2007 Mississauga 21K

Just finished my first Half-Marathon, 21km (13 miles) from Square One Shopping Center down to the Lake. When I signed up for the event back in February, I had to enter a time estimate for my run. I knew that I can run 5km in 30 minutes, but never attempted to run more then 8km. I still put down 2 hours and 6 minutes, hoping I can maintain a 10km per hour pace. Race day came and I was really pumped, seeing all the participants.

I positioned myself in the center of the waiting crowed, waiting for the 7:30am start signal. I had plenty of time. Some encouraging words from the organizers and our Mayor Hazel McCallion, the Canadian Anthem and then the count-down. It took me 5 minutes to pass the start line. Now it was real and exciting. Somewhere in a crowed of 4000 there was me - moving with the 'herd'.

We left the Square One area and headed west on Burnhamthorpe, then south on Mississauga Road. By the loop around UofT, some encouraging cheers from my friends John, Aurora and Katherine. It's a stretch all the way down to the lake and only one serious incline just after km 10. The timer at km 10 showed 1:02, so my timing was excellent. I figured that it took me a few minutes to cross the start line and that I gained possibly 2 or 3 minutes.

Passed some water stations and took a few zips together with my raisins. Later at km 14, they handed out Power Gels. Wow, they are sweet, my mouth was still sticky at the finish line.

Almost down at the lake and still over 5km to go. The trail winds through Port Credit and that's when my legs ran out of 'whatever-makes-them-run'. No problems breathing, no problems with my ticker, just the legs. I walked for about 100 meters and decided to run again and watch my posture. Thanks to people that lined the course and cheered my name 'go - Dieter - go', I made it to the end. It does make a difference when you hear your name. The last 3 km were hard, but I finished. I don't think that I finished very gracefully, but I passed the finish line ... running ... with a big smile of relieve I guess.

When I checked my results later at Sportstats.ca, I found out that I was right on target, I finished just under 2 hours and 6 minutes.

And since I love statistics, I also found out that two thirds of the participants were women (who would have thought) and that 75% of old men like me finished before me. Overall, I finished somewhere in the middle. Even so the statistics shows that I'm not only old but also slow, I did enjoy the run and it's not the last one. Don't know about a full marathon yet, I postpone this decision to 2008. But I already signed up for the Toronton Marathon in October. And 2:06 looks like a fine time to finish.