Niagara Falls Marathon - Canada Runs for Japan ... No Go

I was so excited to do this run at Niagara Falls this weekend. It's the only one in the world that you start your run in one country and end it in another (States side!). Unfortunately, the cold that I caught from last weekend's run persisted, and I had to cancel this one. But while I didn't end up going, my team (Canada Runs for Japan) went. I hope they all got through it well!

I am hoping by mid this week I'll be well enough to start running again.

The weather from what I can tell is terrible - rain for tomorrow, rain for tuesday, and rain for wednesday. I might have to consider the treadmill. I don't look forward to it. Once you get used to running outdoors, running indoors becomes excessively... boring. The air isn't as nice either (smell of sweat!). On the brighter note, I can get back to watching my foodnetwork stuff. I'm just not too sure what to do with my long runs for the weekends.

My training schedule tells me I should be doing 28km... but doing that on a treadmill? That will be brutal. A friend suggested maybe switching to the Athletic Centre at U of T (Alumni, maybe a better deal?). They have track there. And then of course there is always Hart House (also a track). But then.. that would lock me into one location. I like that Goodlife gives me options.. not that I always use it, but it has perks (last weekend post-run shower!).

Alternatively, I can always consider running outdoors. Until at least till it starts snowing. I have about a month! And some. I can't believe October is ending soon. Hallowe'en is just around the corner.

Speaking of which, with $3650 to raise still for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (Goofy Race 2012!), I will be selling "Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes", with a hallowe'en theme to them. Get 12 mini red velvet cupcakes for only $10! 100% of proceeds go to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada.

Special thanks go to the amazing sponsors so far to date: Jeffrey Lam, Kaibar, Lucy Wong, Liana Li, Anna Do, Stephen Lavoie, Richard Tanha, Joyce Quan, Vina Ly, Lynette Le, Cousins, Michelle Wong, Mildred Avendano, and Susan Jong!

Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon - Heart & Stroke Foundation

On Sunday, October 16th, 2011, I completed my 3rd full marathon!! Hurray! This year, over 22,000 runners from all around the world were participating in the marathon/half-marathon/5k event :)

The night before (Saturday) I was battling the onset of a cold (and possibly fever). I had woken up Saturday morning very achey, and tingly, warm, throat kind of scratchy. This was not from taking the flu-shot. I was under council by my boss and a colleague on Friday that it would be a bad idea. And my doctor agreed when I asked him. Yay, no sore arm. Usually when I get my flu-shot I have a 50/50

chance of either getting really sick the next day or completely fine. Did I want to risk it, when my run was 2 days away? Not really. Not with all the training so far.

Yet somehow, I still get sick. So on Sat evening, with my friend Mad on our way to eat my pasta dinner (fuel, I need fuel!),

I picked up a bottle of Extra Strength Cold Fx. I popped a pill right after buying it (and one before I went to bed).

Race day. Awake at 5:30am, I freshened up, filled my water bottles and packed them away. I debated on whether to take Cold Fx again, but decided that I would ride it out. Never know what pills can do when you're doing a long endurance run. And I was feeling a little better, although not 100%. Maybe at 65%. Better than nothing :)

Double checked that I had my clif blok jellies in my water belt. Made sure I had some salty chips/peanuts in case of cramps (around the 30km mark!). Packed my extra change of clothes, deodorant, body glide, towel for the showers at goodlife (see, membership does come in handy!), keys, phone, earphones, hat, extra water, snacks for post-run (protein bar, cookies, and a juice), money (for real food for post-race). I pinned my bib number to the front of my tshirt. Attached my timing chip to my shoe. With everything packed and ready, I set out to make myself a little breakfast: peanut butter and banana sandwich. A surprisingly delicious combination!

I looked at my race route and printed the map to the baggage check in. The location was different from last year, it was at the Armoury..., at University Ave. and Armoury. Also added the list of road closures, in case the Taxi driver needed that information. I really wanted to minimalize the cost if I could :)

My taxi arrived at 7am sharp. Sweet, no worries about having to order another one or complaining to the taxi company. Last time I had a bad experience with one company, and I had to get to the airport to not miss my flight...

I arrived promptly at my destination. My little road closure map helped :) Cost me $20, tips included. Way cheaper than booking a hotel downtown!

I walked up to Armoury St. and University and was completely at a loss to where the baggage area was. No signs. Nothing. A guy walked up to me seeing that I looked lost, and asked what I was looking for - turned out to be the same thing he was looking for too. We kept walking along university until we saw a group of volunteers who told us we were in the right place: this WAS the baggage area. Out here. In the middle of the street. In the cold.

