Sunday was a wonderful day - 3 degrees at 6:30 as I made my way to the meeting place as bike marshal for the Toronto Marathon...the head bike guy who on two phone calls insisted on 7:30 sharp, sharp - never did make it to the start line - so I improvised and rode out with the 8:00 Half event group - Saw the first "hood slam" at 400 meters as the two ladies didn't believe the cop about the pending runners...(tsk they were dressed to run...late? ) People kept starting for about 35 minutes - so certainly some interesting data for me to interpretate. Saw AlfiefromPickering at the 1st km mark encouraging all comers, focused on his task ahead viewtopic.php?t=21625&highlight=
Checked everyone out to the 4km mark and looped back to the start through the excited back of packers.
Waited some more to see if bike leader would show but not, so more improv. Hung with the guys leading out the first position male and female and sorted some "what if" scenarios - sad only that I thought it best to leave the camera in the car. Kmiklos spotted me and came over to chat - thought she looked great and ready - don't see a report yet? Mr. Kmiklos (nice colour shirt !) called out along the way, but I couldn't catch up to him as the pack got too thick. The cops still had some folks who don't "get it" and no shots were fired (thought of I am sure). All the police I spoke to on the opening 8km were pleased that the road closures were being lifted earlier than previous years. At least one of them is looking to start with a 5k after watching and I recruited another for cyclocross (he spotted my bike).
After 25 minutes it was easier to ride back and forth watching form, faces and listening to breathing. Seeing orange I found a line and sidled up to run4cardio http://www.runningmania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21655 and introduced myself - aside from the pace bunny being a bit fast, he was in good spirits. When I saw him a second time the drain of his cold was showing. Once again I moved back though the group checking folks and then beetled back to the start line and my car...off to PEC as promised, pulling out at 10:40, 5 minutes ahead of schedule.
Easy sailing on the 401 and enjoying the great weather as I moved down towards picturesque Picton. Found parking right away at the Crystal Palace - bumping into holymoly with a great sign, well dressed pooch and kids. They said JoJo had moved back along the course so (after some finish line snaps) I started after her, stopping to encourage the runners still coming in ...many townsfolk were still out cheering too. Main Street was strange as the participant volume fell and the cops still held the roads open. All that I saw had huge smiles and were in good form determined to finish "upright and smiling"
"Honey its an hour slower than Ottawa, but I love marathons!"
Even the lady who would finish last was "givin' it" with one mile to go as JoJo and I located the Painted Peppercorn and I tried lunch without Guinness....not without beer mind you, just no Guinness! 
Jo caught me up on the events and what times she was aware of....Hermes viewtopic.php?t=21640 and Sanders viewtopic.php?t=21641 wandered in first with a thoughtful gift from his Cabot Trail ultramarathon.
..then Doonst arrived and with great class took his through his race and the brief error made by the result guy when he didn't adjust for the late start viewtopic.php?t=21626 ...Sorry Doonst - I know the course and know you ran an awesome race.
.. Heather and Jodi were in next and we are waiting for the breakthrough performer of the day - dgrant for a 21 minute PB and looking like he could go out again. viewtopic.php?t=21622
its all setting in now....
JoJo is right - gotta make this a BIG event in 2008!
front: Jodi, Hermes, JoJo
back: DeValera, dgrant, Doonst, Heather, QuickChick, Sanders
dgrant and QuickChick were nice enough to drop me back to my car and I still made it to Montreal for 6:30.... a fine day!
I regret that I didn't see freddybeachpete, Cathy nor The Moose - next time!
Great pics.
