Are you Experienced?

I got hooked on Reggae Marathon when Bob Moore and his wife Debbie took Sally and I under their wings at my first Reggae Marathon 8 years ago. I finished well after the crowds and musicians had left for the morning. But there they were in the blazing mid-morning sun waiting for my finish!  As the photo here shows, I was spent!  I even forgot to get my finisher medal!  Sally grabbed it for me.  I ran the race but she earned that Finisher Medal!  That was my first Reggae Marathon Experience...the start of an 8 year run.

The Regae Marathon Experience is highly personal. Each Reggae Marahoner enjoys their own personal experience but there are three main ingredients:  People, Music, Negril.  Combine with your own special 'spices' to create your own Reggae Marathon Experience.  But be warned... Once experienced it becomes an obsession!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy Exposed

You have a dirty mind!  I know what you were thinking.  Some of you have actually noted I over-expose since I like running in tights ('Men in Tights...now that was a good movie).  But let me get back on on topic.  After many years behind the scenes of Reggae Marathon's Social Media, I moved out of the shadows and into the limelight with the first Facebook Live event on January 2.  And I must say, it wasn't as clunky as I feared...but you be the judge of that...I know you will!

You'll find me in Negril December 2, 2017 at 5:15 am lined up with 2,300+ runners from all over the world at Reggae Marathon!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Hard Running

I had a week of hard running getting back to it. Some of the pain was caused by the realization that I had two weeks to get back into running shape for the RBC Run for the Kids on September 17.  I needed to ramp up quickly...that hurt as expected...but I also wanted to not break anything...that messed with my head!  Who knew hard running was so hard!

I'm pretty sure now that runners are high level narscisists.  Or is it just me?  On a run last Saturday I found myself on a stretch of Bloor West Village where every storefront was plate glass.  I spent more time looking at my reflection than thinking about running. There was a big disconnect between how I looked in my mind and what the mirrored windows reflected.  Whoa!

I'm watching my food intake this week as well.  As is my habit, I've cut out the beer and alcohol. Man is that cold one on Saturday afternoon going to taste great!  I've got some dry roasted peanuts ready-to-go as well.  College football Saturday afternoon here we come!  Sticking with chicken, rice and steamed vegetables this week as well.

It's looking like my type of running conditions this Saturday morning.  Temperatures are forecast for low teens at the 7:30 am start.  And no rain although I actually like running in the rain.  I'm going to use my hydration backpack for this run.  I like PowerAid and am pretty sure that won't be available at the aid stations.  Plus I can avoid the sloppy water-in-a-paper-cup drill.  Why can't every race hydrate like Reggae Marathon:  water and electrolyte replacement in a sealed plastic pouch?

OK, enough jabbering...back to some hard running.  Wait...supposed to be tapering for the rest of this week.  Can't wait until Saturday!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Ran my race

I ran my race on Sunday.  And it felt good!

I was ready for the Sporting Life 10K this past Sunday.  I'd trained well in the few weeks leading up to race day doing speed-work and distance runs. Last week I tapered according to plan including a rest day on Saturday.  No alcohol for the week either and I went heavy on the pasta for a couple days prior to Sunday.  I was ready to run my race.

Sunday morning in the pre-dawn I ate my usual small bowl of oatmeal washed down with coffee and a couple glasses of water.  Since I was taking the TTC to the start I also packed an energy bar for the 40 minute bus ride across town to the start.

My tunes were set:  "Two Step" by Dave Matthews Band followed up by Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On".  Pitter patter, let's get at 'er!

It's a big crowd of runners at the Sporting Life 10K and as usual the race organizers were well prepared to handle us with lots of knowledgeable volunteers and port-a-potties.  After changing into my race shoes...Puma's of course...I had a final bio break, checked my bag and headed out for my pre-race warm up:  Short sprints to get the legs turning over quickly with some recovery jogs.

I lined up at 7:40 am in the Green corral.  That was for runners running a 55 - 60 minute race.  I expected to finish faster but wanted to be at the front of the pack at the start.  30 minutes to stand in place waiting for our start time of 8:10 am.

Fun fact:  The first wave of runners started at 7:30 am.  My son Court and his wife Amy started in that wave.  Court's expected time was 41 minutes.  He finished his race as I started!

At the gun, I got a great start.  Fast and comfortable. Despite the adrenelin, I stayed on my plan and didn't get sucked into following faster runners early on.  That proved fortuitous.  Around 6 km my left hamstring tightened up and I had to slow for about 3 km's before I picked up the pace for the final km.  While my overall time was a few of minutes over my planned 52 minute finish time, I was very pleased:  Over 1 minute per km faster than my first race in April at the High Park Spring Run Off.

Overall finish in the top half and also in my age category.  Dam that hamstring! Now some time off to allow the hamstring to heal before my next race at the end of June.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Pushing the Pumas

I had planned to replace these well worn Puma running shoes a few months ago.  With focus and determination I went shopping at my local running store.  I tried on a few pairs, ran up and down in the store and decided not to buy a new pair.  I may be tempting fate but these Pumas feel even better now that they are so well worn.  Is it possible that I have hit the sweet spot with them?

For sure they look great!  You know sometimes you look at a pair of running shoes and they just look plain ugly!  Not these.  They have the right level of detail and colour coordination that gives them that 'just right' look.  I know that form is supposed to follow function...it's nice when form equals function.

Sally says I'm thinking and talking about this particular pair of running shoes way too much.  Given the amount of miles they've gone, she won't let them into the Apartment.  She barely lets me keep them on the balcony.  Yes they do have a high odour.  I call it character...she calls it stinky!

Yes I've pushed these Pumas past their best-before date and I know one day soon I'll have gone one run too many.  But till then, I'll keep on running.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Saying Goodbye to my Puma Faas 1000 Running Shoes

Puma Faas 1000 Running Shoes

I shed a tear this past weekend.  For my Puma Faas 1000 Running Shoes.  I've been running in them for nearly 8 months now and although I have alternated with Ugly Running Shoes over the nasty Toronto winter, I know the time is coming to say goodbye.  And I don't like that one bit!

These Puma Faas 1000's have been one of my favourite running shoes.  First and most important has been the fit.  They have a fairly wide toe-box that accomodates my wide feet allowing me to stay comfortable on long runs in all temperatures.  They also have fairly pronounced arch support which has been great for foot support.  

Then there's the cushoning:  The '1000' refers to a high level of support through the entire mid-sole that allows me to run comfortable with both heel strike and mid-foot styles. And like almost all of the other Pumas I've run in, the outsole is virtually industructable.

The only weakness has been that very same outsole:  It's built like a racing slick.  If you follow auto racing, think 'Intermediates':  very shallow grooves.  This has proven to be excellent in dry, warm conditions;  not so good for wet or icy/snowy running.  The Ugly Running Shoes stepped in nicely for the bad weather.

I'm not a professional running shoe reviewer but I know what I like. And these Puma's have been great.  Here's what I wrote previously about some of my other favourite running shoes:  A few of my favourite running shoes.  

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Running Commando in my new Puma Running Shoes

Nothing comes between me and my...Puma Faas 1000 running shoes!

Last week I wrote about how I tried to impress the new running shoes when I went out on my first run. After trying a couple pairs of running socks, Pumas of course, I decided to go commando:  No socks just bare feet in the shoes.  Wow, what a difference!  It's as if these Pumas were designed for naked feet.  I've run without socks before and have suffered blisters and stinky shoes.  No blisters yet and the jury is out on the stinky shoes but my recent runs (up to about an hour) have been really comfortable.

So, socks or no socks?  I'm going to stick with the no socks experience for now.  See, even Tia agrees with running commando:

Running Commando in my Puma Faas 1000 Running Shoes

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy