Mods, I couldn't find any similar threads, so merge if necessary - Reviving the thread from the old site.
I mentioned on the old site that I spent this year getting in shape, and that I was shooting to run in the 5K part of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Well, things weren't going according to the plan. Back in mid-August in the midst of a training run, I came across two women (a mother and daughter) who had their car blocked by a tree that had fallen across the road. I helped push the tree out of the way, got them on their way again, and went back to my run. Unfortunately, just after starting again I had to stop due to a tremendous pain in my right ankle. From experience, I knew what it was - a slightly herniated disc in my back pressing on the sciatic nerve.
I kept trying for the next couple of weeks, but the pains kept coming - it alternated from my left knee to my right ankle, or sometimes both at once. I finally had to give up running completely at the end of August. I tried short runs every week or so in September and early October, but every time the pains came back almost immediately after I started to run.
On the Monday before the race, I thought - Okay, one more try before I pack it in. I managed to go 3 km at decent pace and had no pain, but I shut it down, worrying I would hurt myself again. I ventured another short 1.5 km run last Saturday, but I didn't feel very strong at all.
I seriously was considering not racing - I didn't want to make a fool of myself, or hurt myself. But finally I decided that this was my goal; this is what I got myself in shape for; that I lost 50 lbs for; that had me up at 6 am almost every day, in all kinds of weather, for the last 9 months for. So, I decided to wing it - the race was back on.
Race day (Sunday) - it was a cool morning, but I hardly noticed it, leading up to the noon start time. I had a good start position, near the front, but with so many runners entered, I still had to pick my way through a lot of bodies. Regardless, I got off to a great start and was feeling good through the first half of the race. Around the 3 km mark I started to feel a little fatigued, but pushed on. Then I saw the turn at Bay Street and I knew I had less than a km to go. It was a tad uphill, but I picked up the pace. There was a pretty good crowd too, but I hardly noticed them as I concentrated on my running.
Nearing the finish, I saw the big clock saying I was past 24 minutes, approaching 25, so I put the hammer down (I wanted that sub-25 time) and I crossed just under. I was exhausted, but happy - and the best part? I was pain free for the whole run.
I ended up with an official time of 24:55, and a chip time of 24:44. Good enough for 298th out of a field of 5,036 and 22nd out of 171 in my age group. Not bad, all things considered.
I mentioned on the old site that I spent this year getting in shape, and that I was shooting to run in the 5K part of the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.
Well, things weren't going according to the plan. Back in mid-August in the midst of a training run, I came across two women (a mother and daughter) who had their car blocked by a tree that had fallen across the road. I helped push the tree out of the way, got them on their way again, and went back to my run. Unfortunately, just after starting again I had to stop due to a tremendous pain in my right ankle. From experience, I knew what it was - a slightly herniated disc in my back pressing on the sciatic nerve.
I kept trying for the next couple of weeks, but the pains kept coming - it alternated from my left knee to my right ankle, or sometimes both at once. I finally had to give up running completely at the end of August. I tried short runs every week or so in September and early October, but every time the pains came back almost immediately after I started to run.
On the Monday before the race, I thought - Okay, one more try before I pack it in. I managed to go 3 km at decent pace and had no pain, but I shut it down, worrying I would hurt myself again. I ventured another short 1.5 km run last Saturday, but I didn't feel very strong at all.
I seriously was considering not racing - I didn't want to make a fool of myself, or hurt myself. But finally I decided that this was my goal; this is what I got myself in shape for; that I lost 50 lbs for; that had me up at 6 am almost every day, in all kinds of weather, for the last 9 months for. So, I decided to wing it - the race was back on.
Race day (Sunday) - it was a cool morning, but I hardly noticed it, leading up to the noon start time. I had a good start position, near the front, but with so many runners entered, I still had to pick my way through a lot of bodies. Regardless, I got off to a great start and was feeling good through the first half of the race. Around the 3 km mark I started to feel a little fatigued, but pushed on. Then I saw the turn at Bay Street and I knew I had less than a km to go. It was a tad uphill, but I picked up the pace. There was a pretty good crowd too, but I hardly noticed them as I concentrated on my running.
Nearing the finish, I saw the big clock saying I was past 24 minutes, approaching 25, so I put the hammer down (I wanted that sub-25 time) and I crossed just under. I was exhausted, but happy - and the best part? I was pain free for the whole run.
I ended up with an official time of 24:55, and a chip time of 24:44. Good enough for 298th out of a field of 5,036 and 22nd out of 171 in my age group. Not bad, all things considered.