Ebb & Flow of a Sunday Run

Not quite sure where the time went early Sunday morning, the alarm went off at its usual time of 5:30 a.m. and Ms. Meow was at the ready for her breakfast, who needs an alarm clock when the cat’s stomach clock is way better at time control.

Dawdling around having my coffee with breakfast and packing up my cooler with extra PowerAde, Vector energy bars, carb-booms, orange slices and an apple, I kept checking the clock thinking I’ve got loads of time to get downtown and meet the run group.

Our final 23K, we were to run the front end of the Marathon route, how exciting is that. I even did a map quest search for the easiest way to get to the downtown location . . . YIKES, got to go . . . it’s close to an hour drive to get there, park and walk over to the meeting location . . . where did the time go?

Throwing everything into the car, off I went into the early morning, Luckily I had checked that I had what I thought was everything, but sans (oh that’s French for without) my garmin . . . well that’s okay, we co-pace the run anyway.

I’ve turned into a country mouse since I’ve been on my own, I don’t go downtown very often now, to be exact I haven’t been downtown since last August.

I drove to where I thought we were meeting, saw a ton of runner’s and parked the car, leaped out with time to spare. I introduced myself to someone and asked if they were running the front end the marathon too . . . I was greeted with blank stares . . . gah, where was I?

Being female, yes, I did ask for directions and was promptly sent into the OPPOSITE direction of where I wanted to be.

I drove around and around and around and finally after turning right (yet again) there were some familiar (albeit questioning faces).

I’d found them . . . with quick directions (yes these were correct), I parked the car and jogged (do people say jog any more?) to meet up with them and causing a huge delay in our take off time.

SORRY your guys!! Ever gracious, they are use to running with the old chick, so nothing much surprises them after running together for almost 18 weeks . . .


Off we headed past our Parliament Buildings on the street side this week, heading down to the Canadian War Museum, where we turned right and headed over the bridge to the Province of Quebec.

Bonjour mes amis courants. Les Français satisfont seulement. French only, please, it’s the law . . .

The race route is similar to the half marathon route that I ran last year (my very first one) . . . until we get back over the bridge where we turn left to take us along Sussex Drive, past the home of our Prime Minister and along past Rideau Hall, the home of our Governor General of Canada (currently Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean).

Running along through Rockcliffe Park, one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Ottawa . . . WOW!!! We continued along past the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables.

I was really enjoying this run as I had never been out to this end of Ottawa ever before. Nothing is better than being a tourist in your own town. You should try it sometime!!

(Jen crossing over the bridge to the Ontario side.)

Several kilometer’s later we were heading back towards the ever bustling downtown. Being Mother’s Day, along with hosting the Tulip Festival and just so many other sights to see in our amazing City, the downtown area was teeming with young and old, visitors and the likes of me, people just getting out to see the sights.....of our beautiful, historic Ottawa.

A wondrous City even in the winter . . . (did I just say that?)

We ran the 23K at an approximate pace of 7:57 or 8 minute pace. As mentioned I'd left may garmin at home and you know what? It really didn't bother me at all, other than I was relying upon Jen (again) to keep me up to date. Thanks Jen!

This coming long weekend (our Victoria Day holiday), we have 16K to run and hopefully our little rogue 5hour group will get together to run some of the back half of the marathon course....I'll let you know!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily...

32K Sunday Run (not race) Report

This was a gathering of all the Running Room marathon clinic participants in Ottawa. We assembled at the Kanata store at 08:30 on Sunday morning, our destination was 32K away at the Ottawa Bank Street store. The school bus arrived at 08:15 and excited runners emerged out into the cloudy, overcast, drizzle, but the weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. All in all there were more than 200 excited runners.

We assembled into groups representing our pace times. The pace runners were holding up the signs denoting the finish time for the marathon run.

Our 5-hour group was there and ready, since we have all collectively paced the group, we continued with that format and even had a few runners such as Catherine and Rita, join us from other Running Room locations.

Before the run, the organisers gave out * prizes and wished us well....off we went.

* Donation: $10.00 (All proceeds going to the Ottawa Hospital Foundation).

