Sisyphus and the Art of Running Stairs

Like Sisyphus, running stairs is an exercise in repetition:  Run up, walk down, repeat.  Over and over. Until my quads quiver and my legs feel like jelly.  Ahh...the joys of running!

Sisyphus was the guy who had the unenviable and unending task of pushing a rock up a hill, having it roll down and having to push it back up again. This was punishment for him.  To the people in the nearby apartments who see me running repetitively up and down the stairs early mornings it must look like I too am being punished!

But although running stairs is punishing, I'm not Sisyphus, I'm not being punished.  There is method to my madness of running stairs but 'Shhh...don't tell anyone". You see, in the last two Reggae Runners Challenges (Half Marathon in Toronto a couple of years ago and last year at Reggae Marthon) I took the distinction of coming in last. In both events! And while I put on the 'Happy Face', I was not pleased.  It's been nagging at me all this time. This year at Reggae Marathon December 6 I'm determined to end this tradition. Watch out Dan, Larry, Navin, Deb and anyone else in the Reggae Runners Challenge!  I'm running stairs!!

So far I have managed to elude the foot injuries that previous experiences with running stairs caused: nasty flare-ups of Plantar Fasciitis.  I've had a little twinge in my right knee but a day or so of rest cures that.  The good news is that on my regular runs I'm running faster and more efficiently. I'm able to put in a quick burst of speed and recover quickly.  Nice.

So thanks Sisyphus for the inspiration to keep running stairs.  Last place will be history!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Content Marketing and Social Media

The current topic in Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing in particular is Content. Creation, distribution, sharing;  Original and User-generated.  And while challenging to measure in terms of hard ROI, Content Marketing via Social Media is growing both in importance and effectiveness.  At the heart of Content Marketing is an 'old school' concept:  Word-of-Mouth!  Amplified many times over by effective use of Social Media.

For Brands and Marketers looking to maximize Content Marketing, three words are key:  "Create, Curate, Optimize".  Here's an Infographic that does a good job of showing how:

Chris Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

Some Running "Pick-me-ups"

I run for no reason at all.

I used to run to win.  Not to come in first...I am not an Elite.  I set goals:  Not last; Top Half Overall; Top 10 in my age group.  It was fun for a while and for a couple of years when I competed in Triathalons I expended a lot of energy setting, training and competing to hit those goals.  I knew I had gone too far though when one day after making a delicious Pasta meal I referred to the meal as 'Fuel'.  Sally was not impressed!  She is an excellent cook and the meal was spectacular.  So after 30 years I'm back to just running.


Even though I love running some mornings I'm challenged with getting out of my warm bed and heading out for a run. Especially when it's dark, cold and wet.  On those mornings I turn to motivation quotes for a pick-me-up.

I especially like this last one.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Rushing Water

As you know I like water.  From the sandy beaches in Jamaica where I grew up, to mountain lakes in Western Canada I visited with the kids to the mighty Humber River that rushes past our home where we live now.  It's all about moving water.

I run through very well developed residential and commercial areas.  It's not tough to find rivers and streams but it is a challenge to run alongside them.  This little gem of a creek quietly goes about it's business.  Just north of this location it passes through a golf course and just south it runs through heavily treed backyards...I envy those home owners who get to enjoy their own private creek.

At the spot I took this photograph, it runs under the major intersection of Islington Avenue and Dundas Street West.  If you're driving on Dundas Street you'll miss it for sure;  Southbound on Islington you may catch a glimpse.  While running though it's possible to slip off Islington Avenue and pick up a paved trail that runs along the creek for a hundred metres or so.  Lots of green along this short stretch that with the sound of the water over the rocks almost completely drowns out the road noise mere metres away.

It's not much but it is enough.  Especially buried deep within the City.  I try to run by this spot at least once a week.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy