Josef's Journey Since Ironman Lake Placid 2008: 2011-05-15

I would first like to say I am Sorry Catherine couldn't make the event as she took Ill and was not able to run, I hope since I created this event to run with her in hopes to help in her in training for her upcoming Vermont 100 mile event that she recovers fully as to continue her training and ultimately run and achieve her goal of finishing her 100mile ultra race in Vermont this coming July. http://www.vermont100.com/index.html

That being said, what a great turnout of friends and fun! Sure it got painful for me near the end of my journey even though I didn't accomplish what I set out to do, but I am not disappointed in my accomplishment consider the weather and how well my "less is more" training got me through the day.

The day started for me at 4:30am when I got up obviously, lol. I went downstairs and grabbed a Stroopwaffle and a coffee in my large Mickey mouse coffee cup, Then I made and ate a bagel with cream cheese and downed one of my energy drinks I pre-made. I then gathered all my supplies to get ready for the day. By now it was 5:15am and Joan Van Hilten show up, boy was I ever pleased she showed up! Joan said she would show to help out but when Catherine and Bill informed me the night before that they couldn't make it because they were ill, I didn't know if Joan would show to be our vehicle support and Photographer! and thought I would have to carry as much supplies in my back pack and have my wife Joanne do a few drive bys to replenish my and anyone else's supplies during the day.... But Joan did show up to save the day! Yeah Joanie!!

Keith Lascelles then showed up up at the door shortly after Joan walked in, Joanne made them some tea and we talked about our plan for the day as it looked like it would only be me and Keith running.( which btw is a multi Boston marathon runner and who is also doing a 100 mile run this summer at Burning river 100 in July http://www.burningriver100.org/ )

Well it was time to go and as we start to get ready with supplies out to Joans SUV, then just as we get to my front door more peeps showed up. Victoria Northcott and another lady I haven't met before Donnie. Again I was pleased they showed up. Victoria told me earlier that she would come out to do 30k or so with us if we could get her home, I said that wouldn't be a problem, so here she was! Yeah!

Keith, Victoria, Donnie, Joanne,( who was only running 10k or so with us 5k out and back at the start) and I got ourselves ready to start line while Joan took the opportunity to take our picture.

The morning start was foggy but humid and not to cool which was good for me and the day looked promising even though the weather forecast was calling for rain all day but with a high of 16C very doable for running. So now we are off and running. Now at this time I must mention I am in awe of Keith, Victoria and Donnie as they are phenomenal runners and all Boston marathon runner and here I am a fat old guy slogging along trying to put on a good impression, like I can run? lol

Everyone stuck together for the most part, I stayed with Joanne at the back while Keith, Victoria and Donnie paced up ahead but not to far. I was feeling good and kept pace at 6:30 to 7 min pace with Joanne which I and Joanne felt comfortable with until we met up with Joan in the SUV every couple of KM's until we got to Carson road where Joanne would leave us to go back on her own and the rest of us kept going.

The two ladys lead the way as Keith and I paced behind, but me being slower I start lagging behind and Keith went on to catch the lady's to run with them, then he would circle back to me when he and the lady's got to far ahead. I didn't mind that the others were running ahead as I knew they would wait for me as I was trying to keep my 7 min/km pace. and as Keith put it to me, he said he needed me to keep him slow to pace himself for his training for his 100 miler.

Well the day went on the rain started coming down in a drizzle. I would catch up to the others every few Kms as they waited by Joan's car fueling up, I would also do a bottle exchange at the 10k mark and grab one of my energy drinks and of course a stroopwaffle which I passed around to the others.

When we reached 21k the drizzle was rain and I checked my watch and was pleased with my 2:40 time, my goal was to reach Wasaga beach somewhere between 5 and 6hrs and if I pushed on, finish the 50 miles in between 13-14hrs. By now though my hip flexors were getting sore and tight. My pace was slowing a bit but I was trying to keep it between 7-8 min/km pace, then a car drove up and it was my friend and neighbour Brian Chew who drove out to cheer us on and offer some food and drink. ( Brian is also a Boston marathon runner ) It made me feel so privileged to know and have support form all these friends! I was honored. Brian offered me some food and drink and freezies, I took a freezie and told him about Catherine not being here because of illness but up ahead was Keith Victoria and Donnie,and Joan on support Which was a surprise to him as he didn't know Victoria and her friend Donnie were going to be here today, So after a few Min's with me he went to meet up with them.

Well I kept going keeping to my slow but steady 10 and 1 pace and before long I was a few k shy at the 30km mark, I lost site of the others by then, but when I finally caught up the ladies were in Brian's car as they did there 30k and Brian was going to drive them back home. I thanked them for coming out and said I'll see you at the pot luck and I kept moving on.

I think Keith was like 3 or more k's ahead of me by now and Joan would come back and check on me. When she did, I told Joan to keep an eye out for another lady that might be joining us on the run at around the 30k mark her name was Silvia Schweizer. Silvia is in training for Ironman Lake Placid this coming July and told me she would come and support my run and run 20k with us, but in this case me into Wasaga and back to her car where she parked it along the road.

The rain was still coming down and the air was getting colder as the day went on, it seem the high temp for today was early morning and as this cold front came in with rain the temp was dropping, so now I'm starting to get cold and sore. lol

The next time Joan cam back to check on me I was almost at the 30km mark and Joan told me Silvia was up ahead, I then grabbed and apple from the Car and another energy drink to hold me over fo a while and in the distance I saw Silvia running towards me, by now I was pressing hard to keep up with my 10 and 1's and my pace was hovering around 8/k and 10/k while walking. When Silvia caught up with me she turned around and paced with me as I started to run after a short chat and thanking her for coming out.

At the next meeting with Joan we fueled up and I gave Silvia a stroopwaffle as she was curious as to what they were,she like them and even had another later on! I also had one........ By now I Walking 5 and running 5min with the rain still coming down, then Steen Klint showed up in his car to offer support! Steen is also a Boston marathon runner who just did a double with doing Boston two weeks ago and Big Sur last weekend. He came out to offer support and food and fluids to us asking how it's going. Wow again I am Honored having all these great runners come out in support of my event, I told Steen Keith and Joan are up ahead and introduced Silvia to him and thanked him for coming out and continued on my journey as Steen went on up to catch Keith.

I continue doingmy 5 and 5min runs when we make it to the last turn onto river road which leads into Wasaga beach. I'm saying to Silvia at this time Keith must be on his way out and we should be seeing him run by us soon. I'm also telling Silvia I don't think I will be able to go on after I reach Wasaga beach, I said I just want to get my split for the marathon and call it a day because I'm getting cold and my hip flexors are getting worse with tightness. Silvia would tell me to at least try to finish 50k which is only 8k farther then the marathon? I said I would think about it and will know better when we reach Wasaga and after I hit the washroom there.

We continue on, and I'm feeling guilty for Silvia holding her back from her run and told her she could go on and I'll just trudge along, but she said no, she came out to support and pace me and it's ok. We finally get to the edge of town and we see Keith running toward us and I high five him as we meet, he tells us the beach is only a couple of K back and to keep it going. I told him I'm probably going to stop after my marathon split because I'm getting cold and my hip flexors are hurting, but he should keep going and I'll catch up to ride support with Joan. Silvia looks at me and says What? you have to go on! I said I'll try we will see? and we continue on.

We meet up with Joan just outside of the beach area and I tell her I'm stopping at the beach so she should meet us there. in the mean time the rain is getting harder and I'm getting colder and I have to go to the bathroom. We finally get to the beach and main strip and both Steen and Joan are there waiting for us. I go to the public washroom soaking wet and when I come out I had decided I won't go on. I'm told cold at this point and the rain is coming down harder and the temperature had dropped even more. Silvia at this point decided she will continue on to run back to her car, Steen did the awesome thing and supported her on her run back while I got into the car with Joan to go support Keith.

My unofficial marathon time was 5:45, a personal best for me and I was pleased and don't regret going on.

When we caught up to keith he was 10k out and at the exact point where Silvia left her car, Keith jumped into the car for a short rest before continuing on. At this point I though I would leave a present for Silvia and left a bottle of water and a package of Stroopwaffles on her car for her when she gets back.

Joan and I would continue on support driving up a few K and waiting on Keith, When we got to Phelpston we waited by the corner store where. When Keith caught up to us Keith asked if we would get him some coke, so Joan went in to buy some coke and a couple of chocolate bars, when she gets back to the car she can't find the chocolate bars and though maybe she left them in the store, I tell her I didn't see any chocolate bars and we both look everywhere and can't find them. She goes back into the store and the store keeper said she took them with her? Joan comes back and we look some more, Oh well? we couldn't find them! so we drove on to catch Keith offer the coke but no chocolate, but Keith said he didn't want chocolate? but we both said he said he wanted chocolate? lol anyway, Keith downed the coke and continued on. We then went ahead again and waited in front of a farm house that had a big German Shepard that wasn't leashed and was very vicious. Keith told us he was worried about the dog as it had almost attacked him when we ran out at the beginning of the race, I said I remember the dog as it tryed to attack me when the owner came out and called it back. So we parked in front of the house where the dog was still barking and roaming freely until Keith showed up, but while we waited we looked again for the chocolate and Joan found it in her purse that she had in the back seat, somehow she threw it in her purse when she came back to the car with the coke and just gaped out what she did with the chocolate bars. lol

As Keith approached the farm house with the dog roaming and barking Joan drove along side of Keith to put the car between the dog and Keith which kept the dog in check, Keith was safe!

Off we went ahead to the next check point to wait while Keith ran, and while we are waiting along route we get another supporter drive by Wayne Hodge who said he drove the route all the way out and back looking for us and finally found us to give support! Thanks Wayne! then not long after that Cindy Marcelli drives by to see how things are going. It was great to see all the support! thanks!

Now on the home stretch, Keith tells us he is ok and we can meet him at my house, but as we come up on to the 80k which is just over 1k before reaching my house, I keep an eye on the time and Keith reaches 80k in 9:37 Amazing!! Keith says he will run the rest of the way so we meet him back home.

Wow! Keith is an animal!! He ran more then 82km in total maybe more with all the looping back he did to run with me going out to Wasaga. lol Congrats Keith!!

Later that night it was party time with great food and friends! Thanks to everyone who participated and Supported! I hope to do this event again next year. You guys are great!

My supplies for the day.....