Run for Heart, 2011 Fund Raising Campaign

"Run for Heart", the name of the fund raising campaign this year.  I am going to run anyway so might as well sweat for a good cause. 

Sunday, October 16 at the Scotiabank Toronto 1/2 Marathon and Saturday, December 3 at the Reggae Marathon in Negril are the 2 "Run for Heart" fund raising events.  My goal is to raise $2,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario and once again I've set up a secure online donation page with all the donations staying in Ontario:  "Run for Heart".

And this year I going all out with the colour coordination:  Red Puma Faas 500's will complete the ensemble.  Check them out here:



Flat and cool 1/2 marathon in October followed by a flat and a little warmer run in Negril in December to raise $2,000 for the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario:  Run for Heart.

If you see me on my early morning training runs, give me a shout out...if you can catch up with me...

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Life is not a dress rehearsal

"I couldn't help it".

It really makes me mad when I hear that. Yes you could.

The other day I head that dreaded line from a runner who didn't go out for a regular run because it was too hot.  Excuse piled on excuse but I only heard the first one before I tuned out. I wish I had seen the photo below in order to respond.

Life is not a dress rehearsal.  This is the show: Acts I, II and III.  We don't know when it ends and can't be sure if there's an encore.  Get running...or living, or loving...just get moving.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

I love beer...I love running

As I sit here on the back deck this Saturday morning enjoying what we call ‘a perfect Wasaga morning’…  cool temperature, sun breaking the horizon on a cloudless sky…my thoughts turn to…beer!  I know how that that sounds but recently I have enjoyed a renewed interest in beer.  And not the stuff of my youth, but craft beer from a range of excellent craft breweries operating in Ontario.  My favorites include Red Stripe, Hockley Valley, Steam Whistle, and my new favorite Waterloo Dark from Brick Brewery in Kitchener/Waterloo.

Red Stripe at the end of the Reggae Marathon.  While this is not from a craft brewer in Ontario, it deserves special mention. At the conclusion of the Reggae Marathon, iimmediately after the fresh cut coconut, the cold Red Stripe goes down really well.  And since the race starts at 5:15 am, this is an early morning beer.  And it tastes really good! Hockley Valley does a really good job with a 3 pack:  Dark, Black and Tan and Stout.  Not too heavy for drinking even in the warm summer months. Steam Whistle Pilsner.  While I prefer the darker beers, my friend Josh introduced me to the light, refreshing taste of the Pilsner.  Nice beer but a little too light for me. And last but not least, Waterloo Dark from Brick Brewery.  A nice dark beer without the heavy taste.  Drinkable all year even in the summer when I have been enjoying it most. And it goes down nicely after a long, hot run.

What does beer have to do with running?  Nothing actually:  I love beer and I love running.

Until next time…

ThatRunninGuy

If I live to be 100, I want to run on a beach

Only 47 years to go and I want to be running every day to get there.

If I do live to be 100 the one thing that will keep me motivated is a beach at sunset.  Walking barefoot on the sand and wading into the shallow, warm water is on my highlight reel.  Sally, Tia and I enjoyed that yesterday at the end of a glorious day in Southern Georgian Bay that started with my early morning along this stretch of Wasaga Beach.



I grew up in Jamaica and the most memorable experiences happened on the beach.  Dunns River Falls, Discovery Bay and especially Negril.  Now Negril was a special treat.  It was over a 4 hour hard drive to get there from our home outside of Kingston but it was worth it. The miles of white sand beach with the warm, shallow water were the best!

Driving north from Toronto to Wasaga Beach stimulates similar feelings.  It may seem strange to compare Negril to Wasaga Beach, but they are so similar that they beg comparison.  Both curve along miles of white sand and both have spectacular sunsets.  I'm fortunate to be able to enjoy both each year:  Negril  in December for the Reggae Marathon and Wasaga Beach the rest of the year.

If I do live to be 100 I the next 47 years will include time well spent walking and running on the beach.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy