Johnny Miles 10k Review

We all secretly have goals when we go into a race...an A, B, and C plan...or at least we should.  That was problem #1 today...I went in with only a Plan A...no B or C....I should know better!

Susan grabbed my kit last night so it saved me like an hour today...thanks girl!


Obviously an 'after race' shot as the medal is included

I met her just outside the race start and we drove in together this morning.  Thank god for Susan's sense of direction as I would have been totally lost without her.  We did the usual pre-race rituals like the washrooms, dynamic stretches, etc...and then it was time to line up.  The 10k and the 1/2 marathon started together and I have never been so tight and shoulder to shoulder with other racers as I was in that shoot today!

And then it was go time!!!  The rumor had it that the course was flat, and I was secretly hoping I could hit a 55 minute PB....a full minute less than my hilly Bluenose time.  As I started out, I immediately knew that the air was 'close' and that I wasn't able to get a good breath.  Susan and I had each looked at our pace calculator and I knew I needed 5.30/km to reach a 55 minute 10k....I kept looking at my garmin and I was at a constant 5.27-5.30 for the first 5k...and then the wheels fell off!!  At the 4k mark we hit trail and, it's not an excuse, but my push-off just isn't what it is on pavement....then we hit a couple slight inclines....and then I got a stitch.  Yes...this sounds like a bunch of excuses....and maybe it is....but it's what happened.


We ran over that bridge...and under it as well on the trail.

The course was beautiful....mostly trail along a river....I imagined doing training runs there as I tried to distract myself.  It didn't work.  I usually try to run past crowds of people...but I just didn't have it in me today so I walked.  I actually contemplated just throwing in the towel and saying 'screw it'.  But then I thought about it...and I have NEVER quit in a race...NEVER.  Even when my IT band hurt SOOOOOOO bad during my half that I was crying....I did not quit.  So today I decided to suck it up...and run for everyone who can't....for those just happy to be putting one foot in front of the other .  Was it pretty....no (and I'm sure my photos will show that)....but I crossed the finish line in 56.17 (only 11 seconds slower than my PB and 18/82 in my age category) and received a medal and a great post race meal.  I realize that I sound like a spoiled little brat who didn't get her way as I write this....but I didn't reach my goal today...and that sucks.  Will I give up?  No way....I want to hit 55 minutes....and I'll keep training until I do!!.

In terms of the actual event, I found it well organized, well mapped out, and with great crowd support.  It's one of the best finishing shoots (a slight down grade with tons of spectators) and has a great post race snack bag.  Like I said above, it has beautiful scenery once you hit the trail with only slight up/down hills.  The 1/2 and full marathon cover the same loop...just 2 or 4 times.  The trail was quite covered in terms of trees so the sun didn't beat down on us the entire time.

Now I turn my attention to 1/2 training.  I can't believe I am writing this yet again (as a true runner...I swore I'd never do another one after my first).  Which 1/2 am I doing?  I'm not 100% sure but have a couple in mind in the fall that I am considering.  We will see how my IT band holds up through training!

Time to toughen up the feet and get'er done!