More Muffin Tops

From the reaction on Twitter last week, it seems I hit a raw nerve with the Muffin Top story.  The Muffin Top photo to be exact...my Muffin Top photo:

From Larry Savitch (@opus00)
so glad to have seen That first thing in the morning..  

Navin Sadrigani (@navin48):
The 1st muffin was good to watch,the 2nd would have been good to read abt, at most

My cousin, Karin Wilson had this to say (@Yardedge):
Muffin tops only good 4 eating Nothing another reggae marathon won't take care off!

Navin waded back in (@navin48):
ha ha, funny to see everyone respond. You at least are now certain that you need to let go of both muffins :-) Cheers.

After I deleted the offending photo, Navin had this to say (@navin48):
And the world is normal again :-D

And Larry Savitch had the last word...or so he thought (@opus00):
I was diggin the pic, just not 1st thing in the morning, was a brave move to post

Larry, here is another photo of...the Muffin Top :)

Delicious...

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

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

Muffin Top...Love Handles...oh my!

This Muffin Top causes the
'other' Muffin Top

Well it happened.  Gravity seems to have won.  I knew it was inevitable but hoped it would wait until my 6th decade.  Nope, 55 it was to be. Muffin Top!

I've tried 'sucking in my stomach' to minimize/eliminate it.  Works for about 15 seconds.  

I've bought larger size pants with 'high rise' but that just means my waist has moved up to my lower rib cage...not an attractive look for a middle-age guy...and it would only get worse.

I've gone to bulky sweaters.  That works well in the winter but not so cool in the summer.  Especially now that the hot, humid weather and temperatures have arrived with a vengeance in Toronto.

Am I finally past the stage of running tights?  Running shorts:  that option is even less attractive!  Unless I run at 3 am in the morning under cover of the dark, the Fashion Police will haul me in for sure.

Maybe I finally have to embrace weight training.  Yuck!

Dare I say ask the question, "Is my Muffin Top here to stay?"  Say it ain't so!!  I'm not ready to give up just yet.  I have 5 months until bathing suit weather in Negril at Reggae Marathon.  "Gravity...and age...you haven't won just yet!

So here's the plan: eliminate the salty snacks and junk food (including diet pop), smaller portion sizes, reduce alcohol, keep running.  

Muffin Top of the real Muffin courtesy of Wikipedia:  Edible Muffin.  Mmmmm....

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

Please join me on Facebook at Run for Heart.

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

++++++++++

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.