Closing the Books on '07

I did a final 3 miles this am-it was brutally hot as I left it too late but I did get it done. Happy New Year to all.

Not sure how many miles I logged this year as I only started using the Polar mid-year and I don't have my pre-Pedometer manual logs at hand. I'm guessing it was close to 1,000 miles although that may be too many to the extent some winter runs were replaced by the elliptical last winter. Either way, it was an injury free successful year with two 10K races, a ten miler and my first half at just over two hours. Not sure I can top that in 2008!

Finishing 2007 with a Flurry

Another 4 miles today. I'm really racking up the miles even though there isn't a race on the horizon. Got to work off all the dessert and beer.

A shorter one

Just 3.5 or so this morning. Wasn't feeling all that energetic.

Another 10K

We went running at sunrise. I only had planned on three or four miles but decided midway to extend it to a 10K and get that distance over with, especially as one of my fellow runners wanted to go a longer distance. She probably would have gone for a ten miler had that been my plan. A week away from the office and I've logged over 25 miles plus walked another five or so. Not sure it makes up for all the extra food and drink...

Another Four

I wasn't planning to run at all but Mrs. MM insisted that we go so I got in another four. Oddly it seems that the more I go the better the heel is. I'm going at a slow pace though.

Merry Christmas to all my fellow runners, bloggers and readers!

Five more big ones

I only intended to go three miles, if I went at all, but a friend wanted to get in a longer run so we went for five miles as a slow pace. The heel still feels OK.

Of course when offered the remaining third of a Belgian chocolate milkshake as we strolled back to the start point, I partook in the treat.

10K in the Rain

It wasn't pretty but the foot/heel held up and I got it done in over an hour. Now some ice and then some rest.

Dry Footing

Four miles on a flat dry surface in 41.21. Much more enojoyable than time on the treadmill on Tuesday. Plus my 33 year old nephew could not keep up with me. ;)

It's Still Falling

Notice the increased depth of the snow on the table compared to this morning.

Pilgrimage in the Snow to Mecca

Well, not the real Mecca of course, but the one that is closer, as in Pusateris. I guess my hunter gatherer instincts kicked in, although I hunted nothing and gathered sushi and Seattle's Best Coffee. It's quite beautiful out if you don't try to drive in it, but the snow is coming down very heavily. I have already shovelled the walk three times since I got up. But forget about the driveway-bad idea plus I have a date with both the Raptors who are playing the Celtics plus the undefeated New England Patriots. Life is good.

Defeated by the Storm!

So I thought I'd see what it would be like to run down the middle of deserted snow packed streets. Why? Because I saw some nut run by our house before 8am. So around 9am I dug myself out a bit. Then I made the attempt at the normal Sunday run. I didn't get further than a block, as heading east the wind was just too strong with ice pellets getting in my eyes. Not that the footing was that great. At least I had the belated good sense to up and instead I did some time on the elliptical. I may try again as a walk just so I top up on some food.

If this were Montreal in the '70's I'd be confident that everything would be cleaned up by tomorrow morning but I have no such confidence about tomorrow here in Toronto in the '00's.

Siberia Here I Come

It's minus 13 and feels like minus 20 with the wind chill. I better wear many many layers including a balaclava, two layers of gloves/mitts and a face warmer to filter the Arctic air.

I like a challenge.

UPDATE: 3+ miles at a sub 10 minute pace. Really not unpleasant at all, as the wind wasn't strong in most directions, and I was warmly dressed.

Holy Midday 10K!

I wasn't sure I would even get in a run today and felt sluggish as I ventured outside. At first I thought I'd run in the core. Then I thought I'd run to Carrot Common along the Danforth and TTC back to work. But as I got into the run I decided to run through the unexpectedly hilly Riverdale residential area over to Pape and Danforth and then back to work. 10K on the dot. I wasn't prepared for a long run but it was a good opportunity to take in the glorious sunshine and make some Vitamin D.

As I ran over over the Don River Valley, I couldn't help lament how what should be a natural wonder of the local landscape has become an ugly expressway (that is never express anyway). At least running allows the runner to reconnect to the local surroundings, among its other benefits. I also stopped into Jet Fuel on Parliament on the way back with the intent of buying some coffee beans. Alas they sell only espresso beans and we don't have an espresso maker. That gives me an idea for what to suggest when I'm asked what I'd like for my next birthday....

Jose Calderon has a Blog!

Yes, it's true and you can see it here. Maybe he'll be at the "meet and greet" before the game tonight and, if so, I'll try to take a photo.

Too bad he has no blog entry on the game last night including dislocating a finger but having the trainer pop it back in so he could continue playing.

Three in a Row

Another 3.3 miles to Starbucks. Pretty slow today-must have been the popcorn and peanut M&M's at the movie last night...

Picking it up a bit

This morning was a group run to the coffee shop. I picked up my pace to close to a nine minute mile and other than some soreness in the legs from yesterday, it was pretty easy. We'll see about tomorrow.

Weekday Am 10K

Since my running mates have scrapped any long runs I find myself doing a long one on my own on the weekend or going with them part way and essentially doing a second lap. Today I was up before 6 so I thought I'd see what it was like to get in a 10K early in the morning. I was slow but it was quite easy. At one point it started to flurry and it was quite beautiful. The only hazard-and it's a real one-is the fact that there are various spots on the sidewalk where homeowners neglected to shovel. These areas now have completely iced over.

I'll probably go both days on the weekend as well, but just three or four miles each day. It feels good to have the 10K done!

Winter is OK!

So today after a busy period in the work day I went for a run in the late afternoon. It was crisp and gorgeous even if a bit cold and I felt connected to my environment as well as a bit virtuous. I did about 3 miles in about 30 minutes and part of the fun was running naked (as in no HR monitor, pedometer or watch). I think that the transition to winter is now over and I will be fine with the winter running.

Cabbagetown was alive with walkers and people drinking beer inside pubs. One young guy with piercings said: "Hey jogger, I don't suppose you have a smoke." Indeed not, but I'm heading home soon for some latkes.

Snow Day!

There is a drift in front of our front door so running is out of the question-maybe some cross country skiing in the city before the plows come? I wish I hadn't gotten myself up in time for an 8:15 meet up, as the forecasts here are often overblown, but this time they were right.

Meanwhile as I finish this entry a jogger is running by in the middle of the road-it is possible to head out then-but in my view it's not worth the risk of a slip and fall.

UPDATE: We're going to go for fun at 9:30. We plan to run down the middle of the road if it appears safe to do so!

Report: A slow 2.3 miles-the snow was beautiful and muffled all of the sounds-it wasn't too cold or windy. The footing wasn't slippery but at times he snow was deep suck that it was difficult to find an easy stride. As a result, 2.22 miles in 25.57. That's an 11:45 pace due to the footing, but it was a hard workout as well as enjoyable.

Winter Maintenance

I ventured out early to get in 10K. It wasn't terrible footing like last weekend but much colder and very windy, especially when heading north. (Cold as in -11 or -20 with the wind chill!)

I had no time for breakfast before I ran so I started to feel more tired than normal at around the 8K mark, but returned home to a protein shake with extra yogurt, mangoes and almond butter.

I'm wondering why my ancestors chose to cross the ocean and settle this far north. It's not even that cold yet, but this year I'm fighting the transition and finding it a real challenge. Mind you, in prior years I wasn't doing a 10K distance as a recreational run on the weekends.

As you'll see in the comments for the prior entry, I'm getting competing advice regarding whether to attempt a full marathon in 2008. One school of thought is to get it "off my list" as a life event and the time doesn't matter. Another is to enjoy racing for a year, at various distances up to a half marathon, and become more experienced in that environment while also gradually improving my times. No clue what to do yet although the San Francisco marathon on the August long weekend looks like a good one if I opted to go for it.

Another issue has come up in terms of the actual training. Some people peak at 20-24 miles while others go for the full marathon distance (perhaps plus an extra mile) albeit at a slow pace. The latter appeals to me psychologically as I did feel good about the half knowing I had run the distance plus an extra mile. But I'm worried that in the case of the full that route would be too hard on the body. I suppose it's a premature concern at this point.

Iceland, Alaska, London.... or Misissauga?

Seems that the Mississauga Marathon is the subject of good reviews. It takes place earlier in May than Ottawa, so hot weather is unlikely, plus it is a point to point course and not a loop. And it's cheap as no travel or hotels are involved. The downside is that there will be heavy training when it is still cold and/or messy. So I'm not sure. In fact I'm not at all sure that I want to even take on a full marathon but Trainer Man thinks I need to do one. We shall see. It's less than six months away.

I've Been Tagged!

Sonia has tagged me to share 5 facts about myself on my blog, some random, some weird.

The Rules of the game: Link to your tagger, and post these rules on your blog. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.Tag 5 people at the end of your post by their names and links to their blogs. Let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog.

I won't tag anyone that Sonia tagged even if I read their blogs.

FACT 1: I didn't know what a blog was until the summer last year, when I started to read blogs and eventually leave comments. I started with political blogs as I've always been interested in politics. I still find political blogs interesting and like the comments sections but running blogs are better for my blood pressure.

FACT 2: I grew up in Montreal but left at 17 to go away to school, then came to Toronto for law school. I've been here in TO ever since.

FACT 3: Like Ronald Reagan, I do not die my hair!

FACT 4: My pet peeve is that in Ontario on 400 series highways drivers do not sue the left hand lane only as a passing lane and instead feel it is their right to drive as far left as they please. This phenomenon causes faster drivers to slalom in an out of lanes to move ahead.

FACT 5: I have run about 4 miles 5 times per week ever since I joined a cardiac rehab program in August of 2000.

I'm going to tag:

1. sooey, whose non-running blog I check regularly. Wish her luck in doing the Ottawa half marathon next May!

2. marie, who has a great weight loss maintenance blog that also reports on her exercise.

3. Dave's Toronto Runner blog. Lots of great local running routes.

4. Love This City's blog about Toronto.

5. Sheena who has an eclectic blog-I especially enjoy the foodie items!

6. Dr. Dawg who has a terrific blog with lengthy well reasoned pieces that contain lots of meaty sources.

Yes, I realize that's six, but Sonia also did 6!)

I Don't Want to go Outside!

It's too cold and windy and there's still a lot of muck on the ground. I will force myself to go though but not sure about a full 10K.

UPDATE: 10K with no difficulty other than terrible footing. Why do people not shovel the sidewalks on their property as required by law?! Otherwise I got used to the cold and the wind wasn't an issue. Bonus: the bags of leaves were picked up by the time I returned home-municipal employees having to work on a Saturday?

FURTHER UPDATE: What's the point of a good run when followed by a Rider fan party with beer, chips, chocolate almonds, etc.?

I'm Insane

Who would go for a run in the dark after a one hour trainer supervised leg workout earlier today?!

That's what happens when Da Boyz say the run will be followed by going for a beer. Incentive!

Meanwhile, how can anyone be a Toronto hater? If you have views on point, weigh in at Marky Mark Junior's blog that's up and running as part of a school project.

UPDATE: 3.25 miles in 35 slow minutes (who can see well enough in the dark to run fast?) plus a pint of Steam Whistle!

Listening to the Body

So the morning started with some pain in my left foot but I still felt the impulse to get in some miles. Bad idea. Instead I went on the elliptical for 30 minutes plus cool down and that felt a lot better. A bit of obsessional behaviour is good in terms of maintaining the running habit but it is important to back off when dealing with an injury.

Ah Oh

My legs are sore. If I'm not active for a couple of hours it actually is hard to walk. I feel some Achilles and heel pain as well. Wondering if I can blame my statin which I continue to take at half of the lowest dose because or (or perhaps despite?) having recorded seven times normal readings of CK due to a previous statin I was on, also at a low dose. Which leads to the question: should I have my CK levels checked? One view is not to do so. But the actual advice to me is to have them checked but only when NOT exercising, which for me, in reality, is never. So I have to not run or do any workouts for a good three or four days before doing routine blood work.

In any event, are my current complaints due to all the running I've done to gear up for the half marathon I did on September 30th and the continued training with one 10K each weekend?

I'd prefer to blame the meds. Meanwhile I'm treating myself to a pre-dinner single malt while watching football. Feels better.

New Route

Seems we're about to try out a new 6K route to and through the Belt Line but again finishing up at a recaffeination joint. Sunny but much too cold for running-it seems to be taking longer for me to adjust to the cold weather this year-and it's not even winter yet.

Staying Disciplined But Slow

After a night with some unpleasant nightmares (one involved a missing child and the other involved a sick parent-I also couldn't get the new Enrique Iglesias tune out of my head), I got up at 6:30 to see if Da Boyz had agreed to do a 10K. It wasn't clear at that point so I went back to bed and managed to sleep in to 8:15 for the first time in eons. At that point everyone had bailed on a 10K so I decided to just do the shorter circuit with those who were going. It was colllldddddd.

Mid-run I peeled off on my own to get in the extra distance including some track work. It was different to do some laps with dogs nipping at my heels, but I was glad to get it done.

I also learned that my pedometer isn't completely accurate. It seems to overstate how much I run by about 2.5% but the variance seems to depend on how fast I am going. I noticed that during the half as well.

Anyway, I did 6.4 miles according to the watch and figure that really was more like 6.21, equivalent to a 10K. 1:02:52. Not my fastest by several minutes but that's not the point, is it?

Post-run I zipped down to the Cheese Boutique and got several yummy cheeses. I figure I need the extra fat to deal with minus 5 tonight! (You know who was singing his latest both on EZRock and CHFI...)

Speaking of a 10K, here is a site with a program to improve one's 10K time.

