Canada Day Running

There really wasn't anything special about my run this morning.  OK, I was up extra early and it was nice to get out for another summer time run. And what a summer morning it was:  24 degrees Celsius with a humidex reading over 34 Celsius.  And still...not a breeze in the air.  Perfect conditions for a nice sweaty run!

On my way down to the Trails that run along the Humber River this tree stump rising above the lush green caught my eye.

It's a pretty steep dirt trail down to the Humber River's edge.  Easy on the way down at the start of my run...swear words out loud at the end on my way back up.

But then this is what I run for...a cool canopy of trees arching over the paved trail breaking the early morning light.

Happy Canada Day!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Stay Young; Keep Running

Or maybe if we keep running we stay young.  Either way, I love these:

"You don't stop running because you get old. You get old because you stop running" from Jack Kirk, ninety-six-year-old super-runner, from Christopher McDougall's bestseller Born to Run.

I've been at it over 30 years now.  Running through illness, injuries good times and bad.  Getting up in the morning to go running is like breathing for me.  My day just doesn't feel right unless I've started it with a run.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Running through my mind this Father's Day

I've always tried not to think about anything while running.  Running for me has been as much mental as physical:  great workout physically and a great stress reliever mentally.  It's why I've rarely listened to music through headphones.  Plus I'm a little paranoid:  I want to hear the bad guys...or vehicles...approaching.  But I digress.

One of the things that ran through my mind this morning was Father's Day that we celebrated this past Sunday.  I was blessed with a great Dad.  Oh he was far from perfect ... I can still remember him yelling at me for now being able to find a hammer when I was 12!  And if I told you about the antics at the regular weekend beach picnics or house parties in Jamaica, you wouldn't believe me!  Over the course of his time with me he did manage to share some life lessons that I have tried hard to live to:

1. Never do business with someone unless you have met them first, shaken their hand and looked into their eyes.  This is even more important since the Internet where we hide behind Facebook and email.
2. Live life to the fullest and always with a smile.  He was an optimist rarely without a story or a smile.
3. Be honest in everything you do. You knew where you stood with him at all times...he was transparent.
4. Walk with a spring in your step.  He never dragged his feet.
5. Always keep moving.  I was very young when he shared this nugget so it did not relate to my running but it does apply to running.

I thought about Dad's advice as I ran this morning.  Particularly in context of being a father myself and still in the afterglow of spending Sunday afternoon with the Boys and Sally on Father's Day.

As I stumbled through life working and raising a family had I been able to impart as much simple wisdom? Had I let my life challenges get in the way of raising a family?  As my Grandmother would have asked, "Had I raised good kids?".  I think so...I hope so!  As I neared the end of my run I realized what I have tried to do as a Parent:  Impart on them the wisdom of my Father.  

Dad got to see me compete once.  It was a Triathalon event near Fergus.  In the jostling crowd before the start of the Swim I couldn't see him or Mum in the spectator crowd but just before I dashed into the water I heard him shout out in his distinctive voice, "Chris".  I had a great race that day!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Allergic to Running?

Tree Cover along my Running Routes in Etobicoke

My allergies have been driving me crazy this year!

I'm very sure that I'm not actually allergic to running.  I get bored some days if I've repeated a running route too frequently.  And in the Winter the 'Hell has Frozen Over' sub-zero degree temperatures were challenging.  But no, I'm pretty sure it's not the running I'm allergic to.  The pollen on the other hand...

Earlier this year the talk was all about the lack of spring in Southern Ontario. With an extremely short or really no spring, the discussion was about the heavy pollination that would occur once the warmer weather came. Having lived with respiratory allergies for the past 40 years, I took this seriously.  I got my nasal spray prescription filled and put in a stock of Claritin/Reactine (the only two that offer any help).

Then I went on a run...

We live in a heavily wooded and treed area of Central Etobicoke right along the Humber River.  I mean a ton of trees.  From the air (that's the Google Map image above) it really is that green with lots of mature trees along every one of my running routes.  And they've all been having a grand time pollinating!  I think they're out to get me...I swear I can hear them whispering to each other as I run by "Spew now!".  Seriously, some mornings I can almost see, breathe in and taste the pollen.  I felt like total crap after running Monday morning.  Let me correct that, after 'shuffling along' for about 30 minutes.

I'm hoping that was the bottom...that the heavy stuff has passed now that the trees and flowers are in full bloom.  I'll find out again for sure on my next run.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy