June 2, 2005

Sudbury Fitness Challenge Info

1. Rocks and Locals at Ottawa Race Weekend
2. Lawrie Oliphant Competes in the Hamilton Duathlon
3. Karen Beaulieu Collects Running Paycheck in Tennessee
4. Worlds Harmony Run Photos from Sudbury Visit
5. Rocks!! Revised Summer Training Hours
6. Upcoming Events
7. Running Room Run Club Update
8. Track North News - by Dick Moss
9. Ytri News - by Mike Coughlin (Mike's Florida Experience)

Rocks and Locals at Ottawa Race Weekend

Over 80 Sudbury area runners took the annual pilgrimage to participate in Ottawa's ever growing National Capital Race Weekend. Around 24,000 people took part in events ranging from 2k to the marathon including wheelchair and inline skating races. There were lots of first timers in our ranks, many personal bests achieved and All completed their events successfully. Congratulations to everyone.

Click here for local race results

Click here for photos

It is my perception the Race Weekend is actually improving every time out even though it is now many times larger than only a few years ago. The courses are great - the marathon is excellent now - and the only small glitch I see is the overlap with the 1/2 and marathon finish. And that's not a major issue. The final k of the course is the best marked ever with signs at 750m, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100 and 50m to go. What a motivator to pick up the pace a bit. And there are numerous hotels and restaurants close to the start/finish which is a big plus to me. Good going Ottawa race directors.

Here are some notes from Rocks!! runners:

Steve Matusch writes:

Just a quick note to let you know that I had a great half-marathon in Ottawa this weekend. Sportstats is down right now, so I don’t know how you all did – except that I saw Shawn’s and Brent’s marathon time on the results board!!! I didn’t have to scan too far down the board for either one. Congrats both of you!!! Awesome!!!

I started out really, really well - using my trusty new GPS to set a 3:50/km pace right out of the gate, while letting the over-eager rabbits sprint off the finish. Just as I expected, I passed a whole boatload of them between the 3k and 10k mark. Unfortunately, at 10k my own wheels developed a bit of a wobble – nausea and some dizziness. Darn!!! I consulted my carefully prepared race plan, and decided to solve the problem by pitching Gatorade directly into my eyes. It didn’t help me run any faster but at least I couldn’t see the guys who were starting pass me back. Ah well… it’s all in fun!

I hung on to a 4:10 pace for the rest of the race, except for one nasty bit at 4:23. Digging down for a good 3:50 kick on the last 1k, I came in with a brand new half marathon PB of 1:24:46 and 10th place in my age group!!! Thanks to all you Rocks!!! for cheering me in at the end. I couldn’t respond but I heard you for sure, and it was great!!!

Steve Matusch

Brent Walker writes:

Yes Vince, the rumors are true, I really did get off the pot and
finally run my first marathon in Ottawa last weekend. As you know for
years I've jokingly resisted calling myself a runner because to call
yourself a runner would mean that you would have to actually commit to
run a serious event at some point and people would then expect me to run
some crazy distance like run a full marathon. So, being that my other
passion is white water kayaking, I would tell people that I'm not a
runner - but really I'm a kayaker with a running problem.

As you know, it's been a long time coming for me to get to the point
of running a marathon but I'm glad that I finally did it. I do think
that the experience that I gained from other half marathons and the 30
km Hamilton Around the Bay were very valuable learning experiences. They
allowed me to test myself and see what I was capable of and set a
reasonable, attainable goal. With the results of my recent Sun Run half
marathon and your advice, I thought that I would shoot for a 3:10
marathon.

Before the race starts is a very exciting time. For me it's at that
time that I mentally question all the training you've done and wonder
if you had enough quality workouts to meet the goal. It's also a time
to wish other Sudbury Rocks members well with a good luck hug. Monique
and I now have a new pre-race good luck routine that seemed to work well
for me. I will let her explain.

The start of the race went well, I was about 10 feet from the start
line, just behind the elite Kenyan runners. I followed their pace for
almost 3 seconds before losing sight of them. All I had to do now was
settle down and run 4:30 / km for the next 42.2 km. Running with a GPS
watch allows me to instantly determine my pace and adjust it to meet my
goal. At about 10 km, Shawn passed me and we chatted for a bit. I found
my planned pace comfortable and decided against the temptation to pick
up my pace to keep up with him.

As I crossed the half marathon point I felt good but was starting to
wonder how I would feel after running another half. It was great to see
other Sudbury Rocks members cheer me on. Shortly after that, I saw my
family cheering me on and I slowed for a moment to give them all
high-fives before continuing on for the back half of the race. I tried
to stick to my planned pace and try and stay hydrated and take gels on
the half hour.

