| Wheelchair
1/2 Marathon - by Minna Mettinen
It actually started early Monday25th, the preparation
that is. Rowed (ergo meter) a slow 2 hr for 20 km,
did a bit of strength work etc., but basically worked
on feeding myself and keeping myself hydrated so
I also could have that magical colourless urine
before race day. It worked. By FridaY I was certain
the calendars ALL must be wrong and the race day
had arrived.
Went for a short 5 km 'round the block' and waited...
for Sat. AM to arrive, for the traveling to start.
I knew I would feel like I am already"half
way there" if I just start traveling South.
It worked, until I saw the rain and the amaZing
wind on Sat. night. After picking up the great Mizuno
technical shirt, the PEC marathon socks, and other
items such as a Mizuno bag, and munchies I headed
on to drive the route.
I was shocked to see that those which I interpreted
as hills in the elevation map, seemed more like
humps in the road in Sudbury (seriously, we have
a 6 degree hill on our 5 Km course, which I race
here)
I apologize to those who felt these hills to be
somewhat difficult, I mean no disrespect for your
challenge, and applaud you for toughing it out and
getting to the finish! That was the best thing I
could have seen,
those hills. I quickly told myself that the hill
at 16 Km I would need to just work it, and forget
about the watering station. I had brought with me,
2 water bottles, 2 Gatorade bottles
and a pouch full of power gels.
They had a slightly earlier start for the half
marathoners who either considered themselves to
be slow,'
and/or were doing their first half. Of course I
joined, finally a group i FIT IN! the first timers.
So off I went, and carefully tried to get past
the majority of the congestion, and apologize to
the lady whom I almost frightened as I came up to
her, thought I could squeeze by her, but realize
i needed to ask her to move within metres of me
behind her. After that I stayed clear of the people.
Only one way to do that... get ahead of them, and
stay there ;lol;
By km 3 1/2 km I realized there were only 3 of
those early starters left to pass and I could have
the road to myself! at 4 Km I realized that my heart
beat was finally slowing down. It was recording
109 when I woke up the AM of the race, AND at the
starting line I was sitting there with a 154 heart
beat!. It quickly rose to 177/bpm but at 4 KM, when
there were only two runners from the 'early half
marathoners' left,
I decided to take them on the outside of a corner,
since they were on the bumpy part of the road anyway's,
and after that I never saw them again (when I tried
to look back after a km or so).
Then it occurred to me, that at 7KM, I was all
alone, could ride where ever I wanted on the road,
AND I was clocking in at 32 min. couple of seconds
@ 7km and I quickly assessed my condition to be
such that
i knew I could keep that pace, and do a bit of negative
splits before the hills began.
Then I noticed a distressing and potentially very
dangerous problem with my wheelchair. The left fender
(made of magnesium) had bent so slightly that I
had been rubbing on the tire and eaten through the
black surface, the red one below and exposing the
fibers which hold the tire together. Realizing that
there are no "pit crew' vehicles permitted
on the route, what option do I have but to continue.
Quitting now, would be out of the question, I would
have taken the chance of getting a flat, and waiting
for ever to get it fixed and still finish the course.-
I was determined to do it. Luckily that tire held
together for the whole event.
Also at 15 or 14, or 16 km I realized that I had
plenty of water, and Gatorade left. Only drank half
of the water, 2 power gels, and 3/4 of a Gatorade,
throughout the race.
I did load up on 3 jars of baby food squash, and
sweet potato, with mashed potatoes, flax seeds and
yogurt the night before as well as more sweet potato,
a can of EnsurePlus and extra salt the AM of the
race.
(I woke up at 2:30AM and could not sleep).
At the next drinking station I gave myself a little
shower with a cup of water, and threw my empty Gatorade
container towards their garbage, and the empty power
gel packs I had been carrying around. I used the
station's water as I was slowing down for the aid
station, to help my head remain cooler under the
helmet. I had one of those under armor 'skull caps'
to catch the sweat under my helmet so I didn't have
the stinging eyes problem I used to have. I wore
dark sun glasses despite the sun-less sky, because
I need my polarized sun glasses every day on the
roads, for they point out the areas I must avoid
with these tires.
