42: Marathon distance and humidex in Negril

What have I done?

I started this madness because I wanted to finish a marathon. Now I have to finish 2 on December 5th in Negril!

Nightmares!

I'm getting through it by staying focused on three things: motivation, inspiration and passion. And a ton of growing support from family, friends, business associates and total strangers! Plus, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association continue to climb. Thank you.

And after much of the year endlessly thinking about and planning for the run in December, I am now only '23 sleeps' away from the start of the race at 5:15 am on Saturday, December 5:

• Picked up my 'Race shoes' at the Running Room Outlet store in Toronto yesterday. Staying with what has gotten me to this point: Adidas Supernova's. Bought the 'Orange' pair this time. A bit of vanity here: wanted to have the shoes match the Team Diabetes singlet given to me by Dave Foster from Wasaga Beach.
• Also picked up a new running hat and gel belt. Nutrition important; minimizing the impact of the sun critical.
• Air tickets booked (Westjet of course to Montego Bay on Dec 2) and confirmed hotel in Negril 300 metres from the start/finish (Foote Prints on the Beach)
• And I continue training with the best group of runners I have ever met in the Wasaga Beach Road Runners. Mike, Eric, Pete, Jim and all the rest: thank you for keeping me me moving with the emails and Sunday morning training runs.

All good on the motivation front.

And then I had a massive inspiration boost: a very, very generous corporate donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association from Gord West and his entire team at Strongbar Industries.(www.strongbar.com). WOW!

I can't even begin to put into words how that felt. Gord and I have been friends since our family came to Canada in 1972. He and his friends Garth, Greg and Brent accepted me, the funny talking Jamaican with the frizzy hair unconditionally. We have been friends ever since.

Inspiration comes in many ways. At mile 23 on Saturday morning around December 5 around 9 am your generous support will keep me going. And yes, I will have pictures at the finish line.

Through all of this this though, one individual has kept-the-faith. Has kept the passion burning. She has kept me running with her line, "Run Christopher, run". Without her passionate support...often at great personal sacrifice...remember the story of her driving me to the start of the Toronto 1/2 Marathon?...I would not have made it through this year.

Thank you so very much, Sally. I love you very much.

Sally's deep passion has kept me motivated and inspired to keep going when things looked dark and crappy this past winter. "We're we are almost at this finish line".

42 x 2 on December 2. Bring it on!

Until next time...

Reflections on our trip to Jamaica

Graffiti is the most effective way to communicate with the people of Kingston. And not the ones who live in the mansions on the hills behind the gates and guard dogs.

Sally and I just got back from a week in Jamaica. We went to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of close family friends. And yes, I got in some really hot weather running for the Reggae Marathon December 5.

It was my first time 'bak a yaad' in over 10 years and Sally's first. We had a blast! But were constantly reminded of the divide between rich and poor. The gap seemed larger. My memories of growing up in Kingston haven't dulled with time. But the current economic and political realities of Jamaica in 2009 play out very starkly on the streets.

Some other reflections from our trip:

• Driving on the streets of Kingston is a...bit exciting! Not for the faint-of-heart. "Type A" personality from even little old ladies once they get behind the wheel.
• Car horns! Used liberally. In greeting. In anger. In frustration. Get used to it.
• Where do the wild goats on the streets come from?
• Where do the wild dogs on the streets live?
• Yes you can still go to a very safe, family beach in Kingston. We did and had the BEST fried fish and festival ever cooked. I can still taste the 1 lb Red Snapper! Sally loved hers done up as Brown Stew.
• Buses pass cars. Even on the tight, narrow, winding road up Mount Diablo on the way from Kingston to Ocho Rios. We took the Knutsford Express Luxury coach and learned a lot about 'overtaking' Jamaican style. http://www.knutsfordexpress.com/
• Jerk Chicken and Jerk Pork taste best in Jamaica. We make it better in Canada but nothing beats the taste of Jerk eaten with fingers right from the grill. At the Jerk Centre in Ocho Rios Sally and I worked our way though a tasty meal within hours of landing http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2885669-ocho_rios_village_jerk_centre_kingston-i.

We left the activity of Kingston for a couple of days of real R&R in Ocho Rios. It was exactly as I remembered. Busier of course (the car horns never stop) but just as beautiful.

From our condo window at Fisherman's Point we had a panoramic view of the crescent of white sand. http://www.fishermanspoint.net/. I didn't run along the beach (too stressful on the joints) but did manage some road runs up the coast to Dunn's River Falls.

Can you say HOT? Even at 7:30 am in the morning the blazing sun got my attention. Seriously! Already thinking about how to better prepare for the Reggae Marathon in 4 weeks.

Despite the 'challenges' we observed, we had a great time. Can hardly wait for December 2 when we come 'bak a yaad' for the Reggae Marathon.

And if you haven't got round to it yet, there is still time to donate. Follow this link for instructions: http://mykalsreport.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-donate-to-reggae-marathon-run.html

Until next time...

I got high on Sunday

And it only took 2:12:15. That was my time in the Goodlife Toronto 1/2 Marathon on Sunday. Started well and finished strong

The high began around the 5 km mark when I crested the uphill grade from Hogg's Hollow. That was one mean hill.

It stayed through the 15 km mark when I realized there were only 8 km to go. But it really intensified as I began the final stretch up University Avenue to the finish at Queens Park.

"HUGE" thanks to all the support from the Wasaga Beach Road Runners. So much training advice on our Sunday morning runs in Wasaga Beach. It all came down to one key thing: I ran MY race. I ran at my pace, didn't get sucked in to following faster runners early on, and had enough to finish really strong.

These shots were taken my #1 Support Person, Sally. She is not a morning person. Let me emphasize that: she is NOT a morning person.

We stayed overnight in Toronto at a fabulous hotel near the airport, Hotel Indigo to minimize the travel Sunday morning. Even with that we still got up at 5 am.

I must rephrase: I got up at 5 am to get the coffee ready.

Without that I shudder to think what the morning would have been like.

But she is a real trooper and actually got into the intensity of the day to take some really great shots.

And did it ever feel good to put this medal on. The feeling is still indescribable.

We had a celebration dinner later Sunday afternoon. Ribs! Pigged out on them actually. And the Guinnes...ahhhh....

Yes, I was still on my runners high.

My focus now turns to the Reggae Marathon on December 5 in Negril. I will run MY race there.

Check out how you can support my fundraising for my cause, Canadian Diabetes education and research. http://mykalsreport.blogspot.com/2009/08/how-to-donate-to-reggae-marathon-run.html

Until next time...

Paintball fundraiser for my Reggae Marathon Run

With a lot of help from 'the sons', we have set up a major fund raising event on November 14, 2009 in Wasaga Beach to raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. We call it the 'Wasaga Beach Paintballer' in support of the CDA.

Talk about support!

We have an 'all-inclusive' weekend planned that includes 4 hours of paintball fun at Wasaga Paintball, special banquet dinner at Beverly's-on-Main and 1 night's accommodation at Saga Resort. Plus there will be other 'stuff'.

Honestly I can't contain my excitement and emotion. Here is an idea that came from someone else and that everyone we have spoken to so far simply loves. And the best part is that we get to raise a lot of money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. The details are below:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUN THE REGGAE MARATHON
“ALL INCLUSIVE” PAINTBALL FUNDRAISER

“In support of the Canadian Diabetes Association”

Saturday, November 14
Wasaga Beach

Chris Morales is running in the grueling Reggae Marathon in Negril, Jamaica on December 5, 2009. His goal is to raise $10,000 for the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). You can donate to the cause and have a great all inclusive weekend playing paintball in Wasaga Beach on November 14.

1 s t Run the Reggae Marathon Fund Raising Paintballer

$145

• 4 hours of Paintball fun at Wasaga Paintball (includes gear,
  and equipment) http://www.wasagapaintball.on.ca/
• Banquet dinner at Beverly's on Main, one of Wasaga Beaches
  finest restaurants (alcohol not included)
• 1 night accommodation at Saga Resort, the best hotel in
  Wasaga Beach http://www.sagaresort.com/
• Light breakfast Sunday morning
• Prizes
• Includes a donation to the Canadian Diabetes Association (tax receipt will be issued)

Please make cheques payable to Chris Morales, CDA Fund Raiser Funds must be received by November 3, 2009. My email is: chris.morales@sympatico.ca and my phone is: 705 422 1657