Hatley Castle 8k 2020 Race Report

The Hatley Castle 8k was the 4th event of the VIRA Island Race Series. It took place on February 23, 2020.

Can you believe that this year’s VIRA Island Race Series is half over already? I guess time goes by fast when you are having fun.

As I mentioned in my Hatley Castle 8k preview, my intention was to do this one in about 40 minutes and take it easy. I even instructed my client Howard to take it easy because of the terrain and the downhills, which I sometimes find more challenging than the uphills.

When I got up on race morning, I definitely did not want to go fast. The weather was not that great. It was raining and a little bit on the colder side. I’m OK with slightly colder weather, but when it’s “wet cold”, I sometimes turn into a wimp.

Truthfully, I didn’t want to get out from under my warm blankets on race morning. Considering that I was also feeling a bit sick a few days before the race, I thought taking it easy was the right thing to do.

For this race, I picked one of my brightest outfits and decided to just have fun. I originally had a different outfit idea, but it would have been way too cold for it that day.

When I arrived, it was raining. I hung out with a bunch of people and then it was time to head to the start line. At the start line, I made my way towards the middle of the group, as opposed to starting near the front.

I had to keep reminding myself: “Take it easy.”

When the race started, I let a lot of people go ahead of me. I started very slow. I didn’t have my watch, but my first km felt like a 5:30km. About halfway through the first km, I saw Joseph Crazy Legs Camilleri taking photos so I waved at him and yelled his name to get his attention.

Above: Me trying to get Joe Crazy Legs Camilleri’s attention while he was taking photos at the Hatley Castle 8k. Photo by: Crazy Legs.

Then, we took the first turn and I picked it up a little bit. The next thing I knew, I was at the 2k mark feeling pretty good. I made peace with the cold weather and rain. The rain seemed to have stopped for a little bit.

I took another right turn and that’s when my favorite hill emerged in front of me. It was the famous big hill that we all talk about whenever this race comes up in conversation. In all honesty, I actually enjoy this hill.

As soon as I passed the 3k mark, I decided to go up the hill hard and fast. Normally, I wouldn’t do this, but I hadn’t done a hill workout in a couple of weeks. I passed a big group of people up the hill and felt very strong during the ascent. However, if I was intending to get a better time at this race, I would not recommend running it this way.

Once I got up the big hill, I slowed down a bit. As I was running past the 4k mark, there was a gentleman right beside me. I asked him what we were at for time, and he said: “18:25”. I was happy with that because I didn’t feel like I was working hard at all.

Then, right around the 5k mark, there was a smaller hill. I sped up when I went up but slowed down again as we descended into the forested section of the race.

The forested section of the race was definitely the place for me to slow down. I did not want to step into a puddle with my new-ish shoes nor roll my ankle on anything. The ground was wet because of the rain and I didn’t want to risk falling down any time during this race.

However, there was another uphill. I went pretty fast up that last hill too. After all, it is much harder to “fall up a hill” than it is to “fall down a hill”.

Above: Coming down the last hill (I think) at the Hatley Castle 8k 2020. Photo by John William Berger.

The last part of the race was mostly downhill. I slowed down because I wanted to make sure I don’t take a tumble. I’ll admit, I’m not very good at going downhill on trails.

As I approached the last 500m of the race, there was another gentleman running beside me. He passed me and I caught up and passed him. Then, with about 200m left, I sprinted as fast as I possibly could to get to the finish line and he was right there beside me.

Above: Just before the sprint to the finish at the Hatley Castle 8k 2020. Photo by John William Berger.

It was so good to have someone sprinting beside me because I enjoy having a strong finish at races. No matter how slow I go for the rest of the race, it’s always fun to finish the last 200m fast.

I looked at the clock as I was about to cross the finish line and saw 36:xx.

Above: Hatley Castle 8k 2020 finish. Photo by: Joseph Crazy Legs Camilleri.

When I crossed the finish line, I high-fived a few people and that’s when a buddy of mine said, “What happened to 40 minutes?” That was a good question. I felt like I was running it in 40 minutes but ended up running it in 36:40. I was a few seconds faster than last year but from what I recall, this year, the race felt easier. This is definitely a good sign.

In the end, I was 4/22 in my age group and 14th female (out of 183) to cross the finish line. Even though it wasn’t my fastest race, I’m still happy to have showed up and had fun. Most importantly, I’m grateful that the huge stomach ache and nausea I had a couple of days before the race didn’t manifest into a full-fledged flu (or worse).

Above: Age group awards at the Hatley Castle 8k 2020. Photo by Joseph Camilleri.

Taking it easy during the race was a good decision for me because I did not exert myself to the point where my immune system would be compromised.

As for my client Howard, he placed 6th in his age group and his chip time was just under 45 minutes, which is exactly what I told him he should get at this race. I know he is capable of going faster (and so am I), but we were both getting over being sick and this was just not the day nor event for any speed records for us.

I hope to run a good race in Port Alberni because I enjoy the 15k distance. Stay tuned for my preview of the next event in the VIRA Island Race Series-the Port Alberni Paper Chase 15k.

If you have read this far, thank you!!

I appreciate each and every person who takes the time to read my articles.