I was back in Antigonish earlier this week partaking in the 2010 Olympic Torch relay, had the special honor of being the last torch barer! I ran 400m on St.FX campus and got to light the cauldron in front of a huge crowd! The part I enjoyed most was the last 50m when the security guys peeled off and suddenly there were hundreds of cheering people an arms lengths away on either side me.
Hey folks, Em and I are going to have a BABY!! It's been quite an eye opening experience so far and we're only five months in. We're a very excited and happy couple!
Got a race in this past weekend. It was the Canadian 10k Champs that took place in and around the Toronto Zoo, Ried wrote up a good summary of the event on his blog. I was pleased with my 3rd place. It was hard fought and considering I would have been about ten places further back three weeks ago it a sign my fitness is coming around.
Picked a marathon, Houston TX January 17th. Getting the mileage up and should start marathon specific work early next week. Aiming for 190k this week!
13:40.21 for 10th, winner was 13:34. Not happy but nor am I unhappy with my race. Effort was there, fast time was not. Closed ok, 1:33 last 600m and only a couple seconds off leaders at that point. With that many guys in contention late race should have gone much faster, pacers weren't fast enough, supposedly they were to hit 1500 in 3:58, 63 high (seconds) per lap, don't think it ever got below 65 the first 4k.
Watch race here
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235262/195677
5000 meter AC Heren Men A
Reeks:1
1 1147 TASAMA FAISA Dame* RFCL 13'34.97 Sen 87
2 9626 Sato Yuki JAP 13'35.32 Sen 86
3 9502 Bauhs Scotty USA 13'35.39 Sen 86
4 9567 Kennealy Mark IRL 13'36.71 Sen 00
5 9653 Vaugh Brent USA 13'37.16 Sen 84
6 9637 Slimani Kaddour ITA 13'37.30 Sen 79
7 9571 Kibet Moses UGA 13'37.84 Sen 91
8 9514 Butter Michel NED 13'38.09 Sen 85
9 9600 Nakao Yusei JAP 13'38.93 Sen 84
10 9542 Gillis Eric CAN 13'40.21 Sen 80
11 9612 Pierce Jon USA 13'41.00 Sen 83
12 9572 Kitamura Satoru JAP 13'41.44 Sen 86
13 9517 Christie Mark IRL 13'42.28 Sen 85
14 9555 Ishikawa Suehori JAP 13'44.69 Sen 00
15 9606 Okamoto Naomi JAP 13'49.60 Sen 00
Raced a 5000m on Sunday that didn't go so well, 13:51 in Heusden Belgium. Missed opportunity as the pace was good to run around my PB of 13:36. Wheels came off last lap as I tried to run a 62 and blew up running 72. Had two great track workouts that week, may have still been in my legs come race time. I definitely fretted too much about the windy weather, and not getting into the B section was in there too, simply boils down to being off my game.
As much as I was off my game Sunday I was on it today. Ran a half second PB in the 1500m, 3:44.3. More then the time I'm happy about the way I did it, winning the B section, feeling good, keeping positive, and all after lining up for the A section only not to not hear my name called though it was in there 2h earlier.
1500 meter
Reeks:2
1 9168 GILLIS Eric CAN 3'44.37 SEN 00
2 9064 JOSEPH Moise HAI 3'45.96 SEN 00
3 9131 BEUGNET Gregory FRA 3'46.87 SEN 00
4 2418 LUYCKX TIM OEH 3'48.32 Sen 86
5 9130 VEILLEROY Thomas FRA 3'48.34 SEN 00
6 9126 VIRTANEN Tapani FIN 3'48.71 SEN 00
7 9183 VEY Azzedine FRA 3'49.30 SEN 00
8 9027 BERGEM Einar Gauslaa NOR 3'53.53 SEN 00
Watch it here
http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/235261/195018
One more race over here in Belgium, a 5000m this weekend in Brasschaat. Field looks solid, looking forward to it. Till then
Spain race didn't quite go as planned, no one to run fast with, and I felt terrable. I was second in 14:05 winner was 14:01, lead a lot, boo! Need to get some sleep this week so hopefully Heusden on the 18th (5000m) will go better.
Racing in Spain July 10, here is the meet website, no English though
July 10, Trofeo Atletismo Ayuntamiento de Barakaldo, Bakardlo, SPN
http://www.rfea.es/web/competiciones/campeonato.asp?codigo=2009BI054
It was great being back in my home province where I always get lots of support. Wednesday I competed in Halifax at the Aileen Meagher Track Classic finishing first in 7:56 for 3000m. Have to thank Kevin Heisler the meet director for putting on a 3000m last minute and getting in a pacer too! My time was a personal best by a second but more important it felt good!
Off to Europe in a few hours, there I hope to get my 5000m PB down. Once again the Speed River gang will be based in Belgium, this time in Ghent though. It's supposed to be a very nice looking city and while we're there a huge cultural festival will be going on.
