The 2019 edition of Oak Bay Half Marathon took place on May 26. It was a beautiful and sunny Sunday morning.
I was very excited to be able to take part in this year’s Oak Bay Half Marathon.
The first time I ran the Oak Bay Half Marathon was in 2014, where I ended up with 1:32:25. Then, I ran it again in 2015 in 1:32:29. I loved the race both times and I knew that one day I would come back to do it again. After 2015, I had other challenges, obligations, setbacks and commitments that kept me away from the start line of the Oak Bay Half Marathon.
Adding this beautiful Oak Bay Half Marathon finisher medal to my collection.
Leading up to this year’s race, I was a bit nervous for two reasons.
1. First, as I mentioned in my race preview, I was concerned about how warm the weather would be. I don’t do too well running in the heat and therefore I was hoping that the heat would hold off until the race is done.
2. Second, I remembered feeling awful during the Comox Valley RV Half Marathon only a couple of months ago. Back in March, I almost DNFd the Comox Half Marathon and struggled through 2/3 of the race. Therefore, I would be lying if I said I didn’t care about redeeming myself. Of course I wanted to redeem myself! Who wouldn’t?!
Then, race day came…
When I arrived to the race venue on race day, I parked a couple of blocks away and slowly jogged to where the race would be starting. I got there about 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the race. It was great to chat with a few friends and relax before the race as well as do a bit of a warm-up.
This time, I decided to start the race quite a bit slower than I normally would. I wanted to ease into it, unlike in Comox, where I simply started too fast and paid for it big time.
I ran the first 4k at a pace that’s only slightly faster than 5 min per km. I took it relatively easy going up the hill by the golf course because I wanted to be sure that I was setting myself up for a stronger finish. It took every ounce of will to not bust out of the gate at full speed and chase everyone that passed me at the start.
Once I made it past the golf course, I stayed relaxed and stopped paying much attention to my surroundings. I decided to run my own race without worrying about who was passing me nor did I think about who I passed. It was a complete mental shift for me.
As we got closer to the turnaround, I definitely picked up the pace. At the same time, I felt very calm and strong.
Once I got to the turnaround, I knew that the race was over halfway done. I also couldn’t help but enjoy the stunning views and think positive thoughts.
On the way back, I sped up a little bit more. However, I kept in mind that I still had to conquer the incline near the golf course on the way back.
Because I didn’t start too fast, the incline near the golf course on the way back felt easier than I thought it would (never thought I’d be saying this).
Within the last 3km of the race, I started to feel a little bit tired but managed to keep the pace. I was focusing on my breathing as well as form.
As I approached km 20, I definitely started to feel a bit warm and was glad that I was getting close to the finish just in time before it got too hot. The last km was hard for me because I was starting to feel the heat.
I slowed down for about 400m before picking up the pace again as I approached the finish. Since the weather was getting warmer, I was relieved to be turning the last corner.
Running the Oak Bay Half Marathon, somewhere along the final stretch of the race. I need to work on landing better!
I ended up finishing in 1:35:17 (average pace was 4:31 per km) and I felt strong. Overall, I ended up placing 8th out of a total of 324 women.
Although this is not my personal best, I’m very happy that my time at the Oak Bay Half Marathon was almost 6 minutes faster than the 1:41:19 I got in Comox.
Oak Bay Half Marathon Finish line. I’m getting ready to hug a friend… pic: Reuben Butterfield.
After finishing the Oak Bay Half Marathon, I enjoyed the post-race festivities. The post-race food was absolutely fantastic. Kudos to the organizers for making my experience before, during and after the race a good one.
Why was my performance at the Oak Bay Half Marathon better than Comox this year? (HINT: it’s not because I’m in better shape)
1.I paced it much better. Unlike in Comox, I didn’t burn myself out in the first 7k. I started a lot slower which allowed me to ease into it and pick up the pace later in the race.
2. I stopped worrying and started running. It’s hard to perform well when your mind is elsewhere or when you are super hung-up on the final outcome of the race. I had to stop worrying about what might happen during the race, whether the weather is getting too hot or how many times I’ve been passed (those are just a few examples of things to stop worrying about).
3. I was thinking positive thoughts. Sometimes, long distance running can get challenging and the last thing you want to do during a long run (whether it’s a race or a training run) is think negatively. In Comox, as soon as I started not feeling well during the race, I focused on how bad I was feeling, which in turn made me feel even worse.
4. I hydrated properly. I drank just the right amount of water and electrolytes before and during the race.
5. I ate the right things leading up to the race. Nutrition can make or break your race. Prior to the Oak Bay Half, I didn’t have any junk food for over two weeks and I made sure to fuel myself with complex carbohydrates.
6. I started the race well-rested. During the week leading up to the Oak Bay Half, I did not do too many hard workouts. I also slept well and was well-rested when I got to the start line.
If you missed out on the 2019 Oak Bay Half Marathon, start planning to run it in 2020! It takes place in late spring. I promise you that you will love the views, the atmosphere and the food.