Craig Nagels
Nagels looking much healthier!
(larger version)
Pre Race Report
Running is something I kind of fell into as a child. I ran my 1st 1500m and won when I was 12 years old. After that I got the running bug. Running Cross Country events till I was about 15. As do many I got interested in other things and stopped running. It wasn't till I was turning 30 and eating a bag of potato chips with a pop that I saw an event about marathons on TV. I said to my wife between grazing, "I'm going to do that! I'm going to run a marathon."
Out of shape, overweight and turning 30 I was determined. I trained. I ran my first half marathon which was the Burlington Chilly Half Marathon in 2:13. I ran another half marathon later in Burlington called the Burlington Rock and Roll Half Marathon in 2:05. I was ready for my first marathon in October 2002. The Toronto International Marathon. A few weeks before the race after all the training I blew my knee out avoiding my own dog while running. I could hardly walk on my knee. I used a knee brace and with the support of my wife at various intervals with ice packs and braces for my knee and Tylenol I was able to complete my 1st marathon in a time of 4:37.
My wife wanted to train to do a marathon a few years later. So I ran with her as her personal Sherpa. I had a backpack full of supplies she needed such as water, foods, support. That marathon in some ways was more of a challenge to train for. I had to get my body accustomed to longer timed runs for my wife's speed is slower. I was so proud to see her and I cross the finish line at the Blue Nose International Marathon in Halifax in a time of 6:23. As John Bingham says, we were there to complete not compete.
I'm running the Ottawa International Marathon on May 30th and hoping for a PR of 3:59. I will be running a 5k race called Come Run for Cancer Care in St. Catherine's, ON in March. My ultimate goal is to one day qualify for the pinnacle of marathons the Boston Marathon. I truly thank my wife for all her support in my running goals and how she pushes me to become a better runner. Without her I know I would not have been able to accomplish what I have. She is my coach and trainer.
I find running is a way you can push yourself. To see yourself do things you did not think possible. Anytime I get tired fatigue during long training my inspiration is my mother. One of the strongest people I know. She has been battling Ovarian Cancer for 6 long years. Sometimes with running I can feel I can't continue then I think of my brave mother who has endured chemotherapy and the pain and suffering that go along with it. She continues to push to the end without complaint with a smile on her face and she is "running her marathon" with humor and dignity. Her marathon is racing against cancer and mine is simply for myself. With that realization I know I can push harder. My mother's attitude in fighting and dealing with cancer has truly motivated me as a runner. Keep running Mom, don't give up!
In October I hope to run finally the Trapline Half Marathon.
By Craig Nagels
Out of shape, overweight and turning 30 I was determined. I trained. I ran my first half marathon which was the Burlington Chilly Half Marathon in 2:13. I ran another half marathon later in Burlington called the Burlington Rock and Roll Half Marathon in 2:05. I was ready for my first marathon in October 2002. The Toronto International Marathon. A few weeks before the race after all the training I blew my knee out avoiding my own dog while running. I could hardly walk on my knee. I used a knee brace and with the support of my wife at various intervals with ice packs and braces for my knee and Tylenol I was able to complete my 1st marathon in a time of 4:37.
My wife wanted to train to do a marathon a few years later. So I ran with her as her personal Sherpa. I had a backpack full of supplies she needed such as water, foods, support. That marathon in some ways was more of a challenge to train for. I had to get my body accustomed to longer timed runs for my wife's speed is slower. I was so proud to see her and I cross the finish line at the Blue Nose International Marathon in Halifax in a time of 6:23. As John Bingham says, we were there to complete not compete.
I'm running the Ottawa International Marathon on May 30th and hoping for a PR of 3:59. I will be running a 5k race called Come Run for Cancer Care in St. Catherine's, ON in March. My ultimate goal is to one day qualify for the pinnacle of marathons the Boston Marathon. I truly thank my wife for all her support in my running goals and how she pushes me to become a better runner. Without her I know I would not have been able to accomplish what I have. She is my coach and trainer.
I find running is a way you can push yourself. To see yourself do things you did not think possible. Anytime I get tired fatigue during long training my inspiration is my mother. One of the strongest people I know. She has been battling Ovarian Cancer for 6 long years. Sometimes with running I can feel I can't continue then I think of my brave mother who has endured chemotherapy and the pain and suffering that go along with it. She continues to push to the end without complaint with a smile on her face and she is "running her marathon" with humor and dignity. Her marathon is racing against cancer and mine is simply for myself. With that realization I know I can push harder. My mother's attitude in fighting and dealing with cancer has truly motivated me as a runner. Keep running Mom, don't give up!
In October I hope to run finally the Trapline Half Marathon.
By Craig Nagels
Bad 2009 luck :-(.
(larger version)
2009 Post Race Report
I did not complete the race!!!
In fact I never made it to the start line! Two nights before the Trapline Marathon 2009 my wife had the car packed and we were ready for an early departure from Labrador City to Goose Bay for the marathon. I was excited to run the Trapline Half Marathon. Many people have never been to Labrador so the thought of running a Half Marathon in Goose Bay was intriguing.
At about 11pm I started getting some pain in my stomach. I assumed it was nerves and excitement. By 3am I crawled into the emergency department of the hospital. By 7am I found out I had a severe gallbladder attack. (I was still thinking I could make the race) With tubes down nose and an IV hook up the sad reality came crashing to me that I was not going to run in the Trapline Marathon. I sat in the hospital looking at the beautiful fall Labrador weekend knowing I was supposed to be at the Trapline Marathon finishing the half marathon and eating a flummie not at the hospital begging for ice chips.
I did not finish the race and I did not receive that coveted finisher's medal.
Since then I have had my gallbladder out and I'm ready for the 2010 Trapline Half Marathon!
By Craig Nagels
In fact I never made it to the start line! Two nights before the Trapline Marathon 2009 my wife had the car packed and we were ready for an early departure from Labrador City to Goose Bay for the marathon. I was excited to run the Trapline Half Marathon. Many people have never been to Labrador so the thought of running a Half Marathon in Goose Bay was intriguing.
At about 11pm I started getting some pain in my stomach. I assumed it was nerves and excitement. By 3am I crawled into the emergency department of the hospital. By 7am I found out I had a severe gallbladder attack. (I was still thinking I could make the race) With tubes down nose and an IV hook up the sad reality came crashing to me that I was not going to run in the Trapline Marathon. I sat in the hospital looking at the beautiful fall Labrador weekend knowing I was supposed to be at the Trapline Marathon finishing the half marathon and eating a flummie not at the hospital begging for ice chips.
I did not finish the race and I did not receive that coveted finisher's medal.
Since then I have had my gallbladder out and I'm ready for the 2010 Trapline Half Marathon!
By Craig Nagels