Coming together at Reggae Marathon

There's a coming together at Reggae Marathon 2023 that promises a spectacular ending to one hell of a year!  It's been along time coming.

The story begins in 2008 when I ran my first and only marathon at Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica.  I did it with Sally's full support.  

It was a fund raiser as well.  Together, Sally and I raised over $5,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Foundation, the charity we picked to honor my Dad who passed away in 2007.  A complex confluence of emotions surrounded that first Reggae Marathon event.  And it was there that we came together with the Reggae Marathon family from Jamaica and around the world that continued for 11 years. It has endured to this day.

Over the course of those annual pilgrimages to Negril, a couple of my sons came along.  Courtney paced me through the finish of one half marathon sacrificing his time to see me through a challenging race.  The next year both he and his twin brother Andrew made the trek along with a couple of friends.  That year we also connected with our Jamaican family...that was a race weekend to remember!  

After coming along for the first two races, Sally begged off.  As a non-runner and not a sun worshiper as I was, the race weekend didn't offer her much.  As the Reggae Marathon social media guy I was busy all of the time in Negril. She let me get away every December to 'play with my Reggae Marathon family'.  Thank you Sally!

I stopped going to Negril for Reggae Marathon after the 2019 event.  I felt then that 11 consecutive years was enough.  And what timing!  Who knew about COVID 19 that would stop the world for the next couple of years including the live Reggae Marathon event.  But the Reggae Marathon stuck together.  On one of his annual vacations to Negril toward the end of the pandemic, Larry Savitch a long-time runner and Reggae Marathon regular, posted beach pictures.  I lived vicariously through those posts.  Thank you Larry.

But the pull to go back to Reggae Marathon continued.

I had planned to run Reggae Marathon in 2022.  That changed in March when Sally got diagnosed with brain cancer.  Everything changed that day.  

Sally passed away in January 2023.  We held her celebration of life this past August, a day before her 69th birthday. It was a joyous event celebrating a life lived well!

One of the photos in the collage I put together has her sitting under the broiling sun at the finish line of that first Marathon in 2008.  

I finished over an hour later than I had told her, and worried about her worrying about me.  But as I ran down the finish chute and saw her sitting there smiling...there are no words! I felt her presence that day on the final few miles to the finish.  Thank you Sally!

Earlier this year Courtney, Andrew and Holden hatched a plan for a family vacation.  In no time we settled on Negril in December.  We're booked now: kids, spouses, grandkids...12 in all. We've even got a few other friends and families coming along!  Courtney, Andrew and I are running in the Reggae Marathon and the non-runners in our family will make up a large cheering section at the finish!  Can't wait!

Despite not being a fan of the broiling sun or heat, Sally will be looking down on us this December.  She'll be smiling as she watches her family come together at Reggae Marathon 2023.

Until next time...

On Hiatus

Yes, I'm on hiatus for a little while.  Gone fishing is you prefer that.  Although with the recent cold temperatures, it would be ice fishing!

Taking a break to clear my head and recharge my batteries.  I'll still be running so see you on the road!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

The Top 10 Benefits of Running

#8, 'Help Prevent High Blood Pressure' was my #1 reason for starting running.  It still is.  But there are so many more good reasons to run...and keep running.  Here is a list with the Top 10:

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

How to find 30 minutes per day to run

How do you find 30 minutes per day to run?  Busy with family and work, it's tough.  But here is a way to find those 30 minutes each day to run:

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Brrrr...It's Cold Outside

-13 with a windchill approaching -20.  And that's in Celsius! Brrr...it was a cold run in Toronto today!

But as perverse as it sounds, I enjoyed my run this morning.  A relatively short one at 5 km's but after the slow slog through the snow on Christmas Day morning, I needed to clear out the cobwebs.  -13 C did that quite nicely.  We runners sure are hearty.  Or stupid.  Some mornings I can't make up my mind.

Maybe it's the strange thrill we get when we that driver in a nice warm car shaking her head at us running outside.  Yeah, that's it!

Truth be told, I love running in the cold.  And that from a guy who absolutely loves summer heat and especially sweating it out on a hot beach.  Just ask Dan Cumming who's seen my obsession with capturing a lounge chair on the beach at Rondel Village to catch all the sun I can.  

Running in the cold though brings it's own kind of special experience.  From dressing:  Layering up with full head and face mask;  the first 5 minutes or so when my head is screaming, 'What the...!!';  to the final few hundred metres when I can feel the icicles and frost around my face.  It's...exhilarating!

Running in super cold temperatures also means no dawdling.  Once I get my body temperature up and start sweating, stopping would be, how do I say this nicely, 'not so good'.  At super low temps my sweat seems to keep me warm...as long as I keep moving.  I'm not sure of the science involved in this but it seems to work.  

About the only challenge to running when it's super cold outside is keeping my fingers and toes warm.  I run with ski socks that generally do the trick for the 5 km runs but I just haven't found the perfect pair of gloves or mitts.  Inevitably the fingers get cold and all I can think about is getting home.  Pretty good motivation to keep moving.

And if you must ask, no, I don't do treadmills.  Never have and likely never will.  Those things really scare me!  

So rain, shine, hot cold...running is an outside thing for me all year round. Now, time for a hot shower to warm up!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Turning 60 And Still Running

OMG...in 2 months I turn 60!

Just yesterday I was 12 years old building Saturn rockets and collecting comic books.  I didn't run for anything!  Those 48 years sure slipped by quickly.  I sure don't feel about-to-turn 60.  Oh the waist has expanded a little, the joints are a bit more achey and I run more slowly.  But, I'm still running...

I have a lot to be thankful for as I hit this milestone:

• Great parents.  I know we don't get to chose our parents but someone up there was looking our for my sisters and I.  Carefree Dad who depended on the rock that is my Mom to instill in us the trust in always looking forward:  Tomorrow is another new day...take advantage of it!
• The Boys.  Now a pack of 4 and a force to be reckoned with.  Andrew, Court, Holden and Michael are dream kids.  Rambunctious and ornery but honest and dependable.  Always thinking of each other...always there to support.  Keep at it guys!  Couldn't be more proud. (Oh, and Andrew, Court and Holden's Mom, Jackie...still pinch myself that she trusted me to take care of them in their teen years).
• Friends to die for.  Seriously.  Long-time friends from Jamaica, more recent ones from growing up in Canada and of course my running friends from around the world.  Thanks for your support.
• Sally.  My Rock!  I'm fortunate that you decided to take on the CMO Project.  There's still more work to do but thank you so much for continuing to see the value in polishing this still rough-around-the edges work-in-progress.  All my love!!

I was asked recently if I had any running goals planned for 2018 to mark the 60th birthday milestone.  I've thought of a ton of running ideas:  From the Gobi March, a 260 km run across the Gobi Desert in China, to a 60 mile Endurance Race in Algonquin Park.  Nothing has grabbed me yet...but I've still got 2 months to go before the BIG day.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Jamaica Bound

Jamaica Bound!  Bags packed for wheels up to Negril on Wednesday.  Flying direct this year from Toronto to Negril via Air Canada.  By this time tomorrow I'll be comfortably ensconced in my first class seat sipping Champagne...oops, that was my inner voice fantasy.  I'm in Economy but with my prefered Aisle seat...easy access to the onboard washroom.

Another big advantage of flying direct, assuming all goes well,is that I'll be through the airport in Montego Bay ahead of rush hour traffic. That should ease the drive along the shore road to Negril.  And again, assuming all goes well, I should be able to get in a late afternoon swim at Rondel Village, my hotel in Negril.  Dan...you listening?

Rondel Village has been the base of operations for Reggae Marathon for the past 7 years.  It's a great, intimate, very well run hotel along the Negril Beach.  It's about a mile to the Reggae Marathon Start/Finish line and a little less to the Pasta Party.  We do a lot of walking and given that it's way warmer than Toronto, that's a good thing!

Dan and I take breakfast and dinner most nights at the restaurant by the beach at Rondel Village.  There's a Menu of course but for Breakfast it's the Jamaican Breakfast:  Ackee and Saltfish;  For supper, Escovitch Fish...a whole Snapper!  Blue Mountain coffee in the morning;  Red Stripe with Supper.  I'm salivating!  The service is great and the conversation between tables is usually all about running...Rondel Village is a popular hotel with Reggae Marathoners.  If you're planning on running Reggae Marathon 2018, book early!

Beach, beach, beach...there, that decision made!  Rondel Village has a relatively compact beach frontage.  There are two areas, behind the fence and directly on the beach.  Dan and I stake out our beach-side lounges first thing after breakfast Thursday morning.  With towels supplied by the hotel, there's only one other decision to make:  SPF 45?  Yes, heavyweight sun protection is mandatory in Negril in December.  It's hot of course...which I love...and with the sun more directly overhead that in Canada, only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the sun without sunscreen (with apologies to the Joe Cocker album I lifted that line from).

Oh, and there's a race this Saturday!  Yeah, 5:15 am Saturday a few thousand runners are sent away for a full Marathon, Half Marathon or 10K.  I've got Finisher Medals from all three but for the past few years I've run the 10K.  I get a nice run in and am finished and enjoying a cold Red Stripe and a refreshing post-race swim by 6:30 am.  That's about as good as it gets.

One more sleep to wheels up...

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

"Tarahumara...Super Athletes born to run

You may have heard of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico.  They are runners!  If you haven't, pick up the book, 'Born to Run' by Christopher McDougall.  It introduces us to Caballo Blanco and the Tarahumara.  A great read!  "Tarahumara...Super athletes born to run"!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

The Rise Of The Half Marathon...The 13 Point One

The rise of the half marathon is fueled by the increase in women runners.  Now over 60% of Half Marathoners are women and the trend shows every sign of continuing to grow.  Personally I think we should call Half Marathons '13 Point One' especially when so many of say, "Oh...I'm only doing the Half Marathon".  What?  It's running 13.1 miles!

In the infographic below there's an easy-to-follow 10 week training plan to ensure you're ready for your Half Marathon...er, 13 Point One:

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Race Day Prep

Getting ready for a race keeps me up at nights!  Seriously.  I toss and turn going over all the things I have to do the week leading up to a race.  Add in a destination race and it gets even more stressful.
Worry no more, here's a comprehensive guide to preparing for race day:

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

What Inspires You?

What inspires you? For me it's my Boys.  Not a day goes by that I don't give thanks for the fine men they have all grown into.  Oh there were days when it didn't seem as if any of us would get out alive!  Passion on both sides.  Passion that got us through and passion that keeps us together even though we don't see each other as often as I'd like.

Last Saturday while I was at the Reggae Marathon Race Expo representing Reggae Marathon my cell phone rang.  Twice actually...I missed the first ring while talking to a couple interested in my favourite race.  I got the second call and it was Andrew.  He was at the Expo picking up his Race Kit for Sunday's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (he was running the Half Marathon).  He was checking in to see if his Old Man was at the Expo.  I can't remember if/when I told him I would be there but he did.  That's him above posing...what they'll do to help out their Dad.

Andrew's a pretty good runner.  All the boys are athletic.  From Football, Baseball to Basketball...they all make it look so easy.  It's a pleasure to watch them perform and believe me I've watched enough games! It was a bitch getting into downtown Toronto Sunday morning for the micro-second it took him to cross the finish line.  It was worth it.  Inspirational!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Running to the Sun

"Runners wake up before the sun".  I like that. It explains why I get up by 4:30 am most mornings...including weekends...to go running.  It's second nature now, I've been doing it so long.  I like the coolness of the early morning, especially in the hot summer months.  In the winter, I love being the first human footprint in freshly fallen snow.  When it's raining...glory!  I get a shower to go with the sweating that I'm going to do anyway.  Yes, real runners wake up before the sun.

The not-so-fun part of running early morning is that I run on an empty stomach.  Actually that's not technically true:  I do have a cup of coffee with Almond Milk first so there is some nutrition, right? OK, really on an empty stomach.  I've tried every form of eating before an early morning run and none have worked for me:  Oatmeal, cereal, gels, toast.  All feel like a solid, undigested lump in my stomach and the gels just made me feel sick.  

The first few minutes of my early morning runs I'm asleep.  I'm awake but it feels like I'm sleeping.  My legs barely turn over, I'm heaving and cursing, "WTF am I doing this hour of the morning?"  The feelings generally pass within a couple of minutes and I pick up my pace by about 1 km.  

One special run recently was a stair drill I did at 5:30 am with the Full Moon almost directly overhead.  Crazy light:  Cool blue hue washed over everything and illuminated the stairs clearly.  Yes the people living in the condo beside this particular park saw a crazy runner running up and down stairs before sunrise...correct that, crazy would be sitting inside their warm condo watching a runner do 'stair repeats' calling him crazy.  Yeah, that's it!

One of the downsides of getting up so early is that bedtime comes early:   9:30 pm, 10 pm latest most nights.  It puts a damper on watching the late night talk shows but I catch up with my favourites on Facebook the next morning.

So...are you an early morning runner?

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

One Runner's Thoughts

I sat staring at the blank screen this morning.  I'd left it too late to write my usual weekly blog post before I went out for my pre-dawn run. I packed it in and went out for a run.  Surely I'll think of something to blog about while running.  And sure enough I did with thoughts going back, back, back...

I thought about running when I was a kid but realized I never walked much less ran.  Only seriously athletes ran. I was far from athletic as a grade schooler at St. Theresa Preparatory.  We didn't have Phys Ed and the only place to 'run' at Recess and Lunch was the Badminton Courts beside the paved parking lot.  With mid-day temps in the low 90's F, we did as little running as possible.

I wasn't athletic in high school either.  I was on the Debating Society and was a photographer for the Yearbook, both activities that involved a lot of sitting. At Clarkson Secondary I had to walk to school:  The grand distance of 500 Metres one-way.  Such hardship!  At Clarkson I had a brief stint running cross-country one fall but it was cold and they wanted me to wear shorts and a T Shirt!  Ugh!  No thank you...back to the Dark Room!

At College and University I wasn't much better although I did take up Squash.  The game was enjoyable but the sauna session after was really what I prefered.  I guess that's why I really enjoy lying on the beach in the hot sun sweating buckets to this day!  Heat! (I can hear a few of you already:  "He prefered sitting with other guys in the Sauna".  Knock yourself out!)

Truth be told, I wasn't interested in Team Sports.  This was likely a result of not having any organized team sports that interested me while growing up in Jamaica.  Once in Canada, the only team sport was hockey.  I like watching and attending the occasional Hockey Game but playing it?  Not for me.  Organized baseball, basketball or soccer was still some time away and by then I was a Senior in High School.

Running was the only option when I decided to do something physical.  No special equipment, training or learning curve.  Running shoes, sweats and outside.  Yes it took some time to catch on but when it did it lit the fire under my competitive spirit.  I enjoyed the training and the competing.  Especially the races!

Stray thought:  Maybe I'm bored with running. Oops...that was supposed to stay in my head!  I don't have the right gear and I've delayed buying new tights and shoes.  Hmmm...I need to spice things up to rekindle my passion for running.

Trails popped into my head!  Now there's an idea.  We live right alongside the Humber River and paved trails snake their way along the river right to the mouth at Lake Ontario.  It's a good start but I'm thinking off-road.  The gnarly stuff.  Dirt, rocks, the occasional stream.  Messy for sure and there are races.  Do I dare to think 'Ultras'?  They've been rattling around in my head for some time now...

All too soon the run was over.  Back home with enough time to take Maggie out for her early morning run!

Ahh...running!  Brings out the best thoughts!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Running Is Masochistic

"I'm a masochist" is the answer I give when I get asked why I like to run. It's not the expected answer but it's the  most simple, direct and honest answer.  

I run for my health.  I like to eat and have a weakness for salty snacks.  Running allows me my indulgence.

I run for my sanity.  OK, some would argue that it hasn't helped but running is my therapy.  

I run to think.  My best ideas come while running.  Nothing but me and my mind while out for a run.

I run because I like the pain.  Ahhh...that masochistic thing.  Running never gets easier for me. The more I run the stronger I get and that's the big win.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Coming Back Up To Speed

Well...

After too much time spent slogging along, I've experienced a running re-birth of sorts coming back up to speed.  Halleluha!  

Over the past year I've had moments and runs where I thought, 'That's it...I'm done running!'.  They occurred frequently enough that I really felt that after 34 years of running I was done.  When I was passed early one morning by an older runner who was shuffling along it was hard to keep going on that 'run'.  Getting motivated to go out again the following morning was even more difficult.  Call me a positive thinker, obstinate, stupid...whatever...inside I didn't feel I was done running yet.  I kept at it.

Since embracing the CPAP breathing machine 5 weeks ago, I've seen and felt an improvement.  No longer does it feel like a weight is crushing my windpipe.  It takes a little longer to get up to speed but once I'm running comfortably and my breathing settles down, I pick up the pace.  It's a negative split for sure but not an honest one.  Yet!

Yes there's still some life in these legs and lungs and I'm looking forward to more gradual improvement before testing race-pace at Reggae Marathon December 2.  If things go well, I'm even looking forward to improvement in the Reggae Marathon Half Marathon Challenge (Seriously, Dan, Navin and Larry...we've got to come up with a better name!)

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

The Joy Of Running

Here's to the pure joy of running!

If there's one thing this past year has taught me it's that I love running.  Throughout all the tests doctor visits I've kept running.  Sluggish some mornings and run/walk on others but I still looked forward to getting outside to go running.  

I haven't had a long run in a while...been keeping the intensity up with stairs and hill repeats...but I can't wait!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

7 Thoughts A Runner Has During A Half Marathon

What the heck am I doing?

That question happens around the half way mark when the reality of a likely finish time sinks in...if only I can hold this pace!  Although I may have done it once in a training run, running the second half faster than the first is unlikely and unrealistic.  Oh well, better just enjoy the run.


Here are some other thoughts a runner has during a half marathon:

1. Don't go out too fast.  Did I go out too fast?  I told myself to start slowly and ease into race pace.  Why did I go out too fast?
2. Did I hydrate properly before the race?  Did I balance the electrolyte with enough water?  
3. I hope the gels don't make my stomach turn.  Wish I hadn't changed my usual brand at the last minute?  Hope I brought enough gels.
4. Do all these runners in front of me need to be chatting so much? And they're smiling!  Wish I could smile.  I'm smiling, right?
5. If I stay in front of the 2 hour pace bunny I'll finish under 2 hours!  The 2 hour pace bunny must be running too fast.  Why is the 2 hour pace bunny pulling ahead.
6. I overdressed.  I overdressed.  I overdressed!
7. I see the finish.  Pick up the pace.  Smile.  Breathe.  Forget breathing...smile for the finish line camera!

First thought on crossing the finish line:   "I'm never doing that again!"

Thought about 10 minutes later:  "That wasn't so bad...when's the next race?"

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Running with Dogs?

A few runners in my neighbourhood run with their dogs.  I think they do it to exercise their dogs.  I wonder if their dogs enjoy it?

For running to have any benefits you need to keep running for a minimum of 30 minutes.  Generally at a ‘good’ pace.  In other words, not jogging.  Most of the runners I see have dogs who seem to be loping along but they all seem to be panting.  

In the warm summer months, even in the cooler morning hours, I have to believe it is uncomfortable for the dog.  We runners can wear less clothes but a dog generally can’t shed his/her coat to cool down.

I’ve seen oblivious runners cause their dogs discomfort when their dogs stop suddenly or veer from the running path.  Ouch…that’s gotta hurt the dog’s neck no matter how large the dog.

I don’t see the point of running with your dog.  If you focus on your running, you ignore your dog;  if you focus on your dog you have a sloppy run.  Seems like multi-tasking gone wrong. 

Take your dog to the leash-free dog park for a run.  Take your dog for a walk.  Leave your dog at home when you go running!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

7 Reasons Why Running Is The Best Sport

I'm well over 7 reasons why running is the best sport. Then again I've been running for over 30 years. Here are my Top 7:

1. Running is the best sport for getting fit quickly. By the simple fact that running requires to move your entire body mass with only your personal power, running is the most effective way to drive up the heart rate and metabolism...both of which burn calories.
2. Running is easy to do.  All of us can run...go for a walk, speed up the pace then ease into a trot. That's it. One foot in front of the other.  No complicated instructions, equipment or skill required.  Yes you can 'tech it up' with microfibre and spandex clothing along with high-tech running shoes but that's a personal choice.
3. Running reduces stress.  Endorphins are released when doing any physical exercise and combined with the simplicity of running maximizes the 'zone out' benefits.  Going out for a run is the only time we can be truly free of communication technology. That break alone is worth it!
4. Running will incease your quality of life.  Thinking about running, dreaming even, and of course talking about running with running friends.  Nothing beats a good road running story. Plus what else do you have to talk about before and after a race?
5. Running is a sport.  Unlike golf which is really a game, running is a sport:  "an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others"
6. Running is fun.  Seriously.  There are no team mates, no ball/puck/disc to worry about.  Usually no one is watching so I can fantasize about looking like an elite marathoner.  Running is a solitary activity that frees my mind to scheme and dream. What's more fun than that?
7. Running is relaxing.  I know, that sounds like an oxymoron. With nothing to focus on but breathing and keeping one foot in front of the other, is my favourite form of relaxation.  

I was pretty lousy at team sports growing up.  Swimming, biking were more my thing.  I came to running late but has it ever been good to me!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Running in the Movies

Other than being chased by a bear, running in the movies always seems so effortless.  If only it were like that in real life.  

Here are some of the best running scenes from the movies...Scene 2 is my favourite...he really is running from a bear!  
That begs the joke:  "Two guys running from a bear. One guy says to the other, 'you can't out run the bear'.  Othe guy says, 'I only have to out run you'":

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy