Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon

So, where do I start...I have had a couple of days now to let everything sink in and the more I think about it the more I still think that it SUCKS!!

Anyways, I got into Toronto on Friday evening. My mother and sister both traveled with me, while the older married couple that I run with often (and I talked into running this marathon) got in Friday, as well. We flew, while they drove...too far for me to sit in a car!! That evening we went to a little local Italian restaurant and I filled myself with pasta. Then it was back to the hotel to get a good nights sleep. Saturday morning we went to the expo to get our race bibs. The expo was set up at the finish with a couple of huge tents. This was the first time that I had been to an outdoor race expo. We got our bib and then proceeded to run the final 2.25 miles of the course.

Following my short run to loosen everything up, my mother, sister, and I made the short 25 minute drive down to Niagara Falls. It was our first time seeing the falls and I can say that they are extremely magnificent and beautiful. I am so glad that I took the time to go see them. We then ventured back to the hotel, where I ate a light dinner and settled down for the evening.

Now on to the important part...race day. Since the race is a point to point, we got dropped off at the start line about an hour and a half before the start of the race. I went through my pre-race routine and before I knew it, it was time to make my way to the starting line. I lined up on the front row knowing that I wanted to get a good clean start. The race director counted down, 3, 2, 1 and for a second, no one moved so I took off and everyone else seemed to follow. I actually led the race for the first 250 feet or so and then my friend that was running/pacing me yelled at me to slow down I settled in from there and let the true leaders take over. With temps in the lower 30s and hardly much for wind, the first couple of mile ticked off 6:56, 6:58, 6:56, 6:57. At about mile four, my friend that was pacing me said that his calf was acting up and he was not sure that he would be able to hold up much longer. He dropped in behind me and that was really the last time that I talked to him. I caught up to a couple of guys that were running around 6:58 and decided to sit in behind them and let them pace me. At about mile 9 I saw my mother and sister for the first time and I was thinking that today could be the day. Not too long after seeing them (mile 10), the downhill portion of the race began. For a little over three miles the course takes you down an expressway that they have closed off. The downhill is fairly significant and was a good place to save up some energy. The two guys that I had been pacing with took the hill faster than I wanted to, so I let them go and eased off a little. But I ended up catching back up with them by mile 15 just be fore we got to Lake Ontario. With a big portion of the race still left, I was once again using these two guys as my pace bunnies. We mad our way down the lake front path and completed the first and only real tricky part of the course. They had to put a loop in the lake front trail to get us to 26.2. The loop was about 3 miles long and I made it through the two loops at about the 21 mile mark. At this point I started to play the mental game. My mind was telling me that I was tired and my pace started to slow a little. By mile 23 I had to convince myself that I was going to do this and I pushed through the mental block. By mile 26 I knew that I was going to be close to the 3:05 mark. I started yelling at myself to get me going. Mile 26 hit and I was almost finished...as I made the turn to the shoot, I looked at my watch and saw it tick over 3:04 to 3:05. It was at that point that my heart sunk. All I know is that if there were any kids at the finish shoot, I hope that they had some earmuffs on, because I was cussing the rest of the way to the finish.

I crossed the line at 3:05:28...just 29 seconds short of a BQ My pride was hurt and disappointment ran over me. To be so close, yet not attain my goal was such a tough pill to swallow. Looking back now, though, I do know that I did not leave anything on the course. I gave it my all and on that day, the marathon won. I did get an 8:01 PR, so that is a positive that I can take from this.

I also made the Canadian News (see the videos below). You will be able to see that no one else started until I did

This one I am at the :13 mark.
http://www.chch.com/index.php/home/item/10274-road-2-hope-marathon-gets-a-boost

This one I am at the :33 mark.
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/video?bcpid=605122007001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAii5Rh_E~,CtyoY0YlBsZ47P9cPTKAjo-LMRVZQFs3&bctid=1947355650001

Well run, Nick! Love that you had to get the runners going. As I said before, you have nothing to be disappointed about - that was a major PR and you worked hard for it.

I can tell you are disappointed but this was a fantastic run. Since Boston is full anyway, you still have next spring to qualify and with this race under your belt and a fantastic time like this, I feel you will push through then. Congratulations on an excellent PR.

Good run Nick. I agree with John - rest up and give it another go in the spring. Congrats on a MAJOR PR.

Uhhh, I declare a false start. Kidding, of course! That was a solid effort and shows you are going to crack a BQ soon. Hang in there and you'll get that coveted prize. I feel for you, dang. Can't be too bummed about an 8 minute PR!

Nick, that is so close and I hear you're disappointed and I do understand but man you did great! You had a great PR which is nothing to minimize and you gave it your best. 3:05 is really really fast, too, and you did run a very good race. I hope you find a good race for next year and get your BQ then.

From that disappointment will come an understanding of what to do differently next time, I think. Sounds like it was a hell of a race.

And nice job jumping the gun in that video.

Mike MacLellan wrote:From that disappointment will come an understanding of what to do differently next time, I think. Sounds like it was a hell of a race.

And nice job jumping the gun in that video.

There was no gun and I was still a second off of the official start time

Looks like you wanted a sub 3 at the start, Nick, so why don't you just do that next time!