I've been looking forward to being part of the biggest road running event in our country for a couple of reasons - first because it's the terminus of our RunNinjas sensei Jim's epic trek from the Fredericton Marathon to the Ottawa Marathon, and secondly because I'd targeted this marathon as my goal race for the spring season (in hopes of attaining a sub-3 hour finish). Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray ...
Jim is doing just fine, and managing to capture some fascinating people and experiences as part of a video documentary that he is compiling along his journey's route. We RunNinjas are going to be over-the-moon to be able to reunite with him and celebrate this phenomenal and superhuman accomplishment!
On the other hand, I will have see what Sunday brings, and celebrate just being able to get to the starting line.
Since my last adventure running with my friend Nav at the GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon I've been battling some knee issues, and as I've discovered just recently a strain of the short head (lower part) of the biceps femoris. Tenderness, weakness and pain led to me taking almost a full two weeks off immediately after the GoodLife Marathon and then resuming training/tapering with modest success. As such I'll be heading into Ottawa with a bit of a busted wheel that will be taped up like Red Green had attacked it.
If that wasn't enough, the one thing that I've heard about racing in the Ottawa Marathon is that while the course itself might be conducive to decent finishing times, the ambient conditions may not ... and this weekend is shaping up to be a messy scorcher.
I've been heat training this week (layering up for workouts on even the warmest days) to try to acclimatize but I'm not sure whether or not it will have any significant benefit based on the projected forecast.
As such it will be a real roll of the dice in terms of how things turn out. If there is a silver lining in this (thunder)cloud it could be that the one mitigating factor might benefit the other, as the heat seems to alleviate the tightness and pain that I have been feeling in my right knee.
I'll get to the start. I'll be excited to be putting my fluorescent orange Skechers GOMeb Speed 2016 through their first race. It'll be awesome to share the experience with all of my RunNinja tribe (some of whom I've helped coach in preparation for their first marathon) and reconnect with Jim.
One way or another, it will be a memorable weekend ...!
#GOlikeneverbefore #RunJimmiRun #RunNinjasCapitalTakeover
All the best to you in this race. Let's hope it won't be a one-legged run! Thanks for your coaching tips and training plan! You're awesome! See you in Ottawa!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll have nothing short of a memorable weekend dude. Kudos to you on taking it in the best spirit. I feel a bit bummed that the Toronto marathon brought you some unnecessary strain and pain. A slow run has gotta do that to you right, just kidding. Can't wait for you to be back 100% and make the best of what is bestowed upon us runners. Take care and have a great run dude.
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