V for fund raising victory in Reggae Marathon 2011

The V indicates ultimate victory in the 2012 Run for Heart campaign for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  Yes I ran the races (and got shot at by the kids at the Paint Attack Paintball event earlier this year) but it was well worth it!  The original goal was $2,000 in 2011 and with your generous donations we hit $2,100!  Thank you all so very much for your donations and support.

The really cool part about this though is that over the past 3 years, you have contributed $10,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  Now that is a real triumph!!

There have been a number of events:

• Paint Attack:  my sons and their friends get together late summer at Wasaga Beach Paintball to...shoot me!  Really we take advantage of their huge and varied outdoor paintball facility to play a number of games.  
• Quilt for Heart:  Sally the quilter made a special quilt last year that we auctioned off
• Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and 10K runs:  Reggae Marathon 3 times, Toronto 1/2 marathons multiple times working through a year long foot injury injury in 2011 with the help of barefoot training and the best pair of running shoes I have run in, the Puma Faas 500's in the picture above.  The Puma's have been retired now but are soon to be replaced with a new pair.
• Ride for Heart:  In the rain last year I powered through the Becel Ride for Heart a 50 K ride along the Gardner Expressway and up the Don Valley Parkway.  The ride up was tough but let me assure you the blast back was exhilarating and worth the ride.

Another big deal was that I got to run with two of my sons.  It actually started in 2010 at the Reggae Marathon when Court and I ran the 1/2 Marathon together.  Yes, he helped his 'old man along'.  Then this past fall Court, Andrew, Amy and I ran in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon.  And finally, Andrew, Court and Mike and I ran in both the Reggae Marathon 1/2 Marathon and 10K.  Who knew they were such avid runners.  Thanks guys.

With Christmas 2011 around the corner it's time to celebrate.  Enjoy the season.  Here's to 2012.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

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Photograph courtesy of Karen Fuchs Photography