Slipping and sliding running in the snow

Last weekend I had my first fall while running.  It happened in the pre-dawn hours of one of the only snow-covered days we've had in Toronto this winter.

I was running along Bloor Street about to make a sharp right turn up a slight incline in about 4 inches of heavy wet snow. I'd been out for about 10 minutes already and was being super careful around corners.

I slowed down, and following car racing cornering technique prepared to 'clip the apex'.  Oops...

My left foot slipped out from under me completely and down I went.  My first thought:  'Dam, another injury'.  My second:  'Broke my stride'.

Fortunately and I do mean 'extremely fortunately' I didn't get injured.  Other than feeling pissed off I got back up immediately and scrambled on my way.

The ridiculous part of this whole experience was that less than 2 hours later all the snow was melted as the temperature rose well above freezing.  Sally chuckled and noted that if I had stayed in bed another hour I wouldn't have fallen.  But then I wouldn't have had this blog post.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  

Races for 2012: 
Goodlife Fitness 1/2 Marathon, May 6
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 14
Reggae Marathon, December 1

Things that make me go hmmmm....

As I write this it's 5 am in the morning.  I've got my first Tim Horton's coffee on the go and I'm sitting at my home computer overlooking the Humber River:  

• Why do people on a crowded bus or subway put their bags on the empty seat beside them?  Do I really have to ask them to move it so I can sit down?

• With the proliferation of smart phones, why do I still have a land line?  Even my Mother calls me on my cell phone.

• What do the Kardashian's have to do with 'news'?  If that's news the end is near.

• Why are we so jazzed about electric vehicles?  How do you think your electricity was produced in the first place?  Likely hydro electric (which required building a in the middle of the wilderness), gas-fired turbines (Duh...) or Nuclear!  I'm pretty sure using vehicles less (take public transit) will reduce our dependence on oil.

• Why do people on airplanes continue to use their mobile devices after they board flights?  Along that path, do I really need to be connected 24/7?

• Why do some runners wear headphones when they run?  You'll never hear the bad guy approaching.  Seriously though, how about the oncoming car that you don't see.

• Still with the running theme, why do runners 'run' on a crowded sidewalk at rush hour?  It's NOT running if you have to dodge pedestrians...and then give us a dirty look when we couldn't move out of your way fast enough.  Get up early and run when the sidewalk is clear!!  The bad guys are usually sleeping early in the morning anyway.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Races for 2012: 
Goodlife Fitness 1/2 Marathon, May 6
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 14
Reggae Marathon, December 1

Running, running and more running in 2012

The Scotiabank Toronto Marathon and 1/2 Marathon was the largest race I've run in.  With the 'thousands' of runners I was always running in a crowd.  And it wasn't the runners in the race:  it seemed as if the entire route was crowded with spectators.  It sure was that way as we turned up Bay Street toward the finish line.  The noise of the spectators who packed both sides of the road all the way to the finish powering us on was thrilling.  I won't forget that any time soon.

This year I'm running 3 fund raising races for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario.  The first up is the GoodLife Fitness 1/2 Marathon on May 6.  I love this race.  After the the major up hill just after the 5 km mark up Hoggs Hollow, the rest of the route is downhill.  Straight down Yonge Street in Toronto for much of the route.  That's really fun.

Then on October 14 it's back for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon.  By then I'll have a lot of summer running behind me and am looking for an under 2 hour result.  That should be possible as long I stay healthy...and off the salty snacks.

Then to wrap up the racing and fund raising year, it's my 4th time at Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica December 1.  That's always a special race and a great way to celebrate the end of a year.

Look out for me in central Etobicoke this year running along the Humber River in my Pumas.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

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Follow me on Facebook at Run for Heart.  Races for 2012: 
Goodlife Fitness 1/2 Marathon, May 6
Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 14
Reggae Marathon, December 1