Run for the Toad Race Report
On October 2, 2009 I succumbed to the Darkside.
First, a little history. Approximately twenty-five years ago in the 1980s, I was an athlete. I ran 10K races, did triathlons and played several high school sports. In 1989, that all ended. The day I left home for University and realized that I could drink as much beer as I wanted, whenever I wanted, I proceeded to do just that. Fast forward to early 2009 and the result is a short, fat middle aged husband and father of two putting away a case (24) or so of beer every weekend for no other reason than the fact that I could. Not exactly the role model I envisioned being for my children, now aged 8 and 4. Now don’t get me wrong. I love beer and don’t intend to begin preaching it’s evils anytime soon. However, perhaps adding something new to my life was in order.
I'm never running again!
Over lunch one day in May 2009 my good friend and marathon runner, Jonathan suggested I try running. OK, why not. So I measured the distance of the crescent loop outside my front door at 2.5KM and proceeded to run/walk it once. Two weeks later, I could run it twice. At this point, I mentioned my new pursuit to my Monumental Effort co-author, Vince who responded with the following:
“If you can run 5K, you can run 25. You should sign up for Run for the Toad”, Vince said “I’ll even run it with you.”
Vince is an ultra-marathoner, so he must know what he’s talking about, right. Exuberant with the knowledge that I could run 25K, I promptly signed up and thanked Vince for the advice and began training a little harder, running local trails and pushing my weekly long run distance up slowly with it maxing out at 25K on the race date. This took me approximately four months. Over this time, I learned that 25K is a long way! But the benefits kept me going. I dropped 20 pounds and two pants sizes. And I was enjoying running. WTF??
Race Day
For my first race, I could not have picked a better race then, The Run for the Toad. The race is run at the Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area located near Cambridge, Ontario. I live only 45 minutes away in Waterloo, Ontario making this a local race for me. Similarly, the race is hosted by Peggy and George Sarson, who are giants in the local running community. Both Vince and Jonathan assured me that the pre-race ceremonies, tent-city expo, and post-race dinner and presentations were of the highest quality. For me, the highlight of The Toad is that it sells out every year and consists of 1250 registrants running and walking a 12.5KM forest trail loop. This assured that I’d never be completely alone on the trail for very long and could draw on fellow participants for that extra bit of energy required to get to the finish.
Following an inspiring procession by the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada Pipes and Drum Band the gun sounded and the race was underway. In my mind, I repeated to myself, “Don’t go out too hard; don’t go out too hard!”. Yeah, right. In the excitement of running my first trail race and the momentum of the hundreds of runners around me, I felt like I was being pulled along. Before I could blink I was at the first aid station. Wow, this is easy, I thought. Let’s keep going!
At approximately the 11KM point of the loop there exists the only significant hill. It’s not a long hill, perhaps only 75m, but when I reached it it may as well have been the north face of Everest. I walked up it. A few twists and turns later, I was running through the start/finish area to the encouragement of hundreds of well wishers. This was fun!
But wait, what’s that odd feeling in my right shoe? Did a pebble find it’s way into it? Wait a minute, I remember this feeling from my last trip with the kids to the zoo. It’s a blister forming. But how can this be, I’d run 20K training runs in these shoes. I had on my ten dollar running socks. What gives? At that point it donned on me that perhaps my 20K training runs weren’t exactly 20K after all. I had relied on my 6:00/KM as an indicator, but now that I think about it, those training runs didn’t seem all that hard. Ooops.
Best just keep going, I guess. The nagging pain in my shoe was quickly accompanied by throbbing knees, searing lungs, and a slight dizziness. I chalked up the latter to runner’s euphoria in hopes that this small lie would propel me toward the finish. Upon reaching the hill again, I was all but done. I didn’t walk up, so much as crawl. The extremely energetic volunteer at the top cheered me on and I did my best to remember that she was only trying to be encouraging and suppressed my desire to roll her and her lawn chair down the hill once I reached her at the top.
Getting to the top, I smiled at the volunteer and moved on. If runners before me hadn’t sent her tumbling, I wouldn’t either. At this point, something miraculous occurred to me. I was almost done, and more importantly, once I finished I could burn my shoes and never, ever run another step again. Awesome! I conjured up the image of Dory in Finding Nemo telling Nemo to “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming”, and pushed on. Stupid, I know. But you do what you need to do. Besides, the few runners around me all laughed when I began singing it aloud.
Nearing the finish (I hoped) another runner appeared near a turn. Hey, I know that guy. It was Ross, Vince’s son-in-law. Can’t ……let……..him……..see…….me struggling. As if. “You’re almost done”, Ross said “the finish is just around the corner.” I could hear the announcer’s loud speaker calling finishers bib numbers as they finished. I was almost finished. Holy crap!
Without fireworks, or screaming fans, I finished: 2:49:38 SM-39 80th out of 102 age group starters. At least I wasn’t last!
Ross (on the left)running Bill into the finish.
Vince quickly found me and informed me that he DNF’d the 50KM race. I forgave him considering he’d run the Iroquois Trails 100 miler the weekend before. We found Jonathan, who had finished 25KM in 1:59:50 and Ross who had ran 2:18:19. Bastards.
Best of all, my wife and kids surprised me by showing up at the finish. This was completely unexpected and really made the finish that much sweeter. But wait, wasn’t I supposed to feel physically better once I stopped running? As I cooled down, changed clothes and tried to relax I couldn’t catch my breath. I felt like I was trying to breathe in a fog. Having no frame of reference for how I was supposed to feel, I wasn’t sure what to do. Perhaps I was just being a wimp. The latter seemed most likely as I watched 50K runners continue past the start/finish line for more loops.
As I complained to my wife, she suggested that I stop by the medical tent and get checked out. Vince and Jonathan laughed and told me to stop being a baby. Then something unforeseen happened; Vince opened a small cooler and offered me a celebratory beer….and I declined!
Vince’s giggles turned to concern and he pointed me to the medical tent. The paramedic looked at me with a slightly annoyed smirk. He knew I was being a baby too. Regardless, he hooked me up to various machines, checked my blood sugar, etc. etc and asked me, “Did you drink anything during the race?”
Did I? I know I did. But the cups of water were small and I spilled most of their contents down the front of my shirt. I estimate I probably took in only 50ml of actual fluid during the race. There was the problem. So the paramedic gave me a bottle of water and sent me on my way. I’d be fine, I just needed fluids and something to eat. Humbly, I lowered myself off of the gurney as my wife, kids, Vince and Jonathan all had a good giggle.
If only I’d got a picture of me on that gurney, I’d of had the best memory of my first race ever!
Cheers
Bill
P.S. I bought a 12 pack of beer on the drive home.
P.S.S. I didn’t burn my shoes, but instead signed up for the 30KM Around the Bay Race in March and the Waterloo Marathon in April.
P.S.S.S. I officially joined The Darkside Running Club in November 2009.
