The Ottawa Summer Has Begun!

Well folks, this past weekend was a fantastic one here in the Nations Capital.  Was able to get out for a run later on Saturday afternoon after work to work on my form and strength for the upcoming Ottawa Marathon in 2 weeks.  Although it was a great cool afternoon/evening for running, I think I may have not prepared enough for the run.  I mean I did stretch and hydrate before the run, but the body just still felt too stiff.  Legs felt like I was forcing them to manage a half decent stride.  As the run progressed, the legs loosened up a bit and the run felt a little better, but they were still in the dog house when I finished.  13km in 55 minutes at a 4:12/km pace.  Slow, but the run was good.  I’m hoping that come race weekend I can run a 4:30 pace consistently and run a negative split on the second half!  That would be really awesome for my first Marathon.  Ottawa isn’t a very hilly city either, the course to me seems relatively flat with minor minor inclines or bumps shall we say over the course.  It is shaping up to be a good weekend and I hope that it is nice and cool in the morning to have a race of a lifetime!

Sunday I tried to go for a morning run before work at 11am, NOPE!, that wasn’t going to happen.  Legs were not recovered from the evening previous, so I turned around and went to work.  Soon after some folks from work asked why I was there, Turns out, I WASN’T ON THE SCHEDULE! Perfect!  28C and sun outside, obviously I’m going for a bike ride.  Went out in the southern ends of Ottawa and toured around the flat roads and practiced my aero and spinning for a couple hours.  It was a fantastic afternoon for it!  By the way, did I mention that I roasted my back!  Tan lines are in full effect now! 

Countdown till first triathlon: 6 days!  Ottawa Early Bird at Carleton University.  13 days until the Ottawa Marathon (Ottawa Race Weekend), nervous but incredibly excited for both!  Let’s go!

T