The Joy of Beating the Rain

Up well before 7 to hit the road around that time and get in three before the rains came. It was warmer than I thought and we were all overdressed. But it's done.

Meanwhile, is it worth running in the rain? Check this out.

No wonder I didn't take physics after Grade 10....

On the other hand, there are indeed reasons to hit the road in the rain.

Diametrically Opposing Views in the Ethnic Press

I know, this is now really a running blog, so why a post that is off topic? Well, today I ran on my own, which meant I spent 30 odd minutes deep in thought. My mind went over two pieces I read in the last week. Tenuous I know, but here goes.

First, I came across this opinion piece written by Greg Felton who is a columnist for the Canadian Arab News (but the link is from his own site). In an attack against Remembrance Day he makes the following statement:

zionist Jews collaborated with the Nazis to rid Europe of its Jewish population, and these same Jews created Israel.

Oh my. So six million innocent civilians targeted for extermination are dead not due to the war crimes of the Nazis but due to alleged collaboration by "zionists [sic]." You'd think a statement like that would be backed up with some old fashioned evidence, but I digress. It's hard to get beyond such a calumny, but the real substantive point of the piece appears to be the idea that a casualty of Zionism was the dispossession by Israel of lands that rightfully belonged to indigenous Palestinian Arabs.

A more reasonable point to be sure, even if it is one on which reasonable people can differ from a number of different perspectives.

At the same time I read this news item from the Canadian Jewish News, which reports on the fact that the Arab League in committee formulated a policy to dispossess indigenous local Jews of their rights.

Justice For Jews From Arab Countries (JJAC) revealed last week that the political committee of the Arab League proposed a draft law to govern the status of Jewish residents. Under the law – which JJAC says was approved by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, and later implemented by other nations – Jews would be considered “members of the Jewish minority of the state of Palestine” and have their bank accounts frozen and used to finance “resistance to Zionist ambitions in Palestine… Jews believe to be active Zionists would be interned as political prisoners and their assets confiscated.”

JJAC “found a paper trail that showed the displacement of up to one million Jews in Arab countries did not occur by happenstance,” said Stanley Urman, executive director of JJAC. “It was state organized, state collusion led by the Arab League as a weapon in their struggle against the State of Israel.”

Winnipeg lawyer David Matas, chair of JJAC’s legal advisory committee, said force, threats of force and other means of duress were implemented by host Arab nations against indigenous Jews. The deportations and forcible displacements should be considered crimes against humanity under customary international law at the time.

Note that the news item discloses that the information indeed is sourced from an advocacy group.

It's interesting to me that when people discuss the tragedy of the refugees from the Middle Eastern conflict, most people are unaware that that phenomenon occurred on both sides and is not confined to one side. Equally notable is the fact that at virtually the same time as Palestine was partitioned to make room for a Jewish homeland, India was partitioned to create a predominantly Muslim Pakistan out of the subcontinent. Countless people became refugees and migrated across the new border. Yet decades later this event seems completely forgotten as well.

My run did not solve the problems of the World, but it did give me a chance to mull over the radically different perspectives that exist not only in other parts of the World but in our communities right here at home.

One idea (that there are two sets of refugees) strikes me as legitimate. The other idea (that a subset of Jews-Zionists-are responsible for the Holocaust) strikes me as not only ridiculous from a factual point of view but beyond the pale and not fit for print.

Starting the Week off with Three

I had no intention of running this morning. It was cold, dark and raining and I wanted to get into work early. But it seemed like getting a run in would be a "bonus" so I went for it. Yesterday I had no energy but today I enjoyed the route and felt like I could have done a ten miler in terms of my energy level.

The variable can't be the Indian food, as I picked up Indian again last night just so everyone could get in on the fun. Check out the reviews of Amaya on Bayview. There is an "express" take out place with a few tables, which is where you go for take out, but there is also a fancy dining room across the street that we will save for another time.

Last night's fare: mulligatawny soup (light on cream), basmati rice and garlic naan, butter chicken, lamb curry, spinach paneer and a pea and potato dish. Spectacular but it made me drink tons of water-so much so in fact that I weigh a few pounds more than a few days ago even though I've logged 11 miles in that same span!

OK, OK-the real reason for the early run in the rain was to try out the new gear-the extra motivation needed during this time of year-a spiffy technical jacket with a water bottle holder built in, reflective material and an IPod holder (but I don't have an IPod yet) that is overall very well made and good to run in. I got it in black. Hey, whatever it takes to stay motivated!

Beautiful Morning

Three more in the cold. The coffee at the end felt great! I didn't have much energy during the run though, probably because I got up only a bit beforehand and didn't have time to have anything to eat or drink. Either that or partaking in Indian food for dinner the night before is a bad idea (although delicious).

