Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

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scrumhalfgirl
Lynn Williams
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Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby scrumhalfgirl » Mon May 25, 2015 9:12 am

I don't always get a chance to post race reports but figured I would this time around!

Backstory...
My last marathon (my 4th) was in Ottawa in May 2012, when my daughter was 13 months. It was a great come-back race post-baby and I ran a PB of 3:49. I thought that the possibility of qualifying for Boston down the road was in my sights, but then they went and dropped the qualifying times by 5 minutes. Sub-335, rather than 3:40:59 just seemed so much further out of reach, that I put it out of my mind, thinking I would come around to that goal again when I'd aged up a bit.

Fast forward to May 2014 - birth of my second baby, and I decided I'd aim for the Ottawa Marathon again as my A goal. I contemplated heading to the GTA for potentially cooler temperatures, but I just love my hometown course so much, especially seeing friends, neighbours, colleagues etc on the course and cheering. Training this year went absolutely as well as it possibly could. My training partner was gunning for Boston (she needed a 3:45) and we followed the NYRR's program with the goal of getting her in around 3:43. It was tougher than anything either of us had done before - but we gradually adapted to the faster paces for our long runs, and with time 13 km on a random Tuesday or Wednesday no longer seemed like too big of a deal. Our winter here was tough - weeks with extreme cold warnings alternating with big dumps of snow, but my treadmill was my constant companion, and I was able to get out for all but one of my long runs, usually with my training partner for company. Once March came along with a break in the weather, it was out with the stroller I went, taking Felix along for tempo runs, easy runs and intervals - I ran over 500 km with either the single or double stroller, mostly just leaving them at home for my long runs and maybe one other run per week if I was lucky.

We scheduled 2 tune-up races - in March, we traveled to Hamilton for Around the Bay. I finished in 2:30 for the 30km, a five minute PB that felt almost easy. It was then that I began to think I might have a faster marathon in me. On Mother's Day, I ran 44:06 for a 10K and decided I was going to go for it...BQ or bust. I don't know when the training stars would line up again so well for me, so I figured I would go for broke and limp it in if I needed to, rather than going for a safer sure-bet PB. This was scary! It was a big goal for me, and I knew it was a long-shot. The first time I'd set something so daunting in front of me.

Race Day...

Reviewing previous Boston acceptance times, I was pretty sure that I needed not just sub 3:35, but more like 3:33 to be sure of a spot, so I decided to start with the 3:35 bunny to keep myself honest through the first 8 km or so (my downfall in 2012 were the super crowds through Hintonburg and Wellington!) and then try and stay between the two of them. The first 5 km or so were awful. I dropped a gel early on, I got two different diaphragm stitches and I just couldn't get in a groove. Thankfully, once I was a bit more warmed up, things started to click. I ran by my family around the 7 km mark, stopping for a lightening quick hug with Charlotte and carried along with the 335 bunny. Around the 10k mark, I noticed that he was banking a bit more time than I was comfortable, so I let myself relax back a little bit and let him get ahead by a couple hundred metres. I knew I needed to focus on my own race. I was surrounded by a few other young female runners, BQ hopefuls like myself (including one with a shirt reading "I just want a unicorn!") and we chatted a bit about the pacing. I went through the half way at around 1:46:20, right on 3:30 pace.

The first half of the race went by quickly, and the minor hills on the Gatineau side felt good. I was impressed by how much more crowd support there was there as compared to my last time at the full distance. My favourite was the guy who set up his drum kit in his front lawn and was just rocking out on drum solos. Not an official music station, but he was awesome! Back in Ottawa, we hit the Rockcliffe Parkway section - I had forgotten how hilly it was, how few spectators there were, and how sunny it could be - just as our nice cloud cover blew away. I caught back up to the 335 bunny at this point who was slowing down his pace and pulled away. However, around 31 km, I started to have to work for the pace - keeping myself focused to make the splits, but I was still hitting them.

Then it hit around the 37 km mark, I just started to fade. As we turned onto Sussex with its long uphill, the bunny caught me again and I just had nothing left to respond with. I seriously thought about sitting down and stopping, or walking. Some low thoughts entered my head, because I knew just how quickly the time could slip away here. But, I refocused, turned the pace screen off on my garmin, and just started pumping my arms harder and reciting some short mantras in my head to keep the legs turning over. The crowd support was amazing, but I was hurting too much to enjoy it. Around 38-39km, the half marathoners joined us, which was super demoralizing, as runners doing 1:35 were flying by me. Finally we passed the 42 km marker that I'd run under in training, and we were back on my home turf - the canal, where I did almost all of my training runs this year. My brain was too foggy to do marathon math, so I didn't know if I could squeak under or not. I was so happy to finally cross that finish line.

In the end, I came up short - 3:35:52. Not enough for a BQ, but still a 14 minute personal best, and far beyond a time I could have imagined three years ago after my last marathon, a year ago when I had a brand new baby, or even 5 months ago when we started training. Am I disappointed about missing that BQ? Sure. But do I have any regrets? Not in the slightest.

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Jesse's 2017 Plans
April - Boston Marathon
May - Sporting Life Ottawa 10K
May - Ottawa Half Marathon

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scrumhalfgirl
Lynn Williams
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby scrumhalfgirl » Mon May 25, 2015 9:13 am

And splits for those of you who like that kind of thing!

Splits (GPS Interval)
Type Distance Split settings Duration Total Duration Pace Avg HR Max HR Notes
1 Interval 1 km 4:55.84 4:55.84 4:56
2 Interval 1 km 5:04.61 10:00.45 5:05
3 Interval 1 km 5:03.22 15:03.67 5:04
4 Interval 1 km 5:01.99 20:05.66 5:02
5 Interval 1 km 5:01.72 25:07.38 5:02
6 Interval 1 km 5:00.72 30:08.10 5:01
7 Interval 1 km 4:57.90 35:06 4:58
8 Interval 1 km 5:04.18 40:10.18 5:05
9 Interval 1 km 4:59.67 45:09.85 5:00
10 Interval 1 km 5:02.66 50:12.51 5:03
11 Interval 1 km 4:58.42 55:10.93 4:59
12 Interval 1 km 4:55.83 1:00:06.76 4:56
13 Interval 1 km 4:56.86 1:05:03.62 4:57
14 Interval 1 km 4:59.29 1:10:02.91 5:00
15 Interval 1 km 5:02.81 1:15:05.72 5:03
16 Interval 1 km 4:54.63 1:20:00.35 4:55
17 Interval 1 km 4:58.44 1:24:58.79 4:59
18 Interval 1 km 4:55.78 1:29:54.57 4:56
19 Interval 1 km 5:02.61 1:34:57.18 5:03
20 Interval 1 km 4:53.98 1:39:51.16 4:54
21 Interval 1 km 4:58.60 1:44:49.76 4:59
22 Interval 1 km 4:59.18 1:49:48.94 5:00
23 Interval 1 km 5:01.65 1:54:50.59 5:02
24 Interval 1 km 4:55.35 1:59:45.94 4:56
25 Interval 1 km 4:53.58 2:04:39.52 4:54
26 Interval 1 km 5:00.71 2:09:40.23 5:01
27 Interval 1 km 5:09.48 2:14:49.71 5:10
28 Interval 1 km 4:54.86 2:19:44.57 4:55
29 Interval 1 km 5:04.28 2:24:48.85 5:05
30 Interval 1 km 4:55.32 2:29:44.17 4:56
31 Interval 1 km 5:05.90 2:34:50.07 5:06
32 Interval 1 km 4:55.79 2:39:45.86 4:56
33 Interval 1 km 5:04.36 2:44:50.22 5:05
34 Interval 1 km 5:10.59 2:50:00.81 5:11
35 Interval 1 km 5:03.97 2:55:04.78 5:04
36 Interval 1 km 5:08.81 3:00:13.59 5:09
37 Interval 1 km 5:17.68 3:05:31.27 5:18
38 Interval 1 km 5:18.67 3:10:49.94 5:19
39 Interval 1 km 5:31.10 3:16:21.04 5:32
40 Interval 1 km 5:27.76 3:21:48.80 5:28
41 Interval 1 km 5:28 3:27:16.80 5:28
42 Interval 1 km 5:20.43 3:32:37.23 5:21
43 Interval 0.6 km 3:17.22 3:35:54.45 5:29
Jesse's 2017 Plans
April - Boston Marathon
May - Sporting Life Ottawa 10K
May - Ottawa Half Marathon

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La
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby La » Mon May 25, 2015 9:27 am

Great report! And what an incredible run! Congrats on your HUGE PB - you're so close to that BQ, you'll get it very soon, I predict. :)
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Habs4ever » Mon May 25, 2015 9:37 am

What a great report. I knew you would have a fabulous race! 14 minutes is HUGE in a marathon. Congratulations
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Jwolf » Mon May 25, 2015 9:47 am

Congratulations again on a fantastic result. :) You've worked hard for this and I'm so happy for you.
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby IronGoddess » Mon May 25, 2015 9:48 am

What a huge PR!! you are amazing doing all that training with a jog stroller. Crazy! Your BQ is just around the corner.
IMC 2015

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby RA. » Mon May 25, 2015 10:46 am

Congrats, Jesse! You worked hard, and you went for it! You should be proud!
Life is short. Stop whining!!- Jwolf

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Pat29
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Pat29 » Mon May 25, 2015 11:34 am

Congrats on the pb.
[b]2016 Races:[b]

January - Richmond Road Races 10 km 41:06
March - St Patrick's Day 10 km 41:31
April - Minto Run for Reach half-marathon 1:28:56
May - Sporting Life 10 km - 41:10
May - Ottawa Marathon - 3:26:37
September - Army Run


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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby HCcD » Mon May 25, 2015 11:45 am

Awesome race and PB, Scrummy ... :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:
Race Results: http://itsmyrun.com/index.php?display=p ... unner=HCiD

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby purdy65 » Mon May 25, 2015 11:58 am

Yep! You are an amazing runner. You will get that BQ no doubt! Congratulations!
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Introducing 2017

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby jes » Mon May 25, 2015 12:20 pm

You're so, so awesome!!

Next time for sure!!
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby canalrunner » Mon May 25, 2015 1:11 pm

Very impressive. Congrats. That is an outstanding PB.
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2016 Races
May: Ottawa Marathon


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Spirit Unleashed
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Spirit Unleashed » Mon May 25, 2015 2:57 pm

Nice report and pic. Congrats on a huge pb. Way to hang in there when tired.
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Tori » Mon May 25, 2015 3:31 pm

congrats! You are one speedy lady!!! I think Boston will happen very soon.

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby alexk » Mon May 25, 2015 3:38 pm

WOW! That's a massive PB Jesse!!! I was thinking about you yesterday. I knew you were set for something big :). Don't give that BQ another thought; bask in those 14 minutes you shaved off. You'll get it - and then some - next time around. Now that you know how fast you can go, it'll be that much easier. Enjoy your recovery. Did you ever earn it!

PS. How did your friend make out?
We train more joyfully and productively when we focus on the now, rather than on our future race day performance. It's a long road from here to there with many miles to go. We need to run each one. Accept where you are today and simply be thankful for the work you've accomplished. KA

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby scrumhalfgirl » Mon May 25, 2015 3:53 pm

alexk wrote:PS. How did your friend make out?


she did it - in a big way! 3:37 and change! Her and another one of our training partners will be headed to Boston in the spring. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't researching early September marathons this morning, but I think that's just the post-marathon high talking. I don't think I have another big training cycle in me now, especially as I head back to work in a few weeks.
Jesse's 2017 Plans
April - Boston Marathon
May - Sporting Life Ottawa 10K
May - Ottawa Half Marathon

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby RobW » Mon May 25, 2015 4:52 pm

Congrats on your race! That's a monster PB.

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Ken B » Mon May 25, 2015 6:03 pm

Fantastic race and great report!! Congratulations!!

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby chunkymonkeymelonhed » Mon May 25, 2015 9:01 pm

Wow, simply wow!! I have to admit to a few tears in my eyes as I read your report. Your training cycle was stellar, I have been so in awe of your consistency and hard work- how you balance all the important aspects of your life, keep your priorities, and still train the way you do- it's impressive.

That PB is a MONSTER PB!!!!!! :dance: :dance: huge congratulations. Your BQ is going to happen, do not doubt that.
Thank you for sharing that great report, what a race. I am so glad that you have no regrets- you went for it and you came out with an exceptional result. WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the books for 2017:
50th Birthday!!
Boston Marathon- April 17th what a day- DREAM COME TRUE :dance:
Run for Water 10K- May 28th
Scotia Half - June 25th
Trail River Run half marathon- Sept. 30- CANCELLED
MEC 10K Race 10- Nov. 5

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby carm » Tue May 26, 2015 6:25 am

An amazing result! I'm beyond impressed that you can push that hard in training and during a big race, all while juggling 2 young children (including a 1 year old!!!). That is so phenomenal. We're very proud of you! That BQ will be yours very soon.
Carm

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby mas_runner » Tue May 26, 2015 6:51 am

Brilliant! Well done. Looks like you had the race I was hoping to have. Your splits are incredible as those rollers and long climbs in Rockliffe barely affected you.

Congrats!
PBs
5th Sep 2015 - Run Ottawa free 5km - 21:05
21st Jun 2015 - UR 4 Men's Cancers 10km - 45:45
16th Jun 2013 - UR 4 Men's Cancers 15km - 1:11:44
16th Apr 2016 - MEC 10 miler - 1:20:21
12th Apr 2015 - EY R4R Half Marathon - 1:41:15
26th May 2013 - Ottawa Marathon - 3:43:51

2017 races - coming up
7th May - Defi Entreprise 10km
28th May - Ottawa Half Marathon
17th Sep - Army Run Half Marathon

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MikeM
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby MikeM » Tue May 26, 2015 9:47 am

Excellent report. Congrats again on such a great race!

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby drghfx » Tue May 26, 2015 11:41 am

Well done Jesse!
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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Robinandamelia » Tue May 26, 2015 8:29 pm

Way to dig deep and get it done with a spectacular time and HUGE PB! That's fantastic! Congratulations!!

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Re: Leaving it all out there - Ottawa Marathon 2015

Postby Miss*Smiles » Wed May 27, 2015 6:20 am

You are awesome :ymhug:

So proud!
When your legs get tired, run with your heart.

Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of your chance to be extraordinary.


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