Around the Bay 30k

This race is the granddaddy of them all! No, it's not the Rose Bowl but it is the oldest road race in North America and was my first international race!

The weekend should actually start on Friday night when my friend Julie and I went to a CBJ game! Julie forced me to drink more than I should have (well...not really but I need to blame someone for my misfortunes on race day and it's certainly not MY fault...haha!). Keep in mind I didn't really drink a ton but when you don't typically drink, 4 or 5 beers has an impact! Real cool, Julie...haha

I got up early on Saturday and drove the 7 hours to Hamilton, ON! I hit the expo at The Copps Center about 2 hours before it was over. I was a little sluggish so I went for a short walk around downtown Hamilton before getting back to the hotel. Dinner was bland pasta and I was hoping I'd be ready for the run!

The race literally runs around a bay (hence the name, huh!!) and the first 15k is flat and pretty boring. I wasn't setting the world on fire with my pace but I was pretty consistent through at least the first 7 (according to my garmin). I slowed a little for the next 3-4 miles but was still at an ok place. Then the hills came! Those #$@#)*(@)!!! They started small but from 10-18 they were very rolling and increasingly steeper! The last one was 1k (about .6 miles) in length and at some point, I wasn't sure if I was going to get up it!! Finally I hit the finish line inside Copps Stadium. They made this finish to be a pretty big deal but it was just a little better than finishing inside the Fairgrounds Coliseum! Plus there was a guy who finished right in front of me playing airplane as he hit the line. I'm glad he had all that extra energy!!!

Thanks to the Hamilton YMCA for the use of the post race shower facilities! They allowed me free use and I greatly appreciate it! I was dreading the 7 hour ride home without showering!!

..another 30k out of the way! The hard training is over. St. Louis, Columbus and then Boston!!!

until next time!!