Scotiabank Vancouver Half-marathon - RunHalf Marathon

So, got out front of Irving K. Barber library into the gong-show which was the starting chute. Looked around to see if I recognized anyone, but no dice!

Managed to squeek my way to the MOP luckily! The horn went off and it was time to go! There was a 17 second discrepancy between my Gun time and Chip time, so I was pretty happy with how far up I got.

So, now the race! The first 2 km literally flew by (see splits in the addtl lap and HR data box). At km 3 I saw 3 Kenyans in a group that were about 30m ahead of the next few guys. Bloody hell they are fast! I felt great until about km 8, as the kilometres were literally flying by, until I started feeling a little crampy. There were water stations every 3km, but I had only gotten water until that point. At the 9km water station I grabbed gatorade and my cramp went away almost immediately.

From there on, it was a gorgeous and smooth run to about the 15km mark, where I felt like I was totally fading, so I grabbed my Power gel from my shorts and downed it with some water at the 15km aid station. YUM, I friggen love caffeinated things. My energy just bounced back and I felt like racing again!

THis is where I started passing guys who passed me at about the 7-9 km mark when I was recovering from my electrolyte deficiency/cramps. I wished them Good race as I went by and a quick smile nod between gasps for air :P. So we get to the Burrard street bridge and this one guy I had been back and forth with all race ran beside me and started pushing me ("cmon we can catch this guy, keep it going etc."). It was awesome!!! I was super stoked he was there since I do sometimes need that sort of talk. We caught one, then 2 guys and tried to catch this one super fast woman, but couldn't. Then I needed to stop for water at the last aid station just shy of km 20, but he didn't so he pulled ahead.

At km 21 there was a timing mat, which many people thought was the finish so they stopped, but it really meant there was still 100m left. I booked it like hell for that last 100m passing 2 people who were kinda cruising. I just wanted to pretend I still had energy left, when in reality, I WAS HURTING LIKE NEVER BEFORE!

Seriously, an amazing experience!! Not to mention UNEXPECTEDLY coming in 2nd in my AG, which earned me a prize from New Balance. Me and Carolyn left before awards since I thought I didnt come top 3. I was definitely SUPER happy to see I was wrong when results came out online :D :D :D




Not get water at the last aid station :P

Walked around with Carolyn! Ate a FULL SIZE banana, then went down to English Bay so I could semi-ice-bath myself! Felt SO good!


Nothing that I know of!
I can always go faster though, so that = more training!!!


Loved the race and the organization of it!! Very cleanly pulled off!

It was a lot of downhill on the course, and I HATE downhill, but I guess it's faster! I definitely prefer uphill!

I think Steve King was announcing? Anyone else know anything about this?
Regardless if it was him or not, he was awesome!