Sunday, July 21, 2013

Ottawa Race Weekend 5k Recap: It's almost midnight and I can't think of a post title

In my family, there's not much I can feel like an expert about.  I'm the younger one, which means my sister usually did everything first.  So when I got the opportunity to run a 5k with her and her boys, I jumped at the chance.  It was fun for me to be the leader for once.


Ahem, sorry about that.  Little Sister Syndrome popping up momentarily.

I flew to Ottawa a week in advance.  I helped GymSis navigate the race expo and packet pickup and tried to help calm her nerves.  To be clear, she is in great shape; I mean, she works very hard at the gym (hence the name).  She's like Jillian Michaels, minus the shouting at people part.  Nonetheless, she may have been a touch anxious, despite what she said.


Pre-race jitters.  We've all been there.

Being the resident expert, I gave everyone very clear and important race day instructions, like "Pin your race bib to the front of your shirt" and  "Move to the side of the course if you need to stop" and the most important piece of advice:  "You can't wear your race shirt on race day!"


Not to mention, it's super bad luck.  I wore my race shirt to my first tri.

Ottawa Race Weekend, if you've never been, is a big huge deal.  In addition to the 5k, they have a family 2k, a 10k, a children's 1k to finish a cumulative year-long marathon, a half-marathon, and a full marathon.  I absolutely love the fact that my hometown has grown into such a great racing community.

But of course, big events like this come at a cost.  Namely:



SwimmerBro and I sat around looking at maps and getting advice from the wisdom of Facebook friends who had been there before.


Once race day came, all our plans were set:  SwimmerNephew and I would run together, GymSis and WaterPoloNephew (formerly ChatterNephew) would run together, and SwimmerBro would be the official race photog.

Because of our amazing planning skills, we got to the race venue with plenty of time to get the lay of the land, watch the family 2k, and take pictures.


And windy.

After chatting with some of the family's closest friends who were also doing the race, it was time to start!  So, we shuffled off with the thousands of other people around us.  And amidst all those people, I saw my friends Jen and Dwayne!

Jen started a team to raise money for diabetes research and was doing her first 5k.  Woohoo!


Since SwimmerNephew has been swimming since before he could walk, he has a lot of strength in his upper body.

Which he used to run.

It was impressive watching him use his shoulders to get his legs moving.


He was essentially swimming a 5k.

I had told him that if he wanted to go around slower people to let me know first, so we could stay together.  I wanted him to point out where he wanted to go.  As a lifelong competitor, he clearly did not want to leave any opening well...open.


He took almost every single opportunity, and it was awesome!

The course was beautiful and it was lined with spectators.  I decided to take some mid-run pictures.


Once the finish line was in sight, SwimmerNephew took off in a full sprint, like every true runner over the age of 20 wishes they could.



I was so proud of him; he ran the entire time and finished at a 9:40 minute per mile pace!

After a successful finish, we walked over to our meeting spot and waited for GymSis and WaterPoloNephew.  They were right on our heels, with big smiles!!


I was incredibly proud of everyone and I hope we can do this race together again!

It was unbelievably crowded, but we finally managed to find SwimmerBro and head home.



He was a fantastic athletic race supporter.

The next day I got a text from my sister, saying that I was right about "this dumb running thing".
Looks like soon I might have to change her name to RunnerSis.




I'm linking up with Yeah Write this week.  Click on the badge to check out some amazing writing!



UPCOMING POSTS:  DILETTANTE TRIATHLON AND SEE JANE RUN RACE RECAPS, MARATHON TRAINING (Did you guys know I'm training for a marathon?)

56 comments:

  1. Your posts are the best! I love how you captured your family, and your enthusiasm to get them running :-)

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    1. Thanks Adrian :D I was *so* excited when they said they wanted to run!

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  2. I love your posts - always fun and lighthearted! Congrats to the family for a strong race!

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    1. Thanks so much Angela! I will pass on your congrats!

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  3. Ahahaha yes! Poor runner sis. I think she drank the kool-aid. Way to go.

    And the fact that your nephew busted you out in front of everyone is awesome. Can he come to my next race please?

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    1. She definitely drank the kool-aid. Isn't it awesome? Um...busted me out. I'm not familiar with that saying! If you pay for his plane ticket I bet he would go to Australia :D

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  4. Haha!! Looks like it was a good time! What a fun thing to do as a family!

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  5. YEP YEP YEP
    I SOOO long to be swimmer nephew :-0

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  6. so much fun! Always so cool to get other people, especially family members into the whole race thing. It makes you seem less crazy when they see how fun it (usually) is. Love the race festival idea, I really think more races should do that - something for everyone. I hope you guys get to do more races in the future!

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    1. I hope we do too! I totally thought of you and your legion of converts as I was going through this :)

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  7. What a great time! I love how you tell a story with pictures!

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  8. Tell your sis that running is overrated and that I'll meet her at the gym for some dance classes.

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    Replies
    1. No no no. But, she would definitely do dance classes with you!

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  9. Makes me kind of want to take up running again.

    Or I can go to the gym and just use a treadmill or something.

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  10. I'm so with you on the wearing of the race shirt on race day. When my dad was running marathons he always used to say that you can't wear it until you earn it, otherwise it's bad karma. I think it stuck with me. I treat those race shirts like kryptonite until I cross the finish line.

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    1. Yes!! They are totally kryptonite pre-race! Your dad is a smart man :)

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  11. Fun description - loved your line: "like every true runner over the age of 20 wishes they could." I ran a 5k for malaria the past couple of years with my "littles." This year, the youngest (a boy) took off with the "bigs" (also boys) & finished very early. His sister poked along to the tune of my encouragement the entire time & we didn't finish so very early -- at least she poked until we got within sight of the finish line & then you can guess exactly what she did...sprinted off & left me standing in my tracks! LOL

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    1. There is a thrill about taking off to the finish--it's easy and uncalculated in children. I find I struggle a bit more...

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  12. Excellent post! I smiled and laughed throughout. I'm amazed at your dedication and positive attitude. You really are contagious!!!
    Another great post with wonderful drawings. Loved it!

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  13. P.S. I had no idea about not wearing the race shirt on race day. What a noob!!!

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  14. I'm not much of a running fan, though I did run 13 miles once, at the behest of a girl. I thought it would win me some favors. It didn't. Maybe that's why I never liked running.

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    1. That is a long way to run for someone who didn't appreciate your effort. Running *sucks* if you're not into it. I've been there.

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  15. Watch out-if she becomes RunnerSis then she might want to start being in charge!

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    1. You know, I hadn't thought of that! You're right! :P

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  16. Love the story, love the pictures and the outfits are fantastic. I have to leave now before i start to think running sounds like fun!

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  17. Very nice! Look at you, bringing your family to the dark side. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Yeeeahhh, buddy. Sometimes I impress myself.

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  18. loved meeting the whole energetic family! but there's only one running girl!

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    1. Fair enough :) They are pretty awesome, aren't they?

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  19. Are you absolutely certain that you and SwimmerBro weren't playing Battleship? That's not a judgement because Battleship is the greatest game ever invented. I love that you and your family got all in on the action. Good times. Your evil laugh? Not as good a time. I'm disturbed.

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    1. HAHAHAHA! I didn't think about that, but you're right. It totally looks like Battleship! And *i* disturb *you*? Yikes. Sorry about that.

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  20. Thank-you!! I knew not wearing the race t-shirt to the race was a "thing". Nobody would believe me!

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    1. You're welcome! Of course it's a thing! Never, ever wear your race shirt to race! I'm always amazed at how many people do.

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  21. From Gymsis:

    I promise to never be in charge of this running thing. I am humbled by the dedication and hard work that it takes. I love how the running community is so welcoming and encouraging to newbies. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying it. Thanks for helping me through my nerves. It really did seem far before we did it!!!!!! Now, not so much ;) I am so proud of both my boys and I am looking forward to my next 5K in September and I am actually training for it this time!!!!!! Thanks for capturing the weekend so perfectly!

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    1. The running community ROCKS!! I'm so glad you're joining it :))))

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  22. My favorite part of this fun essay is where you tell them not to wear the race shirt on race day! I love it!!!

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  23. Funny story and I love the hats and hair on your stick people. Their outfits are nice too!

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  24. I just love how you weave your pictures into the narrative. I like how you introduced that it was "cold and windy." It was fun meeting your family - especially SwimmerNephew. The family 2K sounds fun. My right knee swells on a good day, so I'm a walker now.

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    1. There were lots and lots of walkers! I'm glad you enjoyed meeting my family :)

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  25. I don't know what I love best... the story or your drawings! Great post!

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  26. I love the illustration of the wind -- good on you and your whole family for doing something so fun and challenging together!

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    1. Yeah, it was really cool to be able to share my love for running with them!

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  27. Cue evil laughter at the end just made me burst out laughing.

    I seriously think it's just awesome that the whole family is active together like this. Also, it's awesome that you didn't allow any of them to show up looking like Noobs. Well done. :)

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    1. I was looking out for their best interests...plus you know, I would have to be seen with them! Yeah, they are a super active family without my help, but it was fun doing this together!

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  28. SwimmerNephew looks just like my friend Steve. A 9:40 pace makes my thighs hurt.

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    1. Well my brother in law's name is Steve...and SwimmerNephew does look just like him!

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