Vancouver and Back

The Spring Thing.

A great success it was not, neither a failure. I kinda felt like I took a magnificent beating in a biker bar, holding my head up all the while.

Vancouver was unique and special in that I has the pleasure to room with Colin Fewer. An outstanding Canadian athlete and individual. Saucony must be very proud of him.

Vancouver is, of course, breath taking (yes, I am envious) and the race weekend organized to a tee (or perhaps it's tea.) Either way, exciting and smooth.

A lot of energy, the Saucony reps were beaming. I was wondering if they were so busy and tired it's all they knew to do!

I found the course a bit tough as I had large traffic issues once the 1/2 marathoners were caught as well as the hills in the last 10 km.

To be treated as well as I was...I'm at a loss for words. OK, thrilling.

Officially, 13th in 2:41:19.

Thank you Saucony!
Thank you Bruce!

Put this one on the short list!

Over



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Metaphorically Speaking

It was one of "those" long runs. Too tired and too hurting, much too soon.
A quick glance over my shoulder and, what!





Big hills ahead, the vultures on my heels. I'm not even sure if I'm talking about the run any more.
Moving forwards, perhaps it's best not to be focused on what's behind!

Over

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One foot on a bananna peel

Ever feel like Rodney?  I've a longstanding habit of wanting tomorrow's gain today.  Both work and play.  I'd likely be served better enjoying the steps of today with faith they will lead to gains tomorrow.

Sweet Spot

Winter is indeed cruel.  My desire to improve ended in an over training scenario.  All I can say is you had to have been there.  Add weather and darkness.  Rather unfortunate.
Along with a rare glimpse of spring comes a sense of renewal.  We work through things the best we can yet it takes a first warm day to bring a sense of hope!  Truly the time to relax a little and take it in.
I don't golf much, perhaps you do?  Ever find you relax through the backstroke, smoothly swing through as if you're on a beach somewhere, only to watch the ball explode true and straight off beyond your most powerful swing?

Well Spring is nearly here and it's just about time to relax!  With a warm breeze feel the joy of flying in Spring.
Over.

The Other Side

Down Market st, past Alcatraz landing, fisherman's wharf. Up and over Golden Gate and through the hills of Sausalito. And back. Sun shine all the way, it doesn't get much better than that. The hills were so steep west of Golden Gate (as you can see) that hikers and "roadies" alike gave verbal encouragement to a runner disappearing up a long, steep grade. Only 12 miles to go now.
Beautiful scenery and good for the soul.
Taking full advantage of my lightweight Saucony jacket, I typically put ID and a credit card in the small zip pocket high right chest. I intend to quickly stop at 20 k for some electrolyte drink using the credit card for freedom. I was so pumped on this 38 k effort I didn't bother. 2:35 with no fluid may have been counter productive but I was soaring in paradise!






Over

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Baseline

It's true, every winter is different.  Well, other than the cold, the snow, the wind and the darkness.  Does it toughen you up or simply hinder your ability to run in the heat?  It's a question I've mulled over a bit.

I'll find out in January as I test these mile and weather beaten legs on a 1/2 in Florida.  Perhaps I should run in my winter gear on a treadmill first!

In the end, versatility is the name of the game.  My Saucony mitts keep the hands toasty and my headlamp lights the way (it also catches the attention of oncoming traffic otherwise occupied with their cell phone.)  I highly recommend the headlamp.

As for running on the contaminated sidewalks and roads...we boldly move on in persuit of running at a new level in 2011.  Maybe even a 50 miler to satisfy a growing curiosity.  Thanks for that Vince.

Keepinng warm keeping up.
Over.

NY NY

The NY Marathon has come and gone. I have but a few things to share.
I can't imagine a better race destination. After all is said and done I think Karen (personal fan support)  had as much fun as I did. Exploring boutique hotels (oh all of those stairs!!), unique restaurants, and big tourist opportunities. The American museum of natural history, Times Square, Little Italy to name just a few.
The race, not even close to a PR course, especially with headwinds but is the most exciting and supported course imaginable. Awesome.
Thanks Saucony. The Fastwitch are the BEST shoe 10k to full marathon. Light and comfortable the whole 26.2 and beyond.
The weather, well it's November in NY.
I managed to finish respectably without the knee getting worse and then enjoyed a few days with the one I love most.
Finding a hotel with no elevator after race...priceless!
Over.


Recognize anyone? The height of the weekend meeting Haile! Fastest man in history.

First glimpse of the hotel staircase.  Nice.

Lunch Meat for the Soul

Days to put things in perspective.  A few!  I've seen two dead armadillos roadside, and while it was tempting to offer that up as a metaphor for life on the run it wasn't really fitting for the week!  First time for everything!

