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!