Dear Hamilton, Ontario:
Yesterday I ran my first Around the Bay 30K in your fine city. With a rich and legendary history stretching back 116 years, I was curious to see how many of the stories were true. I feel very fortunate to have experienced most of these first-hand.
While the whole day was absolutely fantastic from my perspective, there are some moments in every race that stand out:
- When I was approaching the train tracks, the police officer there was hollering to people to pass back that a train was coming. As I ran over the tracks I looked over and could see the train in the distance, and I felt so relieved that I was ahead of it.
- As I was crossing over the lift bridge in the first half of the course, I looked to my right over Lake Ontario and it was quite lovely. But as I crossed the bridge on the way to the finish, I looked left and saw the lift bridge – and it looked a thousand miles away. The fact that I had been over there, and now was over here, and had covered the distance entirely on foot blew my mind.
- The last 400m of the course were amazing. By the time I got there it was raining, but both sides of the street were lined with spectators, all cheering and high-fiving the runners. Then, as I turned and ran down the ramp, there is no feeling quite like emerging into Copps Coliseum with the lights, the music and the cheering, with the finish line right there – I felt like a rock star!
To all of the people out cheering on their porches and front lawns, with your children and dogs, your pots, pans and stereos, your handmade signs and your morning cup of coffee – thanks for that! To your police officers who were so friendly and professional and kept us all safe – thanks for that too! To the volunteers without whom there would be no race, thank you. None of you may ever know what a difference you’ve made.
To all of the kind people of Hamilton, thank you for genuinely welcoming us into your neighbourhoods! I’ll definitely be back.
Love,
Karen
PS I personally apologize on behalf of all the runners who might have peed on your lawn – not cool.
Our Magazine
Awesome post Karen! Glad that you had a good race – you’re definitely my superhero for doing it!!
C
I echo Karen’s comments! The Hamilton crew rock!
I ran the 5K and the folks were amazing on the run route giving us high fives, cheering and clapping. I would like to personally thank the Hamilton Police Chief because he was running beside me and although he doesn’t know it, I was competing with him. I kept telling me, I will cross the finish line before the chief! I did and got myself a new 5K PB. Thanks for the motivation chief!
p.s. Karen it was great to meet you in person. Too bad we couldn’t find each other in Copps Coliseum for a picture 🙁 The Coliseum was full of people so a big shout out to everyone who came out to see us all cross the finish line!
Vicky
I did the 30 km as well. And Karen is right!! The people in Hamilton were great.
NOt only were they banging pots and pans but some were handing out bananas, fig newtons and jelly beans. We appreciate all the support from the bottom of our hearts!
Claire – next year it’s your turn!! 😉
Vicky – it was great to see all of those folks! Don’t worry, we’ll be sure to meet up again in Ottawa!
Erica – the bananas, newtons and jelly beans were all gone before I got there – but the banana peels remained! I nearly went flying, it was right out of the cartoons! Mmmm….jelly beans…. 🙂
Congrats hun! Sounds like you had an amazing race! It also sounds like one of the best running events around, I wish I had the pleasure of running it too! Well done 😀