December 2006 Archives

Since Vegas I haven't run further than about 9k, luckily all my runs so far have been with members of the vegas crew so running slow, taking the flat route and walking the last couple miles to 'cool down' are pretty standard for all our runs. However the winter group starts again next week so I really need to do some 'real' runs this week. So when someone called last night and asked if I would like to run this morning I said yes.

This someone (I have changed names to protect the innocent), is our running coach .... let's call him ... hmmm ... 'John'. It seemed like a good idea last night, but this morning I was suffering performance anxiety. It's like inviting friends over for dinner and then finding out one of them is bringing Rachel Ray. I collected 'John' just before 8am and we headed out to the park.

Our run started out great, I was captivated by every word he said. The path was a little icy this morning, something 'John' commented on a couple times. As we finished the loop, he headed up the hill, what an amazing coach, pushing me, making me work harder when obviously I have no interest in doing so.

At the bottom of the hill I could hear some runners behind us, I turned and my foot caught on some ice. BAM. Down I went. I am not 100% sure, but he may have pushed me while trying to get the attention of the runners behind us. As I lay in the icy puddle wondering if I would walk again or freeze to death, I waved to 'John' as he ran off with the three female runners.

I'm fine .. honest ... no you go on ... I watched his sunny blonde locks disappear into the distance.

what really happened

I've blogged about me me me ... enough already ... I've tried not to blog about other people too much, but I can not be silent any more. I have to tell you about the Strickler.

She was my roomy in Vegas and this was her first marathon. I've know her for a couple years, she has always been a strong consistent runner. Her race pace is somewhere around 56 - 58 minutes for a 10k. She is someone I think I could run with (on a good day).

Then sometime around September something happened. Honestly, I think she was abducted by aliens and replaced with a bionic version made of spaceship metal. There was also a new aero-dynamic haircut, that should of been the first clue that something big was going to happen.

I can't let the extraterrestrials and stylist take all the credit, she put in the miles, then more miles. She never flinched at the 18, 20 and 24 milers. She worked really hard and it paid off!

On race morning she put on her 4.30 pace band. At the halfway she was at 2.10. A little fast for a 4.30, but some time in the bank if things got tough near the end.

Did she need that extra time?

Hell No!

The Strickler ran a negative split on the second half ... a 9 minute negative split. She crossed the finish line of her first marathon in 4.09.40.

She is totally amazing. She is inspirational.

I like that they sent this out to everyone, recognize what went wrong and are taking step to correct it

Dear Fellow Runner,

I am writing to you as the Executive Race Director for the New Las Vegas Marathon and a person who has run all 21 Los Angeles Marathons. While the response to this year’s New Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon has been overwhelmingly positive, we have also heard from a number of participants with concerns about the placement and visibility of mile markers, as well as a shortage of food in the post race food and fluid area. I want you to know that we hear you.

It is always our intention to improve our event each year. In response to feedback on the 2005 race, we tripled the number of porta-potties in the start/finish line and out on the course and arranged for a donated performance by Blue Man Group to start the race.

In response to your concerns, here’s what will be in place for 2007.

1. There will be highly visible and accurately placed markers at each mile.
2. We will also have a secured, runners’only post race food and fluid area accessible by bib that will be closely monitored by volunteers to ensure that every participant gets their fair share of nutrition following the race.

We depend on your feedback to improve our event. Please e-mail me at tcollier@newlasvegasmarathon.com or call me at (702)731-1052. As always, I look forward to hearing from my fellow runners.

Where were we ...

Saturday morning J and I head out for a short run at 6am to stretch our legs and test out the temperature. It was warmer than I thought, definitely planning on wearing shorts for the race. Our run ended at Walgreens, not because we planned it that way, but we bought so much we couldn't have run any more. We walked back to the hotel with bags full of bandaids, drugs unavailable in Canada, water and items we forgot to pack. Then we met up with some of our group and headed to Paris for a carb-loading-buffet-breakfast. God bless the buffet.

