A day of running firsts on May 12

27,000 Runners at the Start of the Sporting Life 10K
Photo courtesy of Bonnie Fowler

First of all the Sporting Life 10K this past Sunday morning was the first race Sally has driven me to in well over a year.  That is not trivial:  it was a 5:30 am wake up call for her on a cold Sunday morning.  And on Mother's Day to boot.  Yes, she really loves me.  Tia on the other hand just wanted to go for a car ride!  

Getting to the start was an easy cross-town drive via a couple of side streets that got me very close to the baggage check truck just north of the Sporting Life store on Yonge Street.  Kudos for the race organizers for handling the bag check very well:  at the end of the race, all the checked bags were neatly lined up and organized according to race bib number.  I was able to get out of my wet running gear very quickly.  But I am ahead of myself...

27,000 runners is one extremely large group!

Thankfully the race organizers had it figured out very well.  We were placed in colour-coded start corals based on our expected finish times.  Then each group was sent off at 10 minute intervals.  Even with this set up, I was always running in a crowd.  But that was the thrill of it.

At 10 kilometres this first race in over a year wasn't a particularly challenging distance for me physically. Plus it was almost all downhill.  Mentally though it was a different matter.  Would I crack a previously injured foot bone?  Would my plantar issue rear it's nasty little head?  Would my calf muscles seize up?  With those thoughts buzzing through my head, my head kept me slow and steady for almost the entire race.  That was a first!  I did pick up the pace at the 8 K mark though and managed a sprint-to-the finish for the final 500 metres.  

The post-race experience was a breeze:  through the finish chute quickly, medal over head, Gatorade, banana and bagel in quick order.  These race organizers had it down pat with enough volunteers to ensure there were no glitches.  The acid test though was the bag claim area.  There was absolutely no delay in picking out my bag and getting out of my wet gear quickly.  That was absolutely necessary since by then it was totally overcast and windy.  It was cold!  

One final note:  I ran with one of my son's and his friends.  OK, let's try that again:  I was in the same race event as Court.  He was in the first starting wave just behind the Elites and burned up the course in just under 41 minutes.  That was truly fast.  Maybe if he actually trained...  It is a nice feeling to know that 'the kid' was out there though.  For fun here are the results:

	Age Group	Age Group Placing	Overall Placing	Pace / KM	Chip Time
Chris	Male 55 - 59	178/360	9932	6:08	59:23
Court	Male 25 - 29	388/1850	454	4:13	40:54

So with the 25 year age difference I ran 50% slower and still placed in the top half in my age group.  I could have sworn there were more 'middle age' men running.  Not bad for the "Old Man' though.

Oh, and Sally, for my next race in October I'll take a cab.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  My other planned races in 2013 include:

1. The Toronto Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon, October 20
2. The Reggae Marathon, December 7.  

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Running through my mind

Sunrise over Toronto

What's so special about running?  Ridiculously simple and doesn't require any really special equipment.  A decent pair of running shoes, comfortable and weather-appropriate gear and the great outdoors.  Dead simple.  I've tried swimming and cycling...for a couple of years I competed in Triathlons.  Sprint distances only but I gained respect for elite athletes.  I liked both swimming and cycling although the wet suit and Tri-Bike were serious investments.  But I loved the run...is it any surprise that Triathlons finish with a run?

So after a lot of thought and consideration...OK, I really thought about these on my latest run...here are some random thoughts:

• "If running is easy why is this run so hard"
• "Breathe, breathe, breathe..."
• "Dam...that driver doesn't see me...I'll go behind the car".  Better to be alive than injured
• "Love the birds chirping".  Ahhh...it must be spring
• "Keep moving".  I hate stop lights!
• "Fresh air".  I live and run in a heavily populated urban area but am blessed with the running routes lined with mature trees.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  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.

A lot of Running this past weekend

Ran to Work
in my
2010 Reggae Marathon T

Whew!  I need a day off after this past weekend.  It was packed with running and it was all good.

First up was Run to Work Friday.  It was a 12 km run mostly downhill from home to the office in downtown Toronto.  I took all my clothes to the office Thursday and traveled light on Friday morning:  debit card, Driver's License and Subway pass.  The Subway pass was 'just in case' but thankfully I didn't have to use it and subject passengers to my 'Runner's Scent'.  The running itself was uneventful.  I was incredibly slow but I got er dun!  I'm feeling pretty good for my first race this year the Sporting Life 10 K on May 12.

At Runner's Mark
Reggae Marathon Info Session

On Saturday morning I didn't run.  It seems I have finally figured out that rest is an important part of staying fit and healthy so I did a whole bunch of pushups.  Working on the core!  I know I have a six-pack under that layer of middle-age stomach fat.  I did get to talk running however as the guest of the Runner's Mark group who are planning their return to Reggae Marathon this December.  Saturday at 12 noon was their Reggae Marathon information session.  Ingrid, Carl and Wendy and their group enjoyed themselves in Negril last December and are looking forward to even more fun this December.  

Sunday morning I headed to the local high school track for some speed work.  Honestly this is not my favourite form of running but after a tough workout I feel great.  Physically tired of course but mentally satisfied.  The afternoon was spent as usual with Tia watching another James Bond movie.  Casino Royal...again.  Tia sees Daniel Craig as eye candy!  Plus it was a reward for me after all that running.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  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.

Running to Work this Friday for Boston

Not only will I get in a long run this Friday morning, I'll be supporting everyone in Boston.  It's officially called Run to Work Day and it grabbed me when I heard about it.  

The tragedy in Boston really affected me last week.  Both as a runner and more personally:  I had family members who where at the finish line near where the bomb went off.  My cousin's daughter was at the exact site of the blast earlier in the afternoon and my other cousin's husband, a police officer was on the EMT.  

So this Friday, in support of all the people who were affected in Boston last week, I'm running to work and making a donation to Run to Work Day.  You won't be able to miss me in the streets of Toronto this Friday...I'll be in my Reggae Marathon 2012 T Shirt!  Will you join me this Friday?

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

++++++++++

I'm raising funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation in 2013.  My goal is to raise $2,000 by December 31.  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.