Stop Whining!

Thanks Ah-nold!  I needed that!!  Oh, and maybe, just maybe Sally might have mentioned the same thing...once or twice...OK, maybe a lot!  But I broke my foot! Waaaaaaa......

There...that feels much better!

I haven't run since I broke my foot last September. I've tried once or twice in the last few weeks but another injury sidelined me. In my desire to be a hero I walked 10K in Reggae Marathon in December.  It made for a nice story, I got to take some pictures while I was 'Walking' and I hit my goal of raising $2,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Walking the 10 kilometres in Reggae Marathon likely contributed to the new injury so that's why I'm still whining.

"I haven't run since last September...!!"

If you don't run that won't make any sense to you.  If you run you feel my pain.  So what to do.

First, "Stop Whining!".  Easier said than done.  I've been running 30 years now.  Nearly everybody has said the same thing, "Maybe it's time to stop running". Might as well tell me to stop breathing.

But then it hit me:  Walking!  Duh!  I can't run but I can walk.  And yes I know the cliche, 'walk before you run'.  Flashback:  that's how I started running in the first place.  

So I promise, the whining is over!  Sally will be so happy to hear that.

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.  My planned races in 2013 include 

1. The Sporting Life 10K, May 12
2. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
3. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

1st run of 2013 and since the Foot Injury!

Early morning Winter running in Toronto

I had my first run this past Sunday morning.  It felt great!  True confession:  I had been out running before Christmas but that was more walking and shuffling than real running.  This past Sunday I went out for a full 30 minutes of ... running!

I am of course an early morning runner.  I am up before dawn and generally run entirely in the dark.  If I see another person, it's usually a runner.  For sure the 5:15 am start of Reggae Marathon every December suits me.

One of the benefits of running so early in the morning is the quiet and serenity.  Few people are up and it feels like I own the neighbourhood.  The picture above is of one of the quiet residential streets I run along on one of my routes.

A serious downside though are early morning drivers. Most are not fully awake or are on their first coffee and are totally unprepared for a runner that early in the morning.   I've usually run in entirely black running gear.  Lots of reflective strips and patches of course but not the most visible in the dark.  I had a scare last Sunday that motivated me to buy some new gear and I know that motivated me to get through that first run comfortably.  I picked up the new top and tights from the Running Room Outlet Store on North Queen Street in Etobicoke.  They don't carry everything from their regular stores, and not all sizes are available but it's worth the trip:  top and tights for under $80 tax in! Retail for the two pieces is over $140 + tax!

On that first full run last Sunday I was taken back to my first runs 30 years ago. I wasn't running fast and it didn't look pretty but I was running!  Mind free while my arms were swinging.  I may even have broken out in a song...I don't remember...I was too busy enjoying the run.

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.  My planned races are the Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20 and the Reggae Marathon, December 7.  Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.