Honourable Mention, cont.

Lynne Robinson – Langley, BC

A personal worst to cherish

Well, it seemed like a great idea at the time.

I had just come off of doing the Vancouver Half Marathon and was disappointed with my dismal showing, wilting in dehydration and disenchantment at the finish line. So when my friend Jody called from Alberta saying "hey I'm thinking about running the Scotiabank, do you wanna do it too?" I was immediately interested. The prospect of being with my friend and enjoying a tremendous run for a wonderful cause was just the ticket to get me out of my self induced funk. Jody's hubby had just completed a successful first run of the Boston Marathon and now it was her chance to see all of her training and hard work pay off. I wanted to be there with her!

Plans came together and on a Friday in early June she called to say that she was booking a flight to Vancouver for the 25th. This would give us some time to visit as well as enjoy the race together. The next day she called back with awful news...she had sustained a terrible injury to her ankle playing soccer, and all the ligaments were torn. It was glaringly obvious very quickly that she would not even be able to walk to Scotiabank Half-Marathon, let alone run it!

Being the positive person that she is, she decided to come along as cheerleader, and was ready to support me and the 4 friends I rounded up from our running group of Peninsula Runners in Langley. She even agreed to drive from the drop off point at UBC to Stanley Park so that we wouldn't have to worry about catching any shuttle buses. So while it wasn't going to go exactly how we planned, we would enjoy the time together anyway.

If her injury was the first thing to go wrong, the next thing involved Mother Nature - Jody's plane was delayed at her stopover in Calgary by lightning and this proved to be an omen for what turned out to be a very interesting weekend!

The night before the run I dropped a 3 foot by 2 foot piece of laminate flooring square on to the top of my foot. (Note to self, "Don't do that the day before a half-marathon again"). A golf ball sized swelling developed almost immediately and I was certain that I was heading for the emergency room rather than the starting line! The next morning it felt a little better, and I found that if I laced my shoes very lightly over the swelling the pain was bearable. Knowing that I was not going to be running any PB's, I left my watch at home and decided that I'd just try to cross the finish line and not worry about how quickly I got there.

Before the race we, like everyone else, made our way to the porta potty line up. I still can't believe the gall of the fellow we named "the budger" who decided that his need was greater than all of the hundreds of other runners waiting in the line and he decided to jump in at the front of the line! We booed the bold budger, but shortly thereafter realized he may have had the right idea as we were still in line when the gun went off to start the race! It is safe to say that he was well into the first mile while we were still in the line and while we ended up being a full 5 minutes late to the starting line.

I am a slow runner on the best of days, but having a sore foot put me firmly in the "very slow runner" category. I very quickly discovered that there is something to be said for starting at the back when you are a very slow runner – all the faster runners were already ahead of me! I did not experience the usual onslaught of runners whizzing by that I have gotten so painfully used to.

Without the pressure of minutes per miles or negative splits, I found I had the opportunity to enjoy the experience as a "run" rather than a "race". The pain forced me to slow down and enjoy the scenery – and oh what scenery it was! A beautiful day and a beautiful setting made for a memorable run. I had the luxury of taking the time to genuinely thank the volunteers as I went through the water stations... I cheered on the cheerleaders who stood at the side of the road... I stopped and posed for a picture for Jody at 3 km mark... I met and ran a kilometre or so with a lovely lady with fabulous positive energy by the name of Miko…I thoroughly enjoyed some time with a pair of ladies from Vancouver who had me laughing…and I surprised a local resident with a sweaty hug as thanks for his generous and thoughtful spray of water from his hose.

I completed the run in a personal worst, but truly had the best run of my life because of everything I got to experience.

At the finish line I quickly met up with Jody and was so proud to hear of how she easily navigated her way from UBC to Stanley Park, and found parking that was close, and even free! Wow! We found the rest of our group and enjoyed the post run atmosphere and goodies before heading for the car.

It wasn't until we passed the "20 km" sign that meant we had walked/limped a full kilometre back from the starting line that we started to wonder if the car had been stolen, as it simply wasn't where Jody had left it! It was strange as she knew that she had parked the car in a line of others, and now all the cars were gone! I mean, I was slow, but not that slow!

