Ottawa Marathon 2007
I'll write more later, probably tomorrow, but suffice to say I finished and although I didn't achieve my sub 2h40 (my time was 2h45) I am very pleased with this race.
The organizers changed the course from last year which made it enjoyable ( not running the same route) but I think I like the old course better as this one was definitely hillier. That said, unlike last year where it was hot, today was perfect, windy, but the temperature couldn't have been better (with a light drizzle during the last 5k).
Right from the gun, I found a good group of four to run with and we traded off, holding a pretty good pace line alternating leads every 1k to hide from the wind. I split the half around 1h19 and felt great. I made a bad tactical move around 25k (losing about 15") which took me until about 32k to recover from. The last 14 were tough, as I was definitely running on fumes (this is where I started to feel London) but I was very, very impressed with my mental game. I was in a fair amount of pain (right hamstring and calves) but kept calm and steady and finished with a smile on my face despite (according to Ally) wobbling the last 500 like a drunken sailor (I was in a bit of a bad state the last mile, losing feeling in my finger tips and in my face, everything was fine 5' after I stopped).
Okay, I'm going up to bed before going out this evening (great Irish pub). Thanks for all the good wishes, they meant a lot!
13 comments:
Michael,
A really solid time. You should be pleased. Get some rest and enjoy a well earned dinner......
Well done Michael, I'm impressed. It sounds like the end was quite painful, and I'm guessing the experience was quite worth it. Get some rest and enjoy the beer, then take some time to recover!
good on ya lordy! i am looking forward to some runs when you get back to the left coast.
Hey Mike,
Goog work man! You are solid now even when you are tired (I'd love to run 2:45 on fresh legs!).
Looking forward to catching up in person.
How did Ally's race go?
Mike R
Nice race, especially so close to your London. You've put in some good work this Spring and them legs sure deserve a rest--also your mental state as now you can really focus life changing events-good luck and congrats on another marathon.
well done Michael
Hicham
Bloody Hell, outstanding performance. I didn't think you would be able to run that fast so soon after London. Enjoy the Guinness!
Congratulations to you and everybody else who ran in Ottawa. I was watching at the 37km mark, and you all impressed the hell out of me.
Michael,
Impressive run...I look forward on reading your race report.
Michael - Very well done, especially so soon after London! Enjoy the pints, the recovery, and then its on to a sub 2:40.
Gutsy race, Michael. You've really emtied the tank over the past couple of months. Time for a solid recovery and some rebuilding.
And a Guinness or three! Cheers.
Sorry, that should be emptied, and that was me, not Cindy, although she sends her congratulations as well!
Very good! I'm glad you had such good weather and toughed out a great race. Interested in what the tactical error was all about. Enjoy the well deserved rest & beer!
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