June1, 2006

    Clinics

1. Ottawa's Race Weekend
2. Rocks!! do Cabot Trail
3. Fitfriends 5k and 10k Cancelled - See Upcoming Events Below
4. Are You Ready to Tri This Summer - by Mike Coughlin

Ottawa's Race Weekend

On May 27 and 28 approximately 30,000 entrants took part in Ottawa's now famous Race Weekend. Runners, skaters, walkers, and wheelchair athletes came from around the world to take part in a multitude of events from the Family 2k Walk/Run all the way to the Marathon.

Of course a number of Rocks!! and locals (over 100) also made their way to the Nation's Capital to test themselves in the competition of their choice and to cheer on those in the other events.

Some of us are trudgers, some of us are a little faster and a few of us are actually rather good at this stuff but it's still a great thrill and a little humbling to be able to take part in events where you can compete with and watch the greatest in the world do what they do best. I was able to watch the start and finish of the Nordion 5k and 10k races and to watch these athletes run at app. 2.8 minutes/km (nearly 22km/hr) is truly awesome.

Congratulations to all finishers for inspiring performances in difficult conditions. Special commendations to Ron Poirier for coming first in his age group in the 1/2 Marathon (1:40:25), Frank Lesk for coming 2nd in his age group in the 10k (38:54), Shawn Schryer for coming 158th overall out of 3257 starters in the marathon in very hot conditions (3:06:23) and to Lise Edwards, the 5 hour marathon pace bunny, for bringing her charges home right on time (gun: 5:00:17.3, chip 4:56:25.8).

Check out Results Here

CBC Sports filmed a two and half hour special on the Ottawa Marathon that will be broadcast on CBC Television (Eastern times) on the following programs:
CBC Sports Saturday
Saturday, June 3, 2006
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ottawa Marathon

Runner's Comments David Ross writes: Observations from a Novice Half Marathoner: A funny thing happened on the way to the finish line....it seems that Mr. Lennon was right: Life IS what happens when you're busy making other plans. And so it was at the ING Ottawa Half Marathon. After faithfully completing my training schedule, cranking the speed, doing the hills, and putting in the miles, race day arrived on a beautiful Sunday morning in Ottawa. Surrounded by fellow Rocks!! runners, I set out with the prospects of another memorable finish, in the warmth of friends and competitors. But fate has a cruel way of delivering a last minute twist. A curve ball you can't get wood on. A wrinkle you just can't iron out. And that came in the form of 28 degree heat, humidity, and blazing sun. Something I hadn't trained for, and was completely unprepared for. After completing the first half of the race on pace for my target time (thanks, Stephanie), the heat kicked in, and the wheels fell off. For some reason, the legs refused to listen to the brain, and my entire focus shifted from pace to preservation. I've never experienced the unbearable longing for a water station only 500 metres after I've passed the last one, nor had I prepared for a home-stretch with no gas in the tank (had I been on a camel, I may have understood the oasis I imagined from one turn to the next). While I did manage to finish (thanks to Vince's unwavering commitment to "leave no soldier behind"), I am humbled by the experience, and look forward to redemption in my next half marathon. THAT race, will have the afore-mentioned memorable finish, for all the right reasons. The bitterness of having WALKED in a road race has now subsided, and the disappointment has now turned to determination. Frustration has turned to inspiration. There's work left undone, and I anxiously await my next opportunity to right the ship, and enjoy the day. My very special thanks to Stephanie and Vince for trying to get me to my goal. Dave Ross. Lise Perdue writes: Congratulations to all who participated in the Ottawa race weekend. It sure was a “hottie”, but well worth the experience. I had fun and enjoyed the 21.1 kms. despite the various bodies dropping off on the side of the road. The spectators are very encouraging and make it worth running in Ottawa.

