Ladies and Gentlemen, we interrupt our regularly scheduled posts about running to bring you this special message about product development.
Women are advancing on all sorts of new frontiers. Next year, we will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the women's marathon event in the Olympics. There is no doubt today that women can excel at endurance sports. Moreover, women are advancing in the professional world. In Canada, we even have a female Chief Justice on the Supreme Court. Now that is progress considering that less than 100 years ago there was a very real legal debate about women were "persons".
Yet a glass ceiling still exists. Sometimes the ceiling is not even glass. Sometimes it is concrete and plaster.
If you have any doubt that women are not advancing in certain fields, I present to you the case of the Nicorette Inhalor. This Inhalor is meant to give people who are quitting smoking a proxy for a cigarette. The Inhalor is something you can put in your mouth just like a cigarette so that you can enjoy that feeling of having a cigarette dangling from your mouth without having to use an actual cigarette. Smart idea.
Alas, I suspect that there are NO women on the product development team of Nicorette. Neither are there women in key executive positions at Nicorette -- the sorts of positions that carry with them the authority to say, "Uh, no. We are not going to sell that product."
How do I know? I present to you Exhibit A, an advertisement for the Inhalor.
I present to you Exhibit B, another advertisement for the Inhalor.
Notice anything about those Inhalors, ladies?
That's right. We know that there cannot be women involved in product development at Nicorette because no woman would try to sell a fake cigarette that looks like a tampon.
Tough Cowboy? He was until he put a tampon in his mouth in lieu of a cigarette.
Romantic scene? Oh yes. Except for the fact that the lady and her gent are smoking tampons.
Hey Nicorette, for the sake of the dignity of smokers who are using your products to quit smoking, please hire a woman who is willing to say, "We are not taking cigarette tampons to market!"
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Toronto Go Girls Hit the Runway
In mid-June, the glamourous Go Girls took to the runway to strut their stuff. While crowds of fans cheered and travelers stared, three members of the Go Girls ran down a runway. While running, they modeled the latest in running gear while the paparazzi snapped shots of the Glamour Girls, as Olga, Nana, and T came to be known.
That's right. We were on a runway and we were modeling something. I suppose I should qualify that the runway in question was not really a fashion runway. But it could have been. We're stylish, more or less, in a running sort of way.
Olga, Nana, and T participated in the 2010 Runway Run, a fun 5K run at Pearson International Airport. The race is actually run on a runway, although the airport does close down the runway so that planes do not land on top of the runners.
That's right. We were on a runway and we were modeling something. I suppose I should qualify that the runway in question was not really a fashion runway. But it could have been. We're stylish, more or less, in a running sort of way.
Olga, Nana, and T participated in the 2010 Runway Run, a fun 5K run at Pearson International Airport. The race is actually run on a runway, although the airport does close down the runway so that planes do not land on top of the runners.
The runway next to the race runway, however, is open to air traffic. As we lined up at the starting line, we were treated to the sight of planes landing and taking off.
Coming in for a landing!
Touchdown!
Of course, the passengers in those airplanes were also treated to the sight of approximately 2500 people running around on the runway. I wonder what the passengers must have thought. If I was the captain of a plane taking off on that runway, I would say to those passengers: "Ladies and Gentlemen, on the right side of the plane you will see civilians running up and down the runway next to ours. These people are being punished for not listening to the captains of their airplanes. If you get out of your seat when the "Fasten Seatbelt" sign is on, I will personally make sure that you will join similar runners at our destination airport." And then I would laugh menacingly.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Toronto! On the runway next to us, you will see how the Toronto Airport handles your luggage. You will be released from the plane and asked to race toward a designated finish line. The first person across the finish line gets to choose whatever bags he or she wants!"
As much fun as watching the planes land and take off was, we did have a race to run. So we put on our game faces and prepared for the 5K ahead of us.
Step 1: Well, you know...
Step 2: Put on game faces for mandatory pre-race photo.
Step 3: Look at the plane parked on our runway! Cool!
Do you think they left the keys in it?
Step 4: RUN!
And run we did. We galloped up the runway, turned around and ran down to the other end of the runway before turning back again for the final 2K up the runway. Olga, Nana and T all posted respectable times. Olga and Nana both recorded times that were faster than they anticipated. T reports being disappointed by her time, but still relatively happy to have finished 10th in her age group (although it was not a particularly competitive field) and to have finished faster than last year.
The Glamour Girls, post race.
"Please don't check my "energy" drink!!"
Nana, T, a police officer, and a plane. This photo is pre-G20. If it were taken during the G20, we'd likely be cuffed.
The consensus following the Runway Run was that this race is awesome! We determined that we must do the Runway Run again.
After all, Glamour Girls belong on runways.
Coming in for a landing!
Touchdown!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Toronto! On the runway next to us, you will see how the Toronto Airport handles your luggage. You will be released from the plane and asked to race toward a designated finish line. The first person across the finish line gets to choose whatever bags he or she wants!"
As much fun as watching the planes land and take off was, we did have a race to run. So we put on our game faces and prepared for the 5K ahead of us.
Step 1: Well, you know...
Step 2: Put on game faces for mandatory pre-race photo.
Step 3: Look at the plane parked on our runway! Cool!
Do you think they left the keys in it?
And run we did. We galloped up the runway, turned around and ran down to the other end of the runway before turning back again for the final 2K up the runway. Olga, Nana and T all posted respectable times. Olga and Nana both recorded times that were faster than they anticipated. T reports being disappointed by her time, but still relatively happy to have finished 10th in her age group (although it was not a particularly competitive field) and to have finished faster than last year.
The Glamour Girls, post race.
"Please don't check my "energy" drink!!"
Nana, T, a police officer, and a plane. This photo is pre-G20. If it were taken during the G20, we'd likely be cuffed.
To celebrate their success at the race, Olga, Nana, and T decided to head back into the city for some breakfast. (They considered going to some place near the airport but as it turns out, the area around the airport is a culinary blackhole. It was necessary to evacuate as soon as possible.)
Of course, in order to return to the city, the Glamour Girls had to find Olga's vehicle. This task proved more challenging than it should have. After some aimless wandering, the trio finally stumbled upon Olga's wheels and they were well on their way to a lovely brunch at the Rosedale Dinner.
Three cool cats in post-race glory.
Of course, in order to return to the city, the Glamour Girls had to find Olga's vehicle. This task proved more challenging than it should have. After some aimless wandering, the trio finally stumbled upon Olga's wheels and they were well on their way to a lovely brunch at the Rosedale Dinner.
Three cool cats in post-race glory.
The consensus following the Runway Run was that this race is awesome! We determined that we must do the Runway Run again.
After all, Glamour Girls belong on runways.
Go Girls Take on the Ride to Conquer Cancer
The Ride to Conquer Cancer is a weekend-long cycling event that occurs in various locations across Canada. The Ontario event takes place in June and features a 200K and a 200 mile bike ride over two days. The ride begins in Toronto and ends in Niagara Falls, with a stop in Ancaster overnight. Cyclists log 100K (or 100 miles) the first day, and then another 100K (or 100 miles) the second day. This year, the second year of the Ontario ride, 3,530 cyclists participated in the ride and, together with volunteers and crew members, raised $14.5 million for the Campbell Family Institute at the Princess Margaret Hospital, one of the top five cancer research centres in the world.
This year, two of the Go Girls participated in the Ride. Olga cycled the 200K and T crewed the event on the Gear Team. Both Olga and T found the event physically challenging but immensely rewarding.
Olga's task was fairly straightforward: cycle, cycle, cycle. That is not to say it was not tough. Olga had to ascend the Niagara Escarpment on her bike! Completing the epic 2-day, 200K cycle required a strong mind and a physically fit body. Olga, of course, brought both to the table.
T's task was slightly different. Her job was to load the gear of cyclists and crew members onto trucks, then drive one of the trucks to the camp site where the cyclists spent the night. She then helped the Gear Crew to unload all the luggage. When cyclists arrived into the camp, T helped the riders locate their luggage. T and other members of the gear crew were also asked to help pitch tents, so T learned how to pitch a tent. (It was actually quite easy.) After pitching tents for a while, T returned to help more cyclists locate luggage. When the heavens opened and the rain poured down, T and the other members of the Gear Crew did their best to cover all the luggage with tarps.
Now, you may be wondering, how big were these trucks? They were big: 24', big-ass trucks. Let's take a moment to compare T with the truck.
This is T...
This is T and her truck:
Yes, her truck. By the end of the weekend, T was a bona fide truck driver, even if she did occasionally have difficulty climbing into the cab. Here is T making the ascent into her truck:
Step one: open the door and begin to hoist yourself up.
Step Two: Roll down the window and pause for a photo opp. Use the door the continue climbing up Everest, the nickname given to T's truck.
While the cyclists made their way by bike to the Finish Line, the Gear Crew set out in their truck convoys to drive the luggage to the Finish Line. Of course, the Crew did make one stop: Tim Horton's. We needed coffee. Badly.
Once arriving in Niagara Falls, the Gear Crew unloaded all the luggage. Even wonder what approximately 5,000 pieces of luggage looks like?
This year, two of the Go Girls participated in the Ride. Olga cycled the 200K and T crewed the event on the Gear Team. Both Olga and T found the event physically challenging but immensely rewarding.
Olga's task was fairly straightforward: cycle, cycle, cycle. That is not to say it was not tough. Olga had to ascend the Niagara Escarpment on her bike! Completing the epic 2-day, 200K cycle required a strong mind and a physically fit body. Olga, of course, brought both to the table.
T's task was slightly different. Her job was to load the gear of cyclists and crew members onto trucks, then drive one of the trucks to the camp site where the cyclists spent the night. She then helped the Gear Crew to unload all the luggage. When cyclists arrived into the camp, T helped the riders locate their luggage. T and other members of the gear crew were also asked to help pitch tents, so T learned how to pitch a tent. (It was actually quite easy.) After pitching tents for a while, T returned to help more cyclists locate luggage. When the heavens opened and the rain poured down, T and the other members of the Gear Crew did their best to cover all the luggage with tarps.
One of the 24' trucks driven by T for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Now, you may be wondering, how big were these trucks? They were big: 24', big-ass trucks. Let's take a moment to compare T with the truck.
This is T...
This is T and her truck:
Step one: open the door and begin to hoist yourself up.
Step Three: Ah, victory! The sweet seat of success.
Of course, some adjustments still have to be made. It's hard to reach the pedals with the seat moved back.
But before you know it, T's in the driver's seat and ready to go. Look closely, she's there...
Is that really T behind the wheel? Yes, it seems that T (or T-Rex, as she is known on the roads) did manage to climb into this truck and drive around. And yes, we are all aware that this is a very frightening reality: T-Rex let loose in a big truck on the Queen E! Stand back! I don't know how big this thing gets!
Both Olga and T stayed in camp in Ancaster. Olga slept in one of the literally thousands of tents pitched for cyclist and crew members. T joined fellow Gear Crew members in the back of the trucks. The next morning, after a hearty breakfast prepared by the Kitchen Crew, both Olga and T went back to work. Olga set off on her bike for Niagara Falls, another 100K journey. T joined the other Gear Crew members in collecting and loading the gear of cyclists and crew members.
Loading and unloading gear, by the way, is a lot of work. By the end of the weekend, T's hands were blistered from throwing, I mean, carrying luggage around. The gloves helped, but T's manicure was simply ruined.
After the cyclists had all left and the gear was all loaded, the Gear Crew paused for a photo.
The Gear Crew: don't they look like people who can handle manual labour?
The three best Gear Crew members: T, Teressa & Kathryn.
Loading and unloading gear, by the way, is a lot of work. By the end of the weekend, T's hands were blistered from throwing, I mean, carrying luggage around. The gloves helped, but T's manicure was simply ruined.
After the cyclists had all left and the gear was all loaded, the Gear Crew paused for a photo.
The Gear Crew: don't they look like people who can handle manual labour?
Once arriving in Niagara Falls, the Gear Crew unloaded all the luggage. Even wonder what approximately 5,000 pieces of luggage looks like?
This is more or less what 5,000 pieces of luggage looks like. It's a good thing we had a system to help cyclists locate their luggage!
By mid-afternoon, both Olga and T had completed their tasks. Olga had successfully logged 200K, up and down the Niagara Escarpment. (Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of Olga and her bike! But T can attest to the fact that Olga was there and looked stunning even after having cycled 100K.) T had loaded and unloaded luggage and driven a great big truck. There was a BBQ for cyclists and crew members, along with free beer.
By the end of the weekend, Olga had safely returned to Toronto (no, she did not have to bike all the way back to TO!) and T had safely returned her beloved truck, Everest, to the good people organizing this mammoth event.
The slogan of the Ride to Conquer Cancer is "Strength in Numbers". The Ride itself demonstrates strength in numbers: from the cyclists themselves to the volunteers to the various crews to the family and friends supporting the cyclists, there were many of us out, working together to support cancer research. This event works because we worked together. When you count both the crew members and the cyclists, there were over 4,000 people combining their efforts to raise money for cancer research -- $14.5 million of cooperation and hard work in the fight against cancer.
Hope and heartache. Almost everyone participating in the event, whether cycling or serving as crew, had a personal story related to cancer. There were cancer survivors and family members and friends of cancer survivors, but also family and friends of people who had lost their battle with cancer. This event showed that those who have been lost have certainly not been forgotten, but are carried in the hearts of family and friends.
Two in every five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. This is a good time to remind our readers that early detection is key. Do regular cancer screening. Be informed. Know what your risks are.
And if you want to do more, consider participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2011. Both Olga and T will tell you that it is worth it. You might even get to drive a great big truck nicknamed Everest...
By mid-afternoon, both Olga and T had completed their tasks. Olga had successfully logged 200K, up and down the Niagara Escarpment. (Unfortunately, we don't have any photos of Olga and her bike! But T can attest to the fact that Olga was there and looked stunning even after having cycled 100K.) T had loaded and unloaded luggage and driven a great big truck. There was a BBQ for cyclists and crew members, along with free beer.
By the end of the weekend, Olga had safely returned to Toronto (no, she did not have to bike all the way back to TO!) and T had safely returned her beloved truck, Everest, to the good people organizing this mammoth event.
The slogan of the Ride to Conquer Cancer is "Strength in Numbers". The Ride itself demonstrates strength in numbers: from the cyclists themselves to the volunteers to the various crews to the family and friends supporting the cyclists, there were many of us out, working together to support cancer research. This event works because we worked together. When you count both the crew members and the cyclists, there were over 4,000 people combining their efforts to raise money for cancer research -- $14.5 million of cooperation and hard work in the fight against cancer.
Hope and heartache. Almost everyone participating in the event, whether cycling or serving as crew, had a personal story related to cancer. There were cancer survivors and family members and friends of cancer survivors, but also family and friends of people who had lost their battle with cancer. This event showed that those who have been lost have certainly not been forgotten, but are carried in the hearts of family and friends.
Two in every five Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. This is a good time to remind our readers that early detection is key. Do regular cancer screening. Be informed. Know what your risks are.
And if you want to do more, consider participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer in 2011. Both Olga and T will tell you that it is worth it. You might even get to drive a great big truck nicknamed Everest...
Go Girls Gone...to Newfoundland
This blog post is a bit late, but it is still worth posting.
The Go Girls are a global bunch. We run at home and we run while away (or at least we try to run while away). We collect our experiences of running on the road (get the pun?) so that those of us who are left behind (i.e., T) can live vicariously through these experiences. Our plan is to run the whole world. (Yes, another pun!)
Recently, one of our members, JaJa, took our "run the world" campaign to Newfoundland. While in St. John's, Newfoundland, JaJa took the opportunity to log a run and to document her accomplishment.
JaJa provides the following account of her running adventure in Newfoundland:
From JaJa's accounts, we know that we will be made to feel very welcome in Newfoundland, but we'll be in for some tough runs. That's okay: we're pretty tough ourselves.
In other "Go Girls Gone" news, Nana has assured us that she stayed active while on the Appalachian Trail. However, due to the narrow roads and twists and turns, Nana wisely elected to hike rather than run while on the Trail. Mariana has reported running in Chile, Brazil, and Italy. Some say she has even been spotted running in Toronto recently.
The rest of the Go Girls are out and about. Wherever you are in the world, keep your eyes open. You just might see one of us go by on our campaign to Run the World.
The Go Girls are a global bunch. We run at home and we run while away (or at least we try to run while away). We collect our experiences of running on the road (get the pun?) so that those of us who are left behind (i.e., T) can live vicariously through these experiences. Our plan is to run the whole world. (Yes, another pun!)
Recently, one of our members, JaJa, took our "run the world" campaign to Newfoundland. While in St. John's, Newfoundland, JaJa took the opportunity to log a run and to document her accomplishment.
JaJa, in beautiful Newfoundland, having survived a tough run.
JaJa provides the following account of her running adventure in Newfoundland:
This [the above photo] was taken after a CHILLY run in very strong winds, drizzle and a few steep hills, probably the toughest 7k run I have ever made...
The inhospitable weather was related inversely to the friendly smiles and behaviour of the locals in this tiny hamlet of Witless Bay just outside the charming metropolis of St.John's Newfoundland.
From JaJa's accounts, we know that we will be made to feel very welcome in Newfoundland, but we'll be in for some tough runs. That's okay: we're pretty tough ourselves.
In other "Go Girls Gone" news, Nana has assured us that she stayed active while on the Appalachian Trail. However, due to the narrow roads and twists and turns, Nana wisely elected to hike rather than run while on the Trail. Mariana has reported running in Chile, Brazil, and Italy. Some say she has even been spotted running in Toronto recently.
The rest of the Go Girls are out and about. Wherever you are in the world, keep your eyes open. You just might see one of us go by on our campaign to Run the World.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
A Gutsy Race and Podium Finishes for the Go Girls
Any doubts that the Go Girls are tough, gutsy, and talented runners were put to rest on Sunday, May 9 in Unionville at the inaugural Markham Women's 5K. The four Go Girls who participated in this event -- Joanna, Mariana, JaJa and me (T) -- represented the club well and demonstrated that maybe there is something to all those hill workouts after all.
In the end, JaJa finished the race in just 25:58.6 and placed fourth in her age group. This was a new personal best for JaJa. She was ultimately bumped up to third place since certain age group finishers in her division failed the drug test. (JaJa may have been hungover, but she does not do the 'roids.) Mariana and Joanna had a strong race. It was a difficult race due to the cold but they proved themselves to be tough. They finished in 35:27: a stellar outing, especially given that it was Joanna's first ever race! I completed the race in 26:05, a new personal best. I finished third in my age group, but I was also bumped up as one of the racers in my age group was not eligible for prizing. I therefore am listed as having finished second in my age group. Overall, then, the Go Girls put two runners on the podium and proved that each of their runners are capable for handling adverse race conditions. If prizes were awarded for toughness, Joanna would certainly have won a prize, while Mariana would have done well in the "Mentorship" category.
Credit for bringing the Go Girls to this 5K race goes to Joanna, who found the flyer for the race in the materials we received in the Harry's SRO kit. The cause, supporting the construction of a school in Tanzania for girls through the Because I Am A Girl project, is noble. The distance, 5K, seemed appropriate. And the date, May 9, seemed to be ideal, or so Joanna thought. Joanna reasoned that it would surely be warm by May 9. Yes, this is Canada, our intrepid Brazilian thought, but even Canada must thaw at some point and the polar bears and penguins must pack up and leave town by May 9, right?
Wrong. Here is the response of a local polar bear to Joanna's hope that it would be lovely spring-summer weather for the May 9 race:
I believe that this is bear for "Nah-nah!" To put the matter differently, it was cold. Almost polar bear cold, at least if you are a runner from Brazil who has not trained through the winter. The temperature was close to 0C, and dipped below zero with the wind chill. In fact, there were snow flurries flying through the air on the morning of the race. The race conditions were less than ideal, particularly for those from much hotter climates.
Nevertheless, Joanna and Mariana bravely donned their race gear and steeled themselves for the 5K race...on a course that featured plenty of places for the howling, cold wind to remind them that they were in Canada. I imagine it was definitely a "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto" moment.
Meanwhile, JaJa arrived at the race notwithstanding the fact that she had hosted a soiree the night before. That is to say that JaJa arrived at the race nursing a little hangover. But she was there and ready to run.
Two warriors: JaJa was ready to battle through a hangover and Joanna was ready to battle through the cold.
In the end, JaJa finished the race in just 25:58.6 and placed fourth in her age group. This was a new personal best for JaJa. She was ultimately bumped up to third place since certain age group finishers in her division failed the drug test. (JaJa may have been hungover, but she does not do the 'roids.) Mariana and Joanna had a strong race. It was a difficult race due to the cold but they proved themselves to be tough. They finished in 35:27: a stellar outing, especially given that it was Joanna's first ever race! I completed the race in 26:05, a new personal best. I finished third in my age group, but I was also bumped up as one of the racers in my age group was not eligible for prizing. I therefore am listed as having finished second in my age group. Overall, then, the Go Girls put two runners on the podium and proved that each of their runners are capable for handling adverse race conditions. If prizes were awarded for toughness, Joanna would certainly have won a prize, while Mariana would have done well in the "Mentorship" category.
