The rain has found a new home, if only temporarily, soon to be replaced by its cousin, snow. Just having walked outside to confirm the weather shown to me on the Internet, it is cold, but not bitterly.
My mood has lifted as well as the approach of "the race" has quickened. Gunner Shaw was tragically killed in an auto-accident years before I was to make my way to this island in the sea, but his legend is palpable when on the start of line of the Harriers Gunner Shaw Memorial Cross Country Classic. An eloquent friend, Rumon Carter, wrote an article, this first of many on amateur sport on Vancouver Island we hope, on Gunner. It was personally interesting because while I have read accounts of Gunner and his running from people who knew him well, I appreciated the honour that Rumon afforded Gunner, who, like me, did not have the chance to know him. To read an reverent, articulate account of the man whose presence I will be chasing throughout Thetis Lake today makes this race even more special.
Thetis Lake is a beautiful park with miles of trails (and trials) to be explored. Each year, the there are three races that are put on by the venerable Praririe Inn Harries, and each year I anxiously await the races - the Thetis Lake Relays, Gunner Shaw, and the Stewart Mountain 10 Mile Challenge. I am not dabbling with hyperbole when I say that I look forward to these mornings more than Christmas. Both Jasper Blake and Peter Reid have spoken about how each Ironman steals a little part of you to keep for itself; each time I run at Thetis Lake, especially when racing, I feel a little part of me is restored to its original state.
Pure.
Primal.
Powerful.
I am excited to start my pre-race routine in mere moments. I will lay out my clothes, shower, shave, get dressed, listen to upbeat music on my drive over to the race, arrive an hour early, talk with people, get my number, warm up, change shoes, put warm up clothes into the bag, do some strides, and then race.
Time to find a little piece of myself.
6 comments:
Good luck!
~E.stalker
Didn't I make you feel like you were the only race, yeah,
An' didn't I give you nearly everything that a racer possibly can?
Ironman, you know I did!
And each time I tell myself that I, well, I've just had enough,
But I'm gonna show you, baby, that a triathlete can be tough.
I said come on, come on, come on, come on and steal it,
Steal another little piece of me now, Ironman,
Bite another little bit of me off now, yeah.
Hey! Have another little piece of my soul now, Ironman, yeah.
You'll know you got it if it makes you feel good,
Oh yes indeed. You win.
All right!
I’m out on the course looking good, me Bradley,
Deep down in my heart I know that it won’t get to me,
It’ll never never never never never never hear me when I cramp at half.
Dammit, I cramp all the time!
And each time I tell myself that I, well, I can't stand the pain,
But when I think of Thetis beating me, I'll sing it once again.
I'll say come on, come on, come on, come on and just try to beat me, Thetis!
Try to take a little piece of me now, Thetis.
You’ll never take a bit of my heart now, Thetis, yeah,
Instead I’ll find a little piece of me now, Thetis, yeah.
I’ll know I found it when it makes me feel restored, hey!
Now all right!
You know you got it Brad, if it makes you feel good.
With more than just apologies to the great JJ.
B-Rad
Thank you for the shout-out on the B-Log.
And here's a little back at you:
Though we touched on it today on the beach, you and I, it's worth mentioning again, in a more public forum, just how impressive your running is on your favourite trails. This isn't to say that your running these past couple of years hasn't been generally impressive, but there's certainly something special that happens to you out at Thetis.
So congratulations on another great run (if you don't admit to it yourself, further congrats on a personal course PR) and good luck with the prep for Stewart Mtn. I look forward to sharing the start line and first 100m with you.
Best,
RC
Thank you.
~E.stalker
I have officially checked this stupid blog at least six times everyday for the entire past week. I thought you agreed to post profusely? (incase you were wondering I looked up how to spell that last time, as to not look like an idiot when talking to my english teacher, but I'm far too lazy to do it again. Point out I'm how I'm not too lazy to type out this whole thing and die. Im procrastinating. And yes I know accepting that you are procrastinating is the first step to... getting things done. Actually I'm procrastinating doing homework you assigned! I can't figure out if it's three paragraphs or a three paragraph essay. Do I need an introduction and conclusion?? I'm so confused. or at least that's my excuse as to why I'm not doing it. Okay I have my own blog, I should't be ranting on yours.)
~E.stalker
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