At this point I would just like to say how well organised this run was! There were water / gator aid stations manned by volunteers. We also had spotter cyclists keeping track of the various pace groups.

They supplied water, moral support, Advil and even called in the van that was circling around when a runner could not complete the run. Right down to the motivational signage, I have nothing but great things to say about the whole day! Well, other than THANK YOU!!!

We headed off from the store to the Cattail trail, along one of the main roads to an underpass that took us to a trail running adjacent to Highway 417 and followed that trail over to our first 10K water station.

As we were topping up our water bottles, we were able to watch the tail end of the Tour Nortel which is an 80K bike race. They also have shorter distances for the less competitive and for families.

This is where we split off and headed towards downtown along the trail behind the National Capital Equestrian Centre.

Ottawa is the capital of Canada and we have a Nation Capital Commission that keeps quite a bit of our area as "natural" parklands with running / biking trails from west to east. The majority of our Sunday run was done on these trails.

We did have a pit stop that was a little too long. We got to the port-a-potties that already had a bit of a "female" lineup....not sure what was going on, don’t want to get too graphic, but I know that when I’m running, you either hit a port-a-pottie or head behind a bush.....and as quickly as possible.

Nope, we waited more than 15 minutes while these women reapplied their freeking makeup....gah...it was cold and windy and we all really cooled down way too much while these glamour queens were freshening up....Girls, get over it....if you run with makeup on, carry your own mirror, don’t take up precious time in the loo!!!

We continued on until we reached the trail that runs along the side of the Ottawa River, called, yes the Ottawa River Parkway. The trails are beautifully maintained, and the flower beds were teeming with daffodils and tulips, wondrous colours and sights.

The river was brimming almost to overflowing its banks due to our unnaturally high snowfall this winter, geese, ducks and other waterfowl were bobbing along in the swift current as if following us to see what these crazy humans were doing.

Once we got onto this pathway it was smooth sailing and straight ahead to downtown Ottawa and Parliament Hill.

As a group, from the very beginning, we always said if one person needs to stop, we all stop, just keeps us all together for moral support, but once race day hits, we may start together (if we can find one another) but you run your own race.

Rick, Shirley and Jen are just going to Rock the Marathon...woooo hoooo! You guys are going to fly!!

We finally made it to Parliament Hill and ran up the huge hill to then head down the Rideau Canal built by Colonel By in 1826. Underneath Wellington Street bridge. I turned to view Chateau Laurier Hotel, a truly stunning landmark.

This is a man made waterway connecting the Ottawa River to the Rideau River which then eventually connects to Lake Ontario.

A major water system, http://www.rideau-info.com/canal/history/ which Ottawa was built upon. (History Lesson some other time!!!).

Jen and Shirley kept pretty much to the pace time, I was a little slower due to taking pictures, talking with other runners who were having a little bit of difficulty and truthfully, the last two K I had no idea where we were and I was starting to get a little anxious that we’d miss a turn to the Running Room.

Luckily the others know downtown way better than I do, so they lead the way! Rick our gentleman and gentle soul, ran with a fellow who was starting to lag, he stayed with him almost to the end of the run....that’s what running is all about, spirit, thoughtfulness and looking out for one another.

Once we got to the store we were greeted by one of the run organiser's with having to hit the "Easy" button and then we were lead to a table laden with fresh fruit, bagels and beverage (juice). Wow, I had a great time!!

Thanks Jen, Shirley, Rick and a special thanks to one of my running Woooo Hoooo girlfriends Anne who ran with us too!!! Anne's husband Dean supported us along the way while riding his bike and meeting us at different locations so we could toss off coats, refuel or just get a "you're doing great everyone". All of you are the VERY BEST!!!

There is of course so much more to describe, but then your eyes would glaze over and you’d fall asleep at your computer....can’t have that....now can we???

Oh, one finally thing, check out the huge honking stone I picked up and couldn't dislodge from the heel of my shoe for the last 5K.....no Princess and the Pea here!!! LMAO!!!

Thanks for reading all the way through, yes there will be questions later!!! Oh, we ended up running 32K in 4:29....oh, yes, 32K = 19.88 miles....you'll have to figure out the rest of the math!!!

Life’s fun if you don’t weaken,


Lily