Greater Victoria Trail Running: 2012

Another favourite and beautiful trail run that is worth the pain of running steep hills simply for the stunning views. Because this run starts up hill pretty quickly, we took a short detour south on a wide trail for a warmup run first. There is a loop we could have done that would have brought us back to the trail lower down. We chose the out and back mainly to keep it short, keep it on the wide easy trail and to allow us to do a final check for late comers in the parking lot.

The trail is easy to follow. From the parking lot, it drops down for several metres before coming to a junction, marked "Ridge Trail" - go right here and just follow this trail. At any unmarked junction always go to the left. It starts climbing steeply pretty quickly and you'll be at the peak of Holmes in just over 1 km from the parking lot. Beautiful views from the top.

The trail continues down the other side, dropping steeply, then more gently and rolling for a while, before beginning a series of steep climbs as we head towards Jocelyn Hill. Again, at any junction always go left. Around 4km mark, we come to a sign pointing to Jocelyn Hill to the left, we go right here and enjoy a long down hill run - taking the left fork at the bottom and keep going. After a sharp left and crossing a bridge, the trail climbs very steeply and comes to a signed junction. We go left here and this takes us to the top of Jocelyn Hill for the views. Continuing the trail goes around Jocelyn on a very rocky section with a sharp 430m drop to the sea below. This is just stunning to see on a clear day. Follow the trail markers over the rocks and eventually this brings you back to the signed junction where we turned right on the outbound run. Going back, simply take all of the right branches in the trails.

At Holmes Peak, there is a bypass to avoid the steep hill over the summit. But the bypass has steep hills on it too so is just as much work as going over the top. But it makes a change.

At Park Street Station, Boston Common

The first indication that this was not going to be a normal Boston Marathon came on Monday, a week before race day. This was our last track night before the race and before going to the track I had checked the weather forecast at The Weather Network It seemed strange. The days before and after Monday the 16th were forecast in the 60s (16 C to 18 C), but Monday was showing 80F (27 C) Maybe it was a blip. When I mentioned this at the track, we shrugged it off as an anomaly; after all, other weather sites were still showing temps in the 60s. We decided it was a typo and it really meant 60, not 80. Wishful thinking.

It got more ominous on Friday the 13th. Marion and I were sitting at Victoria airport waiting for our flight when the first warning email arrived from the Boston Athletic Association. And the weather forecast had upped the high on race day to 84 F (29 C). By the time we arrived in Boston, we were pretty much resigned to having to run a marathon in tropical weather conditions, something none of us were prepared for, nor could we have prepared for it. It seemed cruel that in Victoria we had trained through one of the coldest springs, with temperatures in the single digits, only to now have to run 42.2 km in temperatures potentially in the 30s.

Boston is truly an amazing city. Everybody really gets behind the marathon. The level of respect for the runners is everywhere, on the subway, in the taxis, on the street, in restaurants. Complete strangers randomly wish you luck in the race, high five you on the subway (though I suspect some were a little drunk).

The BAA made an offer to racers to defer to next year due to the dangerous temperatures forecast for race day. Of course that's not an option now we're on our way, flights and hotels booked. We're going to Boston, regardless and running the race regardless. Seriously, how much can a little heat hurt our marathon times. So naive.

Package pickup at Race Expo was quick, and I was not put off by the First Aid courses being offered for spectators, so they could help revive fallen runners. But maybe I should have picked up several of those cooling towels being offered.

Loading 22,000 runners onto the buses at Boston Common

On Sunday, once Monday's weather was assured, the BAA sent out another warning, and finished by advising us to think of this "not as a race, but as an experience". The BAA had seriously considered cancelling the race due to the extreme weather expected. The forecast now called for highs close to 90 F (32 C) and the temperature in Hopkinton at the start around 80 F (27 C). Seriously dangerous conditions. Fine to run 10K, but after that, it can get really dangerous.

Up to now, I was planning on running without a water bottle, as I rarely find I need it. However, given the weather conditions, I bought some Nuun tablets and used them along with my water bottle. I envisioned crowds at the water stations and me flying by taking sips from my own electrolyte drink, saving time by not stopping for water. Get to the finish line before it gets too hot. It's easy to run in the heat in your imagination.