We waited, and it wasn't until 7:45-8:00am, before they set up the tables and parked these moving trucks. Split into 3 sections, based on bib numbers, I just happened to line up at the WRONG one. I was so disappointed when they made me go line up at another section - I was there so early! lol To BEAT the lineup. Good thing though was I pre-paid for it, so I got on the 'express' line.

Once baggage was checked, it was all a waiting game. The race started at 9am. I found myself a little cozy spot by a stair case and tried to keep myself warm. There were two really annoying guys who were also sitting near me, who were mocking people who didn't "look" like runners. It was too bad they didn't stay long, because I really wanted to tell them off. Really, who are you to judge if someone can run it or not? And everyone at the race were there to run for their own reasons, some for charities, some for loved ones, some for competition, and some for fun. Believe it or not, a good physique does not always equate to be being a good runner. Nor does age. Last year, a man that was probably close to 70 beat out both me and this early 20's kid. Kind of sad, but it is true. Don't let appearances fool you. These people really train for the event.

Speaking of age.. this year, a 100-year-old Fauja Singh was a participant. That is amazing. God, I hope I can still run when I'm a 100.


9am, and I'm with the crowd, in my coral, and waiting for 9:05am (2nd wave). There's a cry and a cheer. And I walk a bit, then jog, and then finally start running to the startline. It's always like that, a bottleneck effect. Although, I admit, the new wave system helped it a bit. Normally we all kinda walk to the start line.

The first 10k, I think I did fairly strongly, about an 1:10 minutes. I saw a lot of gloves and sweat shirts along the way. The runners were warmed up. I was getting warm too. I had already tossed away a purple sweatshirt. Never liked it. I still can't believe I brought it on my Taiwan trip earlier this year. Did not look flattering in pictures. No sad goodbyes there :) My gloves were a different story. Newly bought Lululemon ones. Not throwing these babies away. I did pocket them (and double checked every other kilometer if they were still there.

The 21 km split came around, and I could barely believe that the half way point had arrived.

I think the trouble started once I past the 31km mark... I started to feel the "wall" coming. It was like an oncoming storm of walls. At 34km, I was trying not to even look at the distance indicators, yet, my eyes still searched for the red and white numbered flags. 35km, my back started to get sore and bother me. Once in a while, I would put my hand behind my back and give it a little back stretch. Surprisingly, at this point, I hadn't experienced any cramps. Well, at least leg cramps... Around 37/38km, it started to lightly rain again. With the wind and the cool air, I could feel the goosebumps start to rise on my skin. Gloves on. My throat was starting to bother me. My head hurt. But the mantra that kept going in my mind was to keep on going, I was close. Almost there. Near a water station, I saw a girl with a banner: "Go random stranger, go!". That put a smile on my face, took my mind off the pain, my cold, and the wet weather for a second. And then it was back.


39km, I saw an older woman running, I picked up my pace, and then saw what was up a head, a slight hill. Really, in reality, it wasn't really even a hill. A little upward slope. But it was a steady one. I could see a number of runners just walking it up. Was I going to run it? If you think I said hell ya, then I gotta confess: hell no! lol. Everything by that time started to hurt. And I remembered how I felt at the Midsummer nights run. I did a little walk run trot up. I chatted with her a little, but I think she was quite focused with her energy on finishing. Given that I was really just easing my way up the "hill" I decided to take a picture of the 40 flag. hehe.

Then I put away my iphone, and pushed the rest of the way through. 41km. Front Street. There were people there, someone congratulates me, you're almost there! It's just 800m! 600m! 400m! 300m!, 1k - I'm at 42km. 200m! I'm pushing myself to go faster, 100m! No breaks, just keep on running... and I see the finish line. With the last of my reserve energy I make one last sprint to the finish line.



42.2km. Done. :) This one is for my two uncles, both who have been touched by strokes. Love you both and my hope to both of you on a swift recovery.

After I crossed the finish line, they hung a medal on me, draped me in an emergency blanket, and surprise surprise, I found that my baggage was located not too far ahead of me! They had transported the baggage to the finish line. Sweet! No more trekking to pick it up. I texted my friends to let them know that I was done. Mad was kind enough to come down to congratulate me - talk about support :) And of course to my texters, you know who you are :) Virtual supporters rock too!


I met with her and then took off a little bit to Goodlife (dundas location) and put my membership to good use :P Showered and feeling refreshed, I met with Madeline again and we headed off to eat.

We ate at Kenzo's, a japanese restaurant near college introduced to us by our friend Susan. I had the Ra-men (their specialty) and the gyoza (Japanese dumplings). Delicious. I think I was so hungry, I didn't even take a photo of the food. :P Aside from feeling physically sore, I knew the battle with my impending cold was not doing too well. I guess running in the cold and rainy weather isn't the best way to keep it at bay ;)

This morning, sadly, the cold won out. I woke up a little dizzy and throat was sore and 'warm' to the touch. Rest day for me. Better by the evening and right now, feeling much better. I hope it stays that way!

