Do you remember your first ever race? Amy Robitaille first ran 15 years ago with her brother at the Ottawa Marathon. She knew nothing about fueling or hydration but survived the distance and became a seasoned runner despite her challenges on her first experience. Back then, an “early bird” start allowed runners to get passed on the course by elites instead of starting well behind them. These are the memories that stand out from that day. Name: Amy Robitaille Age then: 21 Age now: 36 City/town: Rockwood, Ont. Race: Ottawa Marathon, May of 2000 What inspired me to sign up for the race: My brother and I had been running for awhile and we decided that signing up for a real race was the next step. Too bad we didn’t investigate any shorter races before jumping into the full marathon. What I was worried about: I wasn’t worried at all. I think I was just oblivious to the process. Memories that stand out: I ran with my brother. It was my first ever road race and we opted for the full marathon. It was mother’s day weekend and our parents drove down to watch us. Back then they had an “early bird” option. We signed up hoping that the extra hour would give us more time to complete the marathon. The route was lovely with views of the canal, the landmarks, the nature. We clapped and bounced and cheered along with every spectator we saw. The sunshine and air were perfect. My brother and I were having fun. Normally when running the marathon, one starts back in a corral way behind the elite runners. Runners like me never get to see elites speeding along on the course. Between our early bird start, and the double-loop of the course, we had the fortune of seeing the lead runners pass us. On our second loop, a truck with cameras, and some cyclists passed us, with big signs that said, “lead runner”. It was really cool to be “passed” by the leaders. My big race day mistake: Not hydrating. I had this crazy idea that all of that water slogging around in my stomach would make me feel crappy, so I kept my sips to an absolute minimum. I thought drinking water during a marathon was for wimps. As for gels, I had never heard of them. It didn’t occur to me to look up info on fueling for a marathon… When we finished, we stared at each other in disbelief. When we got back to the hotel, we fell asleep immediately. My time: 4:18:22 My marathon time now: 3:24 What I remember about training: I remember searching for training plans on my computer (with dial-up internet) and printing one off so I could gain enough miles just to complete the race. It was a simple plan that I followed. Easy runs and a long run on weekends. Races I’ve done since: I have since run 10 more marathons, one while pregnant, three Bostons, The Disney Goofy Challenge and countless other races. The pride I felt after surviving the fueling disaster of my first marathon propelled me through every race I have run since that day. I really feel like you can’t do just one marathon.
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