Walk Sally, Walk!

She was an active skiier and tennis player.  In an earlier life she enjoyed sailboating.  Over the past few years however she has become less active.  Then this summer, the 'Eureka' moment:  she took up walking!

Like all such decisions this happened after a major life changing experience:  she contracted pneumonia!  This nasty bout kept her bedridden for nearly 3 weeks on heavy anti-biotics and a liquid diet.  It wasn't much fun.  But like Rip Van Winkle, when she 'awoke', she was hungry for something new.

And a walker was born...

Yes, Sally has taken up walking.  As you know we live beside the Humber River in Central Etobicoke and have miles of paved walking trails just steps from our house.  When the non paved trails deeper into the woods are included, the choices of cycling, running and of course walking are virtually endless.  Most of the trail is tree covered and the noise of the city...well, there is no city noise to be heard.  It's like being deep in the forest.

And like any newbie, all she talks about now is walking:  blow-by-blow of each walk, the benefits of polypropylene and of course shoes.  Her first few walks were in a pair of fashion shoes...not good...led to early case of shin splints.  Her second pair were an old pair of running shoes.  She didn't like how clunky and 'wedgie' those were.

We went shopping!

After trying on a number of shoes, she settled on a pair of walking shoes from Columbia.  'Heaven'.  They have a lot of support with a very natural feel.  Not too much rise so they mimic a very natural and comfortable walking stride.  Sally loves them.  Of course once bitten, she is now eager to try out other pairs.  I see a new favourite store in her future:  Running Room!  For her birthday recently she asked for and got a Gift Certificate for Running Room and it's burning a hole in her purse.

Sally was determined to keep it simple and non-competitive.  Then she found the Map My Walk App for her Galaxy 3 Smartphone!  Now when she hears the voice, 'Signal lost' she walks faster to pick up the GPS signal again.

I join Sally and Tia most weekends now to 'go for a walk'.  The most recent milestone was a 7.5 K last weekend on a particularly hot and sunny Sunday morning.  Thankfully the trees overhead provided nice shade for most of the walk.  It actually began as a 2.5 mile walk but the challenge of the longer distance got the better of us and we ended up doing 7.5 K.  Sally was in some pain the next day...thank you Voltarin (this stuff really works).

She will never transition to running...one crazy in the family is enough...but she loves walking every day.  Now if only we can figure out where to hang our respective workout clothes...

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy (with ThatWalkinGirl)

We had a little rain in Toronto last week! Messed up my Running!

That is a total understatement!  125 millimetres of rain fell in Toronto in under 2 hours.  Historically this is the most rain that has fallen in Toronto since...well since forever actually!  Even the torrential downpours of Hurricane Hazel didn't dump that much.  There was extensive flooding, power outages and general disruption  during the storm and for days after.

It negatively affected my running and my commuting but I only got my shoes wet.  This guy was not so lucky.  I took this photo shortly after the first deluge.  3+ feel of water accumulated in the underpass 50 metres south of the entrance to our apartment building.  Some vehicles made it through...not so lucky the SUV on the left.  Stalled at the depth of the water for 20 minutes.  When he was finally pushed out and opened his doors, water poured out.  Ouch, that's gotta hurt.  Going to be a challenge explaining that to his insurance company.




But nothing tops this guy.  There he was driving his $200K Ferrari at the height of the storm on his way to catch a plane. His car stalled and he didn't want to miss his flight!  What?  It was raining...planes were grounded!  Bright guy that he was he abandons his Ferrari as the water topped the wheel wells and told a reporter that he 'had a flight to catch'!  More money than brains...why does Ferrari sell cars to guys like this?  I can see the Craigslist vehicle ad now:  'Ferrari for sale.  Slight water damage.  Going cheap!"  Oh, and did you note that he left the windows open!






One good thing about all this rain and accompanying humidity:  great training for Negril and Reggae Marathon this December.  Actually with Humidex readings in the mid 30's Celsius, it will be cooler in Negril!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy


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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My planned races in 2013 include:

• The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
• The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Why can't every run be like this?

It was like running on a cloud.

Last Saturday out on my first run in a new pair of running shoes, everything clicked:  breathing deeply and without gasping;  landing on my mid-foot with quick and light leg turnover.  I went out for a quick 6 km run but felt I could have run for miles.

It must have been the new shoes!  It sure wasn't a result of loosing all that 'jiggly muffin top' mid-rift weight that I enjoyed building up over the winter.  I'm still working on that.

Maybe it was the weather.  Not too hot or too cold...just right in the mid-teens Celsius with no humidity or wind.  And at that early hour of the morning, not another soul in sight.  OK, that may have had something to do with the trail well off the beaten path that I was running on.

I ran with not a care in my head not worried about speed or form.  It's runs like this that make up for those mornings when my legs feel like lead, my breathing comes in gasps and I dread taking the next step. "Why can't every run be like this?"

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My planned races in 2013 include:

1. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
2. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Another Running Injury? What the...?

The Ice Pack is NOT a Fashion Accessory

This is NOT in the plan!  Getting injured again!!  

Last week during my weekly speed workout at the local High School track I felt a 'twinge'!  

What the...?

Dam!  That hurt.

I stopped instantly...I must have learned something after all...and walked home.  No trying to be a hero and 'toughing it out' that morning.  I immediately went to the ice pack and haven't run for the past few days.  I shouldn't have gone out for a speed workout that morning.  I was tired, didn't have a great night's sleep and had work on my mind.  In hindsight there was probably nothing I could have done to prevent the strained knee but I have to blame something.

So I'm back to recovery mode and not enjoying it one bit.  I'll be smart this time though:  no running until fully recovered.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

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I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My other planned races in 2013 include:

1. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
2. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Naked runner in the the woods...and other recent experiences

Well, he wasn't completely naked.  But the runner I almost ran into this past weekend while running through the woods near home was only wearing a pair of shorts.  No shoes, no shirt!  And it was only a few degrees above freezing.

Now nothing clears the mind like a run through the woods. I am fortunate to be able to do that regularly since we have the Humber River steps from our apartment here in central Etobicoke. I get barefoot running even though its not for me.  But I have never seen a nearly naked guy running along the paved trails through the trees.

I wish I had my phone!

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I ran by the Mayor of Toronto's house recently.  It's on one of my regular routes and is about 8 km.   I love this particular route for the "Killer Hill" at the 6 km mark.  I know I'm in top shape when I can make it to the top and still have enough in the tank to continue a reasonable pace for the final 2 km home.

You may be aware that our Mayor has had a tumultuous first couple of years in office.  Most recently he made the news again when a story surfaced about him being the star in an alleged video.  Just Google Mayor Toronto if you want all the dirt.

No, what made this run interesting was running by the News Media vans that were parked on the streets around the Mayor's home.  Surreal.

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And while on the subject of the Mayor, I have the sure-fire, fool-proof way he can solve all his problems:  get out for a run!  He'll loose a few pounds, reduce his blood pressure and manage his stress more effectively.  And it will be a hell of a good story!

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And finally...

Two grubby looking guys sitting on a log at 6:30 am in the morning passing a brown paper bag back and forth.  I had to run past them.  I figured that even though I was nearing the end of my run and was tired I could find the energy to out-run ... two drunk guys sitting on a log at 6:30 am in the morning passing a brown paper bag back and forth!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My other planned races in 2013 include:

1. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
2. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.