Scotiabank Waterfront Course Map 2011

CIBC Run for the Cure

This morning I was "up" at 5:00am. I could hear the pitter-patter of raindrops against my window in my bedroom. There was nearly no light streaming in. It was also really chilly. I did NOT want to get up. I instead rolled my head to to face the side of night stand and checked my phone for any texts from my friend to see if he had finally answered my texts from the night before (see if he remembered the run at all! :P). I sent him a quick good morning text seeing there was a response. My text was returned at 5:35am. But I had already gone back to sleep :)
At 6am, I actually got up out of my bed and started to freshen up and gear myself for the cancer run. I slipped on my midsummer night's shirt (only synthetic shirt I had that was long sleeved), long pants, and of course, the CIBC cancer tshirt.

They were not kidding when they said x-large was big. I had figured the day before that I would have to wear layers, so x-large would leave room for a jacket as well. Had coffee and half a (buttered) bagel. Yum. Met up with my friend on the Queen street car, and headed towards the U of T campus, Kings College Circle. Kinda nice walking around my old campus, except for the unappealing mud that I tried not to sink into. We checked our bags in (it was free!!), and we killed time while waiting for the start of the 5km run to begin. Our route wasn't too bad, a nice circuit that closed back to our starting line.

The wait was quite long, cold, and rainy. We had gotten there earlier, around 8:45am, the race didn't start until 10am. We took some pictures, checked out the Aeroplan tent (signed up for one too!), and got a free orange skin peeler. They also gave free oranges (obviously so we could use the peeler). My friend actually used his. I just pocketed it (too much trouble checking it into my bag).
Sad to report, the orange peeler was tossed during the run...

Finally, it was 10 to 10am (no pun intended). I nudged my friend and we headed towards the start line. As we walked to it, we passed by the startline for survivors of breast cancer. A huge crowd had gathered there. As we moved further down Wellesly Street, I saw the immense amount of people ahead of me and around me.




For a moment as I stared at all these people, old and young, all out here, together, hoping for a change, hoping for a cure, hoping for someone they loved to get better, and some, in loving memory of someone lost. I thought about those who lost, my friend who lost her mom when she was only just starting University, my friend's aunt who lost the battle only a few months ago. Each year I join this run, each year I see the numbers grow. I'm glad I'm part of something that will make a difference.



10am, and the countdown started. My hands by this time were freezing. I regretted not wearing gloves. Mitts. Anything. Some people had the right idea, toques, scarfs, and winter mitts. I just had a long sleeve wicking shirt with the CIBC tshirt on top. Not much insulation at all. Countdown hit zero, and my friend high-fived me, just as the race begun...

And we were at a stand still. Well, we were still walking. It was very congested. Makes sense since there were lots of people. Same thing happens at all marathons too. We walked for at least 3 minutes before we arrived at the startline. And even as we crossed it, we were still walking. Things started to spread out a little as we hit the 2km mark. My friend and I got separated at one point. I also tossed that orange peeler too. I also discovered that carrying keys in my (specifically) track pants, was not the greatest idea...

I ran down from Wellesly Street to University Avenue, looped around back on University and up Queen's Park Crescent. All the while, I could hear the cheering (even through my ipod). Heading west on Bloor St., I rounded south onto St. George Street. Ah. What fond memories as I passed by some of the Lecture Buildings of my Uni days. I snapped some pictures, one particular of Sid Smith. I kinda wished they had the hot dog stand there too.. at this point, my half a bagel pretty much digested. When we hit College, I turned east on College, knowing that the finish line was just around the corner. It was, but just a little backed up. There was a huge crowd, all of them walking towards the finish line.



After crossing the finish line, I met with my friend. By this point, the weather decided that it was time to really bring on the rain instead of sprinklings of here and there. As we waited to check our bags out, we ... ok, not we, it was more of an "I" thing going on, thought about what to eat afterwards. There were many choices, Mexican, Korean, Burgers, Dumplings (Chinese), or Vietnamese. After much debate, although, we agreed that Vietnamese Pho would be the best thing to have to powerup after our run.

We made our way to Pho Hung (Spadina Avenue and St Andrew Street); right across the street from the Bright Pearl Dimsum Restaurant (that's allegedly said to be haunted...).

Pho @ Pho Hung was amazing! Soup was super tastey, not too greasy. We ordered a set of their summer rolls too. A perfect way to end a satisfying run.



Now for the next run... Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon. Why does that worry me? Maybe because I haven't hit my 30km mark yet.. at least not since the Midsummer Night's Run in August! I really thought that since the organizers had moved the STWM to October, I would have more time to train... lol I guess it didn't work for me. Some longer distances this week might help. I just hope it doesn't rain too much!