Race Recap - Colonel By Classic 8k

Saturday morning, I got up, slipped on my race gear and headed downstiars to feed myself and the kids. I also packed a picnic lunch for Mark to bring to the park while I was running. Like all first time races, I was anxious with anticipation of the unknown. I knew this race was incorporated with a tri/duathalon which was happening in the morning. The road races were to begin while the last of the tri/duatheletes were completing their races; much later in the day. I had been informed by some of my tri-friends that since this was the first tri of the season, it was usually very popular and expected to be quite crowded.

I arrived on site early, not sure what sort of parking traffic to expect. I did have friends racing in the morning, but sadly, she had begun and finished her race before I was even done breakfast!

When I arrived, I quickly headed to the results to see if I could find her and I found out she did AWESOME for her first tri-a-tri. I am super proud of her and looking forward to hearing all about the race and what her plans are for her next race. :) Way ta go Donna!

I realised relatively quickly that the road race was definately not the draw of this event. Out of the 900+ people entered for the day, only 201 road racers... 76 of those were running the 8k. Now THAT'S a small race!

The race was beautiful. The weather was hot, but not scorchingly so and Colonel By Road had surprisingly more shade than I had expected. I started off deliberatly slow so that I would not run myself into the ground like I did in Manotick a few weeks ago. I kept pace with a friend who I have never run with but who had shared with me her estimated finish time. I kept up with her for the first 3k but when I slowed for my second walk break (I was running 10:1), she got ahead of me and I got to watch her from further away. She is fantastic at keeping and sticking with a pace and I hope I get a chance to run with her again sometime (shout out to Kyla!).

My only 2 complaints about this race:

1) the run was a out and back, starting at Carleton, going up to Pretoria Bridge and then back. Instead of making the race start further down Colonel By to make up the distance, they had us running past the start line (and finishing shoot) for about 300 meters before having to turn around and run back to the start line again on the grassy side of the road and into the finishing shoot. This really messed with my head. When I am running a race, I like to see the finish line and be able to go to it... not have to run PAST it only to have to loop back to it another time!

2) As I said, the route was an out and back. It also shared the same route with the 3k racers (of which their were 49). The water station was placed at around the 1.75 k mark - right under the Bank street bridge. I understand having it there so the volunteers are in the shade, but not only did the 3k peeps not get a water station (when it had been promissed to be at their turn around point), but it is kinda a crappy place to have it for the 8k runners too. Not many people need a drink after running for 10 minutes... although most people want water before 5.5k. I understand that given the race route, it didn't make a lot of sence to have more than 1 water station out... and I wore my water belt because I was aware of this before running... it was just odd.

I ended up finishing the race in 1:03:02, which I am happy with. I stuck with my "average" pace of 7:53 and although I suspect, given how fresh I felt after the race, that I could have pushed myself more, I accept the fact that this is only the 5th time I have ever run that distance (or further) and that alone is an accomplishment to be proud of.

At the finish line, I had my mother, my husband, my kids and my firend Sarah cheering me on and I finished strong and sprinted through the finish line. I am excited to see my race pictures but while I wait, here is one of my son and I sprinting to the finish... yes, he joined me for the last 100m on this race too. :)