Toronto International Marathon Results
Projected Time: 4:15:00
Actual Time: 4:11:27 (*gun) 4:10:11 (**net)
* I started off towards the back half of the pack. This time is taken from when the gun goes off, despite where I am in the pack
** The net time is when I cross over the start line. As you can see, it took me a little less than a minute to get from I started toward the back of the pack to reach the start line.
Result in Entire Field - 981st place out of 1741 who finished
Result in Gender (Male) - 767th place of 1216
Result in Division (M3034) - 98th place of 160
Averge Km: 5:56
Average Speed: 10.1 km per hour
What an incredible Journey, a day I will never forget. Firstly, my parents surprised me at the Union Station in Toronto. They came all the way down from Moose Factory to cheer me on, I was totally surprised. Because there may be children reading this, I cannot repeat what I said. Let's just say, I said what was on my mind.
I have been dreaming of this moment for years, but I have been wanting this since last new years. I recall turning off my light at somepoint just before new years and I thought would would be something I could accomplish this year. I have been through a lot over the last few years, and I have applied what I have learned to make me into the best I have ever been. So I knew this accomplishment would have to be a biggy, so I decided on running a marathon.
The year was coming along fast, but I still had to plans to run a marathon. Until about about 3 months ago, I thought I would scale down my dreams and run a half marathon (21kms). So I started training, then one day I had a great 20 km run in the heat. I thought, I'm gonna turn up the heat and run the big race. So I registered shortly after. I decision that would change me forever.
Here I am talking with Dr. Stacy Thomas; she is a part of the Marathon Physic Team. The team helps the runners cope with any issues they may be feeling before the race. I was struggling with a sore knee and she helped me with that. She asked me who I was running the race for and then she asked me what time I was hoping to finish in. I mentioned to her that I had a difficultly training with my knee issues as well the flu I suffered 2 weeks ago. I told her that I wanted to finish faster than 4:15. She went on to ask, what if you don't meet your time, what will you be happy with? I replied, under 8 hours.
I was so happy that I met my goal of under 4:15. My plan was to stick with the 4 four group as long as I could. I knew they would eventually run ahead of me, as long as I stayed in between the them and the 4:15 group. I stayed with the 4 hour runners until about 25 km, then I never saw them again, that's when I started to walk alot more.
Here I am at 37 kms and every part of my body is starting to break down. I had to pass my hydration kit to my father (in his hands) because my back was starting to hurt. There are so variables at play when you run a marathon. There is the obvious external factors but the most challenging is what's going on inside. My lower body was aching, and to cope with that, I had to take a handful of advil which I popped throughout the marathon. At this stage of the race, I had run out and learned to just cope with the pain.
In retrospect, I didn't really have to carry my hydration kit, because they had a lot of Gatorade and water stations throughout the course. The few extra pounds in my pack perhaps weighed me down and didn't help during the later stages of the race.
Here I am storming off the finish line, 5 kms to go.
This is how I felt throughout the race..
1-15 kms: I felt great, it was a festive atmosphere. The runners were laughing the joking. I sparked up a conversation with this young lady from England who decided to run her first marathon here in Canada.
The one thing on my mind was, where I'm I going to pee if I have to use the washroom? I later learned from the vets, just pull over and pull it out and pee along side of the road. I even saw one guy take it one step further, he was wearing a diaper.
15-20kms: I started getting tired. At this point, I couldn't think about the finish line, because it's just to far away (42 kms). I had to think of shorter goals, like the next water station of running past the Ex grounds.
25-35kms: I started walking a little bit more, if I recall correctly, I stopped twice during this part of the race. Mainly to eat some power gels or pop an advil, and of course to rest too.
35-42kms: At this point I'm running to finish. I was so happy to run into my parents and my friends at 37 kms, this gave me some much needed motivation to keep going strong. Past 35 kms was an awesome experience, because I have never run further than this before. So every step I was running was an already huge accomplishment.
The last km was awful and beautiful at the same time. It seemed like the longest km in my life, but the people cheered us on really kept me going. These strangers would call out my name and urge to me to keep going. "C'mon Stan, you can do it! 1/2 km to go, your almost done." To have strangers pull for me was an incredible feeling.
There were many moments during the race where I became emotional. I dedicated my run to many people, but I prayed to my late grandmothers to give me strength and every time I spoke to them my eyes swelled up and I became overcome with emotion. Nothing could compare me with what would happen at the finish line.
The moment I crossed over the finish line, I became so overwhelmed I had to cry. This is something I have been dreaming about for years and I did it. My training was rough, and I pulled through. My family and friends encouraged me and I felt everything at the end.
This picture is when I saw my parents, Joe, Aisha and Carrara. Then I really cried, I sobbed and cried like I never cried before. I guess you can say I unleashed the dragon for the first time.
Here I am crying and laughing at the same time. I was so happy, overwhelmed, thankful and proud all at once. A feeling I had never felt before.
Check out my medal.
My parents and I. My mother had decided to come to marathon once I told her a few months ago the last time they visited. I am so blessed to have them in my life. Thank you mom and dad.
Here is my Six Nations Family, Joe, Aisha and Carrara. The most beautiful people I know, they have been an inspiration to me and have been my rock here at my new home in the south.
Me and my dear Carrara.
I noticed David Sutherland from Fort Albany during the race; he was about 3 kms ahead of me. I was so happy to see him at the end of the race. Congrats David on a great run.
My video reaction at the end of the race
This is one of my all time pictures; this shows the special bond between my mom and me. If this picture was taken today, it would show us few years older, my mother as beautiful and vibrant as ever, and our love for each for other stronger than ever.
I did managed to get in a 8km run on October 4th. It was a short run, and it was still hard because of my flu. I must admit, by the end of this week, I was full of doubt once again.