Credit for bringing the Go Girls to this 5K race goes to Joanna, who found the flyer for the race in the materials we received in the Harry's SRO kit. The cause, supporting the construction of a school in Tanzania for girls through the Because I Am A Girl project, is noble. The distance, 5K, seemed appropriate. And the date, May 9, seemed to be ideal, or so Joanna thought. Joanna reasoned that it would surely be warm by May 9. Yes, this is Canada, our intrepid Brazilian thought, but even Canada must thaw at some point and the polar bears and penguins must pack up and leave town by May 9, right?
Wrong. Here is the response of a local polar bear to Joanna's hope that it would be lovely spring-summer weather for the May 9 race:
The two Brazilian Go Girls runners were bundled up and ready (more or less) to face the elements.
Nevertheless, Joanna and Mariana bravely donned their race gear and steeled themselves for the 5K race...on a course that featured plenty of places for the howling, cold wind to remind them that they were in Canada. I imagine it was definitely a "we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto" moment.
Meanwhile, JaJa arrived at the race notwithstanding the fact that she had hosted a soiree the night before. That is to say that JaJa arrived at the race nursing a little hangover. But she was there and ready to run.
Two warriors: JaJa was ready to battle through a hangover and Joanna was ready to battle through the cold.
As for me, well, my biggest challenge was the need for a snack. So I ate an apple. Ten minutes before the race. This is proof that even experienced runners make very stupid mistakes. Note to self: do not eat ANYTHING ten minutes before a race. Instead, use that time wisely. For example, go to the bathroom so when that cold wind hits your bladder, you won't start to pray for the development of a race series version of Depends.
Prado and Miedema pose for their traditional pre-race photo.
As we were participating in the inaugural race, there were some speeches before the beginning of the race. I think we would have all appreciated the speeches more if it wasn't so cold. Most of us stood shivering on the start line, tuning out the speeches and lost in our own thoughts...
Me: "I should have peed. Oh boy. I need to run fast. So don't think about it. Pee. Pee. Pee."
Mariana: "I'm pacing Joanna today. I am a mentor today. I will NOT run too fast. I will mentor. Mentoring is more fun indoors...did I pee already?"
Joanna: "Cold. COLD. Cold. COLD. Mariana better stay with me. COLD. COLD. COLD."
JaJa: "A hundred bottles of beer on the wall, a hundred bottles of beer! One should happen to slip and fall, what a waste of alcohol! Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer..."
The view from the start.
Soon enough we were on our way. As the race was only a 5K, it was essential to hit one's pace as soon as possible. The race was too short to slip into one's race pace over the first kilometre. The cold weather, however, had deterred most of us from warming up properly before the race. For many of us, the first kilometre was tough as we went from starting our cold engines to hitting race pace as quickly as possible. Focus was important at this point.
The race course took us over paved roads, some of which were bordered by open fields. At these points, the wind gusts were challenging. Not only was the wind cold, but it was strong and cut across the race course. While we were never directly running into the wind, we also never had the benefit of the wind at our backs either. Instead, we had a persistent cold howling in our ears. Oh, and a cold piercing wind cutting through our bladders. Did I mention that I forgot to go to the bathroom before the race?
JaJa had a very strong start in the race and I was not far behind JaJa. As I closed in on JaJa, I can only say that she was tearing up the road. It was hard to believe that this woman had hosted a party the night before and had a hangover. JaJa, you were amazing! At one point, I passed JaJa, but she later caught up to me and passed me before the end of the race. I finished about ten seconds behind JaJa. Being able to see her green shirt ahead of me helped me to pace myself and keep me on track for a good steady race pace. I did cramp up (never eat an apple ten minutes before a race), beginning around the first kilometre mark. Being able to keep a pace by following JaJa was therefore a great help since I was tempted to slow down to deal with the cramping throughout the race.
At various points, JaJa and I passed by Mariana and Joanna since the race included several turn around points. We were able to wave at each other. Initially we might have shouted a quick hello, but as we progressed through the race, we all just gave a wave and saved our breath for running.
For me, the race felt slow in the beginning and faster at the end, probably because my muscles were cold at the start. It was not long before the finish line was in sight. JaJa was able to sprint the final stretch, as was Mariana and Joanna. I was not able to do so, unfortunately, due to the ongoing cramps. We each received a carnation at the finish line, which we used to celebrate our victory.
