting extremely nervous. I had thoughts that I was out of my league, that I wouldn't represent Canada well, that I wasn't ready. My coach, friends and family all reminded me that the training I had completed earlier this year when training for Houston and Eugene would still be in my legs and that I was just as capable as anyone else out there. A week out from Pan Ams I did a 20 mile progression run and the legs felt great.

Just over a week out from Pan Ams I started to have some GI issues while training. I'm not sure whether it was the heat and humidity, nerves, or a virus, or possibly a combo of all the above but my confidence was a bit shaken. I am extremely thankful to Dr. Jim Bovard and Dr. Trent Stellingwerff who worked with me to  minimize the issues I was having.

I arrived in Toronto the Tuesday before the race. I wasn't able to access the athlete village until the Thursday prior to the Saturday race, but had decided to fly in a bit earlier to get time adjusted and climate adjusted. The weather in Toronto for the marathon was anticipated to be hot and humid. Thursday I moved in to the Pan Am village. The village is amazing. Each country has it's own building or block in a building and then we all share the cafeteria, and gym areas. I was in a room for 6.  My roommates were great and love chocolate as much as me, always a bonus! We had access to IST support and I was able to get a flush out massage from the incredible Danielle and a physio tune up with Ron O'Hare and I felt great.

The Friday prior to the race involved a tech meeting, course briefing and outfitting for Team Canada gear and race kit gear. It also involved me eating lots of rice, yams and some chicken. It is tough to be in a food court filled with so many options and have to stick to plain food, but it was necessary with my upcoming race. My first view of the course was on an elevation chart and it didn't look easy. The course consisted of a 2.195k loop to start then a 10k loop we were to complete 4 times. The loop headed along Lakeshore Drive then headed into High Park where we climbed a steep long hill. It is a 9% grade at parts. There was also a hill on our return up Lakeshore which luckily wasn't as steep or long but was still noticeable. Rachel Hannah (my team mate also running the marathon ) and I realized that this was going to be a tough course with 8 climbs and 4 of them being long and steep. To add to the difficulty the forecast for the marathon was for the hottest day so far this year in Toronto with an extremely high humidex. I was told that when we started running the humidity was over 90% and the temperature over 20 degrees and that while we were running the temperature was over 30 degrees celcius.

The morning of the race I woke up at 3:30 am to go have breakfast. My awesome room mates had left a fun note on the door to get me going :) (thx Jess & Sasha) Rachel and I both opted for oatmeal that we had brought with us. It was already hot at that time in the morning so we knew it was going to be rough. We took a bus to the start with the other athletes and our Team Canada support team just after 5am. I did a short warm up with drills and strides. Thankfully Team Canada was prepared and after running my warm up I was given an ice vest to wear while doing my drills and strides. The ice vest keeps your body core temperature down so that when you start the race you are not already overheated. It wasn't long after that they called us to the start. It was funny I had been quite nervous leading into the race but once we were corralled to be introduced and led to the start line, a feeling of calm came over me and I just became excited to run. When both Rachel and I were introduced the crowd went crazy and it was such an amazing experience. My dad, husband and kids were in the stands and I was able to see them before I started running. My coach Rich was also out on the course on his bike, so I was well supported.

The gun went off and we started the first 2k loop which went out and back in front of the stands. It was hot and I reminded myself to be conservative as I wanted to finish strong. My goal going into the race was to finish strong and to hopefully place in the top 10. There were 17 women listed on the start list and one didn't show so it was a 16 woman race. I hung on the back of  the pack with another woman from Paraguay and Sarah Cummings of the USA. Sarah had a similar lead up to me and hadn't had  a lot of notice coming into the race. After about 5k the race started to pick up with an increase in pace. I elected to remain at the pace I was at, knowing it would be smarter for me in the long run. It was hard to watch the pack move ahead but I had to trust that given the course and conditions people would come back to me. Both my coach and Trent had told me prior to the race that this would be a race of attrition, and it was.

Around 7k we hit the High Park climb for the first time and it was steep and long. It was also an incredible part of the course, as all the way up and down the hill were Canadians cheering on the runners. They had written chalk messages to Rachel and I on the road up the hill and they were cheering so loudly for us. It was surreal and amazing and their support meant everything as I was able to focus on them and it kept me smiling even when the going got tough. The crowd support was beyond anything I have experienced before and I truly appreciated it.

The first two loops I felt pretty good and focused on staying relaxed and in control of my pace. I was taking bottles of Eload every 5k and was also pouring water on my head whenever possible to keep cooler. Team Canada was manning our aid station and Trent would update me on my splits and how others were doing in the race. At 20k I took a gel (my plan was to take one at 20 and 30k). The gel did not sit well in my stomach and I spent the next 5k cramping. I hit the bottom of the hill climb again at 25k and recognized a pit stop was in order. Not what I had wanted to happen but thankfully there were lots of bathrooms. After the stop I felt much better, although I lost a couple of minutes I was able to get back on pace after. Trent had also let me know that competitors were dropping out due to the course and heat and that I was getting close to top 10.

The last loop was a mental battle. It was so hot and to climb that hill again was daunting but I was determined. I could see a woman ahead of me and she looked like she was slowing. I passed her just before the climb. About 2k from the finish I could see another woman ahead who was also slowing. This was a great motivator for me and I pushed as much as I could. I passed her about 500m from the finish. Running down the final stretch with my family cheering me on in the stands was incredible and a moment I will cherish. I finished in 9th and was so happy. Rachel Hannah finished in an amazing 4th place. Tough as nails!

Running the marathon for Team Canada on home soil was definitely a highlight in my life. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity and so proud that I was able to run a decent race on limited preparation.

The night after the marathon I was able to celebrate with my family. Then for the rest of the week I was able to enjoy cheering on my friends and team mates at the track. I saw some unbelievable races live at the track with some outstanding Canadian performances. I watched friends get medals, some while they were running with one shoe only half on (Sasha). I also got to experience Canada House and the village and a fantastic dance party on the last night.

I made lots of new friends and got to spend tons of time with some of my best friends. It truly was a #PanAmazing week. I am still enjoying this amazing journey


THANKYOUS

I want to thank my coach Richard Lee, who prepared me so well for this race in a limited time frame.

My family who flew out to watch and support me and who stood by me when I had to miss our family vacation the week before Pan Ams.

My friends who sent me so many words of encouragement, who showed up to cheer me on and who support me in so many ways.

Athletics Canada for believing I could do this and for supporting me on the team. Also for handing out bottles, providing us with treatment pre-post race, for the ice vests and for the support.

The running groups and people who showed up and cheered us on during a really hot day and who made the experience one I will never forget. You guys seriously kept me going!!

Alan Brooks and the CRS Staff who manned the course, who have supported me on my journey to Pan Ams and who were there at the finish. These guys love running!!

The amazing volunteers! Thank you for cheering for helping us athletes and for making this such an incredible experience.

My incredible sponsor OISELLE. The Oiselle manifesto is how I choose to live my life and their love of sport is admirable. They have taught me to challenge myself and recognize that although situations are scary it is better to give it my best shot than to run away.

 photo cred; Cathy Vandergeest

at the entrance to High Park, my name in chalk and an amazing cheer crew from Pace & Mind running club

 photo cred : Cathy Vandergeest

  An amazing crew of talented, fun and strong women before the closing ceremonies

The BC Endurance Project crew on the last night of Pan Ams

 photo cred. Cathy Vandergeest

being cheered on the hill, amazing crowd support

 Worlds biggest smore made by the Pan Am cafeteria chefs. It was delicious :) 

Enjoying life in the village

Our last run at Pan Ams 

On our way to the closing ceremonies on the bus.