Niagara Falls Half Marathon 2015

Wow, how fast a year just flies by!  Recapping the Niagara Falls 2015 race brings back some nice memories - mostly of my friends and I eating huge feasts, both before and after the half-marathon.  Note that before part probably was definitely something that I regretted on race day lol.  Hard lessons tend to need repeat exposure it seems (recalling my Midsummer Nights' Race a few years back).

Last year I did the Niagara Falls Marathon, and boy did it hurt.  Zero training = lots and lots of pain afterwards (plus loss of two toenails.. but we'll not get into that).  This year, although I didn't train extensively for the half, I did do several shorter races throughout the year; Unionville, Sunset, Longboat, and Island Girl.  So prep wise, I was in a good place, not great, but good.  Expectations for the race was just to enjoy the scenery and to hangout with my friends afterwards :)  Oh and of course, EAT! lol.

Pre-race Day - The Saturday
We arrived at Niagara and went to the Expo to pickup our race package.  This year, thankfully, they had improved the racekit pickup process.  Instead of having it hosted at a mall with ambiguous directions as to where to assemble our racekits, everything was in one big convention hall  (the Scotiabank Convention Center) with the standard pickup process in place.  The usual:  get our bib numbers, activate our tracking chip, and then line up to add on goodies to racekit bag.  Phew, much much better than last year!

After we picked up our racekit, we headed to our hotel and checked in.  We rested for a bit and then we headed to have dinner a bit earlier so we would have time to digest (which was probably a very good idea).  We went to East Side Marios and we ordered enough to feed 10 people.  Mind you, there was only 5 people.  And only 4 of us were running.  LOL.

Look at that food (see above picture).  We ordered about 4 pastas, a pizza, 2 soups, and 2 salads.  Oh, and before our orders even came, we each ate a stick of bread on our own.  Craziness.  The one person that wasn't running was looking at us like we were kinda overdoing it, and tried to talk some sense into us.  Sorry Mad we didn't listen to you!  But of course, noone was more sorry than our poor stomachs the next day.  Well, at least for mine :P

After dinner we didn't do too much, just walked around the Falls area and headed back a bit earlier to rest up for race day.

Day of the Race

There were different start times for 10k and halfs, so the three of us, Susan J, Susan C. and I had to get up a bit earlier to head out.  Gordon, lucky guy, got to sleep in a bit more.  Just a tad. The bonus to getting out early, though meant we would catch our hotel's continental breakfast too.

Too bad I was still so full from the night before.  I still ate something, just to keep my energy up.  I got myself a slice of bread and peanut butter and jam.

Once we finished breakfast, my friends and I made our way to the Crown Plaza Hotel to catch the school buses that would take us to the start line.  Along the way to the Crown Plaza, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the Fall leaves.  Quite breathtaking.

The early sun, catching on the tree leaves.

The sun peaking out just behind the Falls.

We didn't have to wait too long to get on a bus to the startline.  There we huddled together in a Warming tent until the race started.

The Race

The race itself was quite enjoyable -- though this is of course talking about it almost 6 months afterwards.  This is why recaps should be closer to the date it was done.  One thing I can say, though, is that the Niagara race is very scenic and is easily one of my favorites.  It is also a race that you don't really get hot in; I had to wear my jacket the whole time.  To be honest, I'd rather it be cool vs being hot.  

After the Race

Lots and lots of food hahaha.  We went to Shoeless Joes (I think) for lunch.  We again ate enough to feed 8-10 people. LOL.  But I'd say we kinda deserved it? ;)  

Post race shot of the runners and our support!

Our delicious post race meal:

After feasting, we decided to go Niagara on the Lake winery hopping :)  Bought a few ice wines and late harvest wines!

Overall, it was a good way to end the last race for the year.  Until next year!