Niagara Falls Half Marathon Race Report (pacer)

On Sunday, October 26, 2014 I had the pleasure to run the Niagara Falls Half Marathon for the second time. This time, I was the 1:55 pacer.

You may recall, the last time I ran this race, my goal was the same. And it didn't work out. At all.

I went into Sunday, with 2 more years of running and racing under me and I was quite a bit more experienced and faster. However, I was still worried. When I agreed to this pacing gig, I had assumed that I would have spent the summer training to go sub 1:45 at the Oakville Half Marathon. Well, that didn't happen. Instead, I spent more (enjoyable) hours on the bike, cut running down and forgot all about speedwork. I hadn't run a lengthy distance at close to this speed since March's Around the Bay (average pace of 5:20/km). I was super worried I'd let the group down by not being able to hang on to the 5:27/km average pace over the course of the 21.1k. This fear was compounded by the forecast of 30kph winds (seriously. WHAT is with the winds this year?).

Smarter about the race logistics this time, I got to the Crowne Plaza Hotel with time to visit the washroom twice before lining up for the bus shuttle to the start of the race (the halfway mark of the Full Marathon). Once at the start I hit the portapotty for one last visit and pulled on some arm sleeves and a foil wrapper to keep warm. Of course as it always goes when you're the pacer, you get talked about and talked to. I answered lots of questions about the pace, the course, the day and finally, I lined up to take my chances with the headwind and the pace.

The First Half: KM 1-10

And we were away. The crowding wasn't too bad at all and I got right on pace. I yelled out my usual one liners to the crowd, telling them my name etc. I let them know what pace we were running (5:27/km) and answered the question in miles (8:46/mi). It was around  2 or 3km that my fave line came: "Oh, the race is actually shorter in miles." That go a LOT of laughs.

By this time, we hit the first water station. While I didn't need water, I decided to go for it anyway so that my group got used to me disappearing from time to time. While I took the water on the run, the cups were plastic and not good for the squeeze/funnel technique so I didn't actually drink much. 

One of my DailyMile friends, Angela was running with my group with an ultimate goal of 1:55 and she told me that if she got to 8k with me, she'd be on track to PB based on her Mississauga time. Alright! I spoke with some other people, all of whom said they'd be with me until the end. I let them know that I got mean with about 300m to go - "I'll scream at all of you until you get in front of me, so long as we have time." The group seemed eager to see this in action at that point. 

Water had been about every 3k, so I took my one and only gel (Clif shot vanilla. YUM!) at about 9k and there was no water. The way the race route goes - it follows the river, so it bends around the water almost always. I kept thinking we'd get water and didn't. Finally I gave up and took a piece of gum instead, hoping that the gel + lack of water wouldn't see me with stomach problems later on (all was well).

5:24-5:20-5:20-5:26-5:23-5:24-5:24-5:22-5:25-5:24, time: 53:52, pace band: 54:30

To the End. The Head-Wind Filled End: KM 11-21.1

I was right where I wanted to be. With 42 seconds in the bank, I knew I was being aggressive, but I knew that meant I could walk the water stops and slow a bit if the wind ever hit us head on. Thus far, the day was just fine. I spent the whole race toying with the idea of taking off my gloves but my hands never got unbearably hot, so I kept them on. It was overcast so I didn't miss my sunglasses. The wind only hit us randomly and always from the left side, which was fine by me. "At least its not raining," observed one of the people in my group. "Ha!" said I, "I'd take rain before headwind any day." 

The water station finally came up around 12k and I slowed right down in order to take a full drink. I never felt the need for the HoneyMaxx they were giving out, so I stuck with water (plus I don't like HoneyMaxx). From this point on, I was walking each water station - taking a few seconds back here and there. This was purposeful. I needed to slow down and I needed to drink and all of the cups were plastic, so walking was the only way to ensure water ended up in your belly. 

After 12k, I was thinking about the count down. 9k left! WooHoo! Things were not easy!super!fun! but I decided I'd be able to keep up the paces for the next ~50 minutes and not fail at this pacer gig. In fact, with 8k/5miles left, I told someone, "Less than 45 minutes. We can do ANYTHING for 45 minutes."

Then the headwind hit.

14k. We had 14k without major headwind. Sure, it blew from the side and maybe from the front but nothing that was bothersome. 

Until now. 

Whew.

Okay macnic, this is why you have that buffer. Just keep at it. You have the pace in your legs now and you have 7k left. Let's go.

And really, there was nothing to do but to go. These 7k were filled with me hitting a 5:29 or 5:34 on my watch and speeding up until I hit around 5:25 and tried to hold. Around this time a few people were with me like glue. I knew that they were hanging on to me, willing me to lead them across the line in 1:55. Although we didn't chat much, it helped to have people to pace with (The pace was in their legs as well). 

Just before 16k, there was a water station. They had oranges. They were the best.

It was here that John from somewhere, USA caught me and we began to chat. He had chased me for a while after falling behind in the middling miles and was happy that he had me again. "Just hang on to me, John. 3 miles to go and you've got it." I don't know when, but John faded again.

4k left. Okay. Just keep moving. This wind SUCKS. SUUUUUUKKKKKSSSS. 5:30 km? Damn. Where is that downhill for the last 3k?

And we were turning onto the parkway with way more spectator support at this time and people were calling out to the "Bunny" and I'm trying to nod or thank them, but I'm not saying too much. HA. I can hear my stupid breathing and I hate it. My mouth is super dry and I take advantage of the last two water stations (seriously, 3 water stations in the last 5k?!?) because despite the headwind, despite not feeling easy!super!fun! I still had time in the bank! And then, before I knew it, I had 1k to go. 

And the wind kicked it up a notch. Seriously.

However, we were on a mighty downhill, so the wind was mitigated. The one thing I don't like about pacing is that last kilometer, when you just want to run as fast as you can, but you can't because you want to be as close as possible to your time and then you get the added joy of mental math. HA. 

By the time I got into the chute, I still had time to spare. So I did what any self respecting pace bunny would do. I turned around, started to run backwards and screamed my head off at the two guys behind me who had a shot at catching me. Jerry took me up on the offer and crossed 26 seconds before I did. The crowd was loud, I was pumped and I heard the announcer say, "Here is our 1:55 bunny, Nicole Macpherson and she's going to be right on time!" And so I was. So I was.

5:20-5:30-5:22-5:26-5:27-5:31-5:38-5:30-5:25-5:34-5:22-0:1:01, split: 1:01:03, Time: 1:54:58

Gun:1:55:21

Chip: 1:54:55

Place: 400

Category (F30-39): 47/384

Females: 121/1229

Next week, I'll run Road2Hope in Hamilton for the fourth year in a row. This time, Sam and I will run with Emma, Amy and Patty who all hope to PB with sub 1:50s. This will be a tough effort, I'm sure but I'm up for the challenge. Nothing is sweeter than seeing your friends hit their goals. See you after that one!

Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon Race Report (Pace Bunny)

On Sunday, June 1st, 2014,  I had the pleasure and honour of being the 2:05:00 continuous pace bunny at the third annual Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon. I got really lucky when Patty asked if I'd be interested in pacing this event and then lucky again when she switched times with me after I was assigned to the 2:15:00 run/walk time (she's a pro at this time having paced it four times now). We made a bit of a day out of race kit pickup and our fellow pacer (2:10:00), Amy, my friend Bridgett and my son Fergus went to Niagara to pick up the sweet, sweet race kit with the mandatory Lululemon outlet stop in.

Race day started early as it always does and we were at Patty's house and on the road by 6am, arriving on site by 6:50am. This race is SUPER well organized with great and clean portapotties and really easy parking mere meters from the start line. Before long, Patty, Amy and I said our goodbyes and got into the corrals all three in a row. Shania Twain was playing so I did a little line dance least the women around me thought they'd be following a shy pacer. They delayed the start by 5 minutes to let people just coming in to park start on time, Kathrine Switzer spoke, we sang O Canada and then... we were off! All 3,100 ladies charging toward Clifton Hill.

KM 1-7: S L O W D O W N macnic!

From the start line on Upper Portage Road, we headed along the Niagara Parkway toward the Falls. Patty had warned me that there was an immediate downhill (as she's run this race every year), but I promptly forgot and got caught up with race excitement and went too fast. Whoops. I was targeting about 5:50-5:55/km as my plan was to slow/walk through water stations and I hit this first KM in 5:37! No worries, I began to talk and joke with the ladies in my group. I let them know that my plan was to slow through the water stations and tried to make conversation but no one was having it. "So, is this anyone's first half?"

Crickets

"...well, this is my 13th half! Yep! Lucky number 13! WooHoo!" Someone did tell me that they'd be running with me to the bitter end. I told them that if they were with me in the finish chute, they'd be finishing ahead of me, "Once, I screamed at a girl so hard, I peed my pants." You could tell by the intake of breath that these ladies knew my dedication right then and there. 

We settled in and before long we were passing, "The bigger, prettier and Canadian falls! To the right, ladies!" Wow, did that mist feel good. We went through water here and as we headed to the Rainbow Falls, we started to see the leaders come back. 

See Jennifer in the purple? Remember her.

This is where the true magic of the race started. Everyone was cheering their heads off for everyone else. As the leaders past us and the 1:45 pace bunny past us, those girls in the sparkle skirts headed over to the right and pretty much high-fived all other sparkle skirts they saw ("Its like a convention of sequins here, people!"). Of course I screamed my head off for all other pacers including my Running Room friend, Erica (2:00:00, 10/1s), Amy and Patty! What a great time!!!

5:37-5:53-5:48-5:50-5:53-5:59-5:56, time: 40:56, pace band: 41:28

KM 8-14: Steady Eddy

I was able to settle into my pace finally in this stretch. It was a STINKING hot day (considering the late/non-spring) and I was glad that I declined to wear any kind of compression socks at all with my sweet PUMA tank and HIND skirt. I tried to keep it chatty and light and used my favorite line that the 1:55:00 pace bunny, Andrew said at the 2013 Chilly Half, telling the girls, "Now is the time to settle in. Ease yourself through the run and let the kilometers come." That was my plan for sure. It was difficult to keep the chatter up for two reasons: 1) I didn't have a chatty group, 2) I was thirsty! 

While I wouldn't have wanted to carry my own water I wouldn't have minded a few more water stations. What this race did well though was having signs a few meters before aid stations letting us know that water was coming. "Get your fluids and nutrition in, ladies! Remember, I will slow or walk through the stations, but we have time." Seeing that a water station  was coming and that we were around 9k, I took my one and only GU. Then I spotted more photographers and Boom! Here's what I do best!

ZOMG! PHOTOG! #runnerd
(see Jennifer?)

So we continued along and then, we were again passing the leaders! WooHoo! I knew that meant that we were about 15 minutes or so from the turn around. While I had settled into pace, there was a slight headwind which made holding the sign a challenge and I was eager to get the wind to our backs  on the way home. More high-fives, more "Go Amy! Go Patty!" Go random chick, but I like your socks!!!" Then we came across "Muscle Beach" where there were a group of (mainly) men who were body builders and posing! HA! No one in my group stopped, but we did see some ladies stopped for the photo opp on the way past after the turn.

Hey Jen (do you mind if I call you Jen?).
 Oh nothing, we're just racing

5:54-5:55-5:58-5:55-5:57-5:56-5:56, split: 41:30, total: 1:22:26, pace band: 1:22:56

KM 15-21.1: Stay Behind Us, Bitch

Making the turn, I announce to my group that we are perfectly ahead. We've got time and we just have to keep on keeping on. The expected headwind does NOT materialize and my internal mercury is rising. I start to look at all volunteers and spectators drinking water like I'm T. E. Lawrence and its a particularly hot day in Syria. The route has some shade though and I concentrate on staying in the shade whenever I can and knowing that we are getting another water break as we pass by the one that was around 9k. This comes around 19k because I remember shouting to the ladies, "18 minutes! You can do ANYTHING for 18 minutes! That's it! Let's go!!! Except right now, I'm going for some water. HA!"

By this point, I know I'm ahead of time, so I take a little more time at the station. I drink two cups and I dump one down the front of my top. Then I'm crossing over the bridge and some spectators call out to me. "There's no one with me, right?" "Not a soul," they say! Oh well! I slow a touch more and hope for the best. Before long, a man who had been with our group is with me and we start talking. 

"No problem," he says, "you're a bit fast."

"Yep, I wanted to have time for the water stations."

We chat a bit and he's running the race because he leads a running room clinic and they are running this race. He assumes I also lead at the running room but I tell him that having two young children hold me back from that commitment... for now.

Then we are getting super close to the end. "1 mile to go!" shouts a volunteer! Girls start to catch me and I start to tell them, "Pass me and you'll go sub-2:05! Just stay in front of me and you've got it! Sub-2:05!" This brings one of my two favorite parts of the race, when a lady passing me deadpans right back, "Just stay behind us, Bitch!"

Well played, random girl, well played!

I'm keeping it SLOW as I really want to finish as close to time as possible and this affords me all kinds of opportunity to scream at girls as they get past me. Finally I'm in the chute and the real work begins. I glance left and here are some ladies, "Let's GO! GO GO GO!!!" They'd pass and on to the next ones, "RUN! You've GOT this! Sub 2:05!!! GO! GO!" Then, my favorite part of the entire race happens. Finally I can't see anyone any longer so I full on turn around.

And see Jennifer.

I start running backwards, waving my arms, waving my sign, risking peeing my pants and I'm screaming, "C'mon Jennifer! C'MON! GET PASSED ME! LET'S GO!!! YOU'VE GOT IT! C'MON JENNIFER!!!!" 

I can hear and see the crowd pick up on this and Jennifer is pushing as hard as she can. As soon as she passes me, I turn and jog across the finish. My work here was done.

5:51-5:59-5:56-5:58-5:59-6:15-6:12-0:19 (last 0.06k), split: 42:29, time: 2:04:55, pace band: 2:05:00

Gun: 2:05:13

Chip: 2:04:54

Place: 342/1995

F35-39: 82/372

As soon as I crossed the line Kathrine Switzer grabbed me to congratulate me and to commend me on my amazing pacing and final encouragement! I was kinda out of it and wished that I had had the wherewithal to ask for a photo! I then retreated to the back of the finish chute with my glorious bottle of water and cold, wet face cloth to wait for Amy and Patty. Five and ten minutes later they were across the line and we were celebrating an amazing day for all of us!

My final thoughts are that this race is AMAZING! Right now, it only costs $68 to sign up for the 2015 edition and look at that race kit!!! Beyond that, the course is very, very fast! It is completely flat with only some slight downhills and the only complaint I have (and its minor) is that there could be more water on course. But that's minor because you can always bring your own. I'd do this race again in a second and I'd be honoured to pace it again! 

Oh and Jennifer? She finished 2:04:37.