Go Tony! Go!!! 13.5 - 229.52

*whew*

Now that was an experience, I loved every minute of the race today!

From when my super awesome wife dropped me off at the skytain station until she picked me up.. I woke the poor Missus up at 5 am and she helped me get ready for the race and arrive there in a timely manner like the trooper she is!! She really supported me with all my training from the git-go! I could not have done this without her help and motivation..

Due to roads being closed etc..I had to be dropped off one skytrain station away from the race start. When I got on the skytrain I saw a fella sitting down who also was in his race gear with his bib pinned to his chest..Donald was the guy's name and we looked at each other and nodded like two gunfighters acknowledging each other lethal skills..

(For the love of god! I sure hope that was why he was nodding at me...)

So I got to the starting line with a few minutes to spare and it was packed! there were a few thousand folks standing around in racing togs with their bibs on, stretching, chatting and getting antsy just like me.. Everything to do with the race is all computerized and all the participants were given these little chips that we zap strapped to our shoe laces (they cost $40.00 if we don't return them!) anyways.. the chip registers when you cross the start and the finish lines..that way folks don't have to fight to the front of the line when the race begins..

so off we went...

The race route was closed to traffic with many police cars at many corners, the race starts off through Chinatown and heads into East Van and then back towards Stanley Park.. Along the way there are many folks standing around cheering you on..as well...there are tents stationed with bands and DJ's playing music.. It kinda helped truth be told...the up-tempo tuneage would help you increase your pace..They were also folks stationed to motivate you and tell you to keep smiling..It was kinda nice to hear someone call out your name and say "Way To go!".."Keep It up!!" and "For the love of gawd that hat is retarded!" (I made that last one up)..

When we went through the East Hasting area a fellow called us all "Fucking Yuppies"..Boy-o-boy did that make me laugh!! A lot of the street people watched us walk and run by and I wonder what was going through their head? Once a year the streets are closed down and a bunch of strange people run through the neighborhood, like the sweaty circus is in town.

.anyways..

They had drink and fruit stations along the way and I made sure to stay hydrated, I picked Gatorade over water and would have a dixie cups worth at each drink point..unlike some people, I would drop my cup in a garbage can and not on the street..(even though they had folks there to clean it up)..

When we got to the halfway point (at Stanley Park) a fella came up from behind with a bull-horn and instructed us to keep right since the top two in the full marathon were going be passing us! and soon enough a police motorcycle came by, followed by two short, very wiry Kenyans..needless to say those guys were fast!!! In fact, they were sprinting!! (world class marathoners run a sub-5 minute mile..all 27 of them!! ) These cats were at their 17 mile mark and neither guy looked tired..a minute later #3 came by....and then about 4 minutes later 4,5,6 did too.. Juding by the top 3's lead, I suspect the real battle was for the number 4 spot...though all those guys were greasy fast...those boys had lightning powered bums!!! The top woman came by about 10 minutes or so after the chaps! and she (another Kenyan I think) had such a lead on her nearest rival I think the record time for females was broken..(I will check the paper tomorrow)..

At the halfway point I had some "Vanilla Flavored Power-gel", a gooey, sugary energy paste that really helped me stay on pace.. Some dude on a bike was trying to convince them to give him some too and as I passed by I could hear a dude manning the table explaining.."These aren't free, the competitors paid money for this stuff".. damn straight!!! peddle on you moochy bastard!!

About 20 minutes after the halfway point we hit the hill, a pretty big one too..larger, in fact, than any I had trained for during the last 4 months.. I could here some folks near me saying stuff like "Uh-oh"..So being the joker I am I said.. "Dun-Dun-DAhhhhhhh!" and then I told the lady next to me "Don't worry, that hill is as scared of us as we are of it"... I got a laugh!

Now then..

Hills..

I must have a chemical imbalance because I like knuckling down and heading up hills, I am a strong hill guy..and I passed a lot of folks who had a serious lead on me heading up that hill.. but when we got to the top we then had to go down the hill..

Up? I love up!!!

But down?...

*sigh*

I am not as good with down, when I was young, fast and skinny my strategy with down was to just let gravity do the work..but I weighed a lot less and was much more fit, so I didn't worry about my knees..

Now?

Well now I am a big fat bastard and "down" ain't my friend no mo...

All the folks I had passed slowly regained their lead..

ah well.. It was longer going down than it was going up...

When I got to the 12 mile mark I was starting to tank out a little bit, but this woman came up and told me she was following with me the whole way and thanked me for keeping such a good pace.. That kinda motivated me to pick up my feet and I finished pretty strong...

I was amazed by all the types of people I saw when I was walking, short, tall, young, old, fat and skinny.. I am not embarrassed to say I was passed by quite a few people that were older than I was..There were a gaggle of grandma's from Texas that whizzed on by!! and I thought it was great and very motivating, if I keep up with my training, some day I am gonna be the old dude passing all the pups!!

My goal was to train for 15 weeks and stick my plan and I did, I am healthier now than before and I am starting to build a fitness base that will help me lose the weight I need to..

I am going to investigate some of the walking clinics in town and learn about speed training..

Next year I want to walk the full marathon! and I think I can do it!!

iPOD: Didn't use it, I wanted to enjoy the whole experience

TIME: 200 minutes!!! I managed to average out a sub-15 minute mile!!! my goal was a 230 minute time..so needless to say I am happy with my time..