50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

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Robbie-T
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50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Robbie-T » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:36 pm

For some background. My Father in-law passed away from cancer and my Mother in-law is a cancer survivor, so all the family decided to take part in the event this year, raise a bunch of money and do a little bonding together. The event runs 12 hours from 7pm to 7am and takes place on a high school 400m track. I couldn't be there the full time, I had to take the kids to my parents and get them to bed first. So I was to do that sleep for a few hours then show up at 2pm or so for the remainder of the night. No one keeps track of any of the laps they just ask that there is always someone on the track walking from your team. I asked my sister in-law if anyone runs there, and if anyone would care if I ran while I was there for fun. Initially I thought of running like 20k sine it was on a track in the middle of the night that would likely be more then enough for me, as time went on my plan changed. I thought why not run my first Ultra in dedication to my Father in-law.

I got in 3 hours sleep after the kids got to bed and showed up at the track about 1:30am, and got running before 2am, I thought it would take roughly 4 hours to do this. I've run a marathon this year in Mississauga but haven't run further then 16k or so since then, I'm not really in marathon shape, so I would take it easy and just run by feel, I wasn't racing just in for the challenge.

The track was rubberized, and for the most part I was running in lanes 5-7 keeping a good distance from anyone walking, and there were plenty of people walking all the time, more then I imagined there would be, I was very impressed. The track was lightly lite, good enough to see without a head lamp though. All along the inside lane of the track were these luminaries (dedicated bag to loved one, glowing by candle light) these helped light the way. The entire event was very moving and emotional for obvious reasons.

It didn't take too long to realize that turning left only on a track was going to tough, even after 15k I could start feeling the pain in my legs. The boredom wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I think doing it in the dark help keep it more interesting and just the fact that I already prepared and committed myself to the challenge was enough. There was a 4 foot wide ramp that they used to run power wires across the track that was about 6 inches raised, so I had to step up on this and down from it every lap. At first it was nothing, 2 steps across it and down, later that turned into 3 steps and more of a grunt to get up and down it. I for sure thought at the beginning that I would forget it was there at some time and trip over it, but I never did.

The night was very cool, the dew was super heavy and there was a think fog covering the back side of the track. I stopped for a couple potty breaks and time to refill my water bottle and grab a snack, besides that I was running round and round.

As the sun was coming up they had a 5k race a 5am, again it wasn't timed or official just some fun event to get folks motivated. My sister in-law spread the word that that guy running loops all night was doing 50k in memory of his Father in-law and as I came across the front of the track where the 5k runners started the race started with me. I was at about 40k at that time and having a few other runners around was nice to keep me going, there final kms where getting painful. But as the sun was getting brighter and I could count the number of laps I had left my pace started to increase again.

After 4:07 of running unknown number of laps in the dark I finished 50k and did a very emotional celebratory walk around the track with my wife and in-laws.

What an event if anyone has a chance to even visit one of these events for an hour to show a friend or family member support it can be very emotional.

Not sure if I'll race a 50k any time soon, I guess I spend 10-15mins in non-running time, so easily I could be under 4:00

Just thought I'd share my experience, Cancer Sucks.
Mississauga Marathon - 2:52
Around the Bay - 1:58
Click>> Race History
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"If I'm running, it will be a good run" - Robbie-T

"I just hope that people look at it and say, 'Hey if this yahoo can do it, then I can do it too.' That'd be cool if people thought that. It's just a matter of putting the miles in and working. It's not so much how much talent you have. I hope." - Brian Sell.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." - Pre

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Jwolf
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Jwolf » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:45 pm

That's an awesome feat and for a good cause too. Congratulations again!

Were you part of a team that ran the whole 12 hours? How's the knee now?
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Robbie-T
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Robbie-T » Tue Jun 21, 2011 10:59 pm

Jwolf wrote:That's an awesome feat and for a good cause too. Congratulations again!

Were you part of a team that ran the whole 12 hours? How's the knee now?


Thanks, no one else on my team ran, they all walked casually.
My knee feels good, I ran today and it with no issues.
Mississauga Marathon - 2:52
Around the Bay - 1:58
Click>> Race History
ItsMyRun.com

"If I'm running, it will be a good run" - Robbie-T

"I just hope that people look at it and say, 'Hey if this yahoo can do it, then I can do it too.' That'd be cool if people thought that. It's just a matter of putting the miles in and working. It's not so much how much talent you have. I hope." - Brian Sell.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." - Pre

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Doonst » Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:53 am

I've been waiting for this report, i was thinking about you! Well done buddy! Gold medal performance.
next up:


This broken wing will fly again
One fine day
This blackbird's mute gonna sing again
One fine day

So all you sinners come out
And all you drunkards crawl out
Come into the light of one fine day

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Jo-Jo » Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:59 am

Thanks for sharing this.
I thought of you when I got up early am to get C-Moss out for a walk.

Well done!!! :D
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Marg » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:25 am

Wow. :cry:
Having no parents, thanks to cancer, this really moved me to tears.
Thanks buddy.
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Tori » Wed Jun 22, 2011 7:36 am

That was a really special feat to undertake. Well done!

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Robinandamelia
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Robinandamelia » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:05 am

Awesome cause and awesome event, WTG!

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ian
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby ian » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:11 am

I figured it must have taken a really good cause to turn you into an "ultra-shuffler". Well done.

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Robbie-T
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Robbie-T » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:24 am

Marg wrote:Wow. :cry:
Having no parents, thanks to cancer, this really moved me to tears.
Thanks buddy.


You are very welcome, I shed a few too along the way. I had a few requests to do laps in memory of loved ones, there was a lot of time to think.
Mississauga Marathon - 2:52
Around the Bay - 1:58
Click>> Race History
ItsMyRun.com

"If I'm running, it will be a good run" - Robbie-T

"I just hope that people look at it and say, 'Hey if this yahoo can do it, then I can do it too.' That'd be cool if people thought that. It's just a matter of putting the miles in and working. It's not so much how much talent you have. I hope." - Brian Sell.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift." - Pre

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby AirForceRunner » Wed Jun 22, 2011 8:35 am

You're a class act my friend. You have a gift for running, and to use it in this way, and in such a big way, means a TON!!
My sister is near the end of a long but losing battle with Cancer, so what you gave of yourself has granted you hero-status in our family for a while.

Bravo Zulu, Rob!!
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Sulphur Springs 50 miler
Dirty Girls 12 hr night run
Haliburton 100 miler (gulp!)

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby purdy65 » Wed Jun 22, 2011 9:01 am

Wow Robbie, what an inspriational story!

Thanks for what you and your whole family did!

What a cool sounding event!

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Introducing 2017

GoodLife Half Marathon.
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby b_squared » Wed Jun 22, 2011 11:46 am

that's really amazing of you Robbie, and all the others who participated too.
Thanks for sharing this.

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Sandra
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Sandra » Wed Jun 22, 2011 12:04 pm

Very inspiring report. Brought tears to my eyes too as I lost my father to cancer over 3years ago.
and you're right - Cancer SUCKS!
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5km
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby 5km » Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:25 pm

Thank you for sharing.

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Mid_Packer » Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:09 pm

Thanks for coming to town to support the event. Its a major fund raiser and well supported by the community.
50k in laps is a long way, and like you said a lot of turning left, but sounds like you did very well.

Dave
'10 ATB 2:27, Boston 3:43, Missga 3:42, Sulphur Spring 25k, Niagara 50, ITT,Toad 50, Marine Corp M,
09 Chilly 1:43; ATB 2:37, Boston 3:50, Missuga Mara 3:49, Run for Toad 25k 2:22, Oakville half 1:51, Detroit 3:45
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby HCcD » Wed Jun 22, 2011 3:39 pm

Awesome story ... thanks for sharing ..
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richie-rich
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby richie-rich » Wed Jun 22, 2011 5:14 pm

you're a good man Rob

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Nicholas » Sun Jun 26, 2011 8:34 pm

Sometimes it's more about the journey than the finish line. That must have been one emotional night for you. Well done on seeing it through.
Nicholas

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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Miss*Smiles » Tue Jun 28, 2011 10:42 am

Wow. This gave me goosebumps. Thank you for sharing this, and way to go!
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby Strider » Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:33 pm

Hugs Bother. Well Done

50k at ITT this year ;)
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby FishHog » Tue Jun 28, 2011 1:47 pm

Just wanted to say "Thanks"
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Re: 50k @ Relay for Life in Chatham

Postby LeonKomposky » Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:25 pm

Thanks for sharing. And thank you for what you have done to help a lot of people.
"There are several good protections against temptations, but the surest is cowardice.
" - Mark Twain.

2011:
Jan 16 - Richmond Road Races 5 km - DNF
May 29 - National Capital Marathon – First One!
July 2 - Perth Kilt Run 5 Mile - done!
July 3 – Spartan Race 5 km - done & dirty!
September 18 - Army Run 5K/Half?
October 22 – 9runrun Half Marathon
And a 10K sometime


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