Garmin Forerunner 310XT

The ultimate Garmin for triathletes! I went to the store looking for the Forerunner 305, figuring that was all I need, but gosh darn it, Running Room sold me the 310XT. Not that I'm complaining. So far, I love it. I went for a quick run today despite feeling really crappy (sore throat, runny nose, the whole head cold thing).

So I love the Garmin. I always wondered why people would need one, but the information that you get from it is invaluable. I know when the weather gets nice and I start getting more into running, it is going to really pay off (I hope so...it's freakin' expensive!!). Plus, I can also measure my cycling cadence and power output which is really what I want because I love to bike.

Here is the information that I can get from my new toy:
Garmin Connect -
Activity Details for
short run

down time / R & R

It's weird not doing any serious training, or planning and taking part in races. I just want to keep going strong, but I know my history of over training, and I don't want to burn out in January. I still do a little bit of training to keep myself active (swim a couple of times a week, some indoor cycling, a light run and some weights), but nothing serious. It's nice to just relax and think about the past season, and make plans for the upcoming season. I'm excited about Muskoka 70.3 which I have signed up for, the 3 1/2 marathons I plan to do, trying Olympic distance races, and revisiting all the races I did last year to see how much I can improve from last year. My current (unofficial) schedule for next year is as such:

MAY 16 - MISSISSAUGA 1/2 MARATHON

JUNE 6 - MILTON GIVE-IT-A-TRY (as a warm up for the season)

JUNE 20 - GUELPH OLYMPIC DISTANCE

JULY 4 - HURONIA SPRINT

JULY 17 - GRAVENHURST OLYMPIC DISTANCE

JULY 25 - MUSKOKA LONG COURSE

AUG 8 - BARRIE SPRINT

AUG 22 - ORILLIA SPRINT

SEPT 4 - GUELPH II SPRINT

SEPT 12 - MUSKOKA 70.3

SEPT 26 - WATERFRONT 1/2 MARATHON

OCT 17 - TORONTO 1/2 MARATHON

yup, probably biting off more than I can chew. My goal is to go hard these next few years leading up to my first Ironman, and then after that, just settle in to a routine of races and a 70.3 and Ironman once or every other year.

Toronto 1/2 Marathon

Yesterday at a cold, but sunny Toronto venue, I ran the Toronto 1/2 marathon to end my 2009. The race went really well. I got there early enough to actually warm up and put myself around people that would be running the same pace that I would be, so that I did not have to dance around people that are significantly slower than me. I was aiming for 1:45 and put myself right next to the pace bunny.

When the race started, it was COLD! But, after about 3 km, I forgot about the cold as I got to ran in the sun. My pace was strong, my hydration was good, and the tunes were pumping. I was ready to finish this race strong...much different than my collapse at the end of the Waterfront 1/2 marathon.

Again, I held pace. 5:00 on the dot for the first 16 km. I didn't stop to walk, even though my legs were hurting at this point. I knew if I stopped that I would repeat the breakdown from the Waterfront. I lost :10 in the 17th km, another :30 in the 18th km, and then finished at about 6:00 splits for the last 3km. I wish I could have finished stronger, but I am very pleased that I was able to run the entire route continously, and that I did not have the mental collapse I did earlier. The music really helped, although at the end it was more 'where is the damn finish line!' rather than focussing on the music to set my tempo.

All in all, I finished with a time of 1:49:27, an 8 minute improvement from the Waterfront 1/2, and a happy ending to my first season of racing. Funny, I hadn't even ran the last event and I have already registered for my first event next year: the Mississauga 1/2 marathon! AND, I just got an e-mail from Subaru Muskoka 70.3 for early bird registration of that race! I'm feeling as though I could do it, but the swimming really scares me. I'll have to do some serious work this winter to get that swimming up to par if I'm going to be successful there.

Thanks for reading this season. There probably won't be many entries this winter, but I'll try to keep you up to date with my off season training, products I've bought/thinking of buying, and the races I'm registering in next year!

Toronto 1/2 Marathon

So I was having so much fun last summer doing triathlons and accomplishing feats I would have never dreamed possible, so I decided to sign up for the two Toronto 1/2 marathons (waterfront and Toronto). Tomorrow is the bitter sweet end to my first racing season, as I set out to run the Toronto 1/2 Marathon. I should do well, I feel I am more prepared mentally. Unfortunately the weather has been so horrible, and I'm a bit of a wimp, so I haven't been running all that much. I am hoping that my summer of racing and training will allow me to accomplish more personal bests. My Waterfront time was 1:57:15, and even though it is a difficult course, I am really hoping to crack the 1:50 marker, and get close to 1:45, as I feel I can average 5:00 splits. I did that for about 15km at Waterfront 1/2, so hopefully I can do it for the Toronto race.

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon 2009

Well, I went into this race with it being my first ever running race, fighting a cold, a low, but seemingly attainable, goal time (1:45), and a confidence that I could do this race, and then easily upgrade to a full marathon.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

So far, this race had to be the toughest thing I have ever endured. Which is weird because if you had talked to me or seen me for the first 16.5 km, you wouldn't have noticed, nor would I have felt that. However, at roughly the 16.5 marker (the aid station) I bonked hard!

I stopped to take in some water and immediately felt as though I was going to pass out due to dizziness. I drank a couple of glasses of water, thought that that would help me continue for the rest of the race, and began running again. My legs were sluggish, my brain fizzed out, and I was felt stranded physically and mentally for the last 4.5km. In what I thought would be a strong finish and a good showing for my first ever 1/2 marathon became a nightmare!

It started in the car actually. I left later than I had initally intended thinking I could easily get into the city to park...HUGE mistake! This left me having to pee in the parking lot and speed walk to Nathan Phillip Square from King/Spadina. I got to the course with 10minutes to spare (no warm up) and was at the back of my corral, which put me 11 minutes behind the horn and stuck behind the slow runners/walkers for the race. It took me 14 minutes to get through the congestion of the crowd and then I found some open sidewalk to try and make up time. I didn't gain the 4 minutes back (I was hoping to average 5minute splits), but I didn't lose anytime either until I bonked. I held a good 5:20 average from the 2km marker until the 16km marker. I should be happy with that as that was the longest I have ever ran in one continuous run (did not opt for the 10:00 run/1:00 walk format), but the carnage that played out on my legs and in my brain for the last bit were more of a discouragement.

I won't go into great detail about what happened mentally, but let's just say that I was pretty sad/upset with myself for the last few kilometers. Physically, my legs were holding up, but becoming very heavy and beginning to tighten up really bad. I had no more motivation, the sounds of the race seemed to go away, the crowds were gone, even the runners seemed to thin out. I felt completely and utterly alone, which scared me. It wasn't until the 500m to go marker came into view that I thought I could actually finish this race. The on going joke before the race was that a half dead me would be crossing the line right behind the full marathon winner would finish with ease. Funny thing is...that is EXACTLY what happened! I look over, everyone is going nuts, and with 50m to go, zoom! the winner flies by me finishing in record time!

I finished with 1:57:15, which is good because that means I finished. After the slow start, I was gearing for a 1:50 finish time, but that didn't hold up (but it did look like it was going to for quite a while so I am still happy with that!). My I.T. bands are still exacting their revenge for being put through that hell. I thought I had done something to my L.C.L. the pain was so bad after the race. I tried to get groceries that afternoon and was biting my lower lip to keep from screaming in pain with every step. Today the sharp stabbing pain in my knee is gone, but the dull stiff pain in the side of my legs are still there. Hopefully they'll be better by Wednesday so that I can get out running again. I have to achieve my 1:45 - 1:50 goal for the Toronto Marathon in 3 weeks!

First Running Race

This weekend I embarking on my first running race, the Scotiabank Waterfront 1/2 Marathon. It should be good, but I haven't been able to run this week because of a bad cold that I haven't been able to get rid of for 2 weeks now. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm more worried about the pre--race stuff: parking, what to do with my bag, finding the pacer, getting a good warm up in, all that stuff. Once the race starts, I'll be fine. If this race goes well, I might move up to the full marathon for the Toronto Marathon (currently registered in the 1/2 marathon).

Wish me luck!

Wasaga Sprint Triathlon

How does the saying go? Save the best for last? Well, that's what I did! Putting down some of my best times of the year, I had my best finish of the year in my last race of the year. I place 39/311 and 7/30 in my age group. It was bittersweet though, as I felt that I could have ran a little harder, and not messed up in T2 (went down the wrong row), which could have given me the 2 minutes I needed to get on the podium. Oh well. For a rookie, I'm plenty happy.

The Swim: At an average of 2:10 per 100m, I was happy to be out of the water. My time was 127 overall, putting me behind the 8 ball eary (as usual). It was a very rough swim, as since it is Wasaga, it is extremely shallow and difficult to swim. I tried diving, running, swimming, but I could not get comfortable until the deeper water. Then, I had difficulty getting into a strong stroke/breating rhythm. Add the rough waters, and it was difficult going out to the first buoy. The swim across was smooth, and the swim to shore was great. To save my legs, as the water got really shallow about 200m from shore, I relaxed my legs and grabbed the ground and pulled myself. I felt this was most effective as I was not as tired as others exiting the water because I wasn't running in thigh deep water.

The Bike: Great! That's about it. I passed about 60 or so people. I finished with the 16th fastest time, and if I can improve my swimming over the winter, I will be able to compete for a podium in a lot of races next year. The road was smooth, gradual inclines and declines, and well shaded. The opening was flat, so you could flush your legs out after the swim. I was blocked on a descent which really upset me, as the rider in front of me had 2 opportunities to move left (which I clearly communicated to him well in advance). What bothered me most was that this allowed other racers to catch up and complain that I was blocking (which I politely yelled that I wasn't, and when the blocker moved over I showed that I wasn't by speeding up to 55km/h and finishing the ride above 40km/h avg).

The Run: Although the bike was great, it left my feet completely numb. All my right toes had no feeling in them, and the last 3 toes felt as though they were being roughly cut by a handsaw with each step. I began at a 5:00/km pace, but knew I could go faster. Around the 3km - 4km mark I sped up as the blood started flowing to my toes, passing 3 runners in front of me. In the last km, I passed a person in my age group while running up a hill, and finished the straight-away at a strong pace, ensuring a strong finish.

Overall: I liked this race. I had heard a lot of negative things about Wasaga from past years, but it was a really nice course (obviously the good result helps me like it!), and the weather was great (which helps).I'd like to return next year to try and get a podium, but I also want to do Muskoka 70.3 next year, and if they are on the same weekend again, I'll opt for Muskoka.

So that's it for triathlons, now time for Marathon season. I've never done a running race before, and I have my first 1/2 marathon in 2 weeks: the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Should be good. I can't see it being anymore physically straining than the triathlons in Bala, Orillia, or Guelph, so I should be able to complete the whole 1/2 marathon without a break. My goal time is 1:45 to 1:50. I'd like to avg 5:00/km, but that may seem unreasonable. I'll let you know!