I'm HALF way there...

Last weekend I ran the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon. What an experience! I was up at 5am to be downtown at Metro Hall with 10,000 other runners for a 7am start time. It was quite unusual to see a group of athletes at this time in the morning. When I left my house at 5:45am to catch the streetcar, the street was eerily calm. I live on a main street in Toronto where it's always busy at every hour- so to see the bare streets in my groggy state this early in the morning had me questioning if I was even awake yet. Was I still asleep and just dreaming that I was up and getting ready to run 21km's?

By the time I got downtown I was sure that I was awake. I had a little giggle to myself I chanted militantly a motivational speech like a dictator gathering the troops "Runner's unite! In the calm of night while the lazy people sleep, together- we will take over the world!! muhahahaha- MUHAHAHAHAHA!!" Okay- remember... I'm still groggy and humoring the idea that I'm still asleep in my cozy bed and the reality of running 21 kilometers has not quiet sunk in.

Anyhow.

I got all checked in and warmed up and went outside to find my Pace Bunny. hehehe.. pace bunny. I decided that for my first race, and my longest run ever, I will stick with the 2:30 pace group and just see what happens. If I can move ahead, great. If I loose them and fall behind- fine. This is just supposed to be a learning experience. Once the race started and the cheering echoed down the otherwise empty streets of the Business District Toronto, WE WERE OFF! annnd then we stopped. THEN WE WERE OFF AGAIN! and then we stopped. Trying to get 10,000 people to start running all at the sametime is impossible. It's like rush hour on the 401- everyone is moving in the same direction, and has the same intention of moving forward, but it all just sort of back logs. So, instead- we, very anti-climatically, shuffle towards the start gate, and 7 min into the race, I actually start running.

I got so excited and involved in the drama (or should I say anti- drama) of the start, that when I reached the actual start gate, I look around and realize that I've lost my Pace Bunny! Already! What the heck?!?!? Where did that little girl with the huge bunny ears on the sides of her hat go?!?!? Ah well..

I was feeling great. This was so exciting!!!!! The first part of the race was all new.. well the whole race was all new.. but for the first part of it, I was just observing all the different kinds of runners I was seeing. Trying to figure out where I belonged. I saw new runners, fit runners, old runners, big runners, small runners, MAN.. running is something that EVERYONE can do! For the first 10k, all I did was people watch. I mean- there were plenty of people to watch. I was feeling great the whole time. I found a great pace, keeping in mind that I want a negative split, so that means I want to run the first half of the race slower than the second half. But by the time 12K hit, and we were at the turn around.. I started to think to myself- this is only half way?

So I started to analyze. Am I tired? - No, not really. Are my muscles exhausted? No, not bad. Am I short of breath? Nope. So what's the problem? oh oh. ... I'm BORED! Great. The people have started to disperse and I've watched all the people that I've cared to people watch. Soooo... (this is where I would be twiddling my thumbs) I guess I'll just keep running. Running, running, running. I'm running. Still running. Bored, but running.

Here's me waving at the photographer in the middle of the street. Planning this kept me occupied for about 1min 35 seconds.




Ok, so I got past the boredom at about kilometer 15. Then I got a huge cramp. I haven't ever really gotten cramps before, not ones in my side like this. It really hurt! I had to walk and try to breath it out. Big Breaths- IN and OUT. OWWW! Side. Hurts. Owww. This lasted almost 10 min and then it was gone just as fast as it came. Back to running.

During my people watching throughout the first half of the race, I saw a woman wearing a t-shirt from a previous run that read: "What seems longer- the first 20? or the last 2.5?" I' kept this in mind the entire race as I thought it was quite catchy. However, as I rounded kilometer 19, it became a whole lot more than just a clever slogan. Only three and a half kilometers left. No problem. I know how far 3.5K is and it's no big deal. Time check roughly 2h:oo- I'm in good shape. Three klicks left and I'm feelin' good!

Ok- time check. Whew. 2h:02mins. Ok, so just run it out for another 8min and take a 1min walk break. No problem, feeling good. I must have missed the next marker cause I've been running for a while now and haven't seen the 20K mark. Time check- 2h:08min. Really? Crap. Keep running. I see a flag- 20K? Way up there? What the $*%?!?!?

Now I'm cursing that woman and her clever slogan because Ive never run a longer 3 kilometers- ever. I time checked, and checked and checked again, but it was the strangest thing- Time actually moved backwards on this Sunday morning. I ran for AT LEAST 20 min and everytime I looked at my watch, only a minute and a half passed! Weird.

As I FINALLY approached the final stretch of road, relief that I had actually done it overcome me and new energy was found. I cruised down Wellington overjoyed with my accomplishment. It was incredible. Such a long way, and I did it. I finished my first half marathon in 2h:22min. A totally respectable time for a first timer.

When I crossed the finish line and started to walk it out, things were happening to my legs and arms and whole body that I hadn't experienced before. Total exhaustion. Shaking, weak and of course, since I inflict this on myself, a little giggle to myself about it, but I'm searching for somewhere to sit as I know this wobbling around that I'm doing isn't going to last much longer. I found some grass to lay on and stretch for a few (30) minutes.

Refreshed with water, gatorade and some cookies from the food tent, I get up and start my journey home. Now that I've cooled down and the adreline is wearing off, I start to realize that the walk home is about to be as challenging as those last three kilometers. My legs hurt, my muscles are exhausted and for the first time in a long, long time, lifting my lefgs to step onto curbs, go up stairs or step onto the streetcar is actually painful and truly exhausting. I made it home and guiltlessly spent the entire day on my couch watching movies.

My first race and half marathon was an incredible experience. I can not wait for the next one. I can't wait to get out running again, I can not wait for Honolulu.

This was amazing.

S.