34:38.1

This morning, I ran the Ottawa Winterman 5K. It was my first ever race!



  





My friend Christine (pictured with me above) had signed up for this a few weeks ago, and I thought I would also give it a try. It was cold starting out, but luckily I have gotten kind of used to winter running, and it wasn't so bad after a bit. For those who know Ottawa, we started at the Canadian War Museum and ran along the Parkway to Parkdale, with a short loop behind Tunney's Pasture, and then all the way back. Very similar to my usual running route, actually, which is along Scott almost all the way to Island Park, and back.

My favourite part of the run was near the beginning, as the Parkway curves down and away along the river, and seeing the sea of colourful runners stretched out along. It is also the part of the run I have no pictures of, as, well, I was running :)

  

I placed 127th out of 186. For my troubles they gave me a bagel, a banana, and a nice sweet water.* Oh, and a nice, shiny snowflake medal. My time was 34:38.1, at a pace of 6:56. I'd been hoping it would be a bit faster, but I am still quite pleased. I passed a bunch of people, I ran almost the entire way (walked maybe 200-300 metres in total, and stopped maybe 30 seconds at the turning point for a drink), and most importantly, I had fun! I only started running in earnest last summer, and I am not competitive by nature, so this really is a "all I have to do is finish" kind of thing for me.

Now I am debating if I am going to sign up for the 10K in the Ottawa Race Weekend this May. I think I am maybe just crazy enough :)

* For those of you who know it, it tasted like Pocari Sweat. Ahhhh, Pocari Sweat, how I miss you!!!