And of time relaxing and recovering (both active and passive) I'm glad to have the Saucony AMP recovery tights.  A big leg up on the way to making it to the starting line.  Thanks guys!

Scotiabank 1/2 2010

Action Sports International
This is a link to a fun finish.  The Saucony fastwich felt really good, so much so that I'll be using them in the NYC marathon November 7.

True Challenge

If you can't laugh at this, I don't think there is much hope!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

So the saying goes.
Toronto Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon was a large success, to a point.
To run a solid 1/2 in prep for a marathon, a strong effort and good result to physically and mentally prime me for the event to come.  1:15:19 felt good, especially considering the volume of training and a there and  back course. 
Recovery, ah, not so good.  Eight days later and recovery is still in the works.  Am I alone in my loath for spinning?
I have renewed my commitment to cross-train (strength and cardio) once a week.  This time I mean it!! The idea being to injury proof myself and establish a baseline to make transition during an injury easier.
Now if only I can work through this and get back on the program I can relish momentum and make the most of whats to come.
Run hard.
Over.

A little cheesy, but who would have it any other way.
Just a quick shout out to all of those workouts that leave us feeling unfit, unprepared and overwhelmed. 
It only takes the next workout to feel strong and revitalized again.
Over and out.

Roll With It

So, how do you handle change? Do you depend on routine or thrive with life on the go? Flexibility is not only an asset but a requirement, as long as it doesn't drive you mad! I'm just trying to roll along, maybe you have helpful advice! I'd suggest Saucony Kinvera's for an awesome ride and great travel when packing for life on the go!

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More than making the most

Apparently there are lessons around every corner. If only I were a better listener! Awful is the word for recovering from an injury and struggling with another but (da da dum) time to make the most.
Instead of dwelling on the defeat of not being able to get in strong form there are other battles to be won.
Diet.
I said it and I don't mean the "see food" variety (which is my favorite, as it happens) or the kind where you don't eat enough (a horrible idea right out.)
The right amounts of the right stuff.
Easy enough. If there is victory in leaving gluttony in the rear view mirror, give me a taste!

This, of course, is a brilliant idea to deal with reality following an interval workout on trail with Tyler Lord. Great fun. Check out the matching shoes. Ha ha. The Saucony fastwitch is one good feeling light shoe. I can't wait to lace them up in a 10k later in the season! Get lots of miles in and gun for 33 min. Can't wait.

Over

The Boston Experience

I have to admit, I've spent some time reflecting and searching for some fun, witty, perhaps philosophical thoughts to blog. Only one word comes to mind.
Mulligan! (perhaps FORE!)
I gunned for 2:39 and finished in 2:54 due to being broken by the 10 mile mark. Ha ha.

Boston is a smashing city to spend a few days. Excellent trains, unbelievable history seen through tours on land and sea, food (Karen had her first oysters at America's oldest restaurant (Union Oyster House), trails, great people, and ironically, no run on sentences. Of course no trip to Boston is complete without visiting Legal Seafood. Imagine, we didn't have time to go to a ball game or tour Sam Adams. That kinda hurt.

To Saucony we are so very grateful. You rarely get the chance to meet a group who treat you so well. Jessica and the Saucony team made this an event that will last a lifetime. What fun both before and after the race. I didn't want it to end, so thanks guys. I'm a big fan.

As for the race...it was an experience. My first taste of a truly big and exciting event. It brings complete strangers together in a way I've never seen. From the moment you arrive at the airport until you are at home. I got a "pound" from a fellow headed to Denver (at the Manchester airport) 2 days later. The race itself was only a part of the event, and I'm glad for that! I did say beforehand that I would rather go out aggressively and crash n burn than play it safely. I was granted my wish! I didn't expect the crash to happen as soon as it did. Thus the unexpected burn! I sucked it up and gave it a second effort for a 2:54 effort. A solid 10 min slower than I am confident I had, 15 slower than a miracle run.
Perhaps next time. Then again...

Over and out.

The Gloves Are Off

OK, I know, you got it. The weather is warm and the gloves have finally come off. Nice.

While this is the cliche item of the week to post, it is hardly what this poster is on about.

NHL. How can an organization be so transparently and foolishly run? Everyone jumps on band wagons and it must be because we pay undue respect to journalism.

My case is simple. Head hits. In a sport with a great deal of intensity and incidental contact, the buzz word is "head hunting". I can tell you, if you foolishly are bent over playing the puck when Keith Pronger hits you, you will be hurt and it will likely involve your melon.

So now, in their infinite reactionary wisdom, Wisniewski gets 8 games from the league for a well intended, yet hard hit immediately following a hard head shot by Seabrook. Not to get too far into the game but these people all need a head check. I mean the literal kind.
I love the game and while not an NFL fan, it is time to learn some lessons.
Thumbs down.
Over.