Another Way to Train for a Marathon

This account of a 1996 Everest climb is gripping. But buried in the story is this tangential reference to one of the climber's marathon training regimen:

Each summer, he would run a marathon to gauge his physical preparedness for the climbing season. He wouldn't train in the conventional manner by putting in a series of progressively longer runs; as a cardiologist, he didn't have the time. Instead, he would maintain a regular fitness regime and then just show up on race day. In Ottawa, he once ran marathons on two consecutive days to prove to himself he could push beyond the red line in an emergency.

Since he's my cardiologist I'll have to ask him if I'd be OK running marathons on consecutive days with limited training. Some how I think not! But it does lead one to question which training regimen is optimal.

Brrrrrrrr

None of Da Boyz wanted to run or was free so I made myself get out of bed and did 6.5 miles on my own. I ran to and through the Belt Line and then the Mount Pleasant Cemetery (where I stopped and took the photo being displayed here). I then had intended to go through the Moore Park Ravine but imagined it was still quite muddy from a week of rain, so instead ran on residential streets in Moore Park and over the train tracks into Rosedale, down Glen Road and finishing at Bloor and Sherbourne. I thought of continuing on to the Danforth and the Big Carrot, but hadn't brought along my VISA, so no point! Instead I strolled to the TTC at Yonge and Bloor and took the train back home. Glad to get it done. Now a weekend of work beckons.

As I ran through the cemetery I overheard three ladies talking about their regimen with the gist of the conversation being that they had worked so hard all summer to get to a certain level and that it would be a shame to lose it all. Very true. And motivating given the dramatic fall off in the number of runners as compared to a summer weekend morning.

But I'm still struggling with the transition. It was hard to get moving. I opened the door without a hat or gloves but came back inside for both, only to feel a bit too warm as the run progressed. And I didn't bring along any water or Gatorade. Probably a bad idea. And now I'm re-hydrating with coffee instead of water. Me bad. Tomorrow I'll do the three mile jog with some of Da Boyz to Starbucks as others gallivant in NYC or nurse their injuries. Me bitter? Not at all. Lucky me as tonight we're going not to the Leafs game but to the ballet. At least it's West Side Story-could be good.

Transition Time

I suspect I feel like other runners who build up a routine only to have to change it-with great reluctance-at this time of year. The daylight hours diminish and not all of us like to run in the dark. I like to run first thing in the morning and find it too difficult to drag myself out of bed in the cold and dark. What I'm trying to do this year is do two runs on the weekend-one 10K and one three miler with the neighbourhood running buds to Starbucks. During the week I will do two other three milers around a workout at the gym. That way I have three days off, the weekend runs aren't too early and the two weekday runs also aren't first thing. The challenge of course is the time needed to be committed for the weekday exercise given a busy workday. Sometimes I wonder if the stress associated with fitting it in is worth it-it's not so easy to take close to two hours out of a busy workday (and some days it simply is a non starter)!

Mind you, there are some who do manage to run in the dark. I'm just not one of them. For one thing, I don't see that well and risk falling over a curb.

We'll see how it goes today with a midday run and workout.

Week off from Heavy Running!

I used to run close to four miles five times a week. That regimen changed when training for a 10K, then a 10 miler and ultimately the half. The new regimen was two short runs of three or so miles and one long one on the weekend, although I sometimes added another short run on the weekend when the long one was on a Saturday. The old regimen had me take a full week off every three months and under the new program I'd yet to take any time off, even after the big race. So this past week (for historical reasons a week for me starts on Wednesday and ends on the next Tuesday) I ran three miles on Thursday, saw the trainer twice and I did a half hour on an elliptical in a hotel gym. I also did some yoga and had a sports massage. That's a decent week for some sedentary people but a week off for me. That also explains my lack of posts in the last week or so.

Travel can be quite tiring and demanding. It's a pain to bring the workout gear in a carry on but even a short workout can ease the demands on the body that come with travel. Note that when a tropical storm wreaks havoc on flight plans, it's really a pain!

As in...my 8:30pm Saturday flight out of Logan to YUL was cancelled and I was moved to 6:30am the next day. That flight was then cancelled without any notice, causing some passengers to get up at 4 to make the cancelled flight, only to sit at Logan until 9 at night in the hopes of making the last flight. At least I tried to print my boarding pass before setting my alarm and learned that my 6:30am flight had been postponed to 8:30pm due to lack of any planes. At that point I had no need to go to Montreal and, after an hour on hold, asked if I could go straight to Toronto. Otherwise I wouldn't land at YYZ before 12:30am. No was the response. I tried again in the morning-after an hour on hold I hung up and pressed the button for a NEW reservation instead of changing an EXISTING reservation and-voila-instant customer service. At that point I was told I could indeed go directly home at 4:50pm. Hooray! But a lie. In arriving at Logan I learned that I had given up my seat on the later flights connecting through Montreal and while I was confirmed on the earlier direct flight to YYZ, that reservation was WITHOUT any confirmed seat. That meant two things: 1. to exit the gate area and get something to eat meant going through a full body and bag search as the boarding pass had a standby passenger code on it (with thanks to Osama bin Laden); and 2. if I didn't get onto the 4:50 flight I was staying in Boston not just one extra night but two. Unbelievable. All the big monopolistic carrier had to do was send a bigger jet to accommodate the backlog but instead it relied on its smaller regional 50 seater jets. Did they care about dozens of stranded passengers from the day before? Not that I could tell, and I note that other airlines with bigger jets hadn't cancelled all of their flights the day before either.

In any event I did get seated at the last minute on the direct flight home. The complaint e-mails have now gone in and now it's back to regular life, including a very busy period at work.

So from a running perspective, that means I think that I'll stick to the new program including a long run on the weekend, but it won't go above seven or eight miles in the absence of another race being scheduled. Maintenance is good!

Slow Three Miles

I had nothing this morning and averaged over ten minutes per mile for three miles. I'm going to blame last night's dinner for the lethargic feeling including I'm not sure how much Barolo wine. Although nobody exactly forced me to have the following for dinner (plus two pieces of bruschetta and the wine):

PINOCCHIO'S SPECIAL DINNER


FIRST COURSE - CANNELLONI A LA PINOCCHIO [spectacular]

SECOND COURSE - SHRIMP FRANÇAISE WITH A MIXED MUSHROOM RISOTTO [excellent but starting to get full]

LEMON SORBET [nice break]

MAIN COURSE - VEAL PINOCCHIO WITH ROASTED POTATOES & FRESH VEGETABLES [delicious but no longer hungry]

DESSERT - CHOICE OF TIRAMISU OR CHOCOLATE MOUSSE [my choice] OR SPUMONE ICE CREAM [should have skipped it, although delicious, but was included]

Seven Mile Belt Line Loop

I missed the 7:30am start time with Da Boyz so was on my own after 9am. This week's long run was seven miles, a mere half of my longest effort while training for the half. But I felt quite lethargic and averaged more than 10 minutes per mile on a wet and dreary day. Weather is an issue this time of year-it started off cold but I ended up overdressed and hot-shorts and a running shirt would have been a better choice than the pants and jacket that I had chosen. I ended up having to tie the jacket around my waist.

AS a reward tonight we're going to a restaurant that was a pricey favourite in our school days, Pinocchio's in the west end. The chef there was also the source of a juiced up Kraft dinner recipe that appeared in the Toronto Star a very long time ago. I'm going to print off a copy and see if they will make it tonight for us (but that would mean having Kraft dinner on hand, which would be strange indeed).

Wilket Creek

I did a nice three miler today in Wilket Creek park while waiting for an oil change to be done. Amazing colours and lots of falling leaves. There were quite a few cyclists who appeared to be commuting to the core via the Don trail network, but no near collisions.

I forgot my watch so I had no idea how far I went and that was actually a nice change. Must have been about three miles as I ran for about thirty minutes. On Sunday I played ball hockey for an hour after running 10K, and that was too much. But today I felt rested and ready to go.

I'll decide in the next very little while whether I'm going for a faster time in another half or a full in the spring.

What's Next?

I'm giving some thought to running Ottawa in the spring. The choice seems to be between a sub two hour half and going for the full with no focus on the time. Ottawa has good reviews and would be a great family weekend. It's actually embarrassing how few times I've been there and that we've never had a family trip to our capital. It's also close enough to Montreal that I might get some fan support from family there.

The only rub is that there would be meaningful training in the winter months and a long weekend run without access to the ravine and waterfront trails in TO would I think be much more arduous than what I experienced training for the half. (That's a long run on sentence, which seems appropriate when discussing a marathon.)

We shall see.

Big Hockey Summit on Sunday

The teams are set. The players are ready. The food has been ordered. The anthem singer has been booked. The smelly jerseys from last year have been laundered. A pair of nets has been stolen.

The weather will be perfect.

And Montreal will win again. Can their ageless (OK, aging) captain score a goal again this year?

Will any cars be dented, windows broken, teeth dislodged, Achilles tendons torn, egos bruised or child creating organs be damaged? I'm hoping the worst thing that can happen is chipping a tooth on a Toronto bagel.