The other concessions to the heat was sunblock and running slower. I always wear a cap and luckily I had a white cap with a long brim that could help shade my neck from the sun. Tony had done some research and advised that we should plan to run 30 seconds per kilometre slower. Tony had it all worked out on how much to slow down, how much salt and electrolytes he would need. The rest of us kinda thought about it but didn't really believe we'd have to adjust too much. It's only a bit of heat, isn't it?

Saturday was a day of exploring Boston on foot with Marion after we had visited Race Expo. We wandered up to Boston Common, lunched at Lambert's Deli ( across from Park Station), and then followed the Freedom Trail as far as Quincy Market. from there we took the subway back out to Davis station on the Red Line and Morrison House Bed and Breakfast. In the evening, we went out for dinner with Tony and Sikina.

Sunday morning Tony and I went for an easy 25 minute run along a footpath that runs on top of the subway tunnels out towards Alewife. This was a run to turn the legs over. After the run, I had a rest day planned. Marion and I went into Boston on the subway to Copley Square, the finish location of the Boston Marathon to scope out where we'll meet after the marathon. Sunday was hot. I drank electrolyte drinks all day and we walked slowly, stopping for long relaxing rests on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston Common and on the Charles River waterfront.

Race day. This is it. My alarm was set for 5 am but I was wide awake at 4 am. Learning from my mistake at the Victoria marathon last year, I had a safe breakfast of toast. I knew my stomach could handle this easily. I didn't want stomach cramps this time.

At 5:50 am Tony and I left together, in our running gear and with our marathon bag of things we would want before the race. I had brought with me to Boston throwaway gloves, a throwaway shirt and a plastic bag to sit on or to keep dry in case of rain. At 6 am we didn't need any of that. I wore my Boston Marathon jacket anyway as the air conditioning on the subway can be cold. Plus I wanted the jacket at the end of the race, just in case it was cold (guess those forecasts of 35 C in downtown Boston at the end of the marathon hadn't sunk in yet). I always get cold after a marathon, why should this be any different? I also took the throwaway shirt, simply because I didn't want to take it back to Victoria.

We arrived at Park Street subway station by about 6:20am and Sarah joined us there shortly after as arranged. I was interested to see how they transported 22 ,000 runners to the start line. They did it with a bus train. Buses lined up the length of Tremont Street along the south side of Boston Common and all the buses boarded simultaneously. Once all buses were full, they all set off in a convoy and the next train of buses pulled in to do it all over again. We figured they must have used close to 500 buses to make this work. Logistically it is brilliant and works really well. We got on the third convey to arrive after we entered the boarding area.

Athletes' Village - Hopkinton High School

The athletes' village is on the grounds of Hopkinton High School and consisted of a large entrance banner, two large open tents for shade, a giant screen TV, information centre, first aid tents, about a thousand portta-potties all around the perimeter and an assortment of vendors offering free goodies that runners might need - like grease pencils, glide, powerbar, etc.

When we arrived at 7:50am, the temperature was already around 23 C. As all of the shade was taken, we just sat on the grass in the sun, drinking our electrolyte drinks, putting Canadian flag tattoos on each other and writing our names on each other in grease pencil. Though we didn't like to admit it, we were already too hot.

Waiting for the start in Hopkinton - Stephen, Sarah and Tony

At 9:35am it was time for me and Stephen to leave and walk to the starting corrals. Sarah and Tony's leave time was five minutes later. As with everything else, the baggage drop was well designed also. The buses that transported us here were now the baggage buses all lined up on the way to the start corrals. It was just a matter of finding the bus window with my bib number and giving the bag to the person there.

It is about a 1km walk to the starting corrals and I arrived in the corral with only 2 minutes to go before the starting gun at 10:20am for our wave. By now the temperature was at least 27 degrees, no wind and no shade. We were sweating in the starting corrals. Not a good sign.

Regardless of everything we said about running slower, as usual I got caught up in the excitement and set out at my original pace. Not good. By now I'm thinking I should have started with Tony further back so I would more likely run slower. But it's downhill. With everybody else running the same pace, you lose your frame of reference for pace and nothing I did would slow me down. The heat did that in a big way several kilometres later.

I knew just finishing this marathon this was going to be a major challenge when I started feeling overheated in the first 5 km, and we were still running downhill. Normally, it takes me about 5km to get into my stride, then the first half usually feels pretty easy, with me having to check my speed and keep it down. The mental struggle normally comes around 30k mark. This marathon was completely different. Heart rate already high in the first 5km, heat on my skin already unbearable, with the sun beating down on me. The heat off the pavement causing my feet to overheat. This was going to be fun.

Because I had my own water, I skipped the first water station, but it was the only one I did skip. Sipping water in the first 5k, another first. Pouring my water bottle over my head this early in a race - never done that before either. I ran through the second water station but this time I picked up two waters - one to drink and one to pour over myself. Only 5km in the race and I'm slowing already. How am I going to manage to run the remaining 37.2 km?

To boost my energy I high-fived kids in Ashland and Famingham. There were so many of them and it really helped us to see them out and reaching out to us. Tried to ignore the temperature sign on a building indicating 91F (33 C) but the heat was just too much for me. Reports were that the heat radiating from the road was 120 F (49 C). My feet were really hot, legs hot, arms and neck hot from the relentless sun. There was no shade for the most part. No wind. The forecast promised light winds from the south, but it was perfectly still. It was obvious when shade was coming up because the entire field of runners would suddenly swerve to one side of the road like a tidal wave. this was no longer about running for a time. It wasn't even a marathon anymore. It was survival.

By the 10km mark I was wondering how I was going to make it to Copley Square. I could not imagine my body holding out in that heat to run that distance and I could not image being out in the sun longer to walk it, or run/ walk it. But I was determined to cross that finish line regardless of how long it took. I figured that if the race directors were keeping the finish line open an hour longer then I should plan to finish an hour later than normal. I tried not to think about the distance, and instead focus on the next water station and focus on the crowds of people, the scenery and try not to think about the fact my arms, legs feet and head felt intensely hot.

A spectator gave me a green frozen ice popsicle thing (you know, flavoured ice in plastic tube wrap that I can't think of the name of it). it was open at one end. I guess she thought I'd enjoy eating it on the run. To me it was ice and I promptly stuck it under my cap. It felt great, though I'm sure the green liquid oozing out of my hat for the next 10 minute might have been a bit alarming.

It is so easy to under estimate the effects of heat on the body when running. The relationship between temperature and effect on the body is not linear. Seriously, when you get into the 30s, it seems to be an exponential relationship. In some ways this situation was cruel; in Victoria because we had a colder than normal spring, it meant that all our training runs had been done in mostly single digit temperatures. We were ready for a start temperature in the teens and a finish in the teens or twenties. But not for anything like this.

By Framingham I was about ready to walk. So much for 16 weeks of training, I felt like I had never run before. I made myself a deal. Walk when needed to slow the heart rate and cool the feet and legs, but whatever I do, keep moving and run as much as possible, even if the running is slow. Every step is a step closer to Copley Square.

Then I saw the oranges. Oh, my God, I was so craving oranges. Spectators were handing out wedges of oranges. I had my first in Framingham and it tasted so good. I lost count of how many oranges I ate over the course of that marathon. By now the water stations were a pile of melting wax cups on the road. At each station I drank Gatorade and water and then another water to pour all over myself. Whenever ice was offered, I took some and stuck in my hat or down my back.

Around the 15km mark, Stephen caught up to me and he was pretty well done. We decided to run the rest of the race together and we settled into a run/walk routine. Generally running very slowly and then walking when the heat shut us down. In some ways it seemed to work. We were keeping up with other runners who were running constantly and I was starting to feel better as we went, though I really don't think I could have run any faster on that day than we did.

The estimated 500,000 plus spectators have to be credited with helping to get all of us to Copley Square. In addition to the oranges, other people had set up makeshift water stations and these were very welcome. Even though the official water stations were every mile, on this day, those miles each felt like five miles. The fire departments had opened fire hydrants along the course and running through these cooled us and give us a burst of energy, which lasted for about a minute until the water evaporated and heat returned with a vengeance. Many homes turned their own sprinklers and garden hoses on the racers. And of course the constant cheering and encouragement and the hands reaching out to you for a high five.

Then there were the girls of Wellesley College. Probably this stretch of the race is the most infamous and certainly a highlight.

You can hear it before you see it. A crazy screaming that is somewhat frightening and unnerving. And then then there they are, at the half way mark, the girls of Wellesley College lining the right side of the course, screaming and all with signs like this "kiss me for luck", " kiss me, I'm better than she is", "I kiss girls", "I kiss girls or boys"' "kiss me I'm from the south". So I kissed one. But then you can't get away can you? The next girl then grabs you, then the next and so on. Now how do you get away? Anyway, when I finally pulled away I had lost Stephen. I caught up to him as we pulled away from Wellesley College. Hey, I'm just doing what the race directors ordered, treating the run as an experience, not a race.That was an experience.

The cloud arrived around the 25km mark. It covered the sun. The crowd and racers broke into the loudest cheer I have ever heard. It lasted for about 1 minute. When the sun came back out, the crowd and racers booed. It was to be the only time in the entire marathon that a cloud covered the sun for us.

Our pace by now had settled into a very slow 33 minutes per 5km, the slowest I have ever run. In fact, I think my legs found this pace more tiring than my marathon pace but that's all my body was able to do and still keep my body temperature in a safe zone - guess my cooling system was already maxing out. Besides, I had already seen a few people collapse from the heat, lined up at the first aid tents or vomiting in the middle of the road. This is seriously dangerous and I was just interested to finish and not hurt myself in the process.

Boston college also gave us a big boost and I think the crowd was even noisier than Wellesley, but then there were more of them. I high-fived all the way down the hill until my hand was getting raw from it. Once in Brookline the crowds were just as strong, but as we were now in the city, there was less unofficial water stations and water sprays. Combined with the increased heat in the built-up city, I actually found this harder because of that.

Stephen and I crossed the finish line together after a very slow, incredibly hot and unforgettable marathon. It was around 90 F (32 C) in Copley Square when we crossed the line. But we did it. As soon as we crossed, the wind finally arrived. Too late. Maybe I could have run a little harder, but I really believe that I could have only got another 5 minutes, maybe 10. My body just did not like the heat. But it was an experience I'll never forget.

I learn something from every marathon and I certainly learned something from Boston. This lesson is about running in the heat. So things I took away:
1. slow down right from the start - a good 30 seconds to a minute per kilometre
2. Forget about racing, forget about personal best - if you don't, you'll only be disappointed
3. Don't think of the heat, don't think of the distance - focus on the next aid station and the crowds around you - use them to boost your energy
4. wear a hat and light coloured clothes to keep the sun off you - don't wear less because it's hot - you'll regret it.
5. your feet are going to get hot - not much you can do about it - but run on the white lines and in the shade when possible
6. ice under your hat helps to cool you down - if no ice, soak your hat and back of your neck at every water station
7. Turn your watch off - run with a friend and just enjoy the the experience.
8. Trust your training. Don't get discouraged.
9. Think of everybody supporting you - at the finish line waiting for you, in Victoria watching your split times as you cross the mats
10. Don't start thinking about what you want to eat after the marathon until you're within 5km of the finish line - then use that to push you to the finish.

Just happy to have crossed the finish line

Greater Victoria Trail Running

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Caleb Pike - Sat June 2, 2012

Stewart Mountain - May 26, 2012

Monday, May 21, 2012

Saturday May 19, 2012 Trail Run

Saturday, May 12, 2012

2012 Trail Running - Tillicum and Thetis

Saturday, May 5, 2012

2012 Trail Running - Elk Lake

2012 Boston Marathon Route

Monday, April 30, 2012

2012 Boston Marathon Inferno (Video)

Friday, April 27, 2012

Surviving the Boston Marathon Inferno