Training Ended Abruptly, and Walking Reigned...
Walking reigned for almost 5 weeks. Then, the engine caught a spark....
After my 10-mile run on March 15 I felt pretty good. I recorded "long, good run" in my journal and circled a star because it was a PB or personal best (since my last 10 mile run, at least 15 years ago).
"books, beats, beer". I know how to take life easy : )
I took it easy during the next two days. On Monday I walked downtown, bought a couple of fat, used books at a popular store on Dundas St., picked up a couple of Johnny Cash cd's next door at Grooves, and on the way home grabbed 6 or 7 cans at York St. LCBO.
On Tuesday I walked north on the TVP to Gibbons Park, and while returning home - guided by the spirit of St. Patrick's Day - stepped onto Blackfriar's Bridge (a lovely green structure) to enjoy a few warming sips of Irish whiskey.
Cheers!!
Because the doors to the YMCA were bolted and the Forest City Half Marathon was cancelled, my desire to keep a strict running schedule disappeared almost as quickly as the last drop of Bushmills. March became a 'marching month', i.e., I replaced running with a walking routine, and after the first week I did not regret my choices.
Running out. Walking in. Snap.
I walked about 100 miles in what was left of March. ('B' = 'exercise bike').
Walkn home from the TVP with a GoPro in my pocket. Running? What's that?
My routine in April was much the same. I walked just about everyday and covered roughly 100 miles by the middle of the month, or April 16th.
I often carried a camera and snapped 100s of photos, some of local art and graffiti, some of 'the regulars' on city pathways. Occasionally I had thoughts about running a half marathon in the fall, maybe in Toronto.
I often carried a camera and snapped 100s of photos, some of local art and graffiti, some of 'the regulars' on city pathways. Occasionally I had thoughts about running a half marathon in the fall, maybe in Toronto.
Local art on a walkway support on King Street
Graffiti on Wortley Rd., under the CNR overpass
The Lady in the Long Black Coat
. . . . . . . . . .
On Friday, April 17 I alternated walking and jogging to Wonderland Gardens, turned around, and - nice and steady-like - ran all the way home.
In that 7-mile route I estimated I ran about 5 miles in all... fairly easily. And after almost 5 weeks of steady walking, I wondered... where did that run come from? Could I do it again?
. . . . . . . . . .
A run on April 17 was a spark. Sunday arrived, engine running.
Two wee strikes of a match had occurred before that April 17th run. I learned earlier in the month that a commemorative t-shirt and medal was soon going to be delivered to my door by the Forest City Road Race organizers. And I heard my neighbour say he was going to run his own half marathon on Sunday, April 26, the original race date.
I had mulled those things over. Would I wear the running t-shirt if I didn't earn it? Would the race medal mean anything if I did not run a race of my own? Should I join my neighbour on race day?
And I had wondered. I enjoyed my daily walks, but could I still run 1 or 2 miles again, maybe more, and more after that? Lots of questions. Not any answers.
And I had wondered. I enjoyed my daily walks, but could I still run 1 or 2 miles again, maybe more, and more after that? Lots of questions. Not any answers.
So I walked/ran 7 miles on April 17 to get a better sense of what I could handle. The distance didn't bother me, nor was I stiff or tired the next day.
On the following Sunday, after a half-mile walk, I ran 9.5-miles at a slow but steady pace. And though I was pretty tired afterwards and really stiff the next day, I wasn't on Tuesday... or Wednesday.
Wednesday: "I had an idea, kind of a last-minute, hasty, dumb one."
"Forget 7 miles. Aim for another 10-miler. It will give you confidence on Sunday."
Thumbs up to that, I thought.
"As well, if you feel OK, you could run a little farther than last time. Nothing wrong with 10.5 miles."
I must have been feeling OK. Thumbs up.
And so the bargaining began, and instead of turning around at Storybook Gardens and heading home with a 10-miler 'done and delivered', I ran farther west and checked off a few more challenges.
"Run to the dam, at least." Check.
"Now go past the dam and up that hill." Check.
"Now keep running west to the big curve (at the west end of Springbank Park)." Check.
"Keep going around the curve. Look for the next distance marker. Figure out how far you've gone."
Thumbs up (with a bit less energy that the last few times).
"There's a distance marker near the Olde Stone Cottage. Aim for that."
And I did. I reached the Stone Cottage and an old, familiar distance marker from my days as a member of the London Pacers. I thought I was about half-way to a half marathon so I turned around, and headed back the way I came.
While running toward home I completed some complicated mathematical problems involving a mix of miles and kilometers and conversion tables. I eventually determined that when I reached my house in Wortley Village I'd be a half-mile short of the half marathon distance. Fortunately, I knew how to easily tack on an extra half-mile when I reached my driveway.
So I headed for home and that extra half-mile. But there was nothing easy about it.
My legs felt like heavy timbers during the last mile and I was forced to walk for about 60 seconds to climb Wortley Road from York St. But I soon thereafter past my driveway, tacked on the extra, and raised my arms in victory when I returned to the driveway a few minutes later.
"Run past that tree. Run past the next tree. Keep on going"
I must have been feeling OK. Thumbs up.
And so the bargaining began, and instead of turning around at Storybook Gardens and heading home with a 10-miler 'done and delivered', I ran farther west and checked off a few more challenges.
"Run to the dam, at least." Check.
"Now go past the dam and up that hill." Check.
"Now keep running west to the big curve (at the west end of Springbank Park)." Check.
"Keep going around the curve. Look for the next distance marker. Figure out how far you've gone."
Thumbs up (with a bit less energy that the last few times).
"There's a distance marker near the Olde Stone Cottage. Aim for that."
And I did. I reached the Stone Cottage and an old, familiar distance marker from my days as a member of the London Pacers. I thought I was about half-way to a half marathon so I turned around, and headed back the way I came.
While running toward home I completed some complicated mathematical problems involving a mix of miles and kilometers and conversion tables. I eventually determined that when I reached my house in Wortley Village I'd be a half-mile short of the half marathon distance. Fortunately, I knew how to easily tack on an extra half-mile when I reached my driveway.
So I headed for home and that extra half-mile. But there was nothing easy about it.
My legs felt like heavy timbers during the last mile and I was forced to walk for about 60 seconds to climb Wortley Road from York St. But I soon thereafter past my driveway, tacked on the extra, and raised my arms in victory when I returned to the driveway a few minutes later.
It wasn't pretty. I was a lot slower than I'd originally planned (by 20 minutes). But I was done.
A Forest City Road Race volunteer delivered a race t-shirt and half marathon medal the next day. And I felt I'd legitimately earned both items.
This afternoon, during a four-mile walk (while a Honda dealer was putting summer tires on my car), I thought about a fall half marathon.
"Why, you know you wanna do it." Check.
Yeah, I really think I do.
PS - As of 10 minutes ago, I am still listed in first place in my age group.
Q: How many people are in your age group, Gord?
A: Oh, I never took time to count them all up. Surely, there are hundreds of others : )
"Anybody know of a half marathon that ends next to a beer tent?"
A Forest City Road Race volunteer delivered a race t-shirt and half marathon medal the next day. And I felt I'd legitimately earned both items.
This afternoon, during a four-mile walk (while a Honda dealer was putting summer tires on my car), I thought about a fall half marathon.
"Why, you know you wanna do it." Check.
The GREAT Canadian Comeback continues.
I've got the shoes, I've got the watch. I just need a date in the fall.
Yeah, I really think I do.
PS - As of 10 minutes ago, I am still listed in first place in my age group.
Q: How many people are in your age group, Gord?
A: Oh, I never took time to count them all up. Surely, there are hundreds of others : )
Please link to Now This Is Happening (3).
Photos GH