Previous to this, the longest race I had ever ran was the 30 km Around
the Bay so when I crossed the 30 km mark it was all virgin territory for
me and I wasn't sure how I would be after the 30 km point. Before the
race, I kept hearing about people bonking and was waiting for the sudden
fatigue to hit but it never really did. At around the 35 km mark when I
was cresting the highest part of the race, I was starting to get tired
but not to the point where I felt like I needed to stop. Mentally I was
starting to think, "Man - why do people run this far?" Then someone
on the side of the race shouted "It's all down hill from here" and then
at that point of the race I was starting to look forward to completing
the race and knowing that I would likely finish with my goal time.
Knowing that I was going to meet my goal, I wasn't pushing it to hard at
the end. I thought Shawn was farther ahead because he passed me early on
in the race at about the 10 km mark. I saw him again at around the 34 km
mark and I had estimated that he would be a couple minutes ahead. Had I
spotted him and known that Shawn was only 22 seconds ahead of me at the
finish, then yes I would of pushed harder. Then again, knowing Shawn, he
would of pushed even harder upon seeing me. I crossed the finish line
with a time of 3:08:32 vertical and smiling.

Overall it was a great first marathon and the plan I had just fell into
place and everything went as planned. Now, I just have to decide if I
really want to run Boston?

After the race, I watched many other people and fellow Sudbury Rocks
members cross the finish and I was happy for them and enjoyed watching
their joy and exuberance of completing such a distance. Every single
person that crossed that finish line is an athlete and a marathon
runner. So, now that I have completed my first marathon, not only do I
consider myself to be a kayaker, but now I also consider myself to be a
runner.

Lawrie Oliphant Competes in the Hamilton Duathlon

Local Rocks!! runner, Lawrie Oliphant, tested himself in the Hamilton Duathlon this weekend. The event was a 5k run, 30k bike and another 5k run. Lawrie split the runs evenly and turned a good pace on the bike as well. Next up - the Tri.

Click Here for Results

Karen Beaulieu Collects Running Paycheck in Tennessee

by Karen Beaulieu

Yeehaw I'm coming home! This is my last correspondence until I am forced back to heehaw land at the end of the summer. Congratulations to all who ran Ottawa and hope everyone did what they set out to do. This past weekend I ran the Tennessee Expo 10k and did surprisingly well considering I've been a major slug and speed workouts have been terrible. I ran steady and decided my best strategy would be to remain behind Anne Wahlert, who is very strong and running very well(38 min. panther creek8k), and just coast in behind her. I thought that as long as I was behind her I would have a decent time and would be happy to end the season. I'm not sure what happened but I somehow pulled away just before the 5 mile mark and stayed there. That whole last mile I was sure every footstep behind me was Anne seeking revenge and wanting to put me in my place which should have been behind her according to how I 've been running. What's really funny is she passed me at the 2m. mark and later I caught up and and told her that I would just let her take us to the finish line(monique i know you're laughing) seriously i did not think I would beat her. Anne did not respond to this as she is Very serious and focused when racing. I smoked the competition. I came in at 44:15 or something and Anne was 44:40something Anne and I had a good laugh after as here she is concentrating on her running and all she can hear is me yelling hello to all runners(she swears) and thanking every cop we pass and then talking to her and Sabrina... I did run my butt off but i also had fun. Too much according to Anne. I came in second masters and won that coveted 125.00 check again . New York here I come! it was fun and I know all of you who know me and race with me can appreciate the humour of this race. Now back to Panther Creek race day. The whole time i am Following Bev. i am telling her to watch her footing blah blah and don't i take a major fall as soon as those words come out of my mouth for the last time. i slid on my left side down the path right into a poison ivy patch (which i did not take note of) i am now suffering from a terribly itchy rash on my inner thigh and smeller areas on my hand,arm and wrist. I told Bev she is on her own for all trails in the future. Vince you would have loved the trail run I did on Sun. up in the smokies. The view was beautiful. The trail ran along a mountain stream that was littered with huge boulders and many falls and rapids. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking and so was the route as the first 5.2 miles were All uphill. I thought of you often and how you would have loved to have taken many pictures. It was stunning. The best part of the run was going back down as we ran 8miles back down. I must admit the last 3miles felt like 30 and was very happy to see the car at the end. Bev and I had Carl take us to the start then meet us at the bottom. The first 5miles running down were fun not the last bit. Should anyone choose to come here again I would definitely take them on this trail for a run/hike. Sorry for going on for soooo long but I did want to share these stories with you guys. See you guys next week . Ms.B

Check Results Here

Worlds Harmony Run Visits Sudbury

Click here for more photos..

Members of the Sudbury Rocks!!, the Running Room and the Greater City of Sudbury welcomed the World Harmony Run Group to our City. The Run is a global relay that seeks to promote international friendship and understanding. As a symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand between members of thousands of local communities, traveling through over 70 countries around the globe.

Vince Perdue, Monique Fournier and Donna Smrek were honoured to escort members of the Harmony Run in a 5Km jog from the Running Room to City Hall. Flags and the torch were exchanged numerous times on the course and there were lots of positive honks and waves as we made our way through the city.

Check the Harmony Run Website for updates on their continuing travels

Rocks!! Revised Summer Training Hours

Here's our weekly training schedule if anybody wants to tag along. All runs start at the Cambrian Fitness Centre at 22 Pacific Avenue in Sudbury. Participants meet in the facility lobby on Saturday mornings. During winter months most weekday runs take place on Cambrian's indoor track. The Saturday run is always outdoors.

Monday to Thursday at 12:00 pm
Monday at 5:30 pm
Saturday at 8:00 am

 

Click Here for more Info...

Upcoming Events