By km 16 or so, when that hill came up (the first
of the two 'biggest hills' this course has,) Realizing
it was honestly NOT bigger then one of the 4 hills
we have on our bicycle track (the safest location
to ride my racer), I started to feel confident.
I KNEW I could do this.... there was only one such
hill at km 18 and only slightly steeper.
Surely enough, two of the elite runners (the man
who won the marathon) coming up with only about
1/2 km behind around 17km. I decided that if they
can't get me on that last hill,
I might just be riding into Picton alone, as the
first person.
Surely it happened, I do not HOW, because I climb
hills like a baby learning to crawl. These elite's
were gaining, but luckily for me I was able to get
on to the crest of km 19 and guess what!!?? IT WAS
DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY!, except for a slight incline
at the very end ([perhaps 1/2 -3/4 of a km)
When I rode the distance the night before, I thought
that was going to be the toughest hill, since it
was right at the finish. I was wrong
(I really should get used to that notion... its
not uncommon for me to be wrong)
I started having fun with the crowds. I finally
dared to look at the watch again, it was not yet
at 1:50
so I decided that this was the best time to thank
every one I met....
I kept on riding, smiling, waving and continually
saying things like: "thank you sir for being
here" to an elderly gentleman watching alone.
"Thank you volunteers, without you we could
not do this -thank you!":
"thank you officers, without you we would never
be able to do this" to all the officers looking
after road closures.
"Thank you! I am HONOURED to hear your words"
to the spectators shaking their cow bells, waving
signs and generally cheering me on as if I was their
relative whom they cared about.
Spectators came in large groups, various ages
and sizes. ALL were cheering for me. At one point
about km 20, I slowed down to take one last drink
of everything I still had (LOTS left over) and a
police man drove by on his motorcycle encouraging
me very much.. telling me I could make it in less
then 2 hrs if I just
push a little more. I did give it a bigger push
with each stroke of the wheel propelling me forward,
and with increased speed.
Finally the last corner came, that last hill which
I didn't at the time feel like it was a hill even....
I saw the blue finish like arch, the timer and realized
that I could easily make this under 2 hrs. The white
flag held along the finish line told me my suspicions
were right. Noon had yet finished. (although within
5 min. or so the two elite runners showed up at
the tent,
AND they had just done a FULL marathon! )
Despite the fact that I got into the finish line
first, does not make me the first place finisher.
I ended up with a chip time of 1:54:20, about 5
min. faster then I hoped for, I going for my "gold"
time. (everyone had told me, to make 3 goals, 3-finish
it, 2-your realistic finishing time, and 1_gold-the
best time
you think you can realistically do-which I agreed
to switch from 2 hrs to 2:20 for gold and 2:30 for
silver,
but 1 day and 17hrs prior to the race I realized
i love racing too much to settle for a goal any
less than that
I wanted it to be. 2 hrs or less!.
I NEVER once felt like I had ran out of water,
glucose or electrolytes. Never once was my mouth
dry, skin shivering or teeth chattering. I feel
good that I was able to pace my intake for my needs.
The weather was perfect, slightly breezy, not hot,
and the rain was not a huge issue.... I discovered
a long time ago it does not do permanent damage,
nor is it lethal.... so now I actually love to race
in the rain.
This was an exceptionally fast course, and I feel
confident that if I can keep up the pace I want
to develop during this winter, I will be able to
come back to PEC next yr. and give a decent try
towards getting a Boston Qualifying time. This first
half I was not too far from my Boston qualifying
time. I had thought it was 2:40 but in fact for
a class 3 or 4 disability the qualifying time for
Boston is around 3:40 or 3:50.
It definitely is true, i LOVE LONG DISTANCE racing.
PEC marathon is probably the fastest Boston qualifying
course there is, if I can do the half in less then
2 hrs without ever racing anything longer then a
few 5 km's, without knowing what lsd, fartlek or
intervals are In January, then anyone who has ran
a marathon and wishes to try for Boston this would
be the course to get your qualifying time. The first
half of the course is even flatter then the second
half I came to discover since I drove the whole
route..
the motto for PEC should be,
"if minna can do it, so can you!".
_minna Results
here
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SURGEON GENERAL WARNING:
Exclusion of people with disabilities could be hazardous
to your community!
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