If we could take the time to lay it on the line

My new housemate has a new blog, check it out The first post is due out any time…

CIS XC was everything I expected and more.  The Guelph Gryphons put on dominant performances in both the women’s and men’s races.  On top of that Kelly Wiebe won the men’s race by crushing Guy Shultz’s 1997 course record which Ryan McKenzie, Eric Gillis, Jamie Epp and I all had a shot at 10 years ago.  Yes, 10 years ago I raced CIS XC on that very same course, that made me feel really old.

Next Monday (19th) I head to Japan for the Chiba Ekiden.  The Chiba Ekiden is a 42.2km race split up into 6 sections (5km, 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km, 7.2km) alternating guy/girl each leg.  There will be about 16 teams or so from different countries.  Except the Japanese will have three teams, their national team, University team and local team.  The local team is good but as a country you don’t want to lose to a bunch of locals.  The Canadian team consists of Rob Watson, Geoff Martinson, Alex Genest, Krista Duchene, Lanni Marchant, Tara Korir, Rachel Hannah and myself.

But my Asian adventure doesn’t end in Chiba.  After Chiba I’ll head to the Fukuoka marathon, site of Jerome Drayton’s 1975 Canadian marathon record. I will be pacing a ‘B’ group in the marathon.  Luckily I got my name into the race before they cancelled NYC, otherwise they would have been out of hotel rooms.  It sounds like a few elites who were planning on racing NYC are heading to Fukuoka.  Simon Bairu, Tim Nelson, Brent Vaughn and 2:10:55 man Scott Overall are all racing.

Two weeks after Fukuoka I’m going to race the Zhuhai half marathon.  Zhuhai is in China right beside Macau.  Most people I mention this to have never heard of Zhuhai or the race but from last year’s results it looks like a great race for me to be in.  All in all I will be in Asia for one month.

My moustache is finally starting to take shape. By the end of the month I think it should have a pretty solid presence in Japan. http://mobro.co/reidcoolsaet