Bib # 7519
Chip time – 55:01.3
Pace – 5:31
Category place – 13/86
Gender place – 40/506
Overall place – 111/743
I am late to post my race report for the Niagara Falls International Marathon 10K but as they say, better late than never. This race was on October 27, 2013 in Niagara Falls. It was one week following the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon, my first half marathon. You can read all about it here.
This race was two fold for my husband and I. We used it as a weekend get away, a sort of anniversary get away (our anniversary is actually today) and then also for the race itself. It was our first get away with out the kids since they were born. We were lucky enough to get a hotel booking at the Ramada – 2 nights for a total of $99! Not $99 per night, $99 total! Score!
Friday we arrived and relaxed. Saturday we went out for a quick shake out run, about 3km. It was super windy and I found the run a bit hard. I did after all just run a half marathon. At the end of this run we grabbed a coffee and headed to the expo. I enjoyed the expo. Right away I bought 2 bras by Moving Comfort. They were on sale for $30 each, regular $60. I got the Juno and the Jubralee. I have since run with both bras and really like them both. I highly recommend theses bras for the well endowed woman. I have 4 total (including the Rebound Racer and Fiona) and all 4 are great. We got our bibs and race shirts and were surprised that all distances were getting the long sleeve tech shirts. These ones were from Brooks. They were red for the women and black for the men. Very nice. We even met John Stanton. He was a very nice man and very humble. He signed our race bibs. We then headed back to the hotel to get ready for our shopping trip across the border.
Brooks race shirt
The mens shirt.
All my stuff ready to go.
The race started at 9am. Our hotel was fairly close to the start but we still wanted to be there at least 30 minute early. My husband had already decided he was not going to race this race and instead would pace me. My PB for 10K was 56:22 that I got just a month earlier at the MEC race (report here.) My husband thought we would aim for 54:xx and I thought that was ambitious. Remember I just ran a half marathon the week before :) Honestly I would be very pleased if I could beat my last 10km especially since I am still dealing with IT band issues. We got to the start and it was cold! The weather this time of year is always so tricky to dress for as the temperatures just jump all over the place.
My hubby at the start of the race.
Me at the start.
The race got on it’s way and I knew at the very least I did not want to go slower than a 5:30 pace to get a time of 55:00. We actually stayed around 5:14 for the first half and then I just had to slow down. I was so tired for this race. The course was a nice course. Nice and flat. It ended with about a whole kilometer downhill to the finish. I tried to pick up the pace but I just kept saying to my husband that I could not go any faster. My intentions were not to race this race but just run it since I did the half. Turns out I ended up racing it and it was just hard. Exhausting. But I did it. I was able to shave a whole 1:21 off my previous 10km and got a new PB of 55:01. I am not going to lie though, I was a little disappointed that it was not 54:xx – so close but I was also very happy to even get that time.
After crossing the finish we got pictures done (lot of photographers on this course – they used Marathonfoto) and grabbed our food (good variety). We then went and enjoyed a free massage. It was cold though and now that we were cooling down and right by the falls we decided to head back to the hotel and have some breakfast. We made the mistake of going to iHop for breakfast. The food was ok and the prices were outrageous. The cost of our breakfast was half the cost of our hotel stay. Robbery!!
Pockets full of freebies
How can bacon and eggs cost so much?
Overall we really enjoyed this race. The whole weekend. We also had a friend doing the half and another doing the full (which starts in the US and you run across the border into Canada) who both really enjoyed the race as well. It was well organized, good food at the finish, great aid stations and cheering squads, nice shirt and a nice course and free massages. We will definitely be coming back to do this race again in the future. We have even talked about making it a yearly thing.
