Final Run of the Year! 10:1 (x3)

The final run of the year 2008 was stopped short as my left knee started to get a bit of pain -- reminded me of the Runner's Knee of over a year ago. I did get in 3.87 K and will be taking it a bit easy the next little while (must be the 5 K run from Sunday). Now to practice the stretching exercises I was supposed to do when I got my custom orthodics...

My final mileage for 2008 = 1314.22 K

2008 Year in Review

2008 was a most amazing year! Highlights include:

- Participant in the Running Room 1000 K Club – ran 1300 K in the year injury-free by building up weekly mileage consisting of 3-4 runs (including before or after work)

- Maintained a blog, http://lim314159.blogspot.com, with 145 postings; viewed 3200 times

- Completed the following races as a runner – focus in the year was the half marathon:

o 5K (1): Resolution Run – 28:04 PB (under ½ hour!)
o 10K (2): Sporting Life; HBC – 58:32 PB (under 1 hour!)
o 10 Miler (1): Nissan
o 15K (1): Midsummer Night’s Run
o Half Marathon (4): Mississauga; Toronto Waterfront; Toronto Marathon; Ajax – gradual improvement from 2:21:33.4 -> 2:05:26.2 -> 2:04:56.3 -> 2:03:00

- Wear YakTrax Pro on shoes for winter running no snow and ice; slow start to year since didn’t have this.

- Custom orthodics continue to do their job

- Bought an iPod shuffle for the LSDs

- Stocked up on clearance shoes: Brook Adrenaline GTS 7 – earlier in year discounted to $99.99 and then 20% discount coupon; now the price is $59.99 with no discount coupon (currently in progress) – have about 5 new pairs in the closet

- Apparel: winter pants bought at the RR; wore the Lock tight shorts on runs and races this summer

- Subscribed to Canadian Running Magazine and iRun (this one is free). Also renewed subscriptions to Runners’ World and Men’s Health

- Did not meet any new celebrities like in 2007

Race Report: Resolution Run

After taking Bud on his morning walk and feeding him breakfast, I left the house for the Resolution Run in Toronto. I did a slow run to the race site and arrived with seconds until the the starting buzzer. This is the 3rd consecutive year registering for this fun run. Fortunately, the roads were not icy, although there were some puddles at the start. As always, the beginning was a bit conjested but eventually got to good running room. I debated about using this race as part of my LSD or to actually race it. I opted, since I did pay $45.00, that I would race it. I wanted to be under 30 minutes for the first time and knew I could do it. I finished the race in a time of 28:04, although my Garmin did say 4.87 K (usually the Garmin says I've run more than supposed to since not taking all the tangent turns properly).

I continue to find the 5 K challenging since one must start fast and end fast. I do prefer the longer distances since you can get into a groove.

I was disappointed with the post-race food as there was only water (no Gatorade); bananas; and cookies. I was hoping for a bagel. Funny how this fun run is advertised in the Running Room magazine as some people register for the food -- come to think of it, I think the same thing happened last year. Otherwise, I enjoyed this fun run. It was well supervised by the police. The weather was great -- warm, about 10C, and it stopped raining (although the roads were wet). It would have been nice to have the Resolution Run on New Year's Eve or on New Year's day -- but I guess it was due to the City of Toronto not allowing it for this particular site.

Now to enjoy my jacket! Overall, good value.

Boxing Day 10:1 (x4) + Resolution Run Pick-Up

Today's Boxing Day! Debated whether to do an LSD or short run; since I've run Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and now today, better to go with another short run. Good thing since it started to snow and my glasses were no longer clear. With today's 10:1 (x4), got in 5.48 K, for a yearly total of 1300.40 K. Yeah!! I've reached the 1300 K mark :-)

After my short run, went to the Running Room to pick-up my Resolution Run jacket and bib for Sunday's run. I was originally assigned bib #494 but opted for another palindrome #888. The man was nice enough to allow me to have any number I wanted. Maybe I should have picked #314? This will be a fun run to end off an amazing year. I will need to post a year in reflection as well as my goals for the upcoming new year.





Having picked up some racing brochures, I opted to sign up for 3 races put on by the Canada Running Series to take advantage of their combo package of saving $10: Sporting Life 10K; Nissan 10-Miler; Scotiabank Toronto full marathon. Wow -- great to think of the summer!

Xmas Day -- 10:1 (x4)

Xmas day! Got in 10:1 (x4) on the icy sidewalks and roads this morning. The above temperatures and melting snow froze when the temperature got below freezing point. Good thing for the YakTrax pro! Today was 5.93 K, for a YTD = 1294.92 K.

Will be picking up my Resolution Run registration package (with jacket!) either tomorrow or on Saturday. It's been a great year. I'm going to write my reflections of the 2008 year after the Resolution Run and then look ahead to the new year.

10:1 (x4)

Got in a 3rd consecutive run of 10:1 (x4) this morning. We're supposed to get more snow this afternoon so I opted for this morning's run (with tomorrow a rest day). The weather is really bizarre as we're forecasted to get rain -- which means puddles on the sidewalks. I can "live" with the snow and ice on the sidewalks but floods? Love the YakTrak pro on my shoes -- just have to becareful when I'm in a store after the run as I've had near falls several times. Total = 5.55 K. I downloaded all the runs from the Garmin to my computer. Today was a slow run (as they always are in training), averaging 7.6 K/hr. YTD = 1288.99 K.

Photos of Bud taken this afternoon. He loves the snow!

10:1 (x4)

Official first day of the holidays. Aftermath of the snow from yesterday (more to come tomorrow afternoon). Got in 10:1 (x4), wearing the YakTraks on the shoes. Much nicer run than yesterday as most of the sidewalks were shoveled -- especially in the business areas. YTD = 1283.44 K (inching towards the 1300 K).

I had a $25 Shoppers Drug Mart coupon and got a box of Sharkies (12 packages) -- they'll be good for the LSDs. During the LSDs, I'll need to see how my body takes the PowerBar Gels -- I bought 3 of them close to work for a discount of $1.00 each.

Time for some "down time" to read books on running. By the way, I bought a copy of I Run Therefore I am -- Nuts at chapters.ca last night.

This week = 5.44 K

I'm officially on holidays! I've looked forward to this time so I can get out and run routinely. Unfortunately, there is snow, snow, and more snow out there. I wasn't going to report a 0 K week so I went out and did a 10:1 (x4) as my LSD. I wore my Yaktrax Pro shoe tractions for the first time this morning. I almost tripped twice while in the Shoppers Drug Mart. They're great for the outdoors just not for the indoors. Today I got in 5.44 K, for a YTD = 1277.7 K. I'm still inching for the 1300 K mark and will be running 10:1 (x4) several times this week in the snow. What I want for Xmas...+10C weather to melt all the snow away :-)

I've signed up on the RR for the 2009 Challenge. I am aiming to run 1000 Miles in 2009. After I've accomplished that, I will aim for 2009 K. First things first though and want to avoid injury. Easy does it...

Looking forward to the Resolution Run on December 28th in Toronto. Also looking forward to owning one of the jackets!

Lone Run this Week: 10:1 (x19)

Was able to get only 1 run in this week. There was snow and ice on the grounds (not to mention cold weather). This morning was actually above 0C but there was freezing rain in the middle of the run. Once again, I ran east on the Danforth (to Warden) and then back. I was tempted to run on the Martin Goodman Trail but opted not to (probably a good idea since it was windy and could be icy on the trail). I did struggle in the final 3 intervals but I did finish! LSD = 25.66 K. YTD = 1272.26 K.

Saturday's 10:1 (x18)

Opted for my LSD on Saturday (rather than Sunday) after listening to the radio forecast of snow. Great move as it is Sunday as I write and the snow came down yesterday afternoon -- there's snow and ice on the ground.

Yesterday had a 10:1 (x18) i.e., 3H 18M "out there". Ran east on the Danforth until Warden and then ran back home. Okay, also went to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see some art afterwards. A bit chilly when I walked to the art gallery and then back home. To load up on the carbs, I had a slice of pizza (well deserved!).

Great run as it was definitely slow! Mileage = 23.52 K. During the afternoon, I got lots of sleep and over night. Boy were my legs tired! Inching slowly to running a marthon. Just want the snow gone for next Sunday! YTD = 1246.60 K

Started reading First Marathons: Personal Encounters with the 26.2 Mile Monster by Gail Waesche Kislevitz. Hope to read 1 story each night before going to sleep.

Wednesday's 10:1 (x4)

Been so busy that I'm behind in my posting. Got in 5.47 K this past Wednesday. Started a bit too quickly and that got to me. Must remind to slow down! YTD = 1223.08 K