I did my final Sunday run today in preparation for next Sunday’s Ottawa marathon. It was a cool ( 3C) and windy day in the nation’s capital for my 16km run at race pace.

As I’ve done the last couple of years, I started at the marathon finish line near just east of Ottawa City Hall. I ran 8km out and then turned around to run the the final 8km of the course, back to the finish line. It’s nice to be able to run the marathon course, or at least the final portion of it, before race day.

There’s some comfort in knowing the landmarks that you’ll be passing in the final push to the finish. Ottawa is a very beautiful race course… especially over the last 8km.

With 8km to go you’re on Prince of Wales Drive moving up towards the traffic circle in the Experimental Farm. A quick downhill then takes you to scenic Dow’s Lake. It’s here that the crowds start to pick up. Past the beautiful tulip beds on your left you’ll soon come upon Lansdowne Park and Frank Clair Stadium, former home of the dearly departed Ottawa Rough Riders, and for a short time the Ottawa Renegades, of the Canadian Football League.

You have the historic Rideau Canal on your right side all the way to finish as you pass the Pretoria Bridge and a little further up you’ll catch sight, across the water, of the University of Ottawa campus.

When you start to hear the finishers’ names and hometowns being announced over the P.A. system you know that you’re almost home…….to anyone running in Ottawa Race Weekend next Saturday and Sunday, good luck!

When a runner is in taper mode and the training schedule is in its final last few runs it’s hard not to start to think about the weather on race day. Over the last 3 weeks of marathon training I’ll catch myself thinking “today would have been a great day for the race” or “wow, I’m glad the race wasn’t today ’cause the wind was brutal”.

Runners can control a lot on race day…..pre-race breakfast, clothing, shoes, gels, water or gatorade, and what pace to start out at. With the weather, however, the best you can do is be prepared for what mother nature is going throw out on that day. Good running weather and perhaps you can push for a PB. Lousy weather and you might need to adjust your time goal, especially if it’s very hot.

No one likes to run a race in bad weather but when you finish just think about the bragging rights……”yeah, I ran during the big storm of ’09…..was pretty near a hurricane if you ask me….but I finished it!”

I didn’t scare the beginning runners off after all.  Phew that was a relief!

So when Esther asked me to lead the advanced group again, I was a little nervous.  Hmmm, would they secretly trip me?  Would I be going along at a really nice pace only to look behind me and find that I was talking to myself?

Happily neither happened.  But what it did do, was confirm for me, just how much I love running.

I found myself, laughing and smiling.  And even better, the runners were also doing the same thing.

When we stopped about half way to stretch, we did so with smiles on our faces.  And when it was time to start running again, we came up with a game plan that worked for all of us. 

I was very happy when just before we started to run again, someone clapped and said, “let’s do this”!!! And meant it.

For me the highlight of the run was when one of the runners said to me, “who knew two short weeks ago that we would be able to run more than five minutes at a time?  It seems like we were just grumbling about running for 30 seconds straight!”

I’d like to be able to take credit for this wonderful transformation.  Sadly I can’t.  It is Esther who motivates and tells us runners we can do it. 

She is the one who believes in us, when we doubt ourselves. 

I hope I can motivate runners someday like Esther can.  In the meantime, I’ll work on me.  And maybe I’ll invest in one of the rear view mirros that cyclists use.

“You’re really not gonna like me today,” the Gazelle said to me.  “As a matter of fact, I think you might just hate me now.”

“Oh no,” I thought to myself.  “Did he sign us up to run a marathon in Manitoba?  Not that there is anything wrong with Manitoba.  After all Gramma is from there …. Hmmm I wonder what he did?”

Rather than straining my already strained brain, I just asked him.

“Ok what did you do this time?”

“I ran a 4:20 kilometer,” said the Gazelle.  I wasn’t sure if he was yanking my chain.  And he continued.  “Then I ran another 4:20.  On the way back from Parkdale.”

And even though I can’t do splits, I figured out all on my own, that was pretty fast. 

“Ha” I said to the Gazelle, “I was asked to lead a group last night!  Top that!”

And he did. 

“I checked my work schedule last night.  I double and triple checked it,” he said.  “I can’t do the Old Mill, I can’t do the Downtown Dine and Dash and I can’t do the Double Crown either.”

That just took all the smug out.  Who am I going to run with.

“Who am I going to run with?” I pleaded.  “Couldn’t you call in sick?  Not that I condone calling in sick to do a race.  I had such plans for us”

He brightened up. 

“Well, kid.  You’re on your own.  Besides that I have signed up to do the half at the Road2Hope.”

Alright, the sibling rivalry is back on!

Today however was a little shorter run with a few minor ‘incidents’.  To begin with I decided to run through the neighborhood, I figured I may have to watch out for kids getting ready to get on the bus and people rushing off to work. What I didn’t plan for was the number of landscaping trucks I would have to navigate through, (who says the economy is suffering, last time I checked professional landscapers weren’t cheap).  Oh and I didn’t realize that I wore my invisible running shorts and shirt either, I mean how else do you explain a van (with trailer) pulling out right in front of me just before I crossed a street, I actually had to slow down or I would have ran into the side of the van. (Would have made for a good story, but no thanks) Its one thing if the guy didn’t see me, but c’mon, I’m 6 feet tall, wearing a bright white shirt AND he made EYE CONTACT.

Anyway, I survived and did finish my short 6.2km run, without further incident and feel great going into the rest of my day.  Which I consider to be a bonus considering I woke up dead tired with a pounding headache! 

I guess I would say I am right where I need to be to begin a formal Marathon training schedule, now all I need to do is pick a race and keep running!

Is it possible to be too enthusiastic about running?

I don’t think so.  After all, I have the greatest mentor ever in Esther.  So when I get the chance to promote Road2Hope or Esther, I try not to miss the chance.   And since Esther is very much the kind of person who walks the walk and talks the talk, to be able to do the same is very important to me.

And I’ll tell you a secret, I like to run with Esther.  I love the way she motivates her runners to do more.  For themselves and for their community.  Any chance I get to run with Esther is one I jump at.

Except, she started to suggest recently that I go with the “big runners.”  Those of us, who can run a straight 5 km and shrug it off by casually mentioning … “oh I just ran a 5 last night.” While the non runner is shouting … “only a five?” in disbelief.

I was really happy that Esther needed an extra person to help with the beginners tonight.  And practically jumped up and down to get her attention when she was looking for someone.  I managed to keep myself from doing cartwheels when she agreed I could go with her.

My instructions were pretty simple.  Take the advanced group and run around the one mile track, rest for a minute and do it again for a total of three miles.  Oh and make sure you talk a lot and motivate the runners.

Pretty easy right?  Except I think I might have been too excited about my task.  Resulting in a group of really frightened beginners.  Runners who thought perhaps that I might be too enthusiastic about running.

Actually at the end, I got the highest compliment ever paid to a sort-of leader.  “Hey, you really know a lot of usefull stuff.”

Hmmm, how do I top that?  Just by showing up again ready to spread more useful information as well as enthusiasm for a sport that has stolen my heart.