I registered for the 20K distances on both Saturday and Sunday at the Victoria Blossom Walks in British Columbia. This was Canada's only International Marching League walk, and you must complete 20K or more on both days to earn the IML stamp.
But the weather Friday night and Saturday morning was gloomy. It rained all night. Clouds hung low and the ground was wet. I decided I didn't want to walk 20K in the rain and I would switch to the 10K distance, get a good workout but not be miserable.
Mistake #1: Trusting the weatherman: I put on my Goretex rain pants, layered my shirts with Coolmax and wicking insulated layer and put my Goretex jacket on over that.
Mistake #2: I didn't put on any lubricant at my armpits, which are prone to chafing when I sweat, I simply forgot to do it.
Mistake #3:I didn't put on any sunscreen because there was little chance of seeing the sun. I also had some skin break-out and sunscreen makes me more prone to break-out. A teenager again!
Mistake #4: By the time the walk started at 8 am, it was clearing and I decided I would do the 20K after all.
I quickly put the BandAid Blister bandages on my heels, which are prone to blister after 15K. After the first kilometer I had the jacket off. I started off at a slower pace but after the first 5K I switched to a racewalk pace. It felt great, although the rainpants are not the optimal garb. After 15K as the day warmed and I was sweating from my exertion, I began to wonder if I would get chafed at the thighs.
At the 13K checkpoint, my clubmate Ken was stripping off his rainpants - he had thought ahead enough to have running shorts underneath. Silly me, I packed running shorts but hadn't thought to wear them underneath (or to shave my legs).
But I managed to finish in a decent time, with slightly more sun exposure than I wanted and on the verge of chafing but without blisters. The Goretex pants performed well, all things considered. But I certainly hadn't gone into the event properly prepared.
For Sunday, I expected a nicer day and wore running pants and took my lightweight warm-up jacket and wore a microfleece vest as my insulating layer. These would pack better when I removed layers. I also thought to put on sunscreen and put BodyGlide on any area prone to chafing.
At the first kilometer we went past my hotel. I was quite warmed up, so I went inside and put the vest in my room and used the restrooms there. I was able to walk very comfortably through the whole walk. The first 5K went along the Westsong trail, excellent for racewalking. After climbing over the peninsula for another 7K, the trail then takes the Galloping Goose Trail and was great for speed. I definitely did a "negative split" with my last 6K being far faster than my first or second 6-7K.
Mistake #5: Forgot my record books. This was an untimed race, and I could have taken off back to the hotel at 19K, showered and packed for the hotel checkout, then finished at a slower pace. But I made the decision to finish first when I passed the point where the trail split. About 500 meters later I realized I didn't have my International Marching League Passport and I would have to return to the hotel to get it and then back to the start/finish to get it stamped - a kilometer each way.
I couldn't pass up getting it stamped - they only have one IML walk per country per year and it was the whole reason I did the two 20K walks. Otherwise I could have done 10K and enjoyed shopping and high tea at the Empress Hotel with Rich.
So, after finishing and getting my IVV books stamped (I did remember THOSE), I went back to the hotel. After showering and checking out, we took a cab back to the Curling Club and then walked another kilometer back to the hotel, stopping for a nice lunch before our flight out.
The moral:remember your essentials. A day can turn nice as well as turn rainy, think ahead to not be overdressed or under-protected from the elements. And don't forget your record books, they don't give you any extra kilometers for those trips to the hotel and back. But I did burn off an extra 2 kilometers worth of calories thanks to that mistake!