 

Rocks!! do Cabot Trail

Christine Delahunty and Sheila Yaw-MacLean had the good fortune to be invited to join 2 Relay Teams on the 2006 Cabot Trail Relay Race -( a 185 mile/298km, 17 stage relay race through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world! Legs vary from 12km to 20km in length and in difficulty from steep mountains to the gently rolling Margaree Valley). Christine got the fast Mixed Team and Sheila took the more relaxed Female Team. Both got Leg 13 ( 15.88 km . Easy rolling leg through Acadian farms & seacoast to finish at Joe’s Scarecrow & Diner. A quiet peaceful leg for the night owl on your team; no street lights out here. Rises to a maximum elevation of 30m.) Good going Ladies! Results below .

3. 20:31:03 BRUCE TRAIL MIX

13 01:18:42 Christine Delahunty 13 13 Mixed

61. 29:06:07 CHICKS RUNNING CLICKS

13 01:25:26 Sheila Yaw-MacLean 19 13 Female

All Results Here

Read Sheila and Christine's "Excellent Adventure" below

How do two Women from Sudbury go from promoting the Sudbury Rocks!! Marathon at Around the Bay in Hamilton to running the Cabot Trail Relay 2 months later. Christine Delahunty and I somehow managed it. There we were trying to encourage people to come to our race when two very nice looking gentlemen, one with an Austrilian accent no less, approached us and said they had a team going to the Cabot Trail Relay but were short a female runner due to injury and asked if one of us wanted to be part of it. At first we said no until they mentioned that they were going to the Lower Deck in Halifax prior to the race.... Christine went berserk. Sheila!!!! we have to go. Having seen our enthusiam the Team Captain said that both of us could go if we wanted to because there may be other injuries on the team. By the time we got back to Sudbury we were going.

What an experience. Getting on the plane on Thursday in Hamilton both Christine and I questioned what the heck we were doing. Here we were basically going to the other side of country to spend 5 days with 17 people we didn't know. We arrived in Halifax, went to the Lower Deck that evening as promised and by that time we knew we had made the right decision. What an amazing group of people.....The Bruce Trail Mix.

The next day we drove to Beddeck, checked into our motel and the team started talking strategy. Did I tell you that every member of the team was very fit and that this team has won the Mixed Division category 2 out of the 5 times they've done it. It was at that time that I knew I was in trouble. How the heck could I run with this caliber of runners. As it turned out Christine ran on the Bruce Trail Mix team and I ran on a great team of wonderful ladies called Chicks Running Clicks. Somehow that was more appropriate for me. We both ran leg 13 which started at 2am. Christine did a PB on her leg which is amazing in itself...how does one run at 2am in the morning with no sleep and still do a PB. Girl, you were on fire. For those of you not familiar with the Cabot Trail Relay it's a relay race around the Cabot Trail consisting of 17 legs starting at 7am Saturday morning and going until I think after 8am Sunday morning.....NO SLEEPING....and there's basically not a flat leg to be had.

I could go on and on about the race and the fun times that we had and the new friends that we made but all I'll say is that I'm glad that I'm a runner. Running has definitely opened the door to new experiences and to meeting wonderful people.

Finally....Christine would like to put in a female team of 8 runners next year called Pedro and the Winnebago where she runs legs 1 & 2 and 16 & 17. The team will arrive in a Winnebago fully loaded with all amenities including Thomas the Chef. Anyone interested please let her know. Spots will be filling up fast. :)

Oh Yeah...statistics...The Bruce Trail Mix team finished 3rd out of 65 teams and once again won the Mixed Division category....they were Smokin. Chicks Running Clicks came in 61st which was better than last year.

........On to the next adventure.

Upcoming Events

 

Saturday, June 3, 2006 DATE + TIME Saturday, June 3, 2006 @ 9:00am. Sudbury Running Room Cedar Pointe Plaza 117-1984 Regent St Sudbury, ON P3E 5S1 Phone: (705) 523-4664 Information Store Map

 

Sunday, June 11, 2006 5km & 10k Walk/Run Refunds Available at the Running Room for those preregistered.

 

Saturday July 1, 2006 Information

 

Visit our Events Section for all the Details