After a visit to NikeTown and some gabbling ($6.87 up), it was time for the RBF meeting. Jeff, Reece and Jess collected Dawnie and I from our hotel, and we headed to the Marconi Grill for dinner. It was so great to meet other BTTers, we had a great dinner like we had know each other for years ... I supposed reading about each others lives makes that kinda true.

I must let you in on a little secret. Have you ever heard nothing but good things about something or someone, and wondered if all the hype was true? Like say ... is Jeff really a super-amazing-hipster or does he just have good PR people working for him? Well I'm here to tell you he is all that and then some! The then some ... he is an artist! Oh yeah give him a crayon and your dinner choice ... I think Reece has a pic of the masterpiece!

Dinner and meeting these awesome BTTers was fantastic and made Vegas even more special.

I was planning on posting the final part of the Very Big Vegas Race Report last night ... but I started watching the Biggest Loser and seriously could not turn it off.

Those people are amazing! I didn't even recognize Brian ... I'm like who is this little tiny guy? And Marty ... hello! They are so inspiring, I almost put down the bag of chips I was eating.

So I promise I will have it up today.

Part One of the Big Vegas Race Report ...

Everything about Vegas is big, so a small report just won't do it. Plus I am currently functioning (not really) on less than 5 hours sleep since I got up on Marathon morning ... 60 hours ago ... so this may make no sense what so ever!

One of the things I love about the marathon is how it relates to life. You have to play the hand you're dealt. You are going to face challenges, it's about meeting them, getting to the other side and learning from them.

If I didn't believe that before, I do now.

All of last week I obsessed about the rain icon in the desert. Not once did I worry about the snow icon here. It snowed most of Thursday here, but nothing to bad. I laughed, I'm going to Vegas leaving the snow behind. There were 38 of us traveling to Vegas from London. We had to meet at a hotel near the highway at 7.15am on Friday morning to catch our bus to Detroit, then board the 12.20 flight to Vegas. Simple enough.

Except... challenge number one ....

A freak snow storm hit late Thursday night, we got dumped on. Apparantley the worst snow storm since 1976. Three feet of snow in 8 hours. No buses, no taxis, no snowplows, no way to get out of my car park. I called D, he was using his snowblower to clear the road. He wasn't sure if he could get out of th neighbourhood. I was saved by K and her brothers magic F-150 truck. He drove all over the city collecting 5 of us and getting us to the bus. I don't know how, but all 38 of us made it to the hotel. The best story was S, who couldn't get out of her street so carried her suitcase on her head to the main road in hopes of getting a cab. She was standing in the carpark of Sobeys grocery store trying to call a cab, when the manager of the store asked her if she was okay. When she told him she had to get to the other side of town to catch the bus to Vegas and there were no cabs, he drove her all the way himself. Everyone should shop at Sobeys!

With all the trauma behind us, we arrived in Detroit with an 1.5 hours to spare. Due to a full bladder and my suitcase being first out, I bolted for checkin. There were 6 of us in this break away group. P the owner of the best running store in the world (I'm so after free stuff), the worlds greatest coach, the winners of the vegas trip (a prize given by P for the second year) and A who also had a full bladder. We checked in, stripped off to go through security, crossed over into "it's okay to have bottled water land". After finding a washroom we leisurely strolled to our gate, stopping for treats and drinks, flipping through magazines. As they called us to board, we looked around, hmmmm where were the other 32 from our group. No one else had made it to the gate.

We boarded the plane and sat watching the door for them to arrive. They made it with only a couple minutes to spare. Most out of breath from having run to the gate (unexpected increase to weekly mileage, not part of taper program). Turns out, they were told to checkin as a "group", herded like cattle then given a 10 minute security briefing and someone would check them in. Except no one ever showed up. Challenge number two! All 38 of us on board and heading to Vegas!

Tony and Vincent our Soprano like limo drivers dropped us at the hotel. Cocktails in 30 minutes! J and I headed to our room, approximately 8.23 miles from the lobby. We changed and I put on my new puma cute as can be ready to walk in Vegas shoes without any socks I bought less than 24 hours ago!

Can you feel the beginnings of challenge number 3?

After the worlds 3rd best margarita and a tour of the gardens we decided to walk ... yip ... walk, to Mandalay Bay. Somewhere around Caesar Place (about 12 minutes into our walk) J asks if I'm okay ... I seem to be walking funny. Hmmm? Who me? No, no, my new puma cute as can be ready to walk in Vegas shoes without any socks I bought less than 24 hours ago are super comfortable. We just need to slow down a little. I cracked in front of the Bellagio fountains, we got a cab to the entrance of Mandalay. We then walked the 39 miles inside to the expo where I purchased a beautiful pair of crocs and banished the not so cute pumas to my bag. My three blisters on my heels looked like they were swelling nicely. Just when I thought I am the only idiot here, along comes R ... barefoot. She too had choosen I have pretty shoes and had the wounds to prove it!

After a great dinner we cabbed it back and watched the fountains, then headed back to the hotel (after a bit of retail therapy in the Bellagio).

This concludes Part One of the Big Vegas Race Report, I am off to shower then heading to the hot massage guru for some TLC. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow featuring the 10 minute run, the RBF meet up and scaring your first-time marathoner roommate.

weather is a bit chilly and windy, but perfect for running! ali passed me mile 3 on a blazing fast pace and then again at mile 6 and was looking fantastic. I finally caught up with her again at mile 9 where I gave her some body glide for her legs. she was looking great and had a huge smile on her face!

okay, so the rest of this is all post-race, but i got really busy during the event and wasn't able to post.

i saw ali again around mile 14 and she looked like she was still doing well, but she was having problems with her foot. she asked if i had any pretzles for her, so i zipped up to the corner store and bought some and dropped them with her. her foot continued to bother her through the rest of the race, but she looked like she was feeling great. her spirits remaind strong and she laughed at all my lame jokes through the remainder of the race.

she had to stop a couple times to massage her foot, but other than that she continued on strong to the finish. the mile markers were WAY off and we actually lost track of how far we'd gone and thought the 24 was 25, so we had a rude awakening when ali actually hit mile 25.

ali pushed hard for the last mile+ and came across the finish somewhere around 5:20. she was in great spirits afterward, despite her foot giving her problems. she looked great through the whole thing and never let on how bad it was hurting. great job ali! you're amazing!

I am taking taper to a whole new level this time. I have run a total of .... drum roll please ..... 2 miles since Sunday!

Thank you!

The plan was to run 3 - 4 miles tonight but the naughty weather gods interupted that idea. There has to be a foot and a half of snow out there at the moment and it's stopping anytime soon.

But that's okay ... cause ... I going to Vegas baby!

The packing is done - minor miracle - running stuff is organized - and I am too excited for any more words!

The weather gods are obviously bored, having finished all their festive season shopping (not sure what type of gods they are so I am going for PC-ness) they have some free time. What do weather gods do for fun ... they create one day of potential rain in the desert.

Then the moment I accept the fact that it could rain in the desert on the day I am running a marathon and start packing rain gear, they change their minds. Yes suddenly the one day of rain has disappeared, good good news.

However, when I woke up this morning and looked outside, I realized they weren't done. It's snowing. It's going to snow all day. Like 20cm of snow today. It is gong to keep snowing all night. And tomorrow. Tomorrow is when we are leaving.

I like the rain in the desert thing better, that was funny.

I am spoiling Nancy this week with a post every day!

I had a session with the hot massage guru last night. He asked if I wanted him to be nice ... nope ... that's right I said no, a free will no. Give me all you got, I've got 5 days to recover, I'm a mess and need fixed. He doesn't think I can take it ... I laugh at pain!

