Most Memorable Year!

It's hard to believe it is the end of the year as well as the end of our journey with the Nathan team!

What a wonderful opportunity this has been! While I much appreciated the many tangible gifts we received as team members, more important was connecting with the members, and being part of a team!! I can quite honestly say that without my sponsorship and membership this past race season would not have been as memorable nor would I have surpassed my own expectations!

Flashback to June and my first Olympic distance tri. I have no doubt that, without the team that I was expected to report back to, I would have quit the swim and climbed into the boat for good! haha! However, the lessons learned that day were put to use just 3 weeks later as I completed my first Half Ironman!

Having to commit publicly to my race schedule early in the year made me focus on several goals one of which was to go longer. But I also succeeded in going stronger...and more... with 13 races this season, several of them pb's. I was also able to encourage my daughter to complete her first Half Marathon, and two friends to enter 10+ km races ;D!

My present broken shoulder brings me full circle as I am back to mending and healing. At age 55 it would be easier to say my training and racing days are behind me, but thanks to the encouragement of Nathan this past year, I know that in 6 months I will again be redefining my human possibilities by participating in Stony's GWN Tri.

Thank you Team Nathan for this experience!!

~ Valerie ~

It was the Blog before Christmas--Mark Wigmore

I love reading the year-end blogs from the other Nathan athletes--both to hear what they have done and what they are planning to do. It's an amazing group of athletes and people that I have been happy to be a part of. I am usually a Groucho Marxist who said "I don't want to be part of any group that would have me as a member". Clearly this is an exception.

As the new year draws near, I keep fine-tuning my goals for 2010. Still debating between running the Mississauga marathon or pacing at 3:45 as a friend of mine wants to qualify for Boston. I am also working up the idea of organizing a team and entering the 200 mile Green Mountain relay through Vermont during the summer solitice in June. Have always been intrigued by this 24 plus hour team events. There seems to be a bunch around: Reach the Beach in New Hampshire, 100 mile relay in Vermont, Shore to Shore (Lake Erie to Lake Ontario) and a ton out west (funny I don't see many articles in running magazines talking about strategy for them) They would seem to be a great way to add a bit of spice to running and keep that nice mix of PB motivators, and social motivators. My son will likely be part of the team. You might see posts in 2010, looking for team members.

I think I will do a couple of trail runs this year. After puking during the Camp Fortune 5 peaks race this year, I am motivated to finish one in a more dignified fashion. Throw in my pace bunny work and the Iceland marathon...and may be a personal marathon...and it feels like I have some sorting of priorities to do. I guess that is what the holiday season is for.

As Christmas draws close, I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and the best of the New Year.

Mark Wigmore

What a Year!

As 2009 winds down I find myself reflecting on a lot. There were so many highlights – I really don’t know how I am going to top it in 2010.

I entered some open water swim races – all in the name of getting to Ironman. Competed in some bike races and even won a silver medal at the provincial Time Trials again in the name of Ironman. One of the best treats was applying for and getting accepted as a sponsored athlete by Nathan. If anyone had told me I would be not only successfully complete Ironman but also be a sponsored athlete I would have laughed so hard – but it just goes to show you that with hard work and eternal optimism you can achieve anything you set out to do. I am still amazed and very curious as to how far I can push.

So what is up for next year – plans – so many plans. I am back to leading half marathon clinics but I am also in talks with my riding coach on how to go about getting certified to teach/coach beginner triathletes. We are going to sit down and lay out a game plan to help me move into that direction. One of the things I realized while training for Ironman is that I am happiest when I am working out/training and so I want to find a way to make that a bigger part of my life. Leading half marathon clinics for the last 4 years has shown me that I have a knack for coaching – at least at the beginner stage.

From talking to people in my running clinics and just in general there are a lot of people that are interested in starting tris but really don’t know where to begin. Most of the coaches out there are for middle/long distance experienced athletes but there is not much out there for those just starting out.

For actual races the big race for next year that I really want to do is Stormy 50 Mile Ultra Trail race. http://homepage.mac.com/designr2/stormy/

I have done this as part of a relay team but in 2010 I would like to do it as a solo race. I mean you have to up the ante after Ironman…. Whether I register or not will really depend on how the next few months go as I really focus on rehabbing my leg and to that end I have signed up for a program called BSF - Building a Strong Foundation. I am hoping it will really help with my hip and pelvis.

Other races ·

• Victoria Half Ironman as a solo race - I believe the riding girls have laid this as a challenge race and oh how I love a challenge and a wee bit of competition.
• Pacebunny – Vancouver Half marathon
• Osoyoos as a relay team - Relay team's goal is to beat my hubby Joe.
• New York Marathon - just because I have heard it is amazing and I have to run at least one marathon a year.
• Bike Time Trials – Barb will advise me which ones I am doing but I plan on defending my silver medal
• Cypress Mountain Hill Climb - only one place to go but up on this one.
• Canada Day 3 km Swim Race

These are a few of the races I plan on for next year - I am sure there will be others.

Finally thanks again to Team NATHAN, Sugoi, GU, Canadian Running Magazine, and END for the amazing opportunity and support it was an honor and a priveledge to wear the uniform and included with such and esteemed group.

Remember you define your own humanly possible.

See you in trails and on the road.

Shaun

Merci Nathan!

My turn to say "Thanks for the ride Nathan!" Along with sponsors Sugoi, Gu, END, Canadian Running and Triathlon Canada magazines, you made the year a blast!
2009 turned out to be a great! I ran 10 races with a personal best in all the distances (5, 10, 21.1) ran my first marathon in Québec City and qualified for Boston, which I'm running in 2010. All of this possible with the help of my Nathan Canada Team sponsorship! Also, browsing Triathlon Canada magazine all year actually made me go out and buy a road bike and I just recently enrolled in swimming lessons.. doh! So more goals in store for the futur with duathlons and triathlons on the horizon!!
Thanks and all the best to the new members in 2010!
Richard

The Egg Nog Jog

Sadly today's Egg Nog Jog was my last race representing Nathan's Team Canada 2009. I would like to pass along my sincere thanks to our amazing sponsors who made it all possible.

The Egg Nog Jog is a 10.8km country road race. The course takes you down a steep hill for the first 2K , you climb for the next 5K then it flattens out for 3K before very fast downhill to finish line. Didn't have much in the way of a strategy today. I wanted to beat last years 53:33 , the stretch goal getting in under 50 minutes. I took advantage of the hill and banked a bit of time, did the first 2Ks in 4:03 and 3:54. The 3rd K was the first incline , did it in a conservative 5:08. I knew that I would be more or less climbing for the next 4K and was feeling pretty good so I pushed trying to keep the climb as close to a 5:00 or less pace as I could. The 4th and 5th K were done in 4:51 and 4:41. At the 5K point I knew I was going to have a good run. I was feeling strong and was about to face the biggest climb of race. The 6th K was done in 5:41 and I had a really good burn in the legs at the top of the "Big One". The first half of the 7th K was a gradual decline and I was able to recover before the last big climb. 7.5-8K was a steady climb but I was feeling good and started my push to the finish. 7th K was done in 5:05. The next 3.8K was flat to declined and a small roller with a real step drop the last 500 or so meters. The 8th , 9th and 10th Ks were done in 4:45, 4:28, 4:26. Throughout the race I watched my Avg Pace and Current Pace but never looked at the elapsed time or distance. I knew I would be very close to getting in under 50 minutes so I flew down the last 700 meters at a 3:50 pace. The clock came into view with around 200m to go it was 49:15 ... I knew I had my Sub 50:00!

Chip time said I finished the 10.8K in 49:44. I was 59th out of 490 participants, 52nd out of252 males and 17th out of 77 males 40-49. I also shaved 3:49 off last years Nog Jog.

Ron.

What Happens in Vegas...

...does not always stay in Vegas!

I ran my first half marathon in Las Vegas. It was truly an excellent experience.

At 6:00 am on December 6, 2009, the skies over Las Vegas Boulevard were lit up with fireworks. At the same time, skydivers descended upon the 27,600 runners lined at the start line of the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon.

By 6:15am the first corral of 1000 runners were running down The Vegas Strip past thousands of enthusiastic spectators and numerous live bands.

I am happy to report that my race time for my very first half marathon was 1:55:08. I finished in the top 13% of the 17,880 half marathon runners. For females, I placed 750/11356 runners and 111/1662 for females in my age group (40-45). Not too bad for an Atlantic Ocean Island girl running 13.1 miles, 2000 feet above sea level in the Vegas Desert.

Thank you Mark Hayward for developing a running program perfectly suited for my half marathon training and encouraging me to push myself and stay positive the last 4 months.

Also, Thank you Nathan Canada Team members and our sponsors for your support, way-cool running products and providing me with the opportunity to share my 2009 running experiences and goals with other runners. I am officially hooked on running now.

As for my future running aspirations, in 2010 I will run many more half marathons and work on becoming a stronger, faster runner. By 2011, I will be ready to start training for my first marathon and looking to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone.

Jackie P.

From New York to Brazil

A week (6 days to be exact) after running the New York City Marathon I went to Brazil to visit family and friends.

One thing is for sure, I come from a family of avid runners: a father who runs 7 Km 7 days a week (no more, no less), a marathoner uncle and a marathon trainer cousin (who will be running his first marathon in Vancouver 2011). When you combine all of us, the result is simple - a 10K race somewhere.

We ran the 10K 'Fila Night Run' with 12,000 runners in Sao Paulo, Brazil in a 37 degree weather at 8pm - yes, welcome to Brazil!

I thought my legs were going to be tired from the marathon, but the heat took over and all I could think was how hot it was. We all finished the 10K race in 57 minutes. I am almost positive I was the only Canadian there!

Nathan team
Lilian

RNR Las Vegas

With the Las Vegas Marathon just around the corner, I find it fitting for a short break from work and the kids before the holiday season.

Stay tuned for the Race Report next week.

Once again, thanks to Nathan and it's sponsors for all the products used and consumed during the training period.

When did you become a runner?

As we proceed through another running clinic and I meet lots of new runners I am constantly asked when did you become a runner. It is a tough question for me to answer because honestly I became a runner at the age of 9 and then took a LOA before I came back full time at the age of 32.


I have always loved sports and particularly running. When I was 9 I happened to transfer to a great school in Manitoba and joined the Cross Country team - it was love at first run. The coach was amazing and inspired - I wish I could remember his name. We would run 2x a week after school and then in the winter we would train in the mornings doing laps around the gym which would bring us to the spring and track and field. I just felt free.

In Grade 6 our coach decided that we were such a great group of runners that our goal would be to run in the Manitoba Marathon - we would train all year and on race day we would run 4 miles. Back then the Manitoba marathon had buses every 2 miles starting at the 4 mile marker to take people to the finish if they wanted to stop. We were 10 and 11 years old and had no idea how far everyone else would be running but were so excited to be in a grown up race. I remember my mom saying wow - you ran 4 miles in 20 minutes! (wish I could do that now...) and the t-shirt was a pale yellow shirt with a scoop neck. I loved that shirt and wore it with such pride.

The next year we moved and I was in high school. Again I was lucky to get into a school with an AMAZING running program. It was a dream year for me - cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and track and field in the spring. I was running minimum 3 times a week all year long and I signed up on my own to do 6 miles in the Manitoba Marathon - which I did.

The next summer we moved to BC and I was so excited to join a new Cross country team and meet new runners. The first practice 2 people showed up and the coach was barely interested. Needless to say there was not a lot of support - I quickly became discouraged and moved on to another sport where there was more support - Field hockey was the sport of choice and that was when I took a LOA frum running.

I did not stop running - I would say I dabbled in it - there was no consistency but when life became really tough running was my fall back position - a way to release and just escape. I stayed active - I played softball and was a gym monkey but something was always missing.

At 32 Joe insisted I quit smoking - I quasi quit but the weight started piling on. I started to think about things to do to lose it - lifting weights and doing circuit training was not really working and well Joe was not going to let me go back to smoking and then this crazy idea about a 1/2 marathon entered my brain and I went for it and have not looked back. From the first run I felt that old freedom and it was amazing, I was hooked again. The bike is becoming like that but running is always the first love - mostly because I just have to put on shoes and go - I don't have to check tire pressure, make sure I have tubes, CO2, and such. I just go out the door and run. It is truly liberating and why I love running so much.

When did I become a runner - September, 1978, Athlone Elementary school, WPG Manitoba - 9 years old was when I became a runner. When did you?

Peace out Shaun

Splish Splash

Living in Vancouver has lots of advantages especially at this time of year. The big thing is little to no snow but it is called the "wet" coast for a reason. The rain is here and is not going anywhere for the next 3 months.




I am up to riding 3 times a week again at a minimum - Wednesday rides with the club, Saturday mornings and I have been riding to work at least once a week. It has been very wet and I find myself chanting to myself Coach Larry's words - Do when others don't and you will be able to when others won't! It came in very handy last Wednesday doing hill repeats on one of our local mountains in the ice cold rain and wind. After the 2nd hill repeat Coach told us to go home! I don't think he actually expected that we would be there (only 4 of us showed up) and came out on his Vespa just to make sure no-one was out there. SURPRISE - we are hard core! This week thankfully Coach Barb has told us to ride on the flats.



I also was able to get 4 runs in last week - again in the rain and the tempo runs were averaging between 5:45 to 6:10 per km which pleases me as it means I am recovering from my Dublin adventure. And my plan to take it a little easier on the intensity seems to be helping my leg/hip. I had an MRI on my hip last week and the good news is there is no tear but it also means that there is still no conclusive reason as to why I am not recovering. Next up Prolotherapy just waiting for approval from ICBC to go forward.



Last but not least I actually got into the pool last night - first time since Ironman. Shoulder held up quite nicely. Coach Brad was pleased with my overall workout in that he said, "Good news is that all the gains in your form we made are still there! But your strength has definately decreased but that will come back quickly." I guess swimming only once since Ironman will do that to you. I plan on going again on Friday and making this a twice a week thing going forward.

The only thing I want to look into and would like to add to my repertoire (spelling?) is some kind of weights/core program at least once a week. I am making some inquiries into programs for runners/triathletes. I think it may be the missing piece of the puzzle and well quite frankly I need to do a course or work with someone because I am too lazy to do it on my own. So if anyone out there has any suggestions of personal coaches or programs in the Vancouver area please let me know.

Cheers,

Shaun

Starting to Work on Next Year: Redefining My Own Possible--Mark Wigmore

As I mull over the possibility of one last marathon this year, more and more I am turning my attention to next year. I don't do New Years resolutions, but I do like to look ahead, set some targets and then figure out how best to get there.

So far, I have sketched in a couple of things. In May, I will organize the pace bunny team at the Ottawa Race Weekend. Last year, there were 40 runners in the races and we did well. My goal will be get a higher percentage of pacers within 1 minute of their target time (would love 100%).

In August, I am planning to run the Reykjavik Marathon in August with my son. It will be his first marathon and I can't think of a better place to do it. Not big but unique. I visited Iceland with my wife 16 years ago and it is a stunningly beautiful country. It will be memorable for the two of us. We are doing this as a family trip so planning will also mean saving. Phil is planning to run the half marathon at Ottawa in May and then we will take the following months to figure out the right pace for marathon. Right now, we are both thinking 3:30--may be less. Whatever it is, we will run it together and it will be awesome.

In September, I will likely organize the pace teams at the Army Half Marathon and pace the 4:00 time at the Scotia Bank Marathon. I am working through in my head, my fall race marathon. Wineglass, Steamtown, Prince Edward County, Toronto Goodlife, Hamilton, West Palm Beach. So many good races in great locations.

I am thinking I will spend a little bit of the winter working on speed work. There is a 400 metre indoor track at a Dome in Ottawa which encourages me to do more interval work in the warmth as opposed to long runs in the cold. I would at some point like to focus on my 10k time--hopefully running sub 40 minutes--but with goals that are mostly marathon in length, it is hard to be dedicated to that goal. Working that through in my head.

I continue to appreciate the support of the Nathan team. I intend to continue to wear the shirt in races next year. I still have the words "Go Nathan, Go Nathan" ringing in my ears from New York.

Mark

Photos from the ING NYC Marathon 2009

Photos from the ING NYC Marathon 2009

ING New York City Marathon 2009

And then.....there was The New York City Marathon....

The Expo

I arrived on Saturday, the day before the race. The original plan was to spend one hour at the Expo, but the plan was out the door as soon as I saw THE EXPO. Yes, you just want to get everything you see. The package pick up was fairly quick given the number of runners, but the issue wasn't the pick up line but rather - all the cool merchandise placed in this gigantic place. Nathan's booth was there with some
products I haven't seen before, and a message to the Italian runner who stopped by the booth "my Nathan shirt is not for sale, soooorryyy"

The Route
I've been to NYC before, but to see this city during a marathon is something else. I absolutely loved going through all the neighborhoods and places I never thought to visit as a tourist. To see Manhattan from the bridge was amazing and the cherry on the cake was to enter Central Park and see the fall leaves still hanging on the trees.

The Race
The NYC Marathon is 3 things - the crowd, the crowd and the crowd!

I have NEVER....EVER...experienced anything like this.

They are loud, they are great, they are supporting you, they scream like you are a scary person, they want to feed you leftover candies from Halloween, they want to welcome you to Brooklyn, to Manhattan, to Staten Island, they are funny as one lady said 'pretend you stole something'...ahhhh...I can't compare this crowd with anything else.

Going back to the race......

I had the best time without having the best time ;), but I didn't care.
I started the race with some stomach cramps. It went away around Km 20. In the meantime, my left calf cramped right on my first 10K and then my hamstring.

Oh...well... Aren't these marathoners biggest fears? There you go - I am fearless now!

I finished the race because I knew I would. Running, crawling or skipping.
I completed at 4:19 running all the way. I only stopped to take photos because I followed all the advices - to enjoy the race!

~ Lilian~

A New York Weekend: Older, Wiser but not Faster....Yet---Mark Wigmore

In New York!!!

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,

There's nothing you can't do,

Now you're in New York!!!

Those streets will make you feel brand new,

the lights will inspire you,

Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York

--Alycia Keys, Empire State of Mind

I wish I had a story about a new PB after 25 years to go with that introduction, but I don't. I ran 3:24 when I wanted to run between 3:07 and 3:10. I suppose if you throw it in one of the age adjusted marathon pace calculators, it would suggest that if I was 30 years old, I would have run 3:04 (can you tell I have done that---okay I double checked and it is actually 3:02) but I don't want to claim a victory over age like that.

What I can tell you, is that I was ready to run close to 3:10 but in some moments of stupidity on the way to the marathon on the subway where I ended up losing my Nathan hydration belt (and my blackberry), I lost the focus and concentration that you need to have in a run if you are going to do your best. I don't mind 3:24 but it is not the time I wanted. Nonetheless, let me tell you a bit about the race weekend,

The one word to describe the New York marathon is: HUGE. 42,000 plus runner. Crowds lining the streets HUGE. Water stations. HUGE. The hype. HUGE. The number of countries represented. HUGE. The expo. HUGE. The pasta dinner. HUGE.

The weather was perfect for the run. Overcast and cool. Rain the day before had taken away the humidity. We drove down to Syracuse on Friday and took a flight from there. We went to a Broadway play on Friday night: Oleana (mixed reviews) and then I went to the expo on Saturday morning while my wife and daughter went shopping.

I met Sara Reinhardt who had lost her leg below the knee, has run marathons and Kona , was featured in Runners World and was on the Amazing Race a couple of years ago. Bart Yasso from Runners World and Yasso 800's fame was also there.

After picking up my kit and looking around a bit (not much of an Expo shopper), I left and went shopping with my wife and daughter and also checked out Ground Zero. We went to the Pasta dinner in Central Park that night which I had been told was good but turned out to be crowded (dah), loud and marginal food. Oh well, I had prepaid so it felt like the meal was free!!

The race is a complex organization with several colour corrals in three wave starts so there are tons of logistics, but the short form of mine was that I was to take the Staten Island ferry to the 8th Corral of the blue section of Wave start 1 (it only makes sense when you get there) I was to be on the ferry at 5:30 am. Good thing we had the extra hour with the clocks moving back.

The race started for wave 1 at 9:45 and even with my misadventure I arrived at my corral around 7:30 and got settled.

My plan was to run a 1:34 front half but it never came together. The race begins with a start on the Verazano bridge with a straight up first mile. I was nicely on pace for the first 10k, and then started a slow but steady fade. New York is a tough course with a number of bridges and hills including one at 24 miles at the top of Central Park, and I just wasn't in the race as much as I wanted to be. The crowds and the bands were great. It is not a pretty course but a course of neighbourhoods and people. At the half way, I was 1:37.50--on pace for 3:15, but the fade continued. I never felt like I was in trouble, but I never felt like I could risk going faster. My wife and daughter had staked out a great spot near mile 25 to see me, but I never saw them (memo to self: use balloons, signs, fireworks or other bright objects to identify wife and daughter in large crowd). That was disappointing as one of the best moments in my running life was turning on to the final stretch on Bolyston in the Boston Marathon in 2006 and seeing my family and being able to stop and give them a hug before heading off to the finish. I was hoping for another moment like that. May be next time.

The finish in Central Park is great, but it is followed by a long walk to get bags and snacks. I was happy at the finish and had fun in the race. Maybe because I was in the first wave with the 'serious' runners but I found a lot of runners pretty quiet and almost grumpy. I love to run and high five the kids a bit, have fun with the music, and chit chat, but there was little of that. Not sure why. Perhaps the fun is further back in the race where the celebrities and the fun people hang out. May be that is who I was meeting when I was pacing in other races.

The Nathan outfit was great. Clearly Canadian and I had lots of people cheering for me, yelling Go Nathan!!! Go Nathan!!

We finished up the weekend with a Broadway musical on Sunday night; In the Heights (two thumbs up--although my legs were tightening up!!)

New York is a marathon to experience. It is HUGE!!! It really is like the crowds in Rome, or on Parliament Hill on Canada Day. I found Boston to be more like the high altar at the Vatican or a tour of the Parliament Buildings with your MP. A bit more serious. A bit more special. But New York is New York. It's where dreams are made of. There is nothing you can't do.

So I think my race year is about over---although I keep thinking maybe one more marathon. Maybe. Maybe not. I have paced two marathons and two half marathons and run the New York marathon. I have had an amazing year of running experience.

The Nathan team experience has been great. I have appreciated the support from Benoit and the various companies that have helped us. I wish I had been able to run with Benoit in New York (even more when I found out he ran 3:08!!!) I have even enjoyed this blogging ( I have a secret competition with Lilian to beat her in the number of posts---I can't beat her in the number of great running experiences!!!)

If anyone is around Ottawa next year, I plan to organize the pace bunnies for Ottawa Race Weekend in May and pace the 4:30 time slot. I'll be easy to find, I will have ears and a sign. I will likely pace again at Toronto Scotia and pick a fall marathon to try to run fast. Can't give up on the dream of beating my 25 year old PB---scratch that 26 year old PB. Got to have goals. Got to be motivated. It is possible. And it is fun to try.

There are too many great marathons around to say I will run another New York, but it is a great experience to do at least once.

Thanks everyone.

Mark