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Sunday September 05 2010
 

Ottawa Marathon Race Report 2010

Printer friendly version Posted on: Monday June 07 01:23:30 PM

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Mad Bunny


The weekend wasn't really about racing. It was about fun, and sharing some laughs with our friends in the running community. We rented a cool ranch house in Quebec, about 30 minutes drive from downtown Ottawa. Like last year, we had the luxury of cooking our own meals and saving a bundle on food and booze costs. Like last year, we spent a lot of time in the car. It is worth it though.


Laugh it up
This year we ended up with 15 people staying together which is the best part of renting houses / cottages / chalets etc.



before the big race
Saturday AM was spent in Ottawa mostly. First we had the Running Room friendship run where we donned our Bunny Attire and met up with some of the people we would be pacing the next day. After the 3k run, a few of us were interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. Here is what we had to say....

- Article Link -

Cam and me, pre-race
Saturday afternoon evening is when the 5 and 10 km races took place. At 5pm, Cameron and I took on the 5k, in 27 degree heat, and a crazy crowded course with 8,800 people! The route is pretty nice, going along the canal on one side and back down the canal finish, same as what the marathon does. Unfortunately though, we are in plain sunlight the whole way through. We'd love to get a nice cool cloudy day for this next year!
Cam 5k master
After having to shuffle the first 50 metres of this race, then dash around the walkers and plodders, which is fine, just please, please please, not at the front of a 8800 person race, Cam managed to run 21:34, just 4 seconds shy of his personal best which considering the conditions was awesome result. This got him 4/124 in the boys - 9-10 category. He's 10 again next year and hoped to return for the number one spot again. I lagged behind him a bit with a 22:45 to save some energy for the next day's marathon.

 


Needy, shining through


At 6:30, the 10k race set off and Anita toed the line again for the first time since the Beaches Spring Sprint. Still fighting nagging injuries and perpetual soreness from her Personal Trainer (no, not me) she ran a comfy 1:06 and finished all smiles once again. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction and we will see her on the starting line of the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon.


Barfy Rob the master of hole-foot running
Saturday night was spent relaxing and we took it easy as the morning wake up call was for 4:30 am! Our pal Duff, not feeling well, passed the 4:15 bunny torch over to friends Ron and Anne who teamed up to carry out the task. Rob did this, on hardly any training, running only 10k in the last month after foot surgery. This was also after a little...er, a lot too much to drink Friday night....Rob surely wins the HTFU award for this year!


3 marathons - 15 days
Oh ya, The race report? I was the 4hr bunny and got the job done. 3:59:38. Of all my pace bunny efforts, this was my furthest time from the exact pace time but I couldn't help it, I had Boston Qualifiers running in with  and I wanted to keep up with them as they sprinted ahead.he, 22 seconds is not too bad.The race itself was fun. I always enjoy being the pace bunny. With it being the 3rd marathon in 15 days, I was a bit tired which made the 4hr pace a challenge but very gratifying all the same and I had my largest group yet. Several finished a few seconds ahead of me, several a few seconds behind, and  a bunch more just off the 4hr pace but happy to have gotten personal best times. I really enjoyed this race, the new route and the post race meet-up in the park and the local pub. It's hard not to want to do this race again next year which is why we are doing the Canadian Looney Challenge. What's this? Stay tuned, but it does involve running multiple races next year with the gold medal and highest points going to those that run the 5k, 10k and marathon. You in?


Happy Anniversary
Sunday night topped off the weekend with a fantastic BBQ and several glasses of wine, or beer. We also celebrated our 18th anniversary and it was lovely to spend it with good friends ... and many many laughs, echoing well into the night....long after I went to bed. What troopers.

We capped the weekend off with a breakfast just as good, minus the spirits and said goodbye to the ranch, it's private lake, 2 dogs, 6 horses, cat and lush, pollen dusted surroundings and wished we could stay another day.

Beer me Nat
Well, we'll see you next year. I wonder if the dogs which were not to be seen Monday morning, ever returned? Bob, where are they?


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 COMMENT 
 Posted by Dave on: Monday June 07 01:23:30 PM

Comments:

comment bubble Julie
 

By far the most entertaining of your race reports. Keep up the excellent work!



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Posted on: Monday June 07 05:50 PM
comment bubble Julie
 

And oh yes....Love the pictures!!
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Posted on: Monday June 07 05:51 PM
comment bubble Sari
 


Great report! Sounds like a fun weekend was had by all. The Looney Challenge

looks interesting, as much as I said I'd never run Ottawa due to fear

of possible heat, hmm, that rule might be broken. Prizes???

Happy Aniversary btw!


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Posted on: Monday June 07 06:20 PM