We managed to piece together the puzzle using Jody's long distance cell phone, and I shudder at the thought of the size of that bill. No the car hadn't been stolen, it had been towed! I was embarrassed not to think of it sooner because of course as most of us know, there is no such thing as free parking in Stanley Park. (Most of us know that, but being from Alberta, of course Jody didn't.) My running friends Sandie, Carol, Geoff and Aimee would have known that, but still kept a positive attitude and did not make a single negative comment – I think we all knew that there wasn't anything that we could say that would make her feel any better (or worse!) than she already did.

Geoff, Carol and I eventually managed to take a cab to the towing yard, and then headed back to Stanley Park nursing a credit card induced shock from towing and storage charges, along with the ultimate proverbial salt in the wound - a $27.00 parking ticket. We got Jody out to the airport after a celebratory and well deserved Bellini at Milestone's,.. but it wasn't until she was on her way before we realized that my camera was still in her knapsack and on a little adventure of its own. Shoot!

In the end though, I have to admit that the whole experience forced me to re-examine why I took up running in the first place. It re-ignited my love of running and reminded me that when I started it was to adopt a healthier lifestyle, to lose weight, and to reduce stress. It was refreshing to be reminded that no matter how slow I am, I am still faster and farther ahead than the folks who slept in that day, don't exercise, or don't stop to give surprised strangers a sweaty hug.

So, despite injuries, lightning, a missed start gun, a parking ticket, a towed car, an extra cab ride and a lost camera... the 2004 Scotiabank Half-Marathon was truly an experience I will cherish for a long time.

Me and Jody at the finish line. I'm the sweaty one.

Honourable Mention

Marilyn Richardson – Mission, BC

My new friend

It was going to be my fastest,
It was going to be my best.
Last year's time was 2:03,
Sub-two hours was my test.

I trained and ate and slept right,
But I tried to do it all.
And got knocked down and trampled on,
On Thursday, playing ball.

I tried to hard recover,
But only had three days.
My body it was aching,
In oh so many ways.

But still I toed the start line,
With my running pal Elaine.
I knew her energy and cheer
Would help to ease the pain.

We started sure and steady,
At a sub-two hour pace.
I told myself "I'm here for fun,
And not to win the race"

By 5k it was evident
It wouldn't be my run,
I thanked Elaine and cheered her on,
And told her to have fun.

For several k I soldiered on,
But couldn't find my gait.
I felt like kids I used to coach.
When they were only eight.

I'd spurt and start and run fast,
And then slow to a crawl.
I couldn't find that even pace,
To take me through it all.

And so I ran the rest of it,
With sprints and bolts and walking,
And took in all the scenery,
And all the people talking.

At 20k, one more to go,
Injured runner to my right.
I give the group my H20,
And pray that he's alright.

I get set for one last charge,
To cross the finish line,
When someone taps me on the arm,
And says "You're looking fine".

It's someone I don't really know
Though I've seen her run before.
She's young and full of energy
Like she could run for twenty more.

"I'd hate to see you walk in,
When you're so close to the end."
She smiled at me and pushed me on.
I had no chance to defend.

I kicked into a another gear,
And forced myself to run,
While my new friend Jaclyn,
Said "Smile and have some fun."

My PB, it just wasn't there,
But I won't shed a tear.
For I've already started training,
For the Scotia Half next year.

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Bill Denier – Vancouver, BC

"Dad, you can do this"

It took a while for me to decide whether or not to enter the half marathon. I am 72 and only ran competitively a few times before (Sun Run, Coho Run etc.). I didn't know if I would have the stamina to complete. But I did and enjoyed it!! The weather was great and the volunteers went out of their way to be helpful.

My daughter, who also ran, was right when she said: "Dad, you can do this."

I dedicated my effort to run to my late wife. She died of cancer on April 28, at the age of 56. She always encouraged me, since I started running a few years ago after open heart surgery, to do a half marathon. God bless her!!

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Jackie Labbe – Napa Valley, CA, and Bowen Island, BC

Confessions of a Special Kind

Once upon a time, I ran the Scotiabank half marathon for the first time in my life - June 27, 2004, to be exact.

