20:1 (x1.5)

Got my run late after work (teaching an after school numeracy programme and couldn't get out to almost 6 PM). Cut my run a bit short so got in about 30 minutes (4.47 K). A nice way, again, to clear the mind after a long day at the school. Getting closer and closer to the 1000 mile mark :-) I'm now at 1436.8 K.

20:1 (x2)

Midweek run at Lawrence and Leslie Streets -- something Gardens -- right beside the expensive Bridle Path. It's a downhill to Sunnybrook Park and then back uphill. Nice view of the fall colours! I look forward to my Tuesdays and Thursdays after work runs since they help clear my mind (I teach all afternoon so it helps when I leave exhausted each day). Today = 6.45 K. YTD = 1432.34 K

Looking at the Whitby International North Marathon for only $50 registration. Only issue to making this my "A" race is it's in its first year and e-Load is given instead of Gatorade. I'll probably lean towards Ottawa or Mississauga (again).

Interesting article in the current Canadian Running Magazine by Ruth Childs, prof at OISE/UT.

Have you ever wondered how accurate runners are at predicting their race times? By the fourth kilometre of Ottawa’s MDS Nordion 10K in May, after passing what seemed like hundreds of other runners, I had started to suspect that we vary a lot in how optimistic we are when picking a start corral. In my non-running life, I do research, so as soon as the race results were articled, I crunched some of the numbers.

In a perfect world, where the sun always shines (but is not too hot) and blisters never happen, we would all be able to accurately predict our times. If we each picked the right corral, no one would waste precious seconds weaving around much slower runners ahead and we all could concentrate on racing against others with a similar pace. In theory, we would all minimize our chip times. Runners are a complicated lot, though. It’s a mind game: If we line up with a faster group, will that make us run faster? If we line up with a slower group and pass a lot of other runners, will that spur us on? If we tell ourselves we can run a 50-minute pace, will that make it so?

So, what do the analyses show? My question was: Did runners cross the starting line and the finish line in the same order? Some 8,345 runners completed the race, 68 of whom crossed the starting line right at the gun, but the average runner crossed almost four minutes later. If a runner, for example, was the 1,000th to cross the starting line, but the 2,000th to cross the finish line, then they were passed by a net of 1,000 runners along the way (that is, they were passed by 1,000 more runner than they passed), suggesting they were too optimistic, or at least unlucky, in the race. Runners with the opposite pattern were too pessimistic. In this race, the most optimistic runner was passed by 8,328 others. The most pessimistic runner passed 6,244 other runners. Overall, almost 40 per cent of the runners had a net difference of more than 1,000.

So, who is most optimistic? Overall, female runners. On average, they were passed by 220 other runners, while male runners passed 294 runners. And age makes a difference too. Male runners 60 and older were overly optimistic (they were passed by 393 other runners). Female runners 25 to 29 were a bit pessimistic, but were the most accurate group, passing only 16 other runners. The next most accurate group was male runners 55 to 59, who passed only 60 other runners.

Averages, of course, don’t tell the whole story. The average runner in my group (females 40 to 44) was passed by 372 other runners. In the end, I was the 4,650th runner to cross the start line and the 3,267th to cross the finish line, so I passed 1,383 other runners along the way (I knew it seemed like a lot). It was a beautiful day for a run - I only wish I had been more optimistic.

LSD 21.1 K

What a beautiful morning - makes me feel less guilty for waking up at 10 AM yesterday and delaying the LSD until today. Definitely a sunny, cool fall morning. Ran on the Martin Goodman Trail east of Parliament, south on Cherry Street, through the paved "forest", north of Tommy Thompson Park, east on Lakeshore, through Asbridges Bay, and east on Woodbine Park, and then back. Got in 21.11 K (a half marathon) - that's my plan for the next little while until I begin spring marathon training again (but not sure when).

JHarbeck posted the following newspaper article on the Running Room forum. Very interesting reading...very surprising to me! My reaction: (1) Why should elites "look down" on the slower runners? More people who enter the race results in more $ for their finishing places and appearance fees; (2) This is offensive to walkers who enter marathons and need more time to finish -- and since they paid the same registration fees, they need the support on the latter part of the course; (3) What is a marathoner? To me, it is finishing the 42.2 K distance. Is it okay to run/walk or is this less worthy? If one needs to interrupt the marathon with eating lunch, and they can still run without stomach aching, more power to them. It was only 1984 Olympics that women were allowed to enter the marathon event; it was Kathrine Switzer who ran the Boston Marathon under "K. Switzer". Everyone has a reason for running a marathon, and differing reasons are good.

