Harry’s  Spring Run Off, organized by Canada Running Series is a run that supports Prostate Cancer and takes place each year in early April – hence the Spring Run Off (get it?) in High Park. I ran this race for the first time in 2013 and was incredibly naïve about the amount the hills, especially the infamous Spring Road hill. I finished in 37 minutes and felt dreadful. I signed up to run the race again which took place yesterday (April 5^th), and about a week ago while thinking about really gearing up for the big day I decided to think about my goals for the day. Usually I have one goal, PB. That’s it. But since I am looking to become a faster, stronger overall runner I really wanted to evaluate things. So I decided on the following:

1. Maintain the same pace throughout the 8k
2. Improve my posture while running – be strong and long!
3. Successfully complete each hill – meaning I want to be the person passing people instead of being the one being passed and feeling like I’m on the down escalator. I am not good friends with hills, and I want to improve our relationship.
4. Make Spring Road hill my b#^&*!
5. Finish in the top 10 of my category

How did I do? I finished a minute slower than last year, BUT, I did really well with maintaining my pace. It did slow down a tad while on the hills, but I was successful on being the passer not the passee (is that word? If not, it is now). My posture was the strongest ever!  It felt great during the race and the photos confirmed it.

Spring Road hill? Totally my b$%#&! I finished strong; I crossed the finish line and felt great…too great actually. I still had plenty of gas in the tank and I know that I could have really gone for it, still felt great and been successful in getting a faster time than I did last year.

Final stats:  9/146 in my category, 55/1003 out of all females, 295/2114

Overall I am happy with my results and know that I will take everything from this race and keep growing, getting stronger and getting faster race after race. I am even more excited about my race season now.

Thank you CRS for yet another amazing organized race. Thank you to the volunteers for all you did to help make the day run smoothly and for your wonderful energy throughout the race.

Next week, Yonge Street shall be my b#@%^! Bring on #TYS10k

Me attacking Spring Road hill

HSROT medal 2014