A record 9,000+ registered for this 10th Annual Sporting Life 10K. The event is Toronto's largest single-distance running event. Because of its many downhills, it's billed as "Canada's Fastest 10K". It plunges down the country's most-famous street, Yonge St, and goes south finishing at Roundhouse Park on Bremner, just behind the CN tower.

I haven't been at such a hugh race for a long time. Good atmosphere, and great to see so many people out. This race is 5 times bigger than when I first did it in 1998 (the 1st Sporting Life 10K).

First half was just under 25min. No downhill last 2K, 5:12 for both 9th and 10th K, so no sub 50 today.

Nothing. After the fact, I always think maybe I could have pushed harder. Fact is, at the time, I'm running as hard as I could.

Wish I could have set a PB and gone sub 50min. But overall, I'm pleased since:
1. I ran in the 10th anniversary of the Sporting Life 10K. Got a nice ring to it, don't you think - 10K, 10th anniversary, Sporting Life!
2. The fastest I've gone is 50:17, so today is 2 sec slower. But that was 9 yrs ago (the 1st Sporting Life 10K), when I was in the Women 35-39 group, I'm now in Women 45-49! Although 9 yrs ago, there was no computer chip so actual run time was probably <50:17.
2. This is the 1st race of the season, so I haven't done much speedwork yet. Actually, this IS my speedwork.
3. This time is based so far in 2007, on 2 runs/wk, <2hrs of running/wk, and ~10mi/wk. So a great result relative to training time, couldn't have gotten a better bang for the buck.
4. Only ~20% of Canadians are physically active. Even if they all have the fitness level to do a 10K (which is unlikely), by placing in the 11th percentile, that puts me in top 2% of my age group. Gotta be pleased about that!