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Post by adrian on Jun 6, 2011 18:25:30 GMT -6
Well, we're under three weeks to go to the big race, and you can tell that ATCO doesn't have a team, because there is no trash-talking at all.
In Whose Idea Was This news, our team roster is a well-guarded secret, but I will say that we're tapping local talent this year.
We took some of the slowest members from the ATCO team (ahem, Raudebaugh).
Our only Toronto-born import is someone who's been on the team since Day 1 (i.e. 2000 or so), so unfortunately, we felt compelled to put him on the team. He's not very fit, though. Rumour also says he's shaved his beard.
How's the Running Room looking? How about that team from Calgary?
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Post by norminton on Jun 7, 2011 23:17:46 GMT -6
We look great. We have some sweet adiZERO singlets, adiZERO rocket racing flats, adidas headbands and sweatbands. We won't win it, but we'll be the best looking team out there.
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Post by warden on Jun 22, 2011 8:40:52 GMT -6
The Bow Valley Harriers' team is posted up on their website.
Leg 1 (18.6km) – Travis Cummings
Leg 2 (16.5km) – Blaine Penny
Leg 3 (14.7km) – Aaron Swanson
Leg 4 (14.1km) – Duncan Marsden
Leg 5 (17.6km) – Ken Myers
Leg 6 (9.4km) – Nick Haddow
Leg 7 (16.5km) – Jody Draude
Leg 8 (15.9km) – Jeremy Deere
Leg 9 (12.5km) – Joel Bourgeois
Leg 10 (18 km) – Scott Jensen
Looks like Lambert's team may be challenged this year. Hopefully he doesn't take this opportunity to tinker with his lineup by flying in more talent from abroad.
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Post by adrian on Jun 22, 2011 17:51:06 GMT -6
That is a very strong team. We will definitely be hard-pressed to get the win.
I think we might be ahead at the end of Leg 5, but they have a very strong second half. I'm hoping it doesn't come down to our Leg 10 runner, because he's not in very good shape.
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Post by norminton on Jun 22, 2011 20:14:29 GMT -6
They don't look that good, you should come out on top as long as Hack doesn't let you down. He wasn't looking very good today in practice...
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Post by adrian on Jun 26, 2011 18:03:45 GMT -6
I hate it when predictions come true... I'm hoping it doesn't come down to our Leg 10 runner, because he's not in very good shape. |
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Post by woyts on Jun 26, 2011 22:16:52 GMT -6
I hope you are crafting a RR as I type, because that is not good enough....
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Post by JBarr on Jun 27, 2011 8:31:07 GMT -6
So the TO boys don't get invited this year and Leg Champs lose..I guess this means that Lambert's team can't win unless they fly in a star-studded city-boy lineup from Ontario (cause we love the 'crete). Too bad the streak ended but if we're invited in 2012, Scalder and I will be back to carry the Leg Champs back to the top of the podium.
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Post by adrian on Jun 27, 2011 11:27:49 GMT -6
Well, what can I say, the faster team won the day. Congratulations are due to the Bow Valley Harriers for a well-deserved victory.
As Tichelaar pointed out, it was team management that let us down on the day. We did what we could with our fitness, but it wasn't enough to beat the duo of Deere and Bourgeois.
We had a strong first few legs, with Max, Kris and Mark all winning their legs and starting the day on the right foot. Graeme, always fit, ran a solid leg on Leg 4 and handed off to Taylor. Taylor put in some time on the three runners from the Bow Valley Harriers who ran leg 5 (Duncan Marsden, Aaron Swanson and finally Ken Myers). Harry, one of the most dependable K100 runners, managed to put in a bit more time by, once again, winning his leg.
Next up was Tichelaar on Leg 7, who went out hard and paid a bit of a price, but still managed a solid time. Hack was a trooper on Leg 8, but was very unlucky to have his Achilles go on him and Taylor had to finish the leg. Jeremy Deere ran an very fast time on leg 8 to close the gap and handed off to two-time Olympian Joel Bourgeois. Joe Boland put in a huge effort on Leg 9 and kept it close. He fought hard to stay with Joel when he went by and we were only two minutes down going into Leg 10.
They held our teams back on Leg 10 so I started at the same time as the Bow Valley Runner (Scott Jensen). We pushed the pace early, and I was feeling the effects of having flown in the morning of the race. At about 20 minutes in, I was starting to get dropped, and I was starting to worry about my chances. I worked hard to close the gap and at halfway I tried to remember Swanson's pre-race pep talk. I put in a really big surge at halfway and pushed really hard to gain a bit of a gap. I needed 2.5 minutes. I red-lined for about 15 minutes, but started to really pay the price against the wind. Up the final hill I was basically walking, but I didn't dare look behind me. I was too afraid to look back because I thought at the pace I was going he was going to catch me.
At the finish, I turned around and couldn't see Scott, so I thought I might have done it, but he soon was around the corner and we knew it was over. He finished only about 70 seconds behind me and we lost by a miniscule 90 seconds. All we needed was one second per mile and we could have done, but in the end, the better team won.
Next year, next year!
Also, it is notable that this was actually one of our stronger teams. Our time was comparable to every other year we've won (except last year which was a little faster), but it is clear that we lost not because we ran slowly, but because the other team ran fast. It was a great race in the end and hopefully this will be a rivalry for years to come.
And we actually won more legs than we did last year, winning 6 / 10 (compared to 5 / 10 last year). I guess we can at least still consider ourselves "Leg Champs"!
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Post by adrian on Jul 29, 2011 12:19:14 GMT -6
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