At the end of 2012 I decided to make my 2013 running goal 'Run 13 races'. What a pain in the ass that turned out to be! At times I felt like I was scrounging for races but looking back on it now, I'm happy for every single one that I ran. Here's a quick look back, mostly in pictures because as they say, a picture says 1000 words.
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What the hell? Didn't I have eyes when I woke up that day? |
Major lesson learned at this race: NACHOS AND BEER ARE NOT APPROPRIATE THE NIGHT BEFORE A RACE. Between a bad cold and a bad belly from too much cheese and peppers on the nachos the night before I'm actually surprised that the Grimm Reaper didn't come for me during this race. At least we beat the train though!
Mercedes Oakville 10K 54:08
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| Guess which guy is the Grimm Reaper |
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| "I'm never eating Nachos again!" |
I ran this on my 42nd birthday with my son Kyle. I let him pick the race and he chose this one simply for the medal. Takes after his mama. I had a great time running with him for the first 9K but then he out kicked me with his non running legs once again. Kyle had never run this distance before nor did he train. He did learn a valuable lesson about chafing mind you.
Mississauga Marathon 4:10:24 PB
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| My baby |
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| Our family motto "Never let an elderly person beat you at the finish line!" |
This race will always be close to my heart because it was my very first marathon. Having Patty yell at me for whining around 33K still haunts me to this day. Nothing could have prepared me for the mental game of the marathon. That truly sucked. But not as much as trying to get off of the shuttle bus after the race.
Sulphur Springs 25K Trail Race 3:22:49
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| Daily Mile meet up! |
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| Shit is that a photographer?! Quick, look like this is fun! |
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| Am I supposed to have feeling in my legs right now?! |
Funnest day ever!! I had a smile on my face from start to finish of this run even through the suck ass hills!!
Moon in June 5K 23:31 PB
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| There's the smile that was there all day! |
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| Weeeee going up this monster hill is so much fun! |
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| More friends |
Puking behind the porta potties is classy right? Second place AG award. A crappy backpack filled with stuff that I already had.
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| What's a race without a meet up? |
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| AG awards. How come I placed higher but they got the better prizes?! |
Ran this on tired legs with Patty on her birthday. It took me about as long to get home as it did to run this ghetto race.
Canada Day 5K 23:49
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| What do you mean all the Gatorade was stolen?! |
Another second place AG award. This time a dinner for two that expired before we could use it. Oh well, the medal was nice.
Midsummer Night's Run 15K 1:19:39
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| Happy Canada Day! |
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| AG winners. I need to hang out with Nicole more. Look how tall I am! |
I am my own worst enemy. I am not a night runner. Yet another race that took me longer to get home from than it did to run. I'll more than likely go back next year though just because I like their swag and I don't learn my lessons well.
Oakville Half Marathon 1:47:17
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| My favourite race picture ever thanks to the man in the tank! |
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| I just wanna go hooooommmme! |
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| I've never noticed that the print on Emmas tank looks like my hoodie! |
A new PB for a race run with Richard. I never had a doubt in my mind during this run that I wouldn't make my sub 1:50 time goal. Lesson learned, running friends rock!
Run For the Toad - 50K relay
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| Fun morning with Richard |
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| I DID IT!!! |
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| Running friends rock! |
For some reason I never did a recap of this. Another super fun trail race! I ran this alongside Mari as the lead runners of our teams and then left it up to my team mates to make sure that we beat Mari's team at the finish. #teamplayer
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon 1:46:16 PB
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| Poor Phil had literally just finished the race and we made him take a picture |
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| Sorry dude. You totally posed for this picture that I've just ruined. BTW are you noticing the people at the bottom of the hill here?!?! |
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| Gee Sam, try to have a little more fun next time! Plus I look like an apparition. Need to find a way to tan without getting wrinkles. Or skin cancer. |
Was paced to this new PB by the super fantastic Kenny! I ran out of steam at the very end but still proud of my effort.
Road 2 Hope Half Marathon 1:48:27
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| Two months later and I still laugh everytime I see this picture |
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| That guy looks almost as gassed as I feel |
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| Rock star pacer! |
I knew this day wasn't going to end the way I had hoped by the midway point but happy to have been able to finish off my racing season running with Nicole.
So that's a quick wrap up of my year. I plan on running a lot of the same races in 2014 but I will not be doing 14 in 2014!!
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| Thank God for indoor waiting areas! |
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| Post race smiles with four outta five PBs. |
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| No PB for me but I got the best finishing picture! |
Great review and a lot of races, Sam! Nice photo of you and Kyle, it must be a great experience to race together with your son. Out of all of these, I only attended the Midsummer Nights 30K and your picture at the ferry reminded me of me standing at that same fence, only throwing up over it into the lake while people were completely surrounding me like in a herring can... Good times... Wishing you a fantastic racing season next year too!
ReplyDeleteLove the recap, Facebook just did the same thing and I was surprised at some of the things I'd forgotten about. Great idea
ReplyDeleteGreat year!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great year of racing you had...lots of adventures and some fantastic times! Can't wait to see what you do in 2014!! Love that Scotiabank finishing photo...shows your true grit!
ReplyDeleteGREAT year! And I'm not just saying that because I did most of the same races! Looking forward to an amazing 2014.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a great year of racing!!
ReplyDeleteHow do I ALWAYS miss the Dailymile meetup photos....
ReplyDeleteGreat review, sounds like you had a pretty kickass year
ReplyDelete