October 23, 2009
Plodders Have a Place, but Is It in a Marathon?
By JULIET MACUR
Every weekend during this fall marathon season, long after most runners have completed the 26.2-mile course — and very likely after many have showered, changed and headed for a meal — a group of stragglers crosses the finish line.

Many of those slower runners, claiming that late is better than never, receive a finisher’s medal just like every other participant. Having traversed the same route as the fleeter-footed runners — perhaps in twice the amount of time — they get to call themselves marathoners. The article is elistist and takes an arrogant view.

And it’s driving some hard-core runners crazy.

“It’s a joke to run a marathon by walking every other mile or by finishing in six, seven, eight hours,” said Adrienne Wald, 54, the women’s cross-country coach at the College of New Rochelle, who ran her first marathon in 1984. “It used to be that running a marathon was worth something — there used to be a pride saying that you ran a marathon, but not anymore. Now it’s, ‘How low is the bar?’ ”

Tens of thousands of runners are training for marathons this time of year. As the fields continue to grow — primarily by adding slower runners — so has the intensity of the debate over how quickly an able-bodied runner should finish the once-elite event that is now an activity for the masses.

Purists believe that running a marathon should be just that — running the entire course at a relatively fast clip. They point out that a six-hour marathoner is simply participating in the event, not racing in it. Slow runners have disrespected the distance, they say, and have ruined the marathon’s mystique.

Slower marathoners believe that covering the 26.2 miles is the crux of the accomplishment, no matter the pace. They say that marathons inspire people to get off their couches, if only to cross off an item on the Things to Do Before I Die list. And besides, slow runners are what drive the marathon business, they say.

John Bingham, a runner who is known as the Penguin, is often credited with starting the slow-running movement, in the 1990s. “I have had people say that I’ve ruined the sport of running, but what I’ve been trying to do is promote the activity of running to an entire generation of people,” he said. “What’s wrong with that?”

Bingham added: “The complainers are just a bunch of ornery, grumpy people who want the marathon all to themselves and don’t want the slower runners. But too bad. The sport is fueled and funded by people like me.”

Trends show that marathon finishers are getting slower and slower — and more prevalent — according to Running USA, a nonprofit organization that tracks trends in distance running. From 1980 to 2008, the number of marathon finishers in the United States increased to 425,000 from 143,000.

In 1980, the median finishing time for male runners in United States marathons was 3 hours 32 minutes 17 seconds, a pace of about eight minutes per mile. In 2008, the median finishing time was 4:16, a pace of 9:46. For women, that time in 1980 was 4:03:39. Last year, it was 4:43:32.

In a debate on the Web site slowtwitch.com, someone posting as Record10 Carbon wrote that more than half of the people at a marathon are just overweight and “trying to get a shirt and medal ... looking to one day tell a story about the saga and the suffering of their 11 minute pace ‘race.’ ”

In response, someone wrote: “Being a participant isn’t bad. Yes, there should be a cutoff on some events. But, what that cutoff is can be a raging debate.”

Race directors often struggle to find the right cut-off time, when water stations are closed, roads open to vehicles and volunteers abandon the course. Some directors, however, avoid that problem.

Runners in the Honolulu Marathon have no limits. Race rules state, “All runners will be permitted to finish, regardless of their time.”

Last year, 44 percent of the field for that event finished in more than six hours — with some marathoners stopping for lunch along the course.

“For every race director, there’s a very fine line between putting on a community event and putting on a race,” said Chris Burch, race director for the Des Moines Marathon, which stays open for seven hours. Last year, it stayed open for eight hours, but Burch found that only 4 percent of the participants needed more than seven hours to finish. In the end, that extra hour was not worth it, he said, because of the costs of keeping the course open.

“It is a huge budget item because you have to pay municipal services, like police, fire or trash, and volunteers have to stay longer,” he said. “But it’s not a simple decision. Those back-of-the-pack runners are income for the event, too, and they’re just as important for everyone. There’s a feeling of ‘I paid as much money as the other people to enter, so I should be treated the same.’ ”

At the Marine Corps Marathon, in the Washington, D.C., area, runners must keep a pace of 14 minutes per mile or risk being booted from the event near the 20-mile mark. A bus looms there, waiting to pick up those who fail to cross the 14th Street Bridge before it reopens to traffic. Those who choose to continue on the open course do so at their own risk, taking to the sidewalks or dodging traffic.

At the Berlin Marathon, where the cut-off time is 6:15, the “slow police” are notorious for lurking at the back of the pack. “If runners aren’t able to finish in the time we put in our information book, we ask them to leave the course and find their way to their hotel, or get in the bus,” the race director Mark Milde said.

The New York City Marathon, scheduled for Nov. 1, will have a field of about 40,000. Last year, about 21 percent of the field finished in more than five hours. The race officially ends after 6:30, though runners are scored through 8:40, when the timing system is finally carted off, said the race director Mary Wittenberg.

Longtime marathoners like Julia Given, a 46-year-old marketing director from Charlottesville, Va., still find ways to differentiate the “serious runners” from those at the back of the pack.

“If you’re wearing a marathon T-shirt, that doesn’t mean much anymore,” Given said on the eve of this month’s Baltimore Marathon, where vendors were selling products that celebrate slower runners. One sticker said: “I’m slow. I know. Get over it.”

“I always ask those people, ‘What was your time?’ If it’s six hours or more, I say, ‘Oh great, that’s fine, but you didn’t really run it,’ ” said Given, who finished the Baltimore race in 4:05:52. “The mystique of the marathon still exists. It’s the mystique of the fast marathon.”

20:1 (x1.5); more input on 2 marathons in 3 weeks

Got in 20:1 (x1.5) as I had to cut the run short due to Parent-Teacher interviews at my school this evening. Great way to take a break from the long day :-) Got in 4.42 K. YTD = 1404.78 K.


From http://www.irun.ca/blog/index.php/athletics-ontario-weighs-in/

Here is a letter from John Craig, the managing director of Athletics Ontario, to Toronto mayor David Miller and city councilors Brian Ashton, Glenn De Baeremaeker and Joe Mihevc.

Re: Two Toronto Marathons

I am the Managing Director of Athletics Ontario, the governing body for the sport of track and field and road running in Ontario. We are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion and we are the provincial member of Athletics Canada which oversees our sport in this country and is responsible for international representation at sports competitions like the Olympics.

As part of our mandate, we are intricately involved in the hosting and staging of road running events in this province. In fact, Athletics Ontario was the original owners of the event property known as the Toronto Marathon, which we hosted for about 17 years. This event was traditionally hosted in the fall and eventually sold to Jay Glassman at a time when no other marathon event was held within the city.

I have worked closely with directors of both marathons currently hosted in Toronto, and consider them to be my friends. Both Alan Brooks and Jay Glassman have contributed much to this city and to our sport and we respect the rights of both of them to host the type and quality of event they currently are involved with.

Nonetheless, much of our roadrunning community operates – with the support of Athletics Ontario – on a traditional date and first claim basis. We have worked in the past to make sure date conflicts are kept to a minimum.

With that in mind, Athletics Ontario strongly supports Jay Glassman and the Toronto Marathon’s claim to a fall marathon date. If these two events cannot merge into a single strong event – something we have tried to mediate for many years – then allowing Jay’s Toronto Marathon to continue to hold its traditional fall date is the only reasonable course.

If one of these two events needs to be moved to the spring, Athletics Ontario firmly believes that the Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon – the newcomer to the fall date – is the one which should be moved. The Scotia Bank Waterfront Marathon is a strong event under good leadership and it will be fine as a spring event, making a significant impact on the city, the sport and the welfare of the community. However, as the newcomer with no traditional claim to a fall date, this is the event which should surrender to the city’s wishes and move to the spring.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you and good luck.

John Craig
Support the 2015 Pan Am Games bid

Signed up for Resolution Run

I just signed up for the Resolution Run on December 27th. I just found out on the web site that the start will be at the Queen Elizabeth Building in the CNE -- this is surprising since it's always been in the Distillery District. I ordered a size Large for the jacket (that's what I'm got 2 years ago and it fit). I went to the Commerce Court RR 2 weeks ago and they didn't have it. I also e-mailed them and it has yet to come in. Rather than wait for another price increase, better register.

Media attention continues with the 2 marathons in 3 weeks. It would make sense to move the Toronto Marathon to the spring and keep the Waterfront as is. This would affect the Mississauga Marathon as well as the new Whitby marathon in the spring. It doesn't solve the issue of traffic tie-ups. The Waterfront has a contract with (forgot who) and so they want to keep it in the fall. The Toronto Marathon's reason is they were there first. It would take City Council only approving 1 marathon for this to happen.

1400 K :-)

Yeah, I reached 1400 K with today's run :-) Got in 6.14 K for a total of 1400.36 K in the year. The 1000 miles goal looks doable now that I am able to run well after the Scotiabank Waterfront full marathon. Love running after work since it "refreshes" my mind. Got in some speed work in the run and it felt great.

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More media attention to the issue of 2 marathons in 3 weeks in Toronto. That is awful for drivers to get out of the cars and boo the runners. The runners didn't do anything wrong.

Two marathons is too many: City
By JENNY YUEN, SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 20th October 2009, 3:11pm

Officials are examining the way marathons are scheduled after Sunday's Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon shut down numerous downtown streets, leaving motorists honking and swearing as they sat in gridlock for hours.

Just three weeks ago, streets were also closed to accommodate the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

"We hope to reach that agreement amicably, but if necessary, we may have to bring a report to committee and council early next year," said Peter Noehammer, a city transportation director.

"We do get concerns expressed each year when they're so closely spaced together," he added yesterday.

But organizers for the two marathons appear in no rush to work together.

DIFFERENT ROUTES

Jay Glassman, race director for Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon, said his event was running years before Scotiabank's marathon and that combining the two wouldn't work because they operate on different business models.

"We're established first, but we have different routes and different business philosophies," he said. "The city created this issue and we spoke about it 10 years ago. I warned them about it and they chose to ignore the advice from the running community."

And Alan Brookes of the waterfront marathon said he wouldn't be open to switching his run to the spring because sponsors are already supporting other Canadian marathons held annually at that time of year.

"It would be highly injurious to the sport to have races in Ottawa and Toronto waterfront go up against each other in the same (spring) season," ,Brookes said. "We have a three-year contract with Honda Indy for promotion in the summer for the race in the fall. It's about 'waterfront,' with the fast times becoming a world marathon."

Organizers also do not seem interested in discussing route changes that veer from downtown.

"The Marine Corps. marathon runs around the Capitol building in Washington D.C. and the Lincoln Memorial; it's the same in Toronto," said Glassman.

"If you keep rubber stamping every event that comes along because your policy is you can't say no to them, it's going to get to the point where the roads are saturated by running events, Caribana, Pride, book fairs and all these other events."

"Toronto's a pretty vibrant and busy city, so we have major special events happening, especially in the fair weather months," Noehammer said.

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RUN OF THE HOUSE

WHAT GOES INTO A MARATHON PERMIT FROM THE CITY OF TORONTO

- City officials say applications go through a rigorous approval process when organizers seek permits to stage events

- Applicants to submit a traffic management plan.

- City bureaucrats review the traffic plans and will make changes designed to minimize congestion on the streets.

- Organizers must also propose a route for their events.

- The city's transportation department approved 622 community events permits a year: Just under 300 of them were on major roads and the balance on local roads.

Wanted to Run the Half in Toronto Marathon...

Today was my convocation from York University and I must admit my disappointment when I found it the 2 events were happening at the same time. I checked last year's convocation schedule and the math folks graduated on the Saturday. The Toronto Marathon is a special race for me since it was my first half marathon. It's amazing how my running has evolved. I was a walker and "accidently" signed up for the 5 K at Scotiabank Waterfront, as part of the Epilepsy Team (who paid for registration). When I reached the finish line, I saw those beautiful shinny silver medals and wanted one, only to be told they are for the half marathon finishers. That's when I registered to walk the half marathon 3 weeks later. I even took the subway to Mel Lastman Square and walked south on Yonge to Queen's Park -- just to see that I could do it...the distance does seem long on a map.

During convocation this morning, I thought of the half marathon I wanted so desperately to run. There will be next year...I hope to make my "A" race the Toronto (full) Marathon next year. Weather was a bit cold at the start but sunny and amazing.

Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon vs. Toronto Marathon

Yesterday morning, on the drive to work, heard a minute news report on the road closures to the Sunday Toronto Marathon, the 2nd marathon in 3 weeks. The roads are going be tied up with lots of angry motorists. The Scotiabank Waterfront marathon race director, Alan Brookes said he has absolutely no intentions of moving the marathon to the spring. The Toronto Marathon race director, Jay Glassman, said his marathon has been in existence longer and tried to stop the Waterfront marathon from being only 3-weeks apart but was told by City Hall that they couldn't say yes to one and no to the other. Brookes remained open to the idea of combining the 2 marathons together, while Glassman said absolutely not. Makes sense since the Toronto Marathon route is much scenic througout.

Here's some random thoughts on the best features of each race:

*** Expo: Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon

- Scotiabank's expo is huge -- they had to change locations to the Direct Energy Building at the CNE. Personally, I prefer the Metro Convention Centre since it is a central location and also the university fair is on at the same time.
- Toronto Marathon's expo is small -- the walkway is narrow and can be walked in a couple of minutes. I would say most of the booths were the same as Scotiabank's. It's really a small version.
- The speakers at the Scotiabank this year were amazing! Lots of seats as well.
- Toronto Marathon has the same speakers every year and I would say about 12 chairs. Embarassing.
- Toronto Marathon merchandise is more affordable -- e.g., I bought track pants with the race logo for $25 last year.


*** Goody Bag: Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon

- Both bibs have your name on it if you register before a certain date. I prefer the Scotiabank since they only use first names; Toronto Marathon has first and last. Not sure why.
- Scotiabank has a "green" bag that can be reused. Toronto Marathon had that last year so I'm not sure why they resorted to the plastic bag -- especially since they cost 5 cents to purchase.
- I prefer the tech shirt from Scotiabank as it seems better quality - not to mention half and full marathon get separate shirts. Don't like the yucky orange colour from Toronto Marathon this year.
- Both had useless brochures -- so much paper wasted.


*** Route: Toronto Marathon

- I have never run the Toronto Marathon's full but it's scenic from Mel Lastman Square south on Yonge and making its way to the Martin Goodman Trail (the first half of the Scotiabank). Hoggs Hollow is tough and there are some hills on Yonge Street. The finish north of University must be tough.
- I do like the Scotiabank route since it's flat -- but there are rolling hills also the new route of Queen St. East
- Also, the Toronto Marathon has the half marathon and full marathon start at different times. This allows for more room to run. The Scotiabank, on the other hand, start together and I found it particularly crowded this year for the first 10 K or so. And they want to add more people to the race :-|
- The finish in both races are great - not congested at all.


*** Fluid Stations: Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront

- Gels are not provided at Scotiabank Waterfront. Gels are provided in Toronto Marathon at 26 K and 32 K.
- Both have water and Gatorade.
- The spacing of the fluid stations are inconsistent at Toronto Marathon -- 2 within a kilometre. For Scotiabank, it is better (although not as great as Mississauga where they are every 2 K).
- The organization at Scotiabank was great -- water first and then Gatorade -- and tables left and right.


*** Spectators and Entertainment: Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront

- Scotiabank Waterfront has cheering sections in ethnic parts of the city. Nice entertainment!
- Spectators are non-existent in the 2nd half of the marathon, except for Queen Street East.


*** Finisher's Medal: Toronto Marathon

- Scotiabank has done a great job from the awful dog tags (that was my first finisher's medal in the marathon, I walked it). This year, it is shiny gold colour of the Iron building in St. Lawrence Market.
- Toronto Marathon's medals are huge and thick. This year, the marathon medal is huge and heavy - black with a centre rolling part.
- Actually, the Toronto Marathon is well known for their huge and heavy medals!


*** Support on Course: Toronto Marathon

- Both races are kept safe by volunteers, police, and medics.
- Toronto Marathon has people on bikes that help you with the mental side, if needed, or if they see a runner not feeling well.


*** Post Race: Toronto Marathon

- Post food is the usual at both races - bananas, apples, bagels
- showers are available in the Toronto Marathon
- finisher's medal engraving available at Toronto Marathon this year
- finisher's certificate for Toronto Marathon is detailed analysis, comparing you to others. Very nice!

20:1 (x8)

LSD this morning. Wore a toque as it was quite cold when I began my run at 9 AM -- especially on the Martin Goodman Trail. Should have wore gloves as well. Saw the 30ish K markers for tomorrow's Toronto Marathon posted. My next posting will be a comparison of the Toronto Waterfront Marathon vs. the Toronto Marathon. Running by the lake at this time of the year is windy and cold.

After my LSD of 22.88 K, went to pick up my tech shirt and bib for the Toronto Marathon. I will not be running it since I convocate tomorrow. It was unfortunate to have to return my time chip. The expo seemed quite small -- nothing like the Toronto Waterfront expo. The booths were crowded. I bought a toque which cost $10 + tax = $11.30 (wow!). I looked at the jackets and was about to buy one but resisted since I can wear last year's Resolution Run jacket.

Love the after work runs! Got in 6.35 K today, with speed work. Really gets the heart pumping and the endorphins going to the head. My brain feels cleared! Continues to be cold and windy. Still need to by a toque for my head. YTD = 1371.34 K.

Off to the Toronto Marathon expo after work to pick up my bib. Hope to return on Saturday for the expo booths and hearing the keynotes (although they seem to be the same each year).

Original plan was to run before work but didn't get out of bed early. Plan B became run tomorrow. I took plan C and ran after work today (I taught an after-school numeracy programme so the run didn't start until after 5:30 PM). Boy was it cold out there! Need to get a toque. Good thing for the jacket. The legs felt great (i.e., lose). I like the runs after work in order to clear my mind -- that's what I might do from now on.

PS: Got a small blister on my left foot this morning and can't get rid of it. Fortunately, it didn't affect the run today. My right small toe aches with the shoe when I run and don't run. Hmmm...

Have running magazines "piling" to be read. Enjoying the Runner's Book of Daily Inspiration by Kevin Nelson.

I'm bib #3603 in the Toronto half marathon. Unfortunately, I won't be able to run it this Sunday as I have convocation with my M.A. degree. Maybe it's fortunately as I may be too soon to race -- still need to recover from the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Still love the golden finisher's medal.

Today = 5.67 K; YTD = 1364.99 K

20:1 (x8)

Yesterday's rest day (i.e., sleep) worked wonders. Left the house at 9 AM for the LSD this morning. A bit cool so I wore my Toronto Marathon pants, tech shirt, and Resolution jacket. Goal was 20:1 (x6), but ended up doing 20:1 (x8). Route along the Martin Goodman Trail east of Parliament, south on Cherry Street. Opted to run inside the Tommy Thompson Park. That was windy! I didn't want to run on the gravel so turned around short of the lighthouse. There were some runners and bikers in the park but not many. Afterwards, headed to the Running Room with the hopes of signing up for the Resolution Run -- they didn't have the registration forms nor the sample jacket. I didn't want to register on-line since there is the approximately $4 processing fee and I wanted to try on the jacket. The jacket I wore today is a large, yet my tech shirts are medium. I might go with large.

Pleased with today's run as the recovery from the marathon 2 weeks ago is going well -- much better than the spring marathon, which I practically couldn't run for a month and had to see a sports medicine doctor.

Bib number for the Toronto Marathon posted on their web site. It might be a good thing I won't be running it -- that's $60 :-( I will be sure to pick up the bib and tech shirt this Friday after work and enjoy the expo. I'll return the timing chip.

YTD = 1359.32 K

20:1 (x2)

Back in the regular routine! Got in 5.68 K this morning before work using 20:1. Wore a jacket and running shorts. It has gotten quite cool in the morning.

20:1 (x2)

Woke up earlier than usual and headed to work...but got in 20:1 (x2) before work. A bit cool outside but a nice slow post-marathon run. I'm getting my legs used to running 20 minutes non-stop. Today = 5.45 K for YTD = 1331.45 K. Inching my way to 1000 miles, which I can do.

Thinking of Ottawa and Toronto Marathon as my "A" races next year. Looking forward to the Resolution Run in late December. It's been a great year of running.

First run since marathon...

Battling a cold the last few days...not sure why I seem to always get a cold after major races. But there's lots of people sneezing and coughing these days so I probably caught the bug that way -- even though I wash my hands before eating.

Took Bud to the Nathan Phillips Square to see the runners and walkers at the Run for the Cure 5 K. Lots of people. While on University, I had to take Bud home so we walked on the sidewalk with some of the walkers. The radio says they hope to raise $28 million dollars throughout Canada today for breast cancer.

After a week of resting, opted to try out running and see how it goes. I am now doing 20:1 intervals. Originally, I set the Garmin at 3 intervals but finished with 2 intervals so not to overdo it. Ran 5.11 K this morning. Hope to get back on schedule with 3 runs a week now. Taking it slowly and listening to my body. No races planned until the 5 K Resolution Run in late December -- still haven't registered yet due to the jacket size uncertainty. Thinking about the Ottawa Marathon...

YTD = 1326 K (Do believe I can make it to 1000 miles by December 31st).