End result 1:59:20
All the photos are located at this link but quite a few are part of the report:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... =801600397
Pre-Race:
I arrived early on Saturday morning to a beaming KBO, holding a fresh Tim's for me. Winnipeg welcome if I ever saw one.
We picked up Pam and Andy from his hotel and head to the expo to get my race kit and to attend the breakfast. The speakers were Kathrine Switzer and Bart Yasso. They were both excellent. At the breakfast, I met up with Mouse, Nathalie, Dwayne, Jill, Mike, Pam, Neepsgirl (Jo) and I met the famous Mike Booth.
After the breakfast we headed to Karen's and I met Steve aka Bingerunner. We are really deprived of his fabulous humour by virtue of the fact that he lurks more than he posts here. I think putting him, Mike, Dave G and Dwayne together would lead to arrests for sure or a pretty wicked comedy tour.
I am so very thankful to Karen & Steve as my gracious host and hostess for putting me up for the weekend. You guys are the most lovable couple. I miss you tons already. Who's gonna tuck me in tonight??!
After a quick rest, we loaded up and headed to Boston Pizza for the pre-pace ritual. We picked up Freddybeach Pete (Peter) and brought him along. Here are some photos of the good fun we had. In addition to the folks I met listed above, I also met NewFinnLoper, Roadrunner, Garth, Endurox, Crystal, Clocker and Cheryl (what a sight for sore eyes).
Little did I know that Myra would join us as well. You may recall Myra's story from when FB Pete introduced her as the CNIB speed walker who was doing halfs in provinces across the country to raise funds and awareness for CNIB librairies. What a treat speaking to her.
Nat and I spent some time smacking on PEC.
Race day
Ok, I'll try to be quick.
The day previous I had charged my Garmin the full day. At night when preparing for sleep I laid it out with my race gear, shoes, the usual kit. Woke up in the morning to see that the sucker searched for a satellite signal all night and was dead as a door nail come sunrise. I desperately plugged it in but knowing how much time we had before leaving it barely reached 20% of power.
Plan B
Strap on the pace band and the timex. I've never raced this way but brought a pace band as a back up that I would wear with the garmin.
Soooo, pace band is in km. Marg would learn about 2 MILES into the race that it is marked in MILES. A very panicked realization came alive in that I am not used to pacing without a garmin and I knew every km would be a challenge to calculate but now with a km pace band, mile markers and my inability to do math at the best of times, some serious worry set it. All I could do is say "carpe diem and giver". And so I did. They did have markers at the 5, 10, 15 and 20km marks to those were my only points of reference. I didn't chance hitting splits on the watch since I had no idea if I would screw that up too and end up resetting the watch at the rate I was going.
33 minutes in, the 1:55 bunny passed me. My heart sank. I realized I went out way too fast. I seeded myself aggressively so buuny had to be making up time since my 5km wasn't that far off. I was confused... Lol.
I tried to stay with him for a while and just wanted to ensure that no 2hr bunny came near me. I wouldn't look back but I just kept going.
I saw Garth twice in the crowd (before he started his relay) and it gave me a huge lift since I didn't expect to see a familiar soul out there.
I wore a water belt this time to keep my eload with me. This is my preferred fuel and it kept me going through almost the full race. I took one gel I would guess around 17km and stopped at one water station to douse it down. The weather was perfect. There was no need to really hydrate or soak myself to cool off at all. We couldn't ask for better racing weather. The breeze was cool but not too strong. I ran non stop without pausing at water stations until close to 17km. It felt good so I wasn't going to mess with it.
As I'm coming down the stretch of Bishop Grandin, I see Summerland (a landmark apt bldg) and I know I'm almost there. Final 2km is my guess.
In the last stretch up University Crescent, I can see the stadium out of the corner of my eye. I have no clue if I am on target or off. I try to dial it up a bit and am reeling in people - a first for me as I am usually fading. I tell myself they are zombies and I am not (thanks Dave). But at this point, I realize I may be running out of time to hit the goal. Throughout the race I kept telling myself to THINK (thanks Robbie). In the lead up to the entrance of the stadium I see Jill, I yell out her name since I know she won't recognize me (no RM gear on) and she sees me. I yell to her... Telling her to yell at me and make me go hard. She yells and I enter the stadium. 600m of soft track. It's like a gift to the feet that just pounded over 20km of flat concrete.
You feel like a star, the stands are full of spectators. The guy on the microphone says the 2 hour is coming. Dude besides me says, "we gonna make it" and I said hell ya without turning to him. I pull out any last pump my legs have left when I see the time ticking and vow I won't let it pass me this time. I cross the line and see 2:00:49 on the clock. I am pretty sure I have some seconds to spare but did I make it? I press the timex and heave. First time I heave in a half and I know now that I left it all out there. As I bend over I look at the timex and it has a 1:59. I am uncertain now as to when I hit it to stop and I doubt myself. A volunteer comes over to see if I am ok, which I am. I move out towards recovery, get my medal and being to stew. I am excited and elated but nervous. I call Lisa and squeal to her on the phone and tell her I think I did it.
I get changed and then meet up with maniacs in the stands, Colleen also stops by to collect her son who ran the relay, and hang out with Pam, who had a kicka$$ PB, and Nat and then Ian joins us, who also had a kicka$$ PB. Lots of celebrating going on!
Finally when the official results are being posted I see my result. Wow. Mission accomplished. I pulled this half out of my a$$ totally because it was done on feel, I had no clue what I was doing, but it worked.
We waited for the marathon finishers and watched Mouse hang their medals on their necks.
We all gathered in the infield of the track and toasted the day. It was fantastic and everyone worked hard out there.
Now to go home, shower and relax before the celebratory BBQ.
It was great to have another round of visits, hugs, great stories and laughs. I am not sure if Nat will ever doubt a photo of Steve's butt is really him and I don't think I could have felt more joy to be home, with awesome maniacs like the Peg has.
So then the story turns... (kudos if you're not sleeping yet)...
My flight was scheduled to leave at 8:45pm. As I check the web, it keeps showing it to depart on time. Further consultation begins to reveal delays. Eep. First to 9:15, then 9:45, and so it continues. Andy is on the 7am. I start calling AC to get on that flight. Karen and I take turns being on hold for over and hour. I know there is no way I'll get onto Andy's flight. Planes are cancelled into Toronto and I'm getting worried. Finally it shows an arrival of 12:45am. I checked departures from Ottawa (the planes goes back and forth) and it shows it departed so we are hopeful and we head out to the airport. I know full well this will mean I'll get home around 4:30am but my other option is 3:45 in the afternoon (if I get on that flight). Can't get home that late (7pm).
I convince Karen to leave me there and in a worst case, I'll walk across the street to the hotel. I wait in the departure lounge, lying on a bench only to see the arrival now change to 1:30am. My heart sinks. I know this isn't looking good. I am a zombie but wait for news. Moments later we are told the flight is cancelled.
I leave the departure area and the people at the AC desk won't help us citing they don't have the info to be able to rebook us. We get the 1-800 numbers for hotels and AC reservations. I book it across the street and get the second to last room in the hotel.. chaching.
Wake up as soon as I can and back at the airport by 7am. Wait, wait, wait some more and am booked as standby for the 3:45.
I walk down to West Jet. Karen and I are corresponding via email and she tells me they have a 10am flight with space, direct to Ottawa. The price hurts though. I stand in line and am told there are 10 spots left. That buys me a few minutes to decide what to do. I have some breakfast, break out the visa and get the ticket. Chaching.
I get on board and arrive just after 1pm. When I get off the plane, I tell myself it was worth every penny to not have to stress over how and when I will get home. I let Karen know I've arrived as well as family and home I go.
It was a spectacular weekend with a tiny bad twist at the end. I would do it all over again tomorrow though.
Marg out...
eeeks ... at least you should get a refund on the ticket, correct ??? 
:pray: 
:clap:
