I found it hard not to run someone else's pace. In that a group would pass and I'd want to run their pace. Crazycanuck kept me in line. Started at the back, and progressed from there as the mileage picked up. Very comfortable pace. At the 5 mile mark, had to take a washroom breat - damn fruit! At about 8 mile, got a small cramp and with Crazycanucks advise, drank more and felt better. Someone shagged the mile markers as we ran accross the field and it was a little disconcerting as all we had was our time to tell us how far we were. Running in the extreme cold, my fuel belt was exposed and two of the five bottles froze.
Gels worked well as I downed 1 every 45 min. Warm them up in glove and they go down easier.

1)lighter meal the night before and into bed earlier.
2)significantly lower alcohol 1 week prior as there were three heavy nights as I was away from home and on course
3)remove the fruit and yogurt from pre race meal( and I knew that and forgot!)
4)pack race bag the night before
5)scout the water locations and drink more and parhaps not bring my own source
6)wear the bodylynx system in case markers are off
7)drink more, weigh less!

Walked into the chalet and changed to dry cloths. Immediately downed bottle gatorade and a protein shake. Washroom break(almost empty and very yellow). Hit the hot tub about an hour after race, felt ok, more gatorade. Treated ourselves to burger factory(double quarterpounnder and poutine, ice tea) and two tylenal.
Weighd in about 3-4 pounds less than started.


Number one reason was weight. I believe the cold and all the clothing were significant factors but we had no choice and I believe that everyone could have ran the same course faster in warmer weather.

The weight thing is big. I can only imagin doing that at 185!


I found this to be an overall very well organized event. We had police stopping traffic for us, volunteers showing us the way and the positive comraderie by all the runners was very well appreciated. My wife is wearing the gift toque today. I was a little discombobulated by the mileage markers and the accuracy of the overall distance. I rated the post race acivities low because the meal looked great and I was really looking forward to it but the seating was inadequate and there was a twenty minute line up to eat so we passed on that. But these are only minor and the overall setting was fantastic and extremely posisitve.

I learned a hell of a lot on just this one event. I am one of those guys who has to learn from experience, and because of that, I did some things my way instead of listening to the wiser beings. The wiser beings are usually correct!

Overall, race wise I have to drink more and weigh less. I feel a great sense of accomplishment and am proud I trained so hard and feel pretty good today. I am pleased by the fact I had gas left in the tank at the end.

And thanks to Crazycanuck for being a good run partner.