Things I did not learn in school

Always bring extra socks.
It's simple, allow me to break it down.
There are three solid reasons to bring extra socks.

-they work very well to bridge the gap of shoe to pant leg
-they work very well as running mitts in a pinch
-ah, they work very well as something else, in a "pinch"

Lets face it though, when you emerge from a heavily wooded area with no socks (or no mitts), you are not kidding anyone.

I certainly didn't learn that in school, but no one warned me about "hoof and mouth" disease either. Perhaps I should have used the fresh socks to keep the hands toasty.

Over and out.

Is it just me or...

Or is it cold outside. (The absence of a question mark here is not a statement or a mistake, it is simply missing. Ho hum.)
Before heading out I checked out my mobile weather network. Feels like -18c. I began to wonder, if running into the wind at 14 or 15 km per h, how much colder would it feel.
At the 4 mile mark I came across our poor friend to the right. Frozen field mouse, huh.
You know, motivation comes from all kinds of wondrous places. The motivation not to meet the same fate as our furry friend was just enough to keep me from finding shelter from the wind, if even for a brief few minutes. You can enter your own interesting quote about cold death here. I sure had a few of my own in mind!
Now, who keeps screwing with this computer so I can`t use most of the normal punctuation. I wonder. Obviously not cold enough in here.
Over and out.

Down but not out

It has come to this.

Forced rest for meat head.

November was to be an easy rest month, but I wouldn't listen (I was too busy putting base milage in). Now I need to take a few to get back on track. Wear and tear has taken a toll. Hope to get some good cross training, get pain free, and build back up for a stronger run.

Over.

Long Distance

New York, St. John's, Halifax, and Washington D.C.
I guess it's a good month to work! Missed out on the Yankee parade (well O.K., maybe I didn't "miss" it.) D.C. is always worth the trip for the trails and historic sights. I stand behind my statement that there is nothing relaxing about an ice bath.
Working out the kinks of an apparent sciatica problem now and scratching my head about Dalton's new HST. Check it out.
There must be another side to this story, but no one is selling it.
http://www.unfairtaxgrab.com
For the now it's the "honey do" list (winter tires and much, much more), light workouts, appointments and family time. No wonder time off goes by so quickly!
But with HST and bed bugs in the news it's hard to relax! What ever would the media do without a good scare or two a day!
Over and out.

The Aftermath

Amidst all of the H1N1 pandemonium the Road2Hope marathon came and went. It seems like this was the first time in a while were I wasn't sick during taper. The entire household dropping like flies (coughing, barfing and such) left me feeling like Neo dodging agents gunshots.
The usual pre race doubt was, however, alive and well. Seven weeks of plantar fasciitis and a cantankerous hamstring filled that void nicely.
With all of the work behind me and a sense of confidence that I wasn't at risk of severe injury it was time to let it all hang out.
Fast course, near perfect conditions, let it rip!
Slight uphill the first half, ran strong and ahead of pace. I never want to leave it to how I feel in the early goings of a long race, but that's reality. Sharp downhill, I couldn't do much more of that and was glad to see the off ramp. Hang on from here, 2:39 is in sight with 2 min in the bank. A 2 min I felt at leisure to spend in light of the wall!
Just under the wire for a big goal and a small pay check. I'm pretty use to the small pay checks!!
I've been looking forward to taking a bit of downtime for a while. I wonder how long I can go. Seven days? I'd be a wreck. We will see if I can use this time to work on weak points. Diet and cross training. Wimper inserted here.
Lots of Burlington Runners had a great race, many more were there to support us. Thanks guys!

Now, bring on the ice.
Over and out.

Road2Hope 5k, Oct. 31, 2009, Hamilton, Ont.
21 607 George McMenemy 21:19 SM60-64 2/7 18 4:16 21:14 Burlington
56 93 Colleen Clairmont 24:52 SF60-64 1/11 16 4:59 24:48 Burlington
Road2Hope 10k, Oct. 31, 2009, Hamilton, Ont.
9 613 Werner Tars 39:45 LM45-49 1/14 9 3:59 39:44 Burlington
161 1510 Krista Ashley 59:32 LF25-29 9/34 72 5:58 59:04 Burlington
Road2Hope Half Marathon, Oct. 31, 2009, Hamilton, Ont.
18 1667 Ron Olsthoorn 1:21:31 HM50-54 2/69 18 3:52 1:21:29 Waterdown New York City Marathon Qualifier!
57 1891 Henry Van Gemert 1:29:12 HM45-49 4/67 53 4:14 1:29:03 Oakville NYCQ!
67 2122 John MacCulloch 1:30:58 HM45-49 5/67 59 4:19 1:30:46 Burlington
101 1665 Jim O'meara 1:34:40 HM50-54 14/69 84 4:30 1:34:31 Burlington NYCQ!
126 1195 John Connor 1:37:51 HM60-64 1/15 100 4:39 1:37:41 Burlington NYCQ!
138 2072 Ashley Worobec 1:38:37 HF30-34 2/45 33 4:41 1:38:12 Burlington
187 1021 Amal Algarawi 1:42:35 HF35-39 17/78 48 4:52 1:42:01 Dundas
273 1244 Jonathan Delahunt 1:48:03 HM45-49 35/67 185 5:08 1:46:52 Burlington
363 1712 Carol Potvin 1:53:17 HF50-54 11/63 125 5:23 1:52:11 Burlington PB!
417 1268 Rick Doelle 1:55:51 HM55-59 18/43 268 5:30 1:55:37 Stoney Creek
642 1419 Terry-Lynn Hill 2:08:31 HF30-34 23/45 291 6:06 2:07:45 Dundas First time at this distance!
646 1212 Mike Cousineau 2:08:42 HM50-54 55/69 354 6:06 2:07:36 Burlington PB!
660 1930 Kent Wayland 2:09:23 HM65+ 7/11 358 6:08 2:08:13 Dundee
749 1288 Kerry Eaton 2:15:37 HM50-54 60/69 381 6:26 2:14:35 Burlington
756 1804 John Simon 2:16:30 HM60-64 11/15 385 6:29 2:15:24 BURLINGTON

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Road2Hope Marathon, Oct. 31, 2009, Hamilton, Ont.
5 139 Matthew Carr 2:39:41 MM30-34 3/45 5 3:48 2:39:37 Burlington Boston Qualifier! NYCQ!
23 941 Bill Schnurr 2:57:52 MM45-49 5/115 20 4:13 2:57:45 Burlington BQ! NYCQ!
26 913 Terry Jarrell 2:58:33 MM45-49 6/115 23 4:14 2:58:27 Stoney Creek BQ! NYCQ!
58 268 Pedro Fernandes 3:10:03 MM40-44 6/84 53 4:31 3:09:42 HAMILTON BQ! NYCQ!
127 371 Joseph Hewitt 3:22:18 MM55-59 6/64 117 4:48 3:22:12 Burlington BQ! NYCQ!
144 504 Rodney Lott 3:25:12 MM35-39 24/64 131 4:52 3:24:52 Burlington
205 55 Vikki Baylis 3:31:46 MF35-39 7/57 19 5:02 3:31:31 Burlington BQ!
326 146 Paul Chamberlain 3:44:47 MM40-44 51/84 281 5:20 3:44:40 Burlington PB by 7 minutes!
343 707 Duncan Ritchie 3:45:46 MM55-59 27/64 289 5:21 3:45:30 Burlington BQ!
389 834 Larry Waldron 3:50:01 MM55-59 33/64 309 5:28 3:49:38 Burlington
412 586 Geoff Michalak 3:53:17 MM-19 3/3 317 5:32 3:53:09 Burlington First time at this distance! 413 587 Les Michalak 3:53:19 MM55-59 35/64 318 5:32 3:53:11 Burlington Proud Dad!
431 59 Wendy Beatty 3:55:26 MF40-44 20/68 103 5:35 3:55:11 Oakville BQ!
444 889 Russell Bilodeau 3:56:51 MM55-59 36/64 335 5:37 3:56:33 Oakville 453
447 Ron Kirkpatrick 3:57:31 MM55-59 38/64 339 5:38 3:57:15 Grimsby BQ!
479 320 Jim Glen 4:00:29 MM40-44 61/84 357 5:42 3:59:51 HAMILTON
570 74 Lynette Bickham 4:10:46 MF55-59 4/14 173 5:57 4:09:48 Grimsby BQ!
605 247 Kathy Eaton 4:16:11 MF50-54 23/44 193 6:05 4:15:06 Burlington
661 184 Mary Cousineau 4:27:01 MF55-59 9/14 225 6:20 4:26:02 Burlington
674 133 Ray Campbell 4:29:52 MM50-54 67/81 440 6:24 4:29:24 Burlington
688 110 Judy Brechin 4:33:01 MF55-59 11/14 242 6:29 4:32:02 Burlington
706 230 Derek Downes 4:39:24 MM50-54 73/81 457 6:38 4:38:31 Burlington
717 86 Brian Bobolo 4:43:40 MM40-44 78/84 463 6:44 4:42:49 Hamilton
771 374 Barb Hill 5:01:09 MF45-49 59/66 284 7:09 5:00:10 Caledonia
778 947 John Turner 5:05:39 MM50-54 78/81 491 7:15 5:04:25 Burlington