4 lessons I learned in the Goodlife Toronto Half-marathon

May 16, 2011

1. Light rain in 10 degree weather is not so horrible for a race. I checked the forecast literally hundreds of times all week, hoping that it would change. Even reading the hourly forecast all day Saturday, I was praying the 90 percent P.O.P. to  mean it would be a dry morning. I’ve had two horrendous runs in the rain (one was a short but awful speedwork experience in the cold rain, and the other was the longest 30k run evah in Around the Bay a few years ago) that have made me anti-rain. Yesterday, I was so focused on getting to the finish line that I forgot about the rain–granted it was only light rain and it wasn’t that cold outside.
2. Go to the washroom with plenty of time to spare. My friends and I cut it way too close to start time to get into the washroom line plus we made the error of opting for the shortest line only to realize these were the lines to two individual stalls. Talk about SLOW MOVING. How slow? We were still in line when the race had already started! I know it’s the chip time that counts, but the incredible anxiety I felt from having to dash to the start line and then work our way up past the 2-hour pace bunny is not something I care to repeat.
3. If you invite them, they will come. I’ve never really asked friends to come cheer for me, figuring they have better things to be doing on a rainy Sunday morning (sleep or brunch come to mind!), but I tentatively mentioned it to a couple of friends who both showed up, pom poms and signs in hand and husbands and kids in tow. And it’s such a boost to see familiar faces so happy and proud of you along the way–I was very touched by their support.
4. Smile and wave at the official race photographers. I actually don’t know yet if this worked to my advantage so calling it a “lesson learned” is jumping the gun a bit, but I did have fun. See, I was determined to, for once, get a good race photo. So I was waving, pointing and smiling up a storm as soon as I saw any camera. My friend who ran her very first half-marathon yesterday said I should’ve stopped and struck a pose worthy of a couture fashion shoot.

Filed under: Fitness Swellness,Healthy Swellness

Tags: Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon, half-marathon, medal, race, race report, running