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July 24, 2005
Port Stanley
| shoes | gels | breakfast | dinner |
| brooks adrenaline | 2 powerbar chocolate | ww english muffin/pb | veggie pizza |
Today was our first of three runs we do to Port Stanley. It is by far my favourite route, there is just something magical about running to another place. Port Stanley is a beach town located on Lake Erie from downtown London it is 26 miles to the beach ... well 25.97 to be exact. You can start anywhere along the route between downtown and PS depending on how far you want to go. It is a great marathon prep, I plan to do the full distance in September. Today however, we decided to start at Orr Drive 15 miles from our destination.
This was a jump in mileage, but as this is such a great run it is easy to sneak in a couple extra, and the coach recommends it. There are numerous support vechicles (driven by friends/family or injuried runners) that supply us with refreshments and words of encouragement, if you need a ride you know they can help. The waterstops are every 2-3 miles and are loaded with all kinds of goodies .... water, powerade, tissues, gummy bears actually candy of all kinds, coke (my secret fuel), bananas, bodyglide, sunscreen ... you name it they have it ... and if you have something you don't want ... like a waterbelt or hat ... they will hold it for you ... love them!
We were due to leave at 8.15am, giving us 3 hours to get to there ... ah the other thing about the run, your goal is to be running down main street to the beach between 11.10 and 11.15 so you have to calculate your departure time accordingly. There were 11 of us planning to leave together, however P, D and N were running late so three of us waited for them. We set off at 8.31am a little behind schedule. I remember thinking as we waited, I hope these clouds stay with us, it was really overcast, and quite cool about 68. No where on this run is there any shade so cloud cover would be very welcome.
My adrenadline is pumping this morning or maybe I just wanted to get as many miles in as possible before the sun arrived, but I seemed to be the pace setter. We run along the side of county highway for the first 6 miles, as its early there is no real traffic, and what cars and trucks there are, are supportive with there horns and move into the middle lanes. I hear calls from behind asking if I am trying to kill them ... one with the pace and two it was my idea we add on the extra miles. We pass the first waterstop about 2 miles from where we started, no one needs anything just yet. A mile later and one girl calls out she needs a toilet stop ... ah a corn field up a head. I head in too. When I emerge from the field, it is like a sceen from Field of Dream, there are runners coming out of all parts of the corn field ... priceless.
Our first waterstop is a mile ahead, we stop have a drink. The clouds are still hovering, but the temperature is rising, I take my hat off and pour some water over my head ... oh that feels great. We are off again, we don't stop until the next water stop, just over 3 miles away. It is located on the slip road. Mentally this is a great area, you have turned off the highway and are on the road that leads into the centre of Port Stanley ... the road signs says Port Stanley 15 (km). This water stop is manned by an injured runner and his 2 daughters, complete with dance music. I take a gel shot, some water, a twizzler and tissues to go. The palms of my hands are sweaty and wiping them on my drifit clothing does nothing.
6 miles done, 9 to go, I feel good, strong and relaxed. Our group of 7 has split, D, N and myself are together, slightly in front of the other four. The first 7 miles of this run are flat, with the odd small downhill ... hence the feeling good, strong and relaxed. Mile 8 is a very steep curving hill, with ironically a cemetery at the top. I make it up 3/4s of the hill and have to walk for a minute, N stops with me for a second and then keeps going. Once she is about 15 feet in front of me I start out again and keep going, pass the cemetery and on to the flat streets. It is hard in this area to run side by side, there are no side walks, so we are in single file. D suggest we take 10 minutes each leading ... in peloton fashion. I get first go at the front. D is very motivational and calls out how many minutes I have left. After 5 minutes we see a waterstop up ahead, but decide not to stop as we have a great pace going. We continue on, D takes over for his time at the front. He is 6' 4" his legs seem to be speeding up, and N and I are falling behind. Finally N takes over and both her and I are feeling it from keeping up with D. I am also feeling it from not stopping for water ... I am looking ahead to see if I can see the next water stop. Just then the coach passes, tells us we look good and there is a waterstop and mile and a half ahead. Okay, head up, shoulders back, push on.
A light rain has begun to fall ... it is blissful. At the waterstop I over indulge due to being deprived for so long. I have water, then gummy bears, then a big cup of powerade, which I have never had before ... yes possible mistake, and a shot of coke. We head out only 4.5 miles to go. The cocktail is swirling around in my stomach ... and not in a good way. with 3.5 miles to go we have to conquer Union Hill. Yes a hill with a name, never a good sign. This thing is not that steep but is a steady up hill for 1.5 miles. We start up, I think the powerade is not reacting well with me, I have this feeling like I could possibly be sick. Half way up the hill I stop for a walking break, I am wishing I would be sick to get rid of this feeling ... like you have eaten one too many chocolates or shouldn't of had the second helping of dessert. As we are getting closer to PS, there are faster runners coming up the hill behind me, they are shouting words of encouragement. This helps and I start running again, the hill keeps going as far as the eye can see. When is the *#@*ing thing going to end! The right side of my body is feeling really tight, ankle, calf, IT band, hamstring all screaming for me to stop, but I keep going to the top.
The last 2.5 miles are down hill, I take it slow until I see the very welcoming sign ... welcome to Port Stanley. There is a long stretch just in front, I can see N and D about .5km in front. I know I won't catch them but I am glad I haven't lost that much time. With 1 mile to go, you are in the town, the marina on one side. You follow the road into the town centre then make a right and over the lift bridge, it has started to rain quite heavy now. Then a final left and you can see the beach and hear the runners cheering you on. It must deafen the sound of my muscles that have been yelling at me for the last half hour, because right now I feel nothing but excitement and accomplishment. The last few steps are tough but incredibly rewarding.
The beach at PS
Mission accomplished, 15 miles done, we arrived in PS with a couple minutes to spare (2 hours 42 minutes). The cloud gods looked after us and blessed us with some refreshing rain. I am now back home feeling a little stiff, there are a few blisters on my feet as the last few miles were done in wet shoes. All in all it was a great day!
ahhhhh .... cool water on tired legs!
Posted by Ali at July 24, 2005 4:24 PM
Comments
Sounds like a geat run...how neat that there is so much organized support! Way to push through to the end :-)
Posted by: Sarah at July 24, 2005 7:43 PM
wow, huge mileage jump! congrats on a successful 15 miler! sounds like a great time, and i agree, how awesome that there was such a huge turnout and so much support. events like that are such fun to be a part of. glad you enjoyed it!
Posted by: jeff at July 25, 2005 9:30 AM
What a fabulous run...and I love how this is set up! Kudos!
Posted by: Dianna at July 25, 2005 10:39 AM
I'd love to have that much support on a long run. That's a cute description of the people coming out of the corn after the potty break. Scenery is a great ending.
Posted by: Deene at July 25, 2005 1:54 PM
wow. what i wouldnt give to run towards a beach!!! (and 69 degree weather!) sounds like you had a good run. good job on the mileage jump!
Posted by: ale at July 25, 2005 3:34 PM
Great run, Ali! Gotta love that cool soak at the end of a long hard run. 15 miles! Can't wait for my turn.
Favorite quotes:
"...wiping them on my drifit clothing does nothing."
Yup, I know that feeling exactly!
"... like you have eaten one too many chocolates..."
Happens to the best of us. :)
Posted by: Jon in Michigan at July 25, 2005 10:22 PM
What a great run, great time! I love how you all took turns at the front, and no whining about not staying together as a group (like some people I know :))
Great job! Congrats.
Posted by: jeanne at August 2, 2005 8:00 AM