Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race 2010

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Double Bellybuster
Bill Crothers
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Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race 2010

Postby Double Bellybuster » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:28 pm

This is my first race report after Jo-Jo left me with an encouraging request in section 122 post-race to post my tale. So here goes:

This was my second Around the Bay 30K. My first, in 2009, was my longest race to-date after I took up running a year earlier. It was a moderate success – I was so pleased to have completed a race of such distance that it is my avatar much of the time (see right.) But I did realize better training was needed as I walked part of the hill in the 21st K and much of the finishing stretch after the big hill in the 26th K. (Double Bellybuster doesn’t like unplanned walking)

2009 Splits - 51:52 / 53:16 (26:36/26:40) / 57:03 = 2:42:11.6

I had double the experience of two years running entering this one and have run two marathons since last years race so the distance was not an issue any longer, just the hills and sustained tempo. My gut was telling me 2:32:00 or 2:33:00 was a real challenging number for me to target – but the roundness of the number 2:30:00 and McMillan telling me 2:30:00 was doable with appropriate training (based on a flat course Half time) had this bean counter juggling numbers in his head. After consulting ATB experts on Running Mania, I knew I had to go out with only a marginal positive split – quick enough to make my goal realistic if it was my day but without blowing too much energy for the back in case I have overestimated my abilities.

So I had in the back of my mind – 4:52/K for the downhill 1st, 2nd, 9th and 10th Ks and 4:58/K for the rest of the flat 18K would leave me needing 5:05/K for the net uphill of the back 12K to get 2:30:00, a 5:00/K pace overall:

Stretch Target – 49:16 / 49:54 (24:50/25:04) / 50:50 = 2:30:00.0

I got to the start line and lined up between the 2:15:00 and 2:45:00 bunnies as the 2:30:00 was not around. I enjoyed the scene around me and realized this race is quite a tradition and spectacle – what a treat, save for the pain I was going to experience by midday.

The 2:30:00 bunny showed up a couple minutes before gun time but was on the opposite side and not reachable. So I took off and settled in and was immediately behind the stretch target pace I had within a few K, the bunny was also 100 metres ahead of me and likely gone for the day. I stayed on my 4:58 to 5:01/K pace that would have been ideal on a flat course and chatted with all the people who caught up to me just so they compliment me on the Charlie Brown bike jersey I had on. Thanks folks, you were a hoot.

Image

I made a up a few seconds 9-10K but lost this time without noticing in the 5K that followed (unless the relay handoff is really 15K and not the timing mats that follow.) Strange I lost that time because I did catch the pace bunny’s group around 12K without making a conscious effort to do so, he actually seemed to have slowed. A 2:32:00 or so finish might be in reach if I could slow down by only 2 minutes over the back 15K:

Stretch Target – 49:16 / 24:50 = 1:14:06 (2:30:00 stretch goal)
Chip Time - 49:26 / 25:32 = 1:14:58

The pace bunny started to really pick it up at the 15K timing mat, running the next 5K, including the uphill 19K-20K, about a minute faster than the flat previous 5K despite moving all over the place to get around walkers and slower and relay runners. I was just happy to have caught the bunny’s group – I figured Beach Boulevard is the only place a pack is really needed to break the wind. But I was hanging tough with this group that had a pacing strategy I could not figure out. Perhaps 2:31:00 was within reach, the first couple K of hills didn’t seem as bad as last year:

Stretch Target – 49:16 / 49:54 (24:50/25:04) = 1:39:10 (2:30:00 stretch goal)
Chip Time - 49:26 / 50:07 (25:32/24:35) = 1:39:33

Finally I caught up with the pace bunny himself at 21K as the group thinned from what may have been 100 or more at the start line to 5-10 of us and started chatting. As we chatted for the first time, I found out immediately he was in a rough spot due to injury recovery. As I thought to myself ‘that explained the odd pacing, he had been struggling to keep pace’, sure enough he handed off his ears to one of his followers - she may have been concerned about making 2:30:00 and picked it up to a point where I could not keep up even though I was knocking off 5:00-5:05 uphill kilometres. So back to cursing naughty words for amusement as I trotted the hills by myself.

The hills were much more manageable than last year - unlike last year, the only walking that took place was the planned middle third of the big one that I powerwalked as recommended by a dude I was running with after losing the bunny. This meant a 5:35 27th K that began with the big hill and I was not able to offset it with my time on the downhill 29th and 30th Ks. Those I could only get down to around 4:52-4:55 due to lack of juice in the tank, which suggests I paced myself as well as I could in this race as I was hitting empty right at the arena.

Image

Overall, I am pleased as I can be with both my improvement from last year and that I was quicker than aggressive target splits 16-20K and 21-30K:

2009 Splits - 51:52 / 53:16 (26:36/26:40) / 57:03 = 2:42:11.6
Stretch Target – 49:16 / 49:54 (24:50/25:04) / 50:50 = 2:30:00.0
2010 Splits - 49:26 / 50:07 (25:32/24:35) / 50:36 = 2:30:09.2

If I can get to only a 11 second positive split on this course front 15K to back 15K, I don’t think I need ever consider banking time in any race with a tough back half again, I just need pick the right overall pace and manage tough spots with increased exertion level. So a good lesson for the day too.

I was only in the stands for a few minutes but Jo-Jo introduced me to all the early finishers and spectators. I was groggy and it was loud so I won’t try to recount all the names accurately but Robbie-T and all members of the Iron family did look like they had been in for quite some time while I was still huffing and puffing away. It was nice to meet you all. Thanks for the warm welcome.

Next up is the Sudbury Rocks Marathon. Hoping for my first sub-3:40:00 result at that distance.

DB
Last edited by Double Bellybuster on Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:44 pm, edited 7 times in total.
I am fortunate to have Running Free as a sponsor. I like to keep silly stats and maps of my Daily Neighbourhood Tours, Races and Marathons run in a Silly Yellow Shirt.

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Robinandamelia
Jerome Drayton
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Robinandamelia » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:51 pm

Congratulations on your race! I did the Sudbury Rocks 1/2 last year...good luck on the full this year.

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ratherBrunning
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby ratherBrunning » Tue Mar 30, 2010 12:55 pm

Great improvement--congratulations, DB!! Lots of good planning and training... Good luck with your upcoming marathon! :D
Louise

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Ironboy
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Ironboy » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:00 pm

Excellent pacing.

The end of that race is a whole lot of suck. But you did it! Well done.

Great meeting you after the race.

Cheers.

blank
Bill Crothers
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby blank » Tue Mar 30, 2010 2:21 pm

A good solid race, well paced, congratulations!

Looking good for a sub 3:40 marathon, that's for sure.

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Jo-Jo
Kevin Sullivan
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Jo-Jo » Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:11 pm

Thanks for this great race report...I love the detail.
Sounds like you ran a really smart race...great result.

Yep...great cycling jersey.

Do you want to share the naughty words you use to amuse yourself...just in case I want to add to my vocabulary :lol: :lol: :wink:
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JSmitty
Bill Crothers
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby JSmitty » Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:46 pm

Great report and result DB.
Cheers,
Jill

Ongoing plan :To start running, continue with eating habits, positive outlook.
OTTAWA HALF 2014

Marg
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Marg » Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:56 pm

Wow, great job! congrats!
Chilly 1/2 - March 4
Montreal 1/2 - April 29
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Jogger Barbie
Bill Crothers
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Jogger Barbie » Fri Apr 02, 2010 5:00 pm

Very nice race and congratulations! As a fellow bean counter, I am amused/impressed by the detailed pre-race km calculations :) Loved seeing your Charlie Brown shirt out on the course and then it was great to meet you after.
Jacqueline
--------------
19 marathons (3:24:56), 9 30 km ATBs (2:21:33), 2 Midsummer 30 km (2:22:07), 15 half marathons (1:33:53), 5 10 Ks (44:17), 1 5K (22:59), 1 50 K (4:29:22)
2015: London :)
2016: Boston, followed by injury rehab and then ???

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Double Bellybuster
Bill Crothers
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Re: Debut Race Report - Double Bellybuster at the Bay Race

Postby Double Bellybuster » Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:23 pm

It took just shy of three years but I have added photos to the original post.

DB
I am fortunate to have Running Free as a sponsor. I like to keep silly stats and maps of my Daily Neighbourhood Tours, Races and Marathons run in a Silly Yellow Shirt.


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