Zoo Run Photos are now Up

The left ankle and heel area is still a bit sore. I took the day off today after 10K's on successive days. Tomorrow is an hour with Trainer Man and then we'll see about the rest of the week. I've been meaning to take a week off at some point anyway.

Photos from the zoo run are now online-I think I see myself in the crowd in the purple shell.

Some observations from running the waterfront half and about 4 miles of the Toronto half yesterday. First, I prefer a one way destination route to a loop. Second, Yonge Street is more intimate and has more crowds than Lakeshore. Third, the Queens Park finish seems more dramatic with a run up the grand boulevard that is University Avenue. Overall, I think the Toronto Marathon appeals to me more, even if the waterfront event is flatter and is more likely to have more favourable weather conditions. We'll see about next year. I did see several people do both this year. I probably could have done the same but opted for the zoo 10K instead.

So now I'm back on my own, as Da Boyz aren't planning on anything until perhaps the Sporting Life 10K next May. I will probably keep up my long runs on the weekend. Maybe I'll have to do 3 or 4 mile circuits doing one with them and the other on my own. It will become more difficult once the trail network ices over.

Ball Hockey Champioinship Warm Up

My intense preparations continue for the mother of all ball hockey tournaments, the Herzl Cup, to be played a week today. Yesterday was an intense 10K with many hills and difficult turns. Today I ran 2.5 miles with my buddies, then went over to Yonge Street to make sure that another Herzl Cup participant's preparations were also going well by way of his half marathon today. I paced him for a mile or so until he said we were going too slowly. Then I ran with my neighbours for a couple of miles. Before I knew it I had logged another 10K. What did that mean? Time to eat the rest of the Chinese buns.

When I first got up I thought that my sore Achilles and left plantar ruled out running, but once I warmed up I felt fine. Our common running coach was most proud of us both! But we'll see how we both perform at the big hockey shindig next Sunday.

Run for My Buns

The Zoo 10K was a difficult transition from summer running. It was cold and very windy. I wore a fleece top and a windbreaker and felt beforehand and at the start like I needed even more, including gloves. After I settled in to the run it was better and I tied the windbreaker around my waist. I took it pretty easy and finished in 58:20 which was basically the same as the Sporting Life 10K in May. This was a much harder run though as there were several hills and turns, whereas the earlier 10K was mostly downhill with almost no turns. I also thought it was a bit more than 10K but perhaps I ran on the outside part of the time so did in fact do slightly more. In any event the stats show me at basically the median for my age group and I think by that measure it was my best race. Odd.

This run ends my 2007 race running season. It was lots of fun and very successful. I'll continue training throughout the fall and winter but haven't yet picked another goal.

After the race we went for dim sum and Dr. Ken made a godly mess of the table. Then I bought a half dozen Chinese buns that will beckon all afternoon.
The route was nuts! Check out all the curves and the changes in elevation.

Ball Hockey Tournament

Only eight more sleeps until the annual Herzl Cup ball hockey tournament. This year I will as always be playing for Montreal. Not sure if I can pocket a goal again, like last year.

Running with the Lions

I'm doing the Toronto Zoo 10K tomorrow. It should be a lot of fun, even if the forecast is for strong winds and a chill in the air. That just means I'll expend more calories so can eat more after.

Forecast for tomorrow: Cloudy. 40 percent chance of showers. Wind becoming west 40 km/h gusting to 60 in the morning then northwest 20 in the evening. High 15. (Morning low will be 5.)

Ban the Marathon?!

Someone thinks that's a good idea-check out the blog entries here for october 9th and 11th. I look forward to an educated counterargument. Any takers?

Meanwhile a 10K this Staurday (at the Toronto Zoo) seems not to be controversial at all.

Backing Off a Bit

After yesterday's very pleasant canoe/kayak trip south along the Humber and back, which was a bit of an upper body workout, I had planned to take off today. But the big dinner last night made me think that a short run this morning would be a good idea. I went slower than yesterday doing three miles in 28:41. My slow pace is still faster than what used to be my fast pace. I'm feeling some soreness in my legs so will probably take off a couple of days now.

It was really quite hot this morning and actually for October it was hot in a freaky scary kind of way. I've never run shirtless this time of year but today was an exception.

As far as the Humber goes, it was enjoyable to see it from the river itself rather than from the pedestrian path along the east bank. We went almost as far south ss Lake Ontario before turning back. Another option offered by the outfitters is a one way trip which ends up on Lake Ontario with an over land shuttle back to the parking lot at the Old Mill TTC station.

