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July 2, 2007
Ottawa 10k Race Report
Is there any better way to spend Canada Day, than running a 10k in the nations capital? Me thinks ... NO ... and that's what me did!
So I'm home ... exhausted ... after ... 57 hours consisting of
14 hours driving (well passagering)
less than 8 hours sleep in two days
potential korean male strippers without a boombox
2 new running skorts
finding out S is really Wonderwoman
speaking french (saying english words with french accents with exaggerated arm movements)
2 beers, 1 cooler, a caesar, 4 cinq a septs and 4 pussy galore martinis
a pasta dinner, a cupcake, leftovers, some street meet, breakfast and 2 kilo of wine gums.
8 trips up and down parliment hill
turning a fine dining patio into a rowdy girls on tour bar
being fondled and photographed with the Czech Rep soccer team
girl talk
boy talk
confessions
denials
a possessed elevator
way too many time up and down the stairs
the lasso of truth
Jay, Pierre, Jean Claude, Depp de Johnny, Jacque and Jug
nap on the bank of the lockes
make out sessions on the hill
some fireworks
... and a little 10 k race.
The race started at 7.30 on Sunday morning, so we were up and out and an obscene hour. We headed out together, since most of our group had done the race before and knew where to go. A few newbies, S, D and me, decided to get coffee to wake ourselves up after a night of very little sleep on matress made of concrete. Thinking we had lots of time and the start was just around the corner we joined a very long line for coffee ... fun enough there didn't seem to be any other runners waiting in line. Finally at 7.10 we left blissfully happy with our coffee and starting walking. We kept walking, and walking. Then crossed the bridge in Quebec and walked some more. The start was alot further than we thought.
We arrived at 7.25am, and had to sprint to the bag check and back to the start with seconds to spare. I decided to start running with D and S, they are faster than me, but wanted to have a fun run.
The first km took us over the bridge and back into Ottawa. We spent most of it weaving through other runners and taking attendance making sure all three of us were still together. At the 1k marker I glanced at my watch 6.28.
WHATTHE?
Okay it was hilly, and crowded, but seriously we had to be running faster than that. It felt faster than that. The next 4k were through the downtown area and onto the path along the Rideau Canal. Absolutely beautiful. So we must have done some enjoying of the views, cause our pace stayed about the same. We grabbed some water at the 5k mark I glanced at my watch, 31.20. I'd have to do some work on the second half to break 1 hour. Our pace dropped to 6 mins for km 6, then a nice down hill gave us some momentum. We started picking it up, passing runners. Each km we pulled back a little more time. I started thinking breaking 1 hour would be possible.
We made it back into downtown, only 2k to go. Our pace was definitely faster now, getting quicker the closer we got. I was working hard but felt really comfortable.
The three of us crossed the line together ... 58.38. Super happy with that, 27.18 on the second 5k which is a new PB 5k for me.
Posted by Ali at July 2, 2007 11:27 PM
Comments
Sounds like Ottawa will never be the same. :)
Nice job on the race, Ali!
Posted by: Jon (was) in Michigan at July 3, 2007 7:14 AM
Nice spot to run there eh? Great on your PB...I'll be looking for Ottawa edition of Filles folles.
Posted by: ff_jeff at July 3, 2007 8:31 AM
Congrats on your PB, eh.
Posted by: Vanilla at July 3, 2007 3:33 PM
Great job on the second half of the race! The rest of the trip sounds like a great time too.
Posted by: kevin at July 3, 2007 7:46 PM
What a great time! Congrats on the PR!
Posted by: Tea at July 3, 2007 8:15 PM
Wish I was there - it sure was lonely running on Sat and Sun!!
......... next year, if there is a next year.
OK - making out........ I need more details!
And, did you get up to run before you drove home?
Posted by: janice at July 3, 2007 8:41 PM
Sorry I missed you. The canal sure is a great place to run, isn't it?
Posted by: warren at July 9, 2007 10:40 AM