Aug.20, 2006
North Bay's Blue Sky Runs
5k
Our North Bay Rock!!, Tim Uuksulainen
and our Wheelchair Rock!!, Minna Mettinen, competed
in the Blue Sky 5k. It appears Tim was edged out by
his son but still managed first in his age group. This
was probably Minna's best 5k and she came 2nd in her
age group.
All Results Here
Minna writes: (edited)
Today I completed
the Blue Sky 5 km race in North Bay, with a PB of 27:31
as well as being the second woman in my age category,
and 11th over all of the women.
To me, it was most
wonderful to be at the award ceremonies, and see the
various runners being congratulated for their placing
in the races (and age categories). These racers were
truly happy to be there, -as was I.
It was quite an
adventure, to get there and to make things work out
well.... had to eventually leave the racer with the
Fire Dept. Chief who was happy to store the chair for
2 days-close to the starting position.
The night before
the race, I had a liquid carb. diet consisting of a
few beers, and baby food sweet potato. Although I may
be getting a 'tongue lashing' from my coach/trainer
for having done the race this fast * lol*
since I'm training for a half marathon not a 5 km and
need to learn to reserve the energies, and he said he
wanted me to do it in the half marathon pace that we
calculated I needed in order to finish the half in the
time I wanted.
In fact, after the
race I felt so wonderful, having a certificate of placing
second (age and gender category), and 11th overall women
that it was hard to contain the grin on my face.It
felt very rewarding to see men, women and youth going
up to be recognized for their efforts at the awards
ceremonies.
There were spectators
in some windows of homes, some on the street corner
- especially at Alqonquin hill.
It was a good inspiration to see a family of several
kids dressed in their rain gear and cheering each runner
up that hill and encouraging us with "only a few
more metres and the tough part is over" (yes I
was climbing that hill slow, I had time to hear their
long and proficient congratulations for getting up that
hill -it took me almost a total of 7 min. [almost 40%
of my race time although it was about 1/2km])
The Algonguin hill
is slightly steeper then the York st. hill in Sudbury's
5KM in May (which I practice regularly and raced it
in my first race -May/06) it was longer and seemed -also
somehow more difficult. Steering a racing chair up a
steep incline is almost impossible, because once you
let go of the push rims, to get to the front wheel (steering),
you will be quickly sliding backwards.
Yes it was a race
well worth attending, and will certainly will do the
best that can to find a way to go again next again...
maybe do the 15KM then...
AND I met verchm
from these forums and felt very welcomed by her as well
as the race director and many volunteers. In fact people
were exceptionally generous in their offer of support,
and help in any way (one of their employees, on her
day -volunteering even offered to wait outside the changing
room in case I needed help changing into warmer/drier
clothing.
I truly felt happy
for each person going up to get their 1st, 2nd, 3rd
place finishing certificates/prizes as well as,
but even more so to the couple of women who came out
after the race telling me that having me there had inspired
them to continue running with a deeper intensity/frequency/seriousness.
THOSE are the moments
that I live for... the ones where someone else benefits
from something that I did.
This was a great
race, despite the fact it rained, got a 2nd place, and
broke my personal best time by over 2 min. (on a course
with my biggest hill so far), adding to my personal
satisfaction, but the true inspiration came from a woman
who participated in her first 5 km.
Thank you to you
all who encouraged me to keep trying to get there, and
to all those who worked hard to make this race happen.
15k
A number of Rocks!!
and Locals competed in the very popular 15k event. Sudbury's
Nicholas Wolynsky came 2nd overall in 54:57 bested by
North Bay's Matthew Walters who finished in 53:33.
All
Results
Tawnecia
Sauve reports on the Run:
Hello fellow Rocks
After running a slow 10 k on
Saturday, Will and I made the hour and ½ drive
to North Bay to run the Blue Sky 15 k race the next
day. It started out a
beautiful day but the weather eventually turned for
the worst that evening -
becoming very wet and cold. I was dreading the run the
next day.
By Sunday morning it was warmer
but still raining as we made our way to the
YMCA and huddled under the tents with approximately
80 other shivering
runners. You could see everyone praying it would warm
up and/or dry up as
we all headed for the start line. Will and I started
near the back of the
line as we were supposed to take it easy due to my knee
injury. We hit the
fist hill of the race at the 2.5 k mark where we were
able to pass quite a
few people, including a couple in yellow hats. Unfortunately
this
achievement did not last too long because I had to cut
it back on the down
hill portion so the yellow hats blew right by; they
now became my
goal/target for the rest of the race. As Will and I
approached the yellow
hats I saw a Tim Hortons on my right so I took this
opportunity to use the
ladies room (not surprising to those who know me) while
Will waited outside
for me. At this point and not even 1/3 through the race
we were officially
at the back of the pack and I never thought I would
catch the yellow hats
again as they were out of sight. We reached the usually
beautiful
waterfront but today it was gray and the water looked
rough (no Blue Sky in
sight). We started to gain some ground on some of the
people who passed us
at the 3 k mark and one of the couples remarked "How
was breakfast" I had to
smile as she must have noticed my run into Tim's.
During the next 5 k the wind
felt a great deal stronger as it was now at our
face most of the time so I stopped talking and completely
focused on running
(I entered the zone). Thankfully, at this point, when
I really needed it I
got an adrenaline rush as Will and I passed the yellow
hats "YES".
If you have not been to North
Bay for this particular race it is one filled
with different scenery (something I enjoy-I do not like
to run somewhere
where everything looks the same) and I find somewhat
challenging with the
two hills. Speaking of hills, with only 3k to go we
turn the corner and
there it is the dreaded Algonquin Hill. This should
have slowed me down but
it didn't do too much damage as Will and I were still
on pace when we
finally reached the top. This is thanks to Jana at ATRC
because after just
one treatment on my knee I was able to run this hill
and the entire 15k race
with little to no pain (nice for change). Now with only
2k to go Will and I
picked up our pace significantly and pushed all the
way to the finish line
with only one thought on my mind - I am going to beat
the yellow hats. Just
as this thought went through my mind, out of no where
there he was running
incredibly fast and as he passed I yelled out "Oh
No, it's the yellow hat,
Mr. what are you doing, you are my goal you have to
get back". He just
smiled politely and continued on his way. I am sure
I motivated him to run
a bit faster as he tried to get away from the crazy
runner yelling at him.
With only seconds from the finish line there was no
way I could have picked
up enough speed to catch-up to the yellow hat let alone
pass him without
re-injury so I had to let him cross the finish line
with Will and I trailing
behind him.
Despite this tragedy it was an
awesome run for me not only because I
finished in 1:22:07 but most of all because I had Will
by my side the whole
time encouraging me.
P.S. Next year I expect all of
you to join Will and I in North Bay for the
post wedding run on August 19th, 2007. For those of
you who are in the
wedding party you have no choice!!
Good Luck in future endeavors!
Tawnecia and William
