February 23, 2006

    Clinics

1. From Austin to Boston
2. Rocks!! Run the Re-Fridgee in Waterloo
3. Our Southern Rock!! Runs in Tennessee 1/2
4. Minna Mettinen's "Journey to a Marathon"
5. Runners/Walkers Required for TV Commercial
6. Upcoming Events
7. Running Room Run Club Update
8. Track North News - by Dick Moss
9. Mike's Tri Adventure - by Mike Coughlin

From Austin to Boston

           (Qualifying for the Big Show)

There are numerous Boston qualifying marathons out there for anyone contemplating a trip to the "Big Show". The Boston Organizing Committee actually allow about a 15 month window before the April event where your marathon finishing time will allow you entry into the Boston Marathon - if you meet the qualifying time standards. Most runners choose a spring or fall event as the weather is cooler and the training a little easier. For Northerners Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara are the favourite qualifying venues. The courses are relatively easy and there's lots of breathing space preceding the big event. So no later than November Boston wannarunners have either qualified -or not.

It doesn't work that way for everyone. Life sometimes gets in the way of best laid plans. Boston is beckoning, you're only 1/2 trained and the last fall race is already behind you. What to do?... Go to Austin of course!

Rocks!! member, Jan Weeres did it in 2001 - qualified -and made the Boston race 2 months later.

Not to be outdone or left out of a road trip, Rocks!! member, Sheila Yaw-Maclean, along with her pacer Monique Fournier, commenced training this December for Austin to get to Boston.

The trip to Austin Texas was less then ideal as Toronto was in the midst of a blizzard. On arriving very late in the Texas capital, the temperatures promptly dropped from 25 deg. C to about 0 with some freezing rain and there was serious talk about event cancellation. Normal Austin temperatures are about 15 deg C this time of year.

The race did go off although they commenced the event 1/2 hour late to ensure the iced up overpasses were sanded and safe.

Monique dutifully paced Sheila until she was confident her charge was comfortably on pace. Sheila then took over and followed all prearranged time goals arriving at the finish line under her qualifying requirement (Gun 3:50:25) (Chip app. 3:49:00). Now on to Boston!

So you can get your run in the early marathons and wait out the winter or be a last chancer like Jan in 2001 and Sheila this weekend. Both ways work just fine. Just ask the ladies.

Results

Rocks!! Run the Re-Fridgee in Waterloo

by Katherine (Leslie) McLosky

Well, the race lived up to it's name. Who would have thought that Waterloo, a place that had no snow the week before could be so darn cold!!!!
The thermometer read only -14 but you know what they say "IT"S A DAMP COLD"

The venue was at RIM Park, an excellent athletic facility with the bonus of having an onsite Williams Cafe, a pizza place and a bar. (If it's not about the equipment it's about the food)
The race start for both the 8 KM and the 8 Miler was at 10:00 hrs. I was eager to get warmed up because I knew the cold weather would be a shocker when we went outside. Dave was not so keen on a lengthly warm up. He explained to me that since this 8 km was the longest race he had ever undertaken he really couldn't afford to expend any energy on the pre race warm up. He walked the hall a couple of times while I braved the arctic like conditions debating on neck gator or balaclava.

Not too much drama in this run it was situated out in the open fields so the wind was definitely a factor. It had snowed prior to the race so the footing on the roads was a bit iffy. I started out strong and was doing well until the child with the dog passed me like they were out for a jaunt around the block. I thought WOW, they don't even look like they are making any kind of effort. Very efficient runners both the canine and human. Then I thought aha, that's really cheating because the dog is pulling her along. Then I noticed that she was doing the 8 miler so I didn't have to worry about them. I know you're supposed to run your own race bla bla bla, but I tend to have a focus problem, "RADD" Runner's Anything Does Distract

There was one brutal hill with a thin strip of pavement showing through the snow. All the runners were filing up battling the wind. I encouraged a young guy to go ahead of me because he would be stronger. He said "Oh yah so I can block the wind for you". I really was doing it to be polite but hey what ever works.

Thankfully the finishing stretch was with the wind at our backs, I was glad that I wasn't doing the 8 miler. Dave came in shortly after looking quite frozen but happy to have done the race.
Afterward there was hot chocolate, pizza, hot dogs, bagels fruit....... Yummy.

Dave was 6th in his age group in 41:12 (uncorrected) and I won the women's 2nd place overall masters award in a time of 38.09 (uncorrected) SO IT WAS REALLY 37 something ........ grrrrrrrr I know I know it's not about the finishing time bla bla bla, but how you felt about your race....
Perhaps Kona and I will see you at the next race. Hee Hee Hee
Leslie

Results

Our Southern Rock!! Runs in Tennessee 1/2

by Karen Beaulieu

It snowed here Sat. and we still had snow on Sunday but it slowly disappeared unlike your snow. Conditions weren't the best but I decided to run a half marathon (The Strawberry Plains) on Sat. morning anyway.

It was raining, then sleet, then snow! When I left at 7am it was in the sleet phase. The ground was covered in ice and I thought I would bail out of the race on the way there. It did turn to snow and was very cold and I was still sitting on the fence about running.

Before the 9am start it did stop snowing and I had traveled all the way there so...people still remember me bailing for Calhoun's a couple of years ago so the pressure was on. Bailing was not an option.

Bev and I ran together for the first 6 miles then I went off on my own. Maybe if I actually ran my own race my time would be better.

I came in at 1:43 and was not really happy with that time but I did screw around the first part so I don't know what I was expecting. It was even worse than last years time. I think I need to re think my running style and get back into some speed work or something. :) Oh well maybe I"ll just hit the trails and not worry about what happens on the roads...

I am still having problems with my back but I think it is all hip related. I am seeing a massage therapist once a week for the last 3 weeks but am not problem free yet . He thinks it is all related to my accident back in 89 when I was hit by that damn cop car in Timmins. Moral of the story never get between a cop and the donut store...ha ha. Happy trails, Karen

KNOXVILLE TRACK CLUB PRESENTS:
18TH ANNUAL STRAWBERRY PLAINS HALF MARATHON

STRAWBERRY PLAINS, TN FEBRUARY 18, 2006 9:00 AM Weather: upper 30's, sleet,snow

80 2/8 Karen Beaulieu 44 F KNOXVILLE TN 1:43:50 7:56

Meet Minna Mettinen.

She's the latest addition to the Sudbury Rocks!! Running Club and our very first wheelchair athlete.

Her long term goal:  To complete the Boston Marathon

The Path:  lots of training outdoors and at the YMCA.

Minna's First Race:  Continental Insulation 5km Sun Run in Sudbury on May 7.

Check out Minna's continuing "Journey Reports" at: http://marathonoflife.blogster.com/journey_continues_support.html

Check out Minna's photos at: http://www.picturetrail.com/minnas_marathon

Welcome aboard Minna.

Runners/Walkers Required for TV Commercial

The SUDBURYROCKS!!! Run Committee are looking for runners/walkers to appear in our upcoming TV Commercials promoting the SUDBURYROCKS!!! Race, Run or Walk for Diabetes.

Fulfill your dream to make the big screen!

We will accept males and females of all ages and body types.

If interested, please contact our Event or Promotions Directors.

Upcoming Events

Visit our Events Section for all the Details