Speed Demon

We were meant to do a gentle three miles to Starbucks with one of us having to push a running stroller. After one mile I started to feel it and I did 3.5 miles in a pace that was under 9 minutes per mile. That was a first for me as far as I can remember. Let's hope the Achilles doesn't start to feel it too. Now off to paddle the Humber in a group, en famille, under the threat of rain, followed by a big din din. Who cares about a little rain.

Da Boys

So this all started with the boys helping me with my rehab. My initial "prescription" was to walk four miles in 60 minutes five times per week. gradually running was introduced. They figured there was no way it would be hard to keep up with a cardiac cripple. But there is some suffering on these faces I think... ;)

Meanwhile today was a gentle 6 miles in a little under an hour for two of us, with the one who suffers most a bit behind and the full marathoner having a well deserved weekend away. Tomorrow the three of us will just do an easy three miler to Starbucks with one of us bringing "the boy" in his stroller. Unless it rains, in which case I'm staying in bed.

Kudos to the full marathoner among us!

Race Photos Are Ready

Thanks to Yumke for letting me know that the professional race photos actually are available for purchase. Here is the big finish!

Just a six miler planned for this weekend with the boys as preparation for next Saturday's 10K, plus a family canoe trip down the Humber this weekend in a group. Should be spectacular!

The two events combined should build up a good appetite for some turkey. And maybe some dessert as well.

More photos are possible once loaded onto the site of the race organizers.

Running and Heart Health-Toronto Marathon Symposium

There is a medical symposium at the upcoming Toronto Marathon titled "Running and Heart Health." It looks very interesting and I'm going to try to check it out as part of my eventual assessment of whether to take on a full marathon at some point. Except it may not be open to lay people (plus I'm doing the Toronto Zoo 10K earlier that day so timing would be tight). In any event:

Topics:


Endurance Events Medical Coverage, Risks and Rewards - Dr. Chris Woollam
Sudden Cardiac Death in Endurance Events - TBD
Distance Running and the Heart: How Much Is Too Much? - Dr. Jack Goodman
Fluid Replacement in Race Conditions - Dr. Lawrence Spriet
The Heart of the Matter: Cardiovascular Health, Depression and Exercise - Dr. Kate Hays

Hazards of a Lunch Run Downtown

Free samples of bad food! They are still on my desk-it's too early to undo the benefits of a gentle three miler, an occasion to end up at the City Hall farmer's market.

It was an odd route. I ran from the gym to Queen Street West. Then I shopped at Nearly Naked. I didn't have my VISA card with me so I paid cash. I'm hoping I didn't drip sweat everywhere. Then I ran back, stopping for an outdoor lunch of grilled chicken, a mashed potato pancake thingie, salad and rice.

I know, I know-I'm a strange one.

UPDATE: I finally ate them both.

Upcoming PBS Show

Stay tuned for a PBS show on October 30th chronicling the challenge of 13 out of shape people being trained over a period of nine months to run the Boston Marathon.

As marathon day approaches, the forecast calls for pelting rain, gale force winds, and the possibility of snow, conditions that daunt even experienced marathon runners. On the day itself—April 16, 2007—those who have made it through training arrive at the tail end of the storm in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, sheathed in ponchos with dry shoes in plastic bags. Then at 10:30 a.m. the starting gun fires and they join 20,000 other runners for the epic race to Boston—a journey that few on Team NOVA ever dreamed possible.

Sounds like something not to be missed.

I'm feeling the temptation starting to build.

What's Next?

I suspect that veteran runners will understand this: I had a goal for six months and now that that goal has been achieved I'm feeling a bit of a let down. I'm going to do the Zoo 10K in a couple of weeks and also support a friend doing his first half at the Toronto Marathon the next day. I'm looking forward to that weekend. Beyond that I'm not sure whether to think about picking another half as part of a destination weekend (e.g., Memphis on December 1st) or call it a season and think later about something next spring or fall.

I've enjoyed this effort immensely. My neighbourhood running pals and I had some great long runs in areas of TO that most people don't take advantage of, like the Humber, and some great post-run breakfasts as well! But they'd like to return to a routine of an easy gentle weekend run to a coffee place, kids and strollers included. Not sure that's enough of a challenge for me anymore.

The training also helped me get through a gruelling summer when my mother was in the hospital in another city recuperating from a botched investigative procedure. During my weekend visits I'd be the first visitor of the day by running to the hospital and occasionally ending up there after one of the long training ones. Thankfully that health crisis has passed, but the experience did teach me that having a healthy habit is helpful in times of crisis. So I'd like to keep the habit to some extent.

I'm inclined to keep my conditioning by maintaining the routine of one long run on the weekend (say, 8 miles or so) and then think about either another half in the spring or perhaps a full one if I think the training will be an enjoyable as what I went through for the half.