Penguin World Conference IV
Toronto, Canada
May 24 to 27, 2002The first international Penguin encounter and the first encounter outside of the United States
PWC IV Report from Linda Bearss of Hope, Mich...
Granite Greetings! First of all--None of us, who attended the PWC in Toronto, can possibly express our gratitude to Glenn and the Toronto Penguins! We were planned for meticulously, taken care of with grace and kindness, and treated like honored guests! From the moment I saw Dave D. at the airport, waiting for Ken M. and welcoming us birds as we landed, I knew this country mouse would be comfortable among a wonderful new set of friends. All worries were abandoned (except for Toni missing the flight--I'll explain later:)
Friday night, we were introduced to one another. It was great to put faces with all of those emails! Then we went ethnic. A couple of us were graciously escorted through the subway to get across town. I tried Greek food for the first time, thanks to Dimetre, and absolutely got hooked!! (That Orange Oasis was pretty tasty, too. I was good--I made sure I had something to eat first!:)
When we got back to the hotel, my new friend Debbie (who went greek, also) and I found room service dishes outside my hotel room door--??????--Toni had made it after all!!!!! Yeh!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday:
* The workshops were really informative and interesting.
* Toni, Millard, Violet and I went to see The Lion King. Wow! I had wanted to see it since its introduction years ago. It completely blew us away. The costumes, dancing, singing, complicated human/puppets that brought the whole story and culture to life were incredible!!!
* After the play, we went to the local running store and then to a Starbucks for something hot (it was cold and rainy). Then we met the other birds for the pasta dinner, which was delicious and in a unique setting--no surprises there, it just followed along like the rest of the events at the conference--perfectly!. .after dinner, we were good birds and went back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep for our early bus ride to the race. But, I was so excited and nervous that sleep was elusive far too long. It would be my first race of the year, and my first ½ mar. ever.
In the early dawn, we boarded the bus for the race. It was a 10 min. walk to the registration. The park and neighborhood are beautiful, green grass, rolling hills (did I mention the rolling HILLS?) I checked in and did all those little things we do before the starting line then I went to check my bag (what a great service) but the line was so long I never would have made the start of the race. I looked around. Lo and behold! There were a couple of wonderful Toronto Penguins, who offered to check it for me so I could dash to the starting line. (These birds have set the benchmark for all future conferences.)
I usually run alone in a race. I'm slower than the mid pack and a little bit faster than the rear of the pack. (It's probably that I'm not consistent enough to run with someone because I'm always running alone at home.) There were so many Penguins with race times close to mine that I thought I might have company for this one.
I began with meeting a new Penguin friend at the starting line, Dorothy from the Deep South. We were planning to run it in about the same time frame, so we started together. But, I'm from mid-Michigan and no match for those "nice, rolling hills"-as Ken M. would call them. My right calf knotted up and forced me to walk a lot of the first couple of k's. Dorothy went on ahead with my blessing.
About mile 3, my calf loosened up and the road leveled out. I found a couple of runners doing a 5/1. But, I couldn't keep a slow enough pace on the 5. A little further on I caught up with Bruce and Tasha. We ran together for a bit, but I was feeling better and moved on ahead.
At 9km, I took a dash into a Tim Horton's, thankfully, (the only port-a-john I saw had too long of lines, and I'm not hard core enough to brave the bushes). I ran most of the way from there in a 5/1, sometimes it was a 6/1 or 7/2.
There were small rock bands on the corners, playing oldies-right, those were my songs in my hey day! I felt right at home J The music was great and helped me to keep my pace up.
About km 15, I was getting tired--then I remembered that a Toronto Penguin, Julie, had told me she brought some strawberry bubble bath for me for after the race (I love bubble baths when I'm away from home--that's the only time I have the time:) The thought of a cool bubble bath made my muscles find some extra umph to keep going to the end.
Somewhere around the 17th or 18th km, I met up with Dorothy. She was getting tired, and I needed the company by then. She mentioned that the aid station must be coming up soon, and before we knew it we heard Kelly's whistle. The Penguin station was great! I can still see Toni's face light up and hear her say, "You're doing it, Linda; you're doing it!"
They gave Dorothy and I the push we needed at that point. Less than two miles to go. We ran and walked as needed, but planned to make sure we were running as we rounded that last 500 m. Dorothy was saying, "As soon as I see the finish line. . ." We turned a corner and the person pointing the way said, "just one more curve." We picked it up, around that curve someone called out, "Just 300 m. more!" That was it! I gave it all I had. There were tons of people and Penguins yelling on both sides of the finish line (even for us slower waddlers) I burned it in! My tail feathers and tassels were smokin'! 2:42:40, YES! I couldn't believe it! Back on those first couple of miles, I was just hoping to make it in 3 hrs. Even on my best training runs, I had only dared to hope for 2:45. 2:42:40!
But, you know what made it all soooooooooo sweet???? The Penguin, himself, was waiting at the end of the chute! He, Karen, and some of the others hung in there 'til every last Penguin waddled in. There were birds all over the place, offering congratulations and directions. I will never forget what it felt like at that moment to be a part of this flock!
Harriet came in soon after with a smile, holding the U.S and Canadian flags waving in the breeze!
Not too long after we came in, Ken M. finished his full marathon with the biggest smile I've ever seen at a finish line after running a whole marathon. He qualified for Boston.
The party at the park afterwards included free hamburgers (Dorothy and I had been starving the last couple of miles!), music, and free massages (YES!). I made back to the bus, along with a couple of other runners. The driver opened the door and we said in chorus, "Oh no! Stairs," then we laughed as we forced our tired legs up the steps and planned on resting our bodies for a while before the banquet. . .
Linda
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