Around the Bay 30km Race
Hamilton, ON
Sunday, March 28th 2010
Well after 6 or 7 times running this race (my favourite, of course) and the last two netting me a silver medal (2:11:00 in 2007 and 2:03:10 in 2009), this year was my time to go for gold (sub-2 hour clock time). I was so determined to achieve this that I actually signed up for this year’s race last year when they first announced that the registration had opened. The next thing I did was inform my coach that this was a main goal of mine for 2010.
Well, the gods were smiling on over 10,000 runners on this day as the weather was perfect for racing, 4-7 degrees, light wind (for this time of the year), clear roads and the rain held off for many of the runners. If I was going to do it this would be the day, besides with all the successful training since last fall, I would actually have to succumb to an injury or break under pressure.
When faced with this type of adversity, I actually remind myself of the Running Free motto, “Believe it, achieve it”. If you don’t believe me ask fellow Team RF’er Anthony Davey as I reminded him of this at the start line of this race. It actually works, especially in the rough patches of longer races.
The gun went off and I was sure to do my best to follow the race plan and not get caught up in the initial surge and over-pacing of all the anxious racers. I went through 10k in 38:28, 15k in 58:14 and 20k in 1:17:12. Actually I really turned it up in the second half (yeah, the hilly part) and did the second half in 57:28. Yup, a 46 second negative split. You see, it pays to listen to and follow your coach’s race plan.
I finished in a clock time of 1:55:42 which was good enough for 38th place overall and 3rd in my age group (6th actually but the first 3 were the top masters). I was pleased with this results as this was comfortably in gold medal territory.
Some of the other Team RF’ers finished as follows: Scott Mcdonell in 1:56:11, Greg McNab in 1:57:29, Dan Mckinnon in 2:00:32 (great effort and welcome to the Ajax team), Anthony Davey in 2:03:44 (not bad considering you were fighting a bad back) and I’d also like to point out the great efforts of the 3 new owners of Running Free Ajax, Steve Ockrant, Garth Boucher and Veronique Boucher. Their results were 2:20:06 (2:18:41 chip), 2:31:42 (2:30:20), and 3:04:31 (3:03:00) respectively. Well done Team. I know I missed a lot of other Team RF’ers but hey forgive me as the Team has grown so much and there were a lot running this race.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this, my favourite race. Come out and experience it. Who knows it just might become your favourite race.
Good Job Mike – I had you in my sites at 10k & 15k.
then you announced your presence with authority!
Good work, and a great running day!
Greg
Mike, that is an awesome result and amazing improvement over last seasom. You are burning up the roads.
As you pointed out, the team did a super job in this tough race. Congrats all Team Running Free ATB’ers!
Mike, scary training regimen. No mystery to me why you have improved so much. I tailed you up to 5k and it is so obvious you are primed for great results this year. Enjoy the ride and the rewards. I am so glad I am 45.
Mike…you are crazy fast! Great job at ATB. I hope we can run together this summer so I can learn more from an experienced runner such as yourself.
Wow, 38th overall in one of the most competitive races in the golden horseshoe. Good job Mike!
Mike
Come and see me and so we can work on that speed of yours.
Garth