Harry's Spring Run-Off 8km - March 8th 2009 - Race Report

Harry's Spring Run-Off 8km - March 8th 2009
http://www.canadarunningseries.com/spring8k/

8km - 28:11 (28:15 Gun) - 21/973 Overall and 7/74 in M25-29

Harry's Spring Run-Off is a race in its 3rd year that races money for Prostate Cancer Research and close to a thousand people turned out for the 2009 running. This race is part of the Canadian Running Series and as a result boasted quite strong field so my race plan was around setting a new PR. Gun goes and after the hustle and bustle of the start managed to find myself in a small pack as we headed around Stanley Park's lost lagoon. This was my first time racing in Stanley Park so you do not get to take in the scenery as much as you do when on a training run but it is a beautiful place to run.

As we hit the Seawall I was a few seconds slower than what I had been aiming for at this point but my pre race plan had me taking this race out conservative and building to a fast finish. Unfortunately on this day the "spring" was not in my step and when I went to find another gear it was not there so worked to maintain position and pace for the final 5km. Was able to hold pace fpor the remainder of the race and finish with a strong final km to come in 21st overall and 7th in M25-29 Age group.

In the end although I did not PR as I had hoped was a good hit out in an event that does a great deal for raising awareness around a great cause. Next on the agenda is a focus on recovery for the next few days as the lack of "spring" in my running stride was diagnosed by my physio as being due to a pinched nerve. Once I have my body aligned will be starting to put some bigger miles on the bike and will likely take the seawall on again March 28th in the Dave Reed Spring Classic 5km