As we were participating in the inaugural race, there were some speeches before the beginning of the race. I think we would have all appreciated the speeches more if it wasn't so cold. Most of us stood shivering on the start line, tuning out the speeches and lost in our own thoughts...
Me: "I should have peed. Oh boy. I need to run fast. So don't think about it. Pee. Pee. Pee."
Mariana: "I'm pacing Joanna today. I am a mentor today. I will NOT run too fast. I will mentor. Mentoring is more fun indoors...did I pee already?"
Joanna: "Cold. COLD. Cold. COLD. Mariana better stay with me. COLD. COLD. COLD."
JaJa: "A hundred bottles of beer on the wall, a hundred bottles of beer! One should happen to slip and fall, what a waste of alcohol! Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall, ninety-nine bottles of beer..."
The view from the start.
The race course took us over paved roads, some of which were bordered by open fields. At these points, the wind gusts were challenging. Not only was the wind cold, but it was strong and cut across the race course. While we were never directly running into the wind, we also never had the benefit of the wind at our backs either. Instead, we had a persistent cold howling in our ears. Oh, and a cold piercing wind cutting through our bladders. Did I mention that I forgot to go to the bathroom before the race?
JaJa had a very strong start in the race and I was not far behind JaJa. As I closed in on JaJa, I can only say that she was tearing up the road. It was hard to believe that this woman had hosted a party the night before and had a hangover. JaJa, you were amazing! At one point, I passed JaJa, but she later caught up to me and passed me before the end of the race. I finished about ten seconds behind JaJa. Being able to see her green shirt ahead of me helped me to pace myself and keep me on track for a good steady race pace. I did cramp up (never eat an apple ten minutes before a race), beginning around the first kilometre mark. Being able to keep a pace by following JaJa was therefore a great help since I was tempted to slow down to deal with the cramping throughout the race.
At various points, JaJa and I passed by Mariana and Joanna since the race included several turn around points. We were able to wave at each other. Initially we might have shouted a quick hello, but as we progressed through the race, we all just gave a wave and saved our breath for running.
For me, the race felt slow in the beginning and faster at the end, probably because my muscles were cold at the start. It was not long before the finish line was in sight. JaJa was able to sprint the final stretch, as was Mariana and Joanna. I was not able to do so, unfortunately, due to the ongoing cramps. We each received a carnation at the finish line, which we used to celebrate our victory.
JaJa and I used our carnations in our victory photos.
VICTORY: Joanna and Mariana bring it home!
The Brazilian contingent, fresh from the Finish Line.
VICTORY: Joanna and Mariana bring it home!
The Brazilian contingent, fresh from the Finish Line.
After the race, we retired to the finishers' area for hot coffee, juice, fruit, and snacks. It was time to celebrate our accomplishments. More importantly, it was time to warm up and revive ourselves. As we gradually uthawed, we compared notes about our respective races...
We also took the time to play with our food...
And we posed for post-run photos...because we are stars and our public demands it.
Post-race smiles.
Miedema and Prado and the spoils of victory: juice and bananas. We run for the treats!
If a photo tells a story, then the photo below should say a lot about our race. We are still standing. We're smiling. We're a team. We remember the kids for whom we are running.
On the whole, the Markham Women's 5K was a success for the Go Girls. I observed JaJa tearing up the road throughout the race; this woman can fly. I watched Joanna brave cold conditions and push through what was a difficult race. She demonstrated mental toughness, a trait that cannot be taught. Either a runner has it or she doesn't, and Joanna definitely has it. Finally, I watched Mariana progress from being the mentee to being the mentor. Mariana has not only become a true runner, but she is now helping others to make that transition. In sum, this race demonstrated some of the strengths of the Go Girls.
Now if only we can get our act together for the 2012 Olympics in London...
Here is Joanna urging JaJa to "at least act like you're a little bit tired!"
We also took the time to play with our food...
Joanna "Quick Draw" Noronha attempts to blast potassium at participants using her banana guns.
And we posed for post-run photos...because we are stars and our public demands it.
Post-race smiles.
Miedema and Prado and the spoils of victory: juice and bananas. We run for the treats!
Now if only we can get our act together for the 2012 Olympics in London...
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