I knew I was in trouble when my eyes started to water just from warming up the muscle and IT band. Hot massage guru said he was barely touching me ... yeah whatever ... how is excruciating grit your teeth pain caused from barely touching me .. I soon found out that barely touching was a walk in the park. Holy Crap! I hate my IT Band. After 6 or 7 rip throughs, I can't recall exactly I think I lapsed into a shock coma, he got out the ultra sound and tried to make nice with me and IT. I'm a sucker for ultra and quickly forgot my 15 minutes of pain and suffering. It [IT] needs a few days to recover, it's very sore and tender today ... by Sunday it will be working perfectly.

Speaking of Sunday ... there is still a rain icon, but only 30% chance of rain ... what's the icon for the other 70%, that's what should be there, maybe a happy face or poker chip ... 30% doesn't deserve an icon.

I'm packing tonight, hopefully ... well probably ... most likely. I've been saying that since Monday. I have a schmoozy work drink thing to go to at 5pm tonight, nothing beats small talk with strangers ... I may just keep drinking ... I could pack on Thursday. Must remember to pack underwear ... don't want to get caught by paparazzi

Only 69 more hours til I leave for Vegas.

Til I leave the snow.
The wind
The freezing temperatures.

Driving to work this morning I was wrapped up in so many layers I struggled to bend my arms. I imagine the warm air and sunshine and it makes me smile. The thought of all the bling bling machines and shopping and pretty lights also makes me smile!

I am checking the weather like it's my new full-time job. Every day sun icon, then Sunday rain icon, then everyday after sun icon. Seriously?

I'm feeling ready for Sunday. Maybe ready is the right word. If my running stuff wasn't sitting beside my suitcase, I'd probably forget I was running a marathon. Marathon number 3 has a strange calmness that goes with it. This calmness, I am positive will be shattered late Saturday night when the reality of the pain of number one and the 6 miles of wanting to puke during number two come flooding back to me. Until then I shall live happily in blissful ignorance.

Tonight I have a short run followed by one hour with the hot massage guru. My IT Band from hip to knee needs some TLC.

what are the odds of it raining in vegas?

Seriously it's the desert!

I was watching the weather on CNN or some other channel in the hotel last week while I was in the USA, I noticed that after a weather pattern gets to Detroit in drops off into a big black hole. Like there is nothing there ... I know there is something there ... normally me and a little place called Canada. I found it really strange that like we didn't exist.

I've been in Baltimore this week at conference. We arrived in on Wednesday afternoon, checked in and headed out for some much needed food and drinks. Some Maryland crabcakes and a couple pints of amber beer I began to feel human and more at home. Spent the rest of the day sight seeing and shopping.

I set the alarm for 6am on Thursday morning. Pulled on my running stuff and a hat to hide my bed head and set out to explore the harbour. When I emerged from the hotel I couldn't see anything, it was foggy and dark. I decided to do a few loops around the hotel and broadwalk. It was a little unnerving running in the dark and fog in a strange city. Friday morning i headed out a bit later and caught the sun coming up. I ran along the marina which was beautiful.

After a long day at the conference, we caught the bus tour and headed to Washington DC. It was my first visit to the capital, and I will definitely go back. We saw Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson, Washington, WW2 and the Vietnam. The Lincoln was breath taking, the Vietnam chilling and the WW2 peaceful.

Then it was off to the Kennedy Centre then Union Station where we had dinner. I commented on how clean Union Station was to a collegue as we were walking out, with perfect timing, a man pukes in a garbage can beside us. Apparantely everyone participates in keeping DC tidy!

Saturday, after getting to sleep in til 7.30am, I laced up again and took in more sights on foot. This time I headed out to Fells Point, it reminded me of an Irish fishing village. It was picture perfect. Before we left Baltimore we paid a visit to the Aquarium. Dolfins ... I love them, I also saw Nemo, he's doing great.

I got home late last night, ran this morning and spent the rest of the day doing laundry and unpacking ... preparing to pack again .... cause we leave on Friday for Vegas Baby!