The race of clever signs - BMO marathon race report

 

The idea of a marathon weekend in your backyard always sounds (at least to me) appealing. Guarantee support and this year was no different, the signs were very witty I must admit. Doing a marathon gives you plenty of opportunities to enjoy (ehem occupy time by) reading signs along the course. Anything to distract the mind from pain. 

The "high-five station" sign seen at the sun run was back. A sign read "power button", I guess hit here for power. Another said "your feet hurts from kicking so much ass!", and one more said "there's no app for this" so keep running. The bare buns nudist man from wreck beach was back, this year with signs covering his body parts (unfortunately my vision was momentarily blinded and couldn't read it...).

This year's summer heat made this year's affair the hottest on record in this race's history.

Last year it was the fatigued calf pain. This year it was the tough toenails bruising. I haven't figured it out, but one day I will run the marathon pain free! Pain free!



Pain - ful! Credit to Bryan Andrews for this pic!


All in all, despite going about 5 minutes (sub 3:17) slower than last year I was happy I was able to finish steady. My pace was conservative for the first hour before it got hot in the later two hours. Feet swelled up a bit and unfortunately the nail bruising caused me to slow down. Overall I think given the conditions, I am pleased with my effort. Good to get this distance in me to give me some confidence for those m-dots coming up! Arizona and Whistler, watch out! :)

Finishing smile, feelin' the hurt!

Credit to Lise Munsie for this awesome pic and her awesome support after her half marathon race!

 

Old man (me!) can still run - Sun Run Report

Yes it's been 2 long years since doing the Sun Run and a 10km road race. Last year I was in Boston and as a result couldn't partake in this epic run! For me, this year's event was really special, since Boston is so close in my recent memories. It reminded me how close we really are in this world and how everyone is so connected. I received dozen messages, realizing that my fellow co-workers, particularly old acquaintances I haven’t talked to for so long thought of me when they heard about Boston! I wore yellow and blue along with my Boston shorts (as per usual you might say...), but this time to also show solidarity with Boston victims. It would be weird for me to not mention this and pretend this tragic event didn't happen.

So this year’s Sun Run turned out to be quite a humbling experience. It is no PB but only 15 seconds from matching it. It goes to show that despite my greatest doubts, I was able to pull off my goal time - sub 40 minutes. I was joking with Liam that maybe even sub 60 minutes would be out of reach after all the weight I have gained this winter. Boy would he have given me a hard time if I were to live that day. I didn't know if my leg speed was still in me, especially after my trip to Prince Rupert (see previous post for pictures ;P). I am super stoked about my time, it's like the feeling you get when you earn a bonus to what you were originally anticipating. I cannot complain.

Both my coporate and the ubc tri club teams managed to do really well. Great to see so many friends and co-workers doing this event. The sun run is almost like a re-union too! It was cool to run into some old familiar faces as well - some alumni ubctc--ers Tim Loh and Jared Penner.

Here's a pretty cool time-lapse clip I found from the Vancouver Sun Page! Enjoy! PS - BMO tomorrow is goin' hurt! Really hurt! >.<

Credit to Doug Giles for catching me out of 48,000++ runners!