Saturday, August 29, 2009

Toronto Women's 5K - Race Report + Photos



I decided to participate in this event to (A) support women's races in Toronto, (B) get my hands on the Lululemon tech shirt and (C) pace my friend "L" for (hopefully) her first sub-30:00 5K.

This race was held at the same location as the Toronto Women's Half Marathon, Sunnybrook Park. Once again, the event was well-organized, well-executed and well-supported.

We arrived on-site early and had plenty of time to mill about and catch up with some friends who were also there. It was great chatting with happy go lucky alex (whom I met for the first time last weekend at the 30K) before and after the race. I also got to meet MacNic for the first time after chatting back and forth via blogs and twitter for several months. And, of course, my BFF Sarah who walked the 5K just 2.5 weeks post partum!

L caught me after a quick last-minute pit stop.



Soon it was time to line up. Check out the green race shirts! Awesome.



I have to say, it was really nice lining up for a race without any nerves. I was relaxed and ready to have fun (and see how hard I could push L).

And we were off! I don't know why, but I really love this pic.



We followed the paved park trails and stayed right on pace. L was doing great! She had debated a 10&1 run to walk ratio, but we ended up running almost the entire way.

The famous firefighter's water station came around the 3K marker. The guys were wearing volunteer t-shirts this year (they were shirtless at the half), so L decided it wasn't worth slowing down or stopping. Heh.

L was starting to struggle, but I urged her on and kept reminding her that we were more than half way there. I tried not to yap too much because when I'm exhausted I usually don't want anybody talking to me. :) She held on really well and only took a teeny tiny walk break after the last hill.

Once we passed the 4K marker, she picked it up. I knew we were right on target for her sub-30, but L had started swearing at this point (it was pretty amusing). She thought she was going to puke, but I told her she could puke at the finish line. Finally, we saw it and she sprinted all the way home. In the end, our final kilometre was the fastest.

Here we are on the home stretch. Don't mind the white dot where L's head should be = she's pretty private. :) Check out my usual inefficient lean-back finish line form. Ugh. (L was in better shape than the lady in front of us!)



Chip time - 29:41


My first time as a personal pace bunny was a success!

She did it! When I saw the clock I was absolutely ecstatic! I eased back to snap a photo of L crossing the line. It's blurry, but you can see the clock. Official time was sub-30:00 as well. Way to go, L!



The awesome Emily aka AddictedToEndorphons was at the finish line so I had to snap a photo! Thanks for volunteering, Em!



We got some water and grub (pitas, bananas, dried apples, tortilla chips and chocolate) and snapped a few photos.





It was a great morning!

***

Tomorrow's long run is a fall-back to 25K/15.5mi. (Why does that seem so short?) After the run we're having our third brunch and a pool party! Sounds like my kind of Sunday.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

(Don't forget to enter Tall Mom on the Run's awesome giveaway for her 200th post.)

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

How awesome - good job pacing and the tees look great too!

ShirleyPerly said...

Awesome job pacing your friend to a 5K PR! That's one thing I've never done before. Then again, it wasn't until very recently that I even knew what pace I ran thanks to my new Garmin :-)

Mel-2nd Chances said...

Awesome job being a pace bunny and helping her reach her goal! Have a great run tomorrow!

Erika said...

Great job on the pacing! Have a nice long run tomorrow!

MCM Mama

Zorbs said...

I actually yelled, "hey dudes, lose your shirts!" when I went by...

Unknown said...

Great job!

Sarah said...

Awesome race and great job!

Irish Cream said...

Hahaha, I've totally been in L's position--being paced by my boyfriend in a 5K and just swearing up a storm (makes me realize now that I probably could have run faster without all the lip)! AWESOME job pacing her, though. That is such an awesome thing to do :)

Hope you enjoy running your short little 25K jaunt--hehe ;)

Marci said...

Congrats to L - she has a paper plate in front of her face! :) (JK). Good job pace bunny, its funny I wore my TO women's half shirt for the first time today, that shirt looks nice too!

Unknown said...

what a great friend you are!!!

Kathleen said...

I want to hear about the outfit. Cute little skirt!

Boris T said...

Nice job pacing! And those shirts looks nice, to bad no mens version though. :(

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

THANKS for another plug.. FYI you can link and post as many comments as you want. I am up to 150 WOOT!!

That is amazing that you helped your friend the white dot head...Is she related to Jack?? JK..

I really want to run a race FOR a friend in the future..

Jamie said...

Way to go pace bunny! You and L did great!!!

macnic said...

Awesome job! It was great to meet you. I saw you once at the start taking a photo and had to smile. You're a great friend.

Mark said...

I would think it would be very rewarding to pace a friend to meeting a goal! Good job!!

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

congrats to you and L! How awesome that you helped her make that goal! I do love those shirts, super cute!

Vickie said...

Isn't it a great feeling to help someone else succeed? Great job!

No Longer Using said...

hehe a short 15.5 miler... that's when you know you are in the middle of training :) GREAT race!!!!!! i loved your recap. sprint to the finish!!!! love that! and puke at the finish line... lol. you are a great friend and pace bunny.

ShoreTurtle said...

You did great as a pacer!

J said...

Congrats to both of you! That is great you got to run together and ran so well!

joyRuN said...

Excellent pacing, Marlene!

Congrats to you & white-dot ;)

Denise said...

Nice job pacing!! I love the white dot over her face, too funny.

Anonymous said...

It would be so fun to pace someone - and you were RIGHT ON target, nice!!!

Ha, I WISH 15 miles was a "fall back" distance for me. Wow. Hope you had a good run!!

AZ said...

Maybe you could just draw smiley faces in the white dots.

Mistyfied said...

Sounds like a fun time!

Toni said...

Great job on pacing! Hope your long run went well.

B.o.B. said...

Look at you Miss Pacer. Way to go! Congrats to L.

George Houston said...

Very Cool! Nothing better than helping a friend meet a goal. Looks like everyone had a great time.

Lindsay said...

great pics! nice job pacing your buddy on a great race. it is definitely nice to have some nerve-free races here and there!

Felice Devine said...

Yay, pace bunny! That must have been so cool to help your friend achieve success.

RunToTheFinish said...

woot woot, way to go!!

RunningLaur said...

Yay! I want you to pace me to my 30:00 5k that's so elusive!

Runner Leana said...

It sounds like a great race with a good friend! Lululemon tech shirts? I want to do that race!

Unknown said...

Congrats to your friend on her sub-30!