Le Tour du Lac Brome

Today I am not running. It’s my day of rest. Recuperation is as much part of the training as endurance repetitions and long runs, and I know that. But although I woke up this morning feeling a little relieved, as the day wore on I couldn’t help feeling a little off. It’s like something is missing in my day. Those precious moments of total freedom, being one with nature and feeling on top of the world are absent.


This day of rest follows my first 20k run yesterday. Le Tour du Lac Brome is a great event http://www.tourdulacbrome.com/photos_et_videos.html. Only 40 minutes from Farnham, the event takes place in Knowlton – around Lake Brome – literally! We run all around the lake. It’s very hilly – hence the challenge, but it’s also very beautiful. The weather was absolutely perfect. The racers were all smiles – I did not hear anyone grumble. We were all there to test our mettle on the hills and to challenge ourselves to go further. I arrived at around 7:30 AM and was guided to my own special parking spot in the middle of a hay field along with a few thousand other cars. I made it to the pre-registration desks under a big tent and got my number, my chip, and a bag of goodies including a nice new running shirt. I hadn’t had breakfast so I decided to go back to the car, drop off the bag of goodies, attach my number, get a couple of toonies out of my wallet, and get a coffee and muffin before the start of the race at 9 am. I still had plenty of time. Except that, in the sea of cars in the field, my plain brown Honda disappeared – it took me forever to find it! But I did find it and made my way back to the little tented breakfast place. Yum a home baked blueberry muffin and a coffee – wonderful. Except that as soon as I put my coffee down, a strong gust of wind blew the Styrofoam cup, spilling coffee all over me. Ok, skip the coffee – but now my white shirt is covered in coffee – so I head back to the field and try to find my car again for that new shirt in my goody bag. But time is running out, and my car is deep undercover and won’t come out of hiding (If you are wondering why I didn’t just beep it – I had only the valet key with me since I had to lace it up in my shoe during the race) . I gave up and made my way, coffee stain and all to the starting point with only 8 minutes to spare. I haven’t seen the pictures yet – everyone gets a photograph of themselves as they arrive at the finish line, but I sure the coffee stain will be prominent. Of course I will post the picture when it becomes available. To be honest, while at the starting line, I totally forgot about the stain, I just wanted to start already – those 8 minutes of waiting lasted forever! But sure enough the race started and we were off. The first 10 kilometres were a breeze – I was doing well and maintaining my pace depite the hills, but at the 15th kilometre we hit THE hill. It’s a groaner- puff puff, up up the hill. But somehow I made it up and then back down, and then up and down again to the finish line. That finish line seemed to back up from me the more I ran towards it, but I would have followed it for a few more kilometers anyway – I was that determined. There it is – 2 hours, 10 minutes, 24 seconds – not a great time – I came in the 978th runner, but good for a first race. No pain, just good sweat and maybe a little out of breath.  I’m hooked!

(Funny thing - I found my car instantly on the way out...)