This race venue is becoming nearer and dearer to my heart. Last year I qualified for Boston on this course and this year I ran a PR on the 1/2 mary course. First off, the volunteers are AWESOME! The aid stations are run by the high school students and boy are they awesome cheerers. The course is flat in its truest form. I have raced on courses that claim that they are flat and they are not. This one IS. The course is an out and back course for both the marathon and the 1/2. 
The race: I went into this race feeling prepared for a PR. I also went into my last 1/2 prepared for a PR so I know that anything can happen. I feel very fortunate that my legs "showed up" so to speak. On a "magical" day a sub 1:30 was going to happen, on a "great" day I was going to run sub 7s for the entire race (that was my secret goal for the day) and on a "day" I was going to be happy that I was out there running. My goal was to remain in my 10 sec target pace of 6:55s - 7:05s min/miles. The result - 1:32:03 (pace of 7:02 min/miles) ....oh so close to the "great day"....but still oh so happy:) My boys were there with me and the midget reminded me that he is faster runner than me just before I started (we even raced and he beat me). The big man was there too and told me how proud he was of me. I had sent Macbeth a MSG the week before and asked her if she was going to come and do the race too because its pretty close for them and she brought her friend who it was her first 12 Mary - so awesome. They both did so well and it was great seeing their smiling faces on the course and again after the race. It just turned out to be a great race day for me. The temp was perfect, my legs showed up, my support crew was there, and my stomach didn't erupt until after the race. I ended up 3rd overall and got a bobble head trophy - I love it. It actually moves. I gotta put this out there... the race venue is small and the first place girl ran a 1:18 and I ran a 1:32 so there is a rather HUGE difference between first and third. But I'll take it. If you live in the area I highly recommend the race.
This weekend I have been given a complimentary entry into the Vancouver east side 10 k event. I am super honoured to tow the line with the amazing athletes that will be there and I'm not exactly sure how that happened but I am going with it. It will be interesting to see what my legs will put out on Saturday because I'm not feeling overly recovered from Sunday but I'm going to go after it! Cheers
The race: I went into this race feeling prepared for a PR. I also went into my last 1/2 prepared for a PR so I know that anything can happen. I feel very fortunate that my legs "showed up" so to speak. On a "magical" day a sub 1:30 was going to happen, on a "great" day I was going to run sub 7s for the entire race (that was my secret goal for the day) and on a "day" I was going to be happy that I was out there running. My goal was to remain in my 10 sec target pace of 6:55s - 7:05s min/miles. The result - 1:32:03 (pace of 7:02 min/miles) ....oh so close to the "great day"....but still oh so happy:) My boys were there with me and the midget reminded me that he is faster runner than me just before I started (we even raced and he beat me). The big man was there too and told me how proud he was of me. I had sent Macbeth a MSG the week before and asked her if she was going to come and do the race too because its pretty close for them and she brought her friend who it was her first 12 Mary - so awesome. They both did so well and it was great seeing their smiling faces on the course and again after the race. It just turned out to be a great race day for me. The temp was perfect, my legs showed up, my support crew was there, and my stomach didn't erupt until after the race. I ended up 3rd overall and got a bobble head trophy - I love it. It actually moves. I gotta put this out there... the race venue is small and the first place girl ran a 1:18 and I ran a 1:32 so there is a rather HUGE difference between first and third. But I'll take it. If you live in the area I highly recommend the race.
This weekend I have been given a complimentary entry into the Vancouver east side 10 k event. I am super honoured to tow the line with the amazing athletes that will be there and I'm not exactly sure how that happened but I am going with it. It will be interesting to see what my legs will put out on Saturday because I'm not feeling overly recovered from Sunday but I'm going to go after it! Cheers 
