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Race Reports - 2007 - Ottawa Marathon Steve's Report
Where to start? I guess everyone has seen the times elsewhere on the site by now. So, let me start with a great big thanks to everyone at Phoenix for all the fantastic training runs and for sharing all your experiences (good and bad). At the top of the list is Bill...without your training program and in particularly your advice over the past month, I wouldn't have come anywhere near the time I did today...thanks.
The other thanks goes out to Jim and Sonja for driving all the way to Ottawa to see the race...the Phoenix banner was great! I see from the other posts that Bill and Raeann were there also...sorry I didn't see you...thanks for the support.
OK, the race. Now, this being my first marathon, I was a little bit worried about starting too fast (actualy I think Bill was more than a little bit worried about this)...all the races I have done up to now have started much faster than a marathon...and since I have a bit of a reputation for starting too fast then doing a pretty serious crash and burn later in the race 
, I decided I would start with the 3:30 bunny so I would start at about a 5:00/km pace...and see how long I could hold that. So off we go and my bunny takes off like a bat out of hell...he's about 10 yards behind the 3:20 bunny and looking to challenge on the outside...so people are starting to shout and complain....2km in and I'm watching my race plan get flushed...mainly because I wasn't letting this damn bunny out of my sight....did the first 3 km at 4:36 per...not good.
Then, after 10 minutes the bunny slams on the brakes and starts to walk! Turns out they were sponsored by the Running Room so they were all doing 10's and 1's....he stopped, I kept going with a bunch of very confused people. Then I remembered Bill's last words to me the other day..."your watch is your friend...use it"...what a concept. It still took me until about km 6 to get my pace settled down with a few other runners at about 4:55/km.
Up to the half I was feeling good, pace steady...then when I saw my split (1:41)....it was , uh oh, hope I didn't pull a Michelle 
...seemed kinda fast. My next goal was to get to 30km at the same 5:00/km pace...came pretty close. My first km over 5mins was at 28km...with no sign of that silly wabbit (3:30 bunny). I'm at 30 km, ahead of the 3:30 bunny... starting to think this BQ thing may actually work out.
Next goal...get to 35km (highest point on course)....then the rest is just a run down the canal to the finish...sounds simple...ha! 30 - 35km was starting to get a lot less fun! At 35km that ^$%% rabbit and what was left of his entourage (5 people) came by...hmmm obviously time for the secret weapon...yes, the green beans!! That got me a couple more km closer the finish at a decent pace...then the fade started again.
Then with 5km to go...looking at the watch, doin' the math...Boston looking very possible...if I can convince the bod to get moving. The last few km were a very educational experience. My splits were pretty inconsistent but it wasn't the legs...they were tired yes, but still able to go pretty well...it was all in the head...when I was able to convince myself that it would stupid to give back all the time I had "earned" over the race, I could put in a good km.
Finally, with one last encouragement from Jim and Sonja, the finish line came into view and I crossed the line in a bit of a daze but managed to line myself up directly under the clock and summon up that one last smile that I had stored away about 15km before!!!
Great race, fantastic experience...bring on Philly!!!...then Beantown!
Steve Allen