2007#5 Vancouver Half Marathon

This one felt a bit strange, as I've gotten used to doing events with Naomi but she had decided not to go along to Vancouver. Our TNT team departed DCA at 6:00am for Vancouver, via Houston. (Someone picked the route based on cheap airfare, never mind the amount of travel time wasted.)

Arrived Vancouver on Friday afternoon to find the sun shining brightly, temperature about 70f, headed in to the hotel. It was very nice (Sheraton Wall Centre) as was my roommate, a young man named Adam Zimmerman doing his first marathon. Vancouver is a very lovely city, as we learned walking about a mile to pick up our "race packets" (bib numbers, etc.) and to Yaletown Brewing Co. for dinner. Yes, the beer was good and it's certainly permitted (in moderation) as part of "carb loading".

Saturday morning we went to Granville Island for breakfast. Fun spot in what must have been an industrial area of the city which is now a big market offering nearly any sort of food you'd like, along with many other shops. Can be reached by a bridge or the more fun way "Aqua Bus" (aka water taxi). Another beautiful sunny day, could not have more pleasant weather. TNT "pasta party" for dinner, held right in our hotel, good pasta and some great fish.

Sunday morning - TNT Team Meeting at 4:30, in order to be ready for the bus by 5:30, as the race start is some distance from the hotel and we must ride the buses. The weather is a bit more like Vancouver's reputation - gray, damp, looking like rain. About three hours into the race it did begin to rain, which was not a big problem for me as I only had a few minutes to put up with it, but it was not very warm. At least the post-race area was inside a domed stadium and dry. Some of our folks really needed it, they got pretty badly chilled over the last few miles. My time - 3:10:16, getting better even if not as fast as desired. It's a lot like racing cars, faster than before but never quite as fast as you hope to be.

Lest you think I'm preoccupied with my times, it's really only a matter of personal performance measurement. In Vancouver I placed 75th of 87 males in the 60-64 age class. That includes runners and walkers, like most of our events this one does not give separate results for walkers. Not disappointing to me, just finishing a half marathon is a victory, and especially when the times are getting a little better.