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

I don't like Running Snobs

That's putting it too mildly.  "I hate Running Snobs". That feels better. Let me explain.

Last Saturday I spent the day at the Reggae Marathon and Jamaica Tourist Board booth at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon Expo.  I was there on behalf of Reggae Marathon to help promote the race and travel in general to Jamaica.  It was a pretty good way to spend a cold Saturday in Toronto:  Talking with runners about Jamaica and the special experience of running Reggae Marathon in December.  I got a few good pictures with runners and Reggae Marathon fans, a few of whom were not only excited about their race the next day but were also coming to Negril for Reggae Marathon December 6.  Lots of training and running stories.  I was having a good time until...

"Real runners don't race anything under Half Marathons" she harumphed when I noted that while I was a long-time runner,  I really liked the 10K's.  I was taken aback...speechless for a moment actually. I recovered quickly and with a smile asked for clarification.  "We real runners run long distances...too many of  'these runners today' are merely joggers". Fortunately I stayed composed, handed her a Reggae Marathon brochure letting her know it was a 'real race' with a Certified Course and Timing Chips while sending her on her way.

"Running Snob!"  Fortunately my inside voice stayed inside my head.  But it got me thinking:  Does running still have these Running Snobs?  People who feel if you don't run 70+ Kilometres each week, walk or just run for fun means you're not a real runner?  Unfortunately yes.  And that's sad.

I like reading about all kinds of runners.  I especially find the stories of Seasoned Runners inspiring. But I truly admire those runners, men and women who get out and run knowing they'll never 'Medal'; the runners who run for health and fun.  They may not put in grueling distances each week, they may take a walk break...heck, they may even miss a day or two each week. But they are REAL runners. I've been fortunate to have spoken with a number of these runners about why they run. The remarkable common theme is that for them running was and is a life saver.  They overcame or got through a life challenge through running. They improved themselves...they survived!  They're not snobs.  And I like that.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

A few more of my favourite Running Quotes

Every once in a while I go through a rough patch.  During those challenging times my friend and guide has been running.  Running doesn't solve all the problems of the world.  It is great alone time and the workout helps relieve stress.  I also find that motivational and inspirational sayings help a lot as well.  My favourite source is Gibson's Daily Run Quotes.  These spoke to me.

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." -- George Sheehan, from Did I Win?: A Farewell to George Sheehan by Joe Henderson

"Each time you run you will receive lessons. You have enrolled in the school of ultrarunning. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid. What you think makes no difference; the lessons will be presented until learned.  When you run there are no mistakes, only lessons. The art and science of ultrarunning is a process of trial and error and experimentation. The failed experiments are as much a part of the process as the combination that ultimately works."  --Keith Pippin, from A Step Beyond: The Definitive Guide to Ultrarunning by Don Allison

"One successful running coach used to tell his athletes to 'live like a clock.' In other words, you should do the same things at the same time every day. Go to bed at the same time, wake up at the same time, eat your meals at the same time, and do your workout— you guessed it—at the same time. This isn't always practical, but just by trying you'll make it easier to fit in your planned workouts." -- Amby Burfoot, Runner's World Complete Book of Beginning Running

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Keep calm...I got it under control!

This week's blog post isn't really about running.  Although I could argue that my next running shirt will have this on both the front and the back.  It will be a technical shirt for sure that I can wear in race events.  But then that would be stretching it...hey no comments about my expanding midrift!

And to stretch the running link even further, at the start of a race the best way to stay in control of 'Your' race is to ... Keep Calm!

So this really is about running after all.  But it was a long stretch :)

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy