Running Mania

Despite my best efforts to miss workouts and eat and drink too much, I've gotten fitter and quicker since I ran my 8K PB of 44:13 in 2008. So I took myself to Burlington, Ontario for the Robbie Burns 8K…once I was able to untangle my shoes from the Running Mania Mascot:


I was aiming for sub-36 minutes today, or sub-4:30/K. Unfortunately I made one error today in preparation. I did not Know the Course. I'm getting pretty decent at pacing my effort in shorter races so that I am out-of-gas at the finish line without leaving any time on the course. But I did not check out the elevation profile of the today's course in advance and wholeheartedly believed a race volunteer mid-6th K when he told runners 'It's all downhill from here'...despite being on Lakeshore Drive at the time.

After hearing that, I pushed harder than otherwise would have on the mildly downhill 6th K and flat 7th K before turning northbound in horror to see the uphill 8th K. I was not expecting that and had little left in the tank. I struggled with bad cramps throughout the closing kilometer (too late in race to slow down until it passed) but did hit my goal time.

Splits:
4:29
4:26
4:22
4:23
4:21
4:23
4:24
4:49
0:11 for 54m

35:47
4:28/K

Here I am after my 8K PB in 2008:


And today’s fashion statement - here I am with my team colours and a bowl of oatmeal after the race:

Wooo hooo! Good job!!!

You got 4:28/km. Awesome. Well done!

Great start to your 2012 Race Goals ...

Going for Silver @ ATB this year, perhaps ???

Impressive run. Well done.

Great race and results! Congratulations.

7 min miles? Wow!

I saw you at the race in the cafeteria. My son and I saw your shirt and thought it was great. Where on earth did you get it?

Congratulations on your PB. Excellent!

Well done...congratulations!

Thanks all!

5km wrote:I saw you at the race in the cafeteria. My son and I saw your shirt and thought it was great. Where on earth did you get it?

I saw one on display at Sporting Life - it was tiny and they weren't sure if it was for sale. So I looked on eBay when I got home and the rest is history.

Sorry I did not say hello!

Double Bellybuster wrote:Thanks all!

5km wrote:I saw you at the race in the cafeteria. My son and I saw your shirt and thought it was great. Where on earth did you get it?

I saw one on display at Sporting Life - it was tiny and they weren't sure if it was for sale. So I looked on eBay when I got home and the rest is history.

Sorry I did not say hello!

No worries - I didn't know you were a Maniac either.

HCcD wrote:Great start to your 2012 Race Goals ...

Going for Silver @ ATB this year, perhaps ???

Thanks! I am having an Andy January with three races under my belt already.

No Silver at ATB, I haven't broken 2:30:00 there before though this will be the year I am hoping. 2:15:00 is a lifetime goal...or perhaps beyond that.

Awesome start to the New Year. Great PB DB, and now you know the course, sometimes it is better not to..

Way to go DBB!!

Where's the pic of you, you're way too skinny legs and the fancy under-britches you got as swag?

What an impressive start to 2012 DBB!!

I must also say... I love the SPAM Jersey. At ORW last year, I followed a huband/wife team: he was wearing New York Fries and she was wearing SPAM. I had constant chuckles!

abirdd wrote:I must also say... I love the SPAM Jersey.

More pics from this one, normally there is not a lot captured by the race photographer that does not appear to have caught me in a moment of extreme pain...

"Moments of extreme pain."

They don't capture me like that?

Happiest runner ever!