Looking Back

• completed 2 marathons as a runner: Mississauga and Toronto Waterfront [PB = 4:07:41.1]
• completed 2 30 Ks: ATB and Midsummer Night’s Run [PB = 3:00:17.2]
• completed 1 half marathon: Chilly
• completed 1 10-miler: Toronto [PB = 1:29.22]
• completed 1 10 K: Sporting Life [PB = 52:05.9]
• completed 1 5 K: Resolution Run
• DNS Toronto half marathon – due to conflict in schedule (M.A. convocation at York) – but took Bud to see the final runners in the marathon reach the finish line
• Member of 2010 Challenge on Running Room Forum (Personal Achievements): Goal to Run 1000 Miles [1609 K] – met goal by running 1705.66 K
• Met running celebrities: Fauja Singh [my hero!]; Joan Benoit Samuelson; Silvia Ruegger
• Subscriptions to Runner’s World, Canadian Running, iRun, Running Times
• Used 10:1 for Mississauga Marathon; 15:1 for Toronto Waterfront Marathon; and now using 20:1 in training

Last Run of Year 2009 -- 25:1(x2)

Last run of the 2009 year this morning! The sidewalks were a tad wet from the drizzle of rain. The good news was the warmness of 8C. Thinking ahead to setting a goal of 2010 K in the year 2010, I thought I better "up" the intervals to 25 minutes before getting a minute walk break; that would mean 10 minutes extra running on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The other option is to go to 4 days of running but that'll probably lead to injury as 3 days seems to work well for me. Got in 6.56 K this morning. My final year total is 1705.66 K :-) [Goal for 2009 was to run 1000 miles or 1609 K.]

20:1 (x2) -- 2nd last run of the year

Second last run of the year. Very cold but fortunately not windy. Wore my winter apparel and it didn't feel cold :-) If it wasn't for doing everything I can to get to 1700 K, I would have probably taken a day off. Got in 6.01 K running around the neighbourhood and careful of ice (not so worried about the thin layer of snow, though). Wow, sooooo close...YTD = 1699.10 K.

Last run of the year on Thursday (New Year's Eve). Have been thinking about the past year of running and what goals for the new year. 2009 has been amazing :-)

Resolution Run + LSD

Took Bud on his morning walk and nearly tripped on black ice. Wow -- it was slippery. Must have been from the rain last night and then the temperature decreased.

Left the house at 8 AM and did my LSD to the Queen Elizabeth Building at the CNE. Got in 8.27 K. By the time I was near the start line, I heard the countdown so had to rush. "Snuck" into the starting line and then I was off. With the usual crowds at the start, there were 3 thick "poles" that surprised me and many racers -- hopefully nobody banged into it. The route was twice around the CNE. According to http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3374980, the route is 2.3856 K so twice around does not equate to 5 K :-( My Garmin recorded 4.49 K, with a time of 22:36, or 5.02 min/K. I always find 5 K and 10 K particularly difficult since one starts fast right from the start -- i.e., there is no conserving until the end. Perhaps I should sign up for a 5 K certified race in 2010 so I can PB around 25:00.

Although it would be nice to have run 5 K, it is a fun run. I ate 3 bananas as post-race and there was bottled water, no gatorade. I do prefer the "old" route in the Distillery District. Overall, no regrets signing up for this race since I have a Resolution Jacket and this is a wonderful opportunity to bring closure to 2009 and look ahead to 2010.

Registration cost $49.00 (includes $4.00 process fee). Different material in the jacket this year. It's nice to have a collection of jackets so I don't have to purchase them :-)




I continued my LSD (slowly) for 5.47 K back home. The run at race pace really helped clear the mind!

Total = 18.24 K
YTD = 1693.09 K

My Xmas Gift = 5 Race Registrations (and $351.10 later)

- Sunday, May 2, 2010 8:00 AM
- have walked this once and run this twice
- always exciting to run south on Yonge Street!
- great that there will be 2 weeks before the Mississauga full marathon
- registered as part of the Canada Running Series combo -- didn't plan on running this one this year due to the increased registration fee but with a $5 discount, why not? $47.25 before discount
- aiming for 40-48 minutes = Red corral




- Sunday, May 16, 2010 7:30 AM
- $80.50 ($75 + $5.50 process fee)
- my "A" race for the spring; want to reach 4:00 -- only issue are the rather steep hills after 30K +
- special race since first marathon completed as a walker and first marathon completed as a runner
- tried and true race for me; opted against Ottawa due to having to sit 5 hours on the VIA train on Sunday evening back to Toronto -- not to mention being away from Bud.
- 141 days to go!




- Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:00 AM
- have run this race twice
- inside Tommy Thompson Park
- aiming for 1:11 - 1:25 = blue corral
- registered as part of Canada Running Series combo [$68.25 before discount]




- Sunday, September 26, 2010 7:30 AM
- using this run as a race prep for the Toronto full marathon in 3 weeks
- was crowded last year for first 10 K :-|
- aiming for 1:48 - 1:59
- registered as part of Canada Running Series Combo [$68.25 before discount]
- special race since first race ever was a 5 K walk here in 2006




- Sunday, October 17, 2010 9:00 AM
- my "A" race in the autumn
- missed the 1/2 marathon last year due to convocation; looking forward to running the full marathon -- never done it in this race
- have walked this race twice and run it once
- $85.00 ($80.00 fee + $0 process + $5 shuttle bus)

Tuesday and Thursday Runs

Tuesday, December 22

Cold! -10C with wind-chