Screaming Legs - Edmonton 21 Race Report

So earlier this week I realized that there was a half-marathon taking place in Edmonton this weekend – the Edmonton 21 put on by Multisports Canada. I wasn’t planning on racing but seeing as I was going to be in Edmonton that morning it seemed like an ideal training opportunity. Brian, my coach, gave me the go ahead to race on Friday. Unfortunately, race registration or at least online had closed on Thursday night. I e-mailed Trevor Soll, Multisports Canada director, and he got me in. Thanks Trevor!

I woke up at 0600hrs had my usual race breakfast of oatmeal, a banana, and a coffee. I would have liked a bagel as well unfortunately I didn’t have a toaster. I drove to the race site at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park arriving shortly before 0730hrs. I did my package pick-up and then spend the next half-hour or say staying warm in the car. I met up with Andrew Han from Cold Lake - a fellow member of the Cold Lake Rum Runners. I did a warm-up then headed to the registration area to hear the race brief. At this point I met up with A.J. Rankel (A stellar runner from Edm – his team had won the Death Race) and Chris Stone (another superb runner – he won this race last year).

The race started shortly after 0900hrs. I expected Chris and A.J. to go out fairly hard however I found myself out front all by myself. So I just started pushing the pace expecting at some point that A.J. and Chris would bridge the gap. The race director had a mountain bike lead us around the course. I thought it was pretty cool being the lead runner and having a personal escort. Once we crossed the river and onto the trail section with the climb I dropped the mountain bike. It’s a pretty steep section of trail with loose gravel so I wasn’t surprised the girl riding the bike was struggling. The climb up the hill was pretty brutal on the quads and mine were literally screaming at me by the time I reached the top – I think the Compressport QuadSleeves really help reduce the fatigue. Once on top I settled back into my pace making sure that it was uncomfortable. The descent was a welcome relief. We then crossed through Hawrelak Park and then back over the bridge into Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park. 

I pushed a Mint Chocolate Gu gel down range just as I crossed where we had started earlier. On the out and back section I had my first glimpse of my lead. A.J. and Chris were about 200 meters back. I realized then that Chris and A.J. were running together. I didn’t know if they were planning to do that for the whole race, but suspected at some point that Chris would take off. So I mentally knew that I had to keep trying to push the pace. The second time up the climb was even more painful than the first. My legs were screaming at me to slow down, but I knew that Chris and A.J. were probably not too far behind. So I kept pushing my screaming legs out of my head and focused on my turnover. I knew that as long as I kept pushing I could hold the lead. 

At the out and back, approximately 1km from the finish I saw Chris. He was only about 50-100m back of me. A.J. was probably another 300m back. I knew then it was time to really start pushing. I ran as strong and fast as I could and as soon as I saw the sign for the finish I sprinted. 1:19:46. Not the fastest race but I’ll take it! I believe if my memory serves correct that this was my first Overall Win…actually I think I chalked up a win last year in the Stan. So first overall win in Canada!

Congrats to Chris and A.J. on their results. You guys really forced me to push. Best of luck to Chris as he takes on the Chicago Marathon. And of course congrats to Andrew on obtaining his goal of finishing the race strong despite limited training!

Great to see Liz Nichol – STARRT Spin Club member volunteering at the race. Thanks for the support! And of course a big thanks to the race director Coleen Majeau!

Now it’s family time for a few days before I head to Bend, Oregon!