Why can't every run be like this?

It was like running on a cloud.

Last Saturday out on my first run in a new pair of running shoes, everything clicked:  breathing deeply and without gasping;  landing on my mid-foot with quick and light leg turnover.  I went out for a quick 6 km run but felt I could have run for miles.

It must have been the new shoes!  It sure wasn't a result of loosing all that 'jiggly muffin top' mid-rift weight that I enjoyed building up over the winter.  I'm still working on that.

Maybe it was the weather.  Not too hot or too cold...just right in the mid-teens Celsius with no humidity or wind.  And at that early hour of the morning, not another soul in sight.  OK, that may have had something to do with the trail well off the beaten path that I was running on.

I ran with not a care in my head not worried about speed or form.  It's runs like this that make up for those mornings when my legs feel like lead, my breathing comes in gasps and I dread taking the next step. "Why can't every run be like this?"

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 31.  My 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.

Summer-time Running in Toronto

When you live in a big city it can be a challenge to 'get back to nature'.  Fortunately I live in Toronto and very fortunately right next to the Humber River.  And despite what you hear about the dysfunction in our local government, they were wise enough years ago to create a trail system along the bank that run for miles.

While it's not maintained in the winter, with the little snow we do get, it's often possible to get in a satisfactory run.  Now that summer is here, the full tree cover and greenery make for quite a scenic running route.

So, here are a few of the photos I took recently of one of my favourite places to run...along the Humber River in Toronto:

This is the start of my usual route along the Humber River.  The river is on the left at this part but in about 50 metres it crosses over the Humber River on a wooden bridge.  It's a strange feeling:  while the bridge is very sturdily constructed and supported, there is quite a lot of bounce on the wooden cross beams.  

Yes this is Etobicoke!  It's hard to believe that just metres away are busy roads and trains.  Down here though the sounds fade away.

I did mention the trains.  After an out-and-back run from basically Dundas Street down to the Old Mill near Bloor, I captured this as I was nearing the end of my run last week.  This is a pretty heavily used train route and it can get noisy at times but hey, we're in The City!

Off the main paved trail there are some 'detours' running closer to the river that provide some variety.  All hard packed dirt.  Can you smell the grass and trees?

I know I'm back home when I pass this 'Monolith'.  It feels like something out of a Planet of the Apes but it is really just one of the supports of the train bridge.  In about 30 seconds from this point is the final steep uphill back to our place.

Ahhh...another great run along the Humber River.

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.

Another Running Injury? What the...?

The Ice Pack is NOT a Fashion Accessory

This is NOT in the plan!  Getting injured again!!  

Last week during my weekly speed workout at the local High School track I felt a 'twinge'!  

What the...?

Dam!  That hurt.

I stopped instantly...I must have learned something after all...and walked home.  No trying to be a hero and 'toughing it out' that morning.  I immediately went to the ice pack and haven't run for the past few days.  I shouldn't have gone out for a speed workout that morning.  I was tired, didn't have a great night's sleep and had work on my mind.  In hindsight there was probably nothing I could have done to prevent the strained knee but I have to blame something.

So I'm back to recovery mode and not enjoying it one bit.  I'll be smart this time though:  no running until fully recovered.

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.

Sunday morning and my thoughts are on running

Stylin recently in
Usain Bolt Pumas

It's Sunday morning June 2, 2013.  I was up early this morning...what's new.  This morning was special for a couple of reasons.  First, I didn't go for a run.  I decided to do my version of strength and ab training instead (pushups and situps).  Second, it's my 6th Wedding Anniversary to my lovely wife, Sally. I know 6 years doesn't have a super special gift item (Whew!) but this one just seems so very special. So here I am sitting on the deck, rain gently falling, listing to Jazz streaming from my Tablet and tapping out this blog post and thinking about life...and running of course:

• Sally sat in the hot, humid, muddy field at Long Bay Beach Park in December 2009 when I took on and conquered my first full marathon at Reggae Marathon.  I had given her a target time of just over 4 hours.  Wow, did I ever blow that!  I crossed the finish line in 5 hours and 25 minutes.  For over an hour while I was battling the heat and my own mental demons, I also thought about her sitting their worrying!  The tears I shed at the finish were for lots of reasons that day not the least being for her support!
• Sally puts up with stinky running gear!  There I said it! I sweat.  A lot.  It's common for me to loose 5 lbs of body weight on a normal run. We live in an apartment.  It's a good size but... where do we put the stinky running gear.  Again, a saint.
• Sally put up with 3 years of my foot injuries.  Mostly caused by me of course not respecting my age and trying too many new things too fast.  The break from running last September when I broke the bones in my right foot was a much needed break (Whew...I think I ran that word into the ground).  It gave me time to re-calibrate.  

So I'm back running comfortably.  I do track workouts once a week to improve my speed.  I run varied loops around home most early mornings. And I mix it up with some strength training.  Wow!  Can this really be me?  Who is this new RunninGuy?

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.