National Capital Race Weekend

Ahhh Monday morning and I can't get out of my chair without much pain and groaning... but the pain - so worth it!!

My official statement to the press is that I no longer hate road running!

I ran the Ottawa Marathon yesterday morning - my second ever marathon - and first one at home. My family was amazing - they all came out to support me - it meant the world to see them cheering along the race course and at the finish line. My mom and step dad stayed up late at night planning their 'race strategy' to zoom around on their bikes and see me go by as many times as they could! They were amazing - and gave me such a boost each time I saw them cheering away!

Dad, Jennifer and Kristina came to the finish - they waited in the pouring rain - and even stuck it out to find me in the crowd after I got through the finisher's corral! The past few years I have raced away from home - so amazing having family cheering me on!

So - the race... I was DREADING the race going into it - the last week my body has been achy, tired, lethargic and I was terrified it was going to fall apart after 10k. I also had a tiny secret - that my longest run of the season was the half marathon that I ran over a month ago. (YES - I know - stupid stupid stupid - as I am sure I am paying for it way more today because if it!)... but such was life...

The weather was marathon perfect - cool and overcast - but still warm enough that I was in shorts and a tank. I swear - I LOVE my sugoi tank tops - I own three of the same one - all different colors and that is all I run/bike in... at least the tan lines will be consistent!

The start was EARLY - 7am - I guess b/c last year's race was so hot... so I was up at a stupid hour trying to eat breakfast and then I headed over to the start for 6:30... nice that the start line was a 10 min walk from my house!

The first 10k of the race were super smooth - I didn't even really think about my pace until the 5k mark when I looked at my watch and realized I was running under 5min km's... which put me on a 3:30 marathon pace - this was insane to me as I was hoping to just scrape under 3:40... if I was lucky... but the pace felt great, so I kept it up...
Sadly my stomach was not loving the marathon - and it seemed like each time I had built about a minute of bonus time - I would dash into a portapotty and lose all my hard earned seconds... then I'd dash out - and hammer for 500m trying to make up some time... then I'd bank a minute - porta potty again... ahhh good times!

There were three big french guys that thought I was insane as I am sure I passed them four times in the last half of the race! grrr... stupid body.

But - regardless of pit stops - I stayed on a wicked pace - at the halfway point I felt pretty good and really didn't think about how much I had left to run... I just took it km by km... I didn't feel like eating and only took in one gel the whole race... as well - probably did not hydrate enough... Have to work on that for IMC.

The last 18k were LONG as a lot of it was on the canal - a route that I know all too well... but the last 10k were the worst. My quads had seized but my time was still good - I think I hit 30k at about 2:30 so I had an hour to run 12k to make 3:30 and tons of time if I wanted to make 3:40... I thought that as long as my legs and stomach held in there - I'd be fine...

My body was amazing - and totally sucked it up... the last 5k hurt so much - but the crowds along the canal were wicked - esp from pretoria on... Peter (my step dad) even ran along the canal path cheering me on for the last few km ... that was amazing... I knew I was going to be SO CLOSE to breaking 3:30 so I was trying to hammer the last 2k... according to the race clock - I was just over 3:30 BUT according to my timing chip and watch - I made it!!! 3:29 and change... (it took me a while to cross the start line after the gun went off).

I was so pumped to finish with such a shockingly amazing time!
After the race - I felt terrible so went home and passed out for a couple of hours... then woke up and played my first touch football game of the season. I joined a co-ed league with a few friends I know. It was so fun to be playing football again - although it was pretty painful runnign patterns last night. I did score a touchdown - which made yesterday even better!!

Today - you will recognize me by my hobble/limp... I am definately feeling the race... other than the quads... I am just really tired, dehydrated, achy and sore... but it is all very worth it!

Boston here I come - BOOYEAH!
ps: I will post pics as soon as I find some online!
pps: Thanks to everyone who was out there cheering us on - nothing is more energizing that amazing cheerleaders!

Early Bird Triathlon and May Long Weekend...

Transition area - so many sexy bikes... whew!

Eric Collard - amazing race director - now he gets to start his racing season!!

This weekend was wicked! It started off with the Sommersault Early Bird Triathlon on Saturday morning. The weather was perfect - bluebird day - but cool/warmish temps... it was a 500m swim/34.2kbike/5k run... there were seven different events going on at once with 700 participants so a HUGE KUDOS to the race organizer and volunteers... (there were duathlons, sprint tri, tri a tri, etc etc... and the Long Sprint which is what I did)

The swim was in the Carleton pool which was a little strange - but very fun. It was a staggered start - so we guessed our swim times and one swimmer went off every 15 sec... it was like swim practice on crack! :-)

I had a great swim and managed to pass three people in the pool which made me feel good about my swim.


I blasted out of the pool, tried not to run on the swim deck and ran outside where I threw on my trail runners I had stashed under a tree and ran the 500m to T-1 (it would have been brutal in bare feet!) The transition was quick - just putting on bike shoes and helmet and taking off. The bike was three loops on the Colonel By Driveway - super fast and fun - my fav part of the race for sure (oh, and LOVE THE BIKE!!)


I hammered on the bike though and the legs sure felt it on the run! I came off the bike - had a super quick transition and ran out for the 5k run.
Half of the run was on the grass along side of the parkway (as there were still bikers going by). This made it hard for me to settle in - but we were all in the same boat - so it didn't really matter. The run was brutal for me - I still managed a 21min (ish) 5k so that was good (for me) but it hurt a lot! Must do more brick workouts!!!




I finished with a smile as Eric announced Killerkailey crossing the finish line!:-)

in a time of 1hr 37min 57sec. I placed 14th overall and third female! Given - the field was small as many of the 'hardcore tri folk' were doing other races.. but I was still proud! A great way to start the season!

My family was amazing as Mom and Peter were there all race snapping photos and cheering away, Dad was at the bike turn around for my first two loops and Jenninfer and Kristina showed up to see me finish! (so fun racing close to home again!)

Dedicated early morning fan! :-) Mom - you rock!


That afternoon I went for a road ride out to Orleans to see Dad and Jennifer and then watched the SENS WIN their way to the finals!! WOOHOO!!!! Martha and Nicky had a wicked party at their place - to thank the Early bird tri volunteers and to welcome Nicky to the house. Sunday - was pretty 'tired' from the party the night before so was totally lazy all day - but went for a wicked 2 hour run on sunday late afternoon and then headed up to the Blacksheep Inn in Wakefield that night with some friends.

Monday - the most boring solo 120k road ride EVER!! But good mental training - and wicked that 20km from being home I could make a pit stop at dad's house for a bathroom break, to refill water bottles and grab some brownies from the fridge!

All in all - a wicked weekend - lots of workouts and lots of fun! (and new tanlines as a bonus!)

Post tri 'social' pic!


Next up: NCM Marathon this sunday - not looking forward to that as the IT bands are pretty unhappy these days.... the marathon is going to be treated as a long training run - not a race... really ... I swear! :-)

Next up....

Hi again, can you tell that I am in race mode now - maybe b/c I'm doing my first tri tomorrow - and am super excited to see how it goes... Ironman is looming - and I am terrifed... but in a good way!

This season is looking like it is going to be busy though - tomorrow the Sommersault Productions Early Bird Tri at Carleton (500m swim, 34ish km bike, 5km run) a great warm up to test out gear, work on transitions and test out the NEW BIKE!!! (which I am trying to take to Ian at Cyclelogik to get properly fitted - as there are some tweaks to be made!) I hear he is the master bike fitter - so I will keep you posted!

So - tri this weekend, marathon next weekend, weekend off (going paddling which will be a fun change of pace), then 'Rudy Lakes' (like rideau lakes but low key and longer), Rideau Lakes the next weekend (maybe), Qust for a Cure 48 hour adventure race on my birthday weekend, an ironman training camp, Peterborough Half Ironman Race, and then a weekend at the COTTAGE where I will do nothing. whew - when you look at it like that - I will be a busy girl! But think of all the money I'll save as I will have no time to shop or drink red wine (tiny vices of mine... tiny...)
BUT I promise to take pics, post pics and blog...

as well - I joined a touch football team - so that should be hysterical - one night a week of football and beer - I love it!

ok, almost time to go and play in the sunshine - Happy Long Weekend Everyone!
killerk

Lots of New Stuff....

The last month has been super busy, productive and fun!

First - I finally moved into my house - I'm renting a wicked house in Sandy Hill (out of the student ghetto and right beside a gorgeous huge brick school) -with a wicked roomate - Marie - Josee... The house is the top two floors of a three storey place - has a back deck, front sunny balcony, huge high ceilings, big bedrooms and lots of room for the bike and shoe collections! First - two girls in one house - do we ever have shoes - but amid all the fun sexy sandals that are coming out of the closet - there must be 10 pair of running shoes in my front hall, and at least three pair of bike shoes! My mom was worried about what MJ would think of my two bikes that were coming with me - and just laughed when I told her that MJ had three bikes and that I was buying another one!! So we have no couch at the moment - but do we ever have bikes! (we even have a set of rollers - so guests could get a workout in if they really want to!)

Second - the 'new bike' - got purchased!! That's right - I am the proud and deliriously happy owner of a tri bike - I went to Tommy and Lefebvre and they took unbelievable care of me there... Al (wicked bike manager who knows so much about bikes and bike fitting) put me on a Specialized Transition Bike. It is sexy, light, and fast as hell! I can fly on this bike - and love the aeros!!


And what girl can go anywhere and not buy shoes? Al also hooked me up with some amazing new bike shoes - the Specialized Trifuel women's shoe... it is so light, comfy and super quick to get in and out of!! LOVE THEM!


So these two small items, as well as a new helmet, a couple of bike computers and pedals have rendered me broke - BUT whenever I feel sad about having no money - I just take my new baby out for a spin!!

And just for fun - some random pics... first night in my new house - no roommate, no furniture, BUT a clean floor (thanks mom) and camp mat (thanks again mom!)

Nights out with the girls...

La familia - so fun to see the siblings again...

Easter Outfit at the cottage...

Hockey Game with Dad - yes I am the coolest daughter with the coolest presents EVER!!

Let the Racing Season Begin!!

Hi Everyone,

Here is the bright and cheery startline of the Run for the Reach Half Marathon on April 15th - what a way to start the season!!

This was the first race of my (turning out to be busy) race season! Run for the Reach Half Marathon on April 15th. It was a cold and fairly miserable rainy morning - the course was a double out and back along the canal in Ottawa and I had been out at the Ottawa Gala the night before. The Gala - wicked times - lots and lots of red wine was consumed - was out way too late dancing the night away and actually shed a tear when my alarm went off at 6ish am and I realized that I had to run a half marathon in a few short hours. I managed to get a couple of spoonfulls of Nutella into me and headed off to the start line... I was not a happy girl AT ALL!!! I think because I felt so terrible, I was seriously motivated to run fast - and fast I ran... My first 10k clocked in at 46:13 (probably my fastest official 10k actually) and my final time was 1:37:38 - so I managed to stay fast and strong in the second half. After the 10k turn around I realized I was third female overall - but also knew there were some fast women behind me. This motivated me to keep booking it - as I had no idea how far back the next female was and turning around while running required way too much coordination for my physical state! The last 5k were deadly - the last 50m I was on the verge of puking - but I managed to hold my own and finish first in my age group and third female overall! All this on a hangover! :-) sadly, the minute the adrenaline wore off I fell apart and spent the rest of the day passed out in my hallway in front of the bathroom door... real pretty! :-)

So next up - Carleton Early Bird tri and the NCM Marathon! I will actually post again SOON! Maybe even today with more fun stories!

Killerk.