40th BMO Vancouver Marathon Pre-race :: notes

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Nathan

In 2006 BMO Vancouver Marathon was my first solo running race since high school. I went head first into the full marathon. When I finished I thought I would never want to do it again, just like a bad hangover. This will be my 5th year in a row but 4th actually running it. This has been my favorite race to date, and continues to be a race that sets me up for a solid racing season. It’s been a PR race for me for as many times as I have raced it.

I'm 501, shaved for this years race. My Best Buddy to my left is in the sun visor with the moose knuckle. Super stoked to be racing.

Last years goal was to go after Boston in the full distance, this year I’m going after a New York half time of a 1:23 or less. I hope the half course is as good much as the full course…

I'm the middle...this was when I was starting to really feel it. Thought I would sport the Stash that year.

Winner of the full gets 2,000 —winner of the half gets 1,000. I’m thinking that’s not a huge purse. (photos ripped from the BMO site…actual race photos from years back)

2010 Race Year

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Nathan

Looking forward to a busy year, with a few things on the list to get ready for, half-marathon in February, Full marathon in May, and one maybe two half Ironmans in June and July with the Ironman in August. The two major focuses are, another try at a Boston qualifier in Vancouver on May 2nd and a solid finish to the Ironman in Penticton on August 29th. I’m looking at a top 100 finish for the Ironman but wouldn’t really know where I stand until I finish a half Ironman. A 10 hour 15 minute race gets close to that list but might be a bit quick…I guess time will tell.

I’ll be using the Heart and Stroke Foundation to raise some money, and will be hopefully getting some shirts made up in the near future with a section for donation off this site. Should be a fun and eventful year with some excitement mixed in.

Las Vegas Marathon Round Up

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Nathan

Things didn’t go quiet according to plan, but the whole event was pretty amazing. I think i’ll try and get back out to the desert for next year. Simple, flat, and wide course with some cool temperatures. I felt pretty good but didn’t have the speed to get me even close to my goal. Ran a 3:23, thinking maybe too much travel in the last few weeks could have slowed me down, but all in all it was an enjoyable run.

The race started with some flying Elvis’ coming out of the sky with tigers and showgirls to set you off. The largest marathon I have been apart of with a lot of water stations, time clocks, and markers along the route. I ran without music so I could take in all the bands and wasn’t super impressed with the amount of music, with the 6:15 start it would make it pretty hard to round them up.

I think this is near the end...

Las Vegas Marathon Weekend with real-time updates

Posted on December 4, 2009 by Nathan

Today I’m heading off to Vegas to try and get me a spot for the Boston Marathon in April. I’m needing a 3:10.99 or less to get my butt there. Feeling a lot better then I did since I got back from Cuba and hope once I get to the desert things will come together.

Apparently on a site called competitor wireless you can track races in real time here https://www.competitorwireless.com/ via your cell phone, pretty freakin crazy. Its obviously not free but 5 bucks lets me add five peoples phone numbers plus one free. I’ll test how the service works and see, if your interested in tracking, all you need is a last name and find the Vegas marathon and you will be able to get updates via text message.

You can also track via the net for free @ http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/ click on Las Vegas and then click on the LiveResults bug on the home page during the race and you will never be out of touch with 4 or 5 updates at different timing stops. I love how creative technology gets.

a little screen grab....

Staying @ the Wyndham Resort just off the strip, fingers cross that the hot tubs with be working…Leave tonight and get back Monday night, hopefully with a happy hangover.

Vegas Marathon Dec 6th

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Nathan

A few days after finishing in a disappointing fashion at Victoria, I started looking for another run. Seattle happens on the 28th of November, and then Las Vegas on the 6th of December. I’ll be away in Cuba on the 28th, so Vegas is the next best thing.

Did some quick research on the run and this is the First Year the Rock’ n ‘ Roll style of Marathons has taken over for Vegas. I know a few people who have ran this one before, and they didn’t have much good things say about it. Hopefully with the switch over it will be better. Its also is a Boston Qualifier.

One tip , entry fee is 120 dollars but look around the net for a coupon code to get some money off. I used VEGASROCKS and got 10 bucks off…

Half marathon, Run for Water.

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Nathan

No huge on getting up early on Sundays, but since there was a half marathon race right down the road from me, I thought I better get my ass in gear. Kept outa trouble Saturday night so I could walk over at 7:15 in the morning and pick up my race package, since I forgot to get it Saturday. It was a 8am start, and man was it hot out, had to be almost 20.

Had a pretty good run, course was a bit tough with a lot of hills. It looked like the heat caught the best of a few, but spending the last week working in the sun, it did really phase me. I would say the overall race was put on very well. Had a large group of volunteers, as well as a lot of police blocking roads with perfect signage. The race had a 5km, 10km, and the half marathon on the 2nd annual of the event which I would think will have a 3rd.

201 people did the half marathon, close to 500 did 5k, and over 600 did the 10km. I posted a 1:30 and came 5th overall, pretty happy with the time but under 1:30 would have been nice. Overall great event and good cause.

“By competing in the Run For Water you are helping villages in Ethiopia aquire the clean drinking water they need.”

Birthday/ BMO Vancouver Marathon weekend.

Posted on May 5, 2009 by Nathan

This weekend was a hard weekend to be good. It was my 29th birthday, but it was also Vancouver Marathon on the same day. There was a pretty large group of friends running the full, as well as my mom and another group of friends doing the half marathon. The weather was awesome, sunny but not too hot. We all trainned for about 4 months and all of us dropped large amounts of time, ranging from 18 minutes to 15 minutes.

The course was different from when I ran it in 2006. We didn’t have to run up that ugly hill to prospect point. (halfers did though) 2006 was the first marathon that I did, and doing my research, did it in 3:33.15. This last weekend 3:15.56, getting closer to a Boston time, but still pretty far away. The qualifying time for that for my age group is 3:10.59, or I can wait til I am 35 and squeak in at a 3:15.59. Here is the list.

I really enjoy doing this marathon, a lot of people turn up to cheer and it takes you through many great parts of the city. 2006 had a more scenic route taking you right through Gastown, but also had alot more hills. This year you went through small parts of Gastown, Grandville Island, and most notable , Stanley park. I think Stanley Park had to be my favorite part with a lot of peeks of the water.

Here is a cool little article from Kelly Grant from the Vancouver Sun about their experience.

Here is a video of some crazy dude huckin the thing with no shoes…

I was lucky enough to stay with a friend that lived 2 blcoks away so I could sleep in, as well as get a hot tub afterward. I took a few shots of the halfers running by, they started at 7:00, while we had a 7:30 start.

Nathan Veldhoen

::A Lifestyle blog of what I enjoy :: running, Triathlon, Art, Design, Photography, DIY and Building.::

Tag Archives: marathon

40th BMO Vancouver Marathon Pre-race :: notes

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