A race report from Shelley Ann....great job Shelley and Robyn!

Beat(en) By Beethoven; I’ll do better next year.

Each year, the Beat Beethoven race invites participants to run 8K in the time that it takes to listen to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony; approximately 37 minutes.  It was my first attempt.  As enthusiastic as I am, I also have to be realistic. I knew that this year, he would beat me.

The sky was grey and the air was chilly.  Robyn Hardage, one of our Won With One guides was going to accompany me.  We’d only ever ran together once before earlier that week.  As I’m relatively new to running, I think that It’s a good idea for athlete and guide to run together at least once before a race. We’d run along the Rideau Canal where we saw ducks, geese, dogs, fellow runners, people on bikes and perhaps the biggest rainbow ever!  I really enjoy running with guides as I get a good description of what’s around me.

We had an excellent ‘cheering section’ on race day—my sister Colleen, Robyn’s boyfriend Mike and friend Carolyn with her daughter Macky were all there to stand in the cold and rain to wish us well.  I can’t stress enough the importance of moral support!  

Thanks to Jan Ditchfield and the Won With One team, Robyn did not have to pay the entrance fee.  We were greeted by the race director, Laurel Anderson who welcomed us and wished us a good race. Won With One makes so many things possible for us athletes. 

With the familiar “BA-NA-NA-NAAAAH! blaring over loudspeakers, we were off.  The course was fairly steady with a few hills here and there.  One thing that I’ve learned—that gentle downhill slope on the way out isn’t going to feel that way on the way back—it will be uphill payback time!

I started running three years ago with my first 5K.  I don’t run, I plap!  My feet make a Plap! Plap! Plap! sound on the course.  I’ve still got lots to learn.  I’m sure that with training and patience I’ll improve as time goes on--it helps to be in the company of such amazing athletes. 

Robyn did an excellent job of guiding me.  As I have tunnel vision, I can’t see people approaching at the side.  This was a perfect inaugural run as it wasn’t too crowded with plenty of room and no fear of bumping into other participants .  A strategy that I’ve used in more crowded races is to stay to one side of the course.  Our biggest threat was potholes —I’ve been blessed (or cursed) with small size six feet—the kind of unsuspecting feet that fit neatly into the gape of a waiting pothole—real ankle-breakers.   Robyn was able to keep me out of harm’s way. 

Along about half-way we could hear cheering and knew that the water station was nearby. It was at the halfway point.   All the good folks handing out water were dressed like cats!  They looked hilarious!  Always thank those tireless volunteers who keep us motivated and hydrated! 

After a gulp of water, it was time to head for home.  I could see people ahead of me, and hear feet pounding from behind.  Psychologically I start thinking that I am going to ‘die’ when I know we are nearing —definitely something to work on!  We had one more kilometer to go.  Often when I am running, songs pop into my head as I need them.  For some strange reason, Boston’s “Smokin’’” was playing away in my imagination as I ran—my feet seemed to keep to the beat of the song that only I could hear.  Up ahead we could hear the crowds cheering—I could just about see the finish line.  Pictures were snapped as runners finished their race. I headed toward the whine of the timing mats and was done.  

My time was 56 minutes, 57 seconds, not what I would call a stellar finish. I know that running is perhaps my weakest discipline.  I aim for a  faster finish .  Next year, I will be that much closer to Beating Beethoven.