How Fast Will iRun?

Canada has a new running magazine. It’s called iRun, and you can’t go anywhere in the Ottawa running community these days without seeing its new logo on hats, shirts and probably other cool swag. Because I’ve lately become obsessed with all things running, it was inevitable that the first issue would eventually find its way into my house.

Here’s what iThink. It’s definitely an idea whose time has come. In Ottawa, and I’m sure this is true of many other cities, running has caught on in a big way. Our National Capital Race Weekend has become one of the biggest events of the year. I hardly know anyone who isn’t running, walking, volunteering or spectating (I am now declaring that a verb) sometime over the weekend of May 24 and 25.   

It’s neat to read a magazine that features Canadian runners, races and heroes and suppliers. I also really liked their feature on yoga poses for runners, and not just because I know the yoga instructor who is pictured in the article.

Minor quibble: the kinda cutesy over-use of the iRun name. The magazine is peppered with quotes from real runners completing the sentence, “iRun because…”. How about we officially declare an end to the use of a lowercase letter followed by an uppercase letter to indicate cutting edge, technology-oriented cool?

Another small irritant (probably stemming as much from my own insecurities as anything else) is a light-hearted feature at the beginning of the magazine about celebrity marathoners. It clocks their times and makes snarky comments about runners who took longer than four hours to finish. It’s not that celebrities need my pity – I’m sure they have staff for that – it’s just that, as a runner who expects to finish just a little faster than Katie Holmes, I take that kind of pettiness personally. On the whole, though, I think it’s a fun and info-packed magazine, with a content-rich accompanying web-site. I’m looking forward to the next issue.

As long as we’re on the topic of speed, though, I’m officially declaring the Reluctant Runner Finish Time Pool open. There are no prizes for winning but you can’t beat the cost of entry. Let me give you a few guiding facts:

My fastest 5K: 28 minutes

Fastest 10K: 57 minutes and change

Fastest Half: 2 hrs, 12 minutes

My outside goal is to finish in less than five hours. Honestly, unless something goes terribly wrong, I think I will meet that goal (and may I take a moment to implore Athletica, goddess of runners, not to punish me for my hubris). My fantasy goal is to finish in 4 hours and 30 minutes. But my back-of-the-napkin calculations around my current running pace are telling me that might be a mathematical impossibility. Bottom line: this Reluctant Runner is amazed just to be out there at all.

Want to guess when I’ll finish? Just post a time below. I will take every entry personally, read all kinds of messages into your guess, and probably end up mad at you. But don’t let that stop you.  

Comments

[Tiger]

So I was actually conidering running ottawa but my student lifestyle and transportation abilities are not so much agreeing with the whole idea! Maybe next year!
I think you're going to do soo fantastic! I'm so excited to hear about your race success.

As for your 'And Then What?" post (sorry slow computer this morning) wait for a few weeks and then think about it. Half marathons might be the perfect distance. You're home in 2 hours instead of four!

[Nitmos]

Based on your training and half time, I'm going to guess 4:41. Good luck!

[aka Alice]

I love that you made "spectating" a verb.

My money is on 4:40 for your finish time, and I'll be jealous because my finish time in San Diego the week after will be about an hour longer...

Good luck. I'm excited for you!

[P.O.M.]

I'm going with 4:42.

[Donna]

4:48 came to me. But you'll probably be faster than that and WAY FASTER than Katie Holmes, who was at 5:30 or something.

[Kathy]

iGuess (couldn't resist) at 4:44 - since it's not taken and it sounds lucky!!

You go girl!