I ran because, I sit way too much... too long... at an office desk. This is no ordinary desk - it has powers that allow me, its willing subject to develop special skills- I'm almost forty and can move certain objects with my eyes. This takes a lot of practice, mostly, a lot of sitting.

I eat too much.
I can move a sandwich from the edge of my desk to my mouth... without lifting a finger! Many people can also develop this skill... however it does take a lot of practice and years of, well, sitting.

I drink too much... though wine keeps me healthy and adds a certain 'joi de vivre' to my life, my waistline keeps getting bigger... what is a girl to do? Especially one with special powers, like mine, where I can uncork a bottle and drink without blinking an eyelid. Thanks to my "looking-moving-eating-typing-uncorking-drinking-while-sitting" powers, I can do almost anything from my chair. My chair, too, has allowed me to become even more sophisticated in the application of my very special powers. I can sit in my car for many hours a day, but that is okay, because I, the special-powers-woman can transcend the physical space of my car, to the physical space of my home couch, or dining room chair. This makes me very special. I can move around without ever having to actually move from my sitting area of choice.

I ran the Scotiabank half marathon because I wanted to see if I could apply my special powers to move my legs, without a chair attached to my ass. And look at the photo - it didn't work!

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Marina Carter – Richmond, BC

Determination

My mother died of breast cancer last year so I was really determined to run my first half marathon for her. I trained really hard and was super ready to do it. 

Well, last week I sustained I sustained a really bad injury. My neighbour insists on blasting his music at 3 in the morning and it woke me up in the middle of the night. Half asleep I fell down the stairs and landed on the tiles. 

Needless to say the first thing I thought about was my marathon. I could hardly walk all week but I was not going to give up even if I had to crawl my way to the finish line. 

Anyway Sunday morning I took several Tylenol and off I went, not at the pace I usually have but I was doing fine until about Kits Beach. My Tylenol I guess had worn off and my leg was killing me. I tried to find one of those runners that had Motrin t-shirts thinking that maybe they would have some painkillers but I couldn't see one. Then I yelled several times "Does anyone have a Tylenol?", no one did. 

So I stopped and asked a little old lady that was gardening, she slowly went inside and came back with what I presumed were Tylenol, because come to think of it I never looked. I took them with some water and off I went. 

The Burrard Street Bridge never seemed so long. Anyway thanks to her I made it. Bless her soul.

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Sean Kelly – Coquitlam, BC

Beat the heat

At about the 14K mark I was getting fairly hot and the weather was definitely heating up. Maybe the heat was causing me to hallucinate, but as I thought of ways to cool off, I wondered, "If I got a bellybutton ring and two nipple rings could I just pin my number to those and run without a shirt on?"

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Violet Holmes – Burnaby, BC

Wasn't That a Party

This is a little jingle I made up while running ...
(to the tune of 'Wasn't That a Party')

Could have been the massage
Might have been the gel
Could have been the 2 or 3 Advil, I don't know
But look at the shape I'm in
My lungs are like a football
Heart's ticking like a clock
Mercy me, oh me oh my
Wasn't that a marathon - a great half-marathon
My favourite half-marathon!!

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Ann Davidson – White Rock, BC

The Journey

At about 14 km, my friend and I were starting to fade - we had been chatting and laughing most of the run until then, but the heat and our haphazard training were starting to affect us.

Just then, a man ran by, saying that he's watched us for awhile, and "had enjoyed seeing us talk and have fun for the last hour" and then he gave us some encouraging words, as he ran ahead.

Well, that was just what we needed to rev us up and give us some energy to tackle the last 6 km.

At about 17 km, we caught up to the gentleman, and thanked him for his encouragement and to tell him that he really helped us. He stated that he was now starting to fade, and it was now our turn to spur him on. We talked to him for the next 2 km, about running, family and life in general. It seemed to do the trick for him - he said "thank you ladies" and took off at about 19 km.

We didn't see him again - but I like that we strangers were able to "coach" each other, and get us to the finish line. 

It's not about speed or finishing first or getting a PR, it's about the journey and the people you meet along the way.