5.5K More in the Rain

We went too late just as it started to drizzle, and then through steady rain. 37 minutes and that was it. It will rain all week with a possible mega storm disaster tomorrow night into Wednesday. A little worried...

5K in the Rain

Since last Sunday's long run which ended up being 15K I had a vigorous game of ball hockey, two intense hour long personal training sessions and two hours of yoga, with one being a bit vigorous. I hadn't run since Sunday so even though it was raining I headed out today. It wasn't pouring, but by the end my shoes were wet to the point that so were my socks, so a long run might have been a blister event. But with a jacket and a hat it really wasn't that bad. Two weeks until another half we're meant to run, the inaugural Downsview Half Marathon, so I'd like to do another long run tomorrow to feel better prepared.

Exhausted!

Was a long steep climb out of the Don to Thorncliffe and Overlea.

Darn

Bridge over Don is blocked. Will somehow have to exit and figure something out.

The Glory of Fall

7K into long run.

Back on My Feet

Since the race I had two trainer led resistance sessions and a yoga class. The training included some leg work and Adam took pity on me as he too ran the race, although in his case it took him only 1:37. But he said his feet are sore. Today I did my first run-just a gentle 5K in 34+ minutes at a lowish HR. Back out there tomorrow if the weather permits.

Scotia Half Race Report

I realize that Sunday was my ninth half marathon.  Throw in a full, a 30K and a large assortment of other distances, and I’ve done a fair bit since 2007.    Sunday also was my slowest half.  What to make of that?  Well, I’m a bit older, a bit heavier and, most important, I didn’t do the training this time.   The longest I’ve gone in the last month was 12K in Montreal and before then it was the Midsummer Night’s Run 15K and the Toronto Ten Miler, both in August.  The GoodLife half in May was also one I didn’t really train for, but that was a bit faster.   But that’s not the point anyway.   It’s good to be able to do these events.

 

The prior few days I watched the forecast carefully and wondered if I’d bail, but I knew unless it was like a monsoon I wouldn’t.  One of my friends did bail on race morning, which was too bad as the rain  did let up right before the horn went off.    This year we started by heading north on University Avenue and around Queens Park to Wellesley Street East, north to Bloor and then west to St. George.  Even though it was uphill I found it more interesting that the old course.  Had the weather been better there might have been more spectators.  

 

We headed south through University of Toronto and then west along College where I passed Caplansky’s Deli-I’d traded tweets and Facebook messages with its owner suggesting he might be waiting for me with a hot knish, but that was only for fun, as I don’t think that would have been a good idea at that point into the race.   Once we headed south onto Bathurst there were quite a lot of spectators and I really enjoyed it.   We then headed west along the finish path for the Toronto 10K, Sporting Life 10K and GoodLife half but in this case it wasn’t the finish line at all as we still had the long out and back along Lakeshore West.  I found this part difficult as all the faster runners already were heading home plus it was somewhat bleak.   I continued to walk a minute every mile and didn’t feel like I was slowing down.  However perhaps at around the 16K or 17K mark the lack of training caught up with me and the walks increased a bit, slowing me down somewhat.  The last 1K north up Bay was unpleasant in that state but I was looking forward to being done!   As I approached my office building a volunteer from Toronto Rehab called out my name and that kept me going for a bit.  The finish had a ton of fans and that really was exciting.  Even more so was the women’s full finished sprinting by me to finish her full right before my eyes!

When I stopped I felt the fatigue but was glad I’d done it.  The finish chute was dangerously congested and it took a fair bit of time to exit as I began to shiver and get cranky.  But then I was out and met Mrs. MM who had arrived a few minutes before me.  Our friends were another 10 minutes away so I decided to head to my office to shower before the drive home.    Unfortunately I forget to take my dry clothes into the basement locker room and had to put my disgusting and wet stuff back on afterwards, but, hey, that’s the aging brain!  

 

Four more weeks until the Downsview half marathon!

Got it Done

It wasn't pretty and my slowest half of nine, but I did it which was an achievement with less than great training. Race report to follow.

Scotia Half

Waiting for the start. Rain has stopped but lots of puddles.

Worst Race Weather Forecast Ever

Today I did a gentle 5K to top off a week with yoga and two trainer sessions. My back and hip still are bugging me but less so. The Scotia half is tomorrow and I'm not prepared. Throw in rain and wind of 35K per hour with gusts up to 60K and I really am wavering. Will see!

5K More

Back to back for the first time in a good while. 35 minutes and now quite sore n the back and the legs. I think the personal training isn't working well with the running...

Four Miles in 45 Minutes

I wondered if I should go long but at this point it really is too late. Better to just go a few times this week. My back and hip aren't right although they're not as bad as last weekend. Boy it was chilly this morning at 5 degrees at the start. Would be fine for a race.

Yikes-Almost Two Weeks Off

I've kept up my personal training but I've had a bad back and hip and that meant no running. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to do a half next weekend. Maybe the inaugural Downsview half in November is a better bet at this point. I did 5K today despite the pain and took it easy in a glacial 35 minutes. At least I could do it. The other night I walked around the track with my new cardiac rehab mentee and I found I was sweating a lot and slowing him down. Maybe being in work clothes and shoes had some role in that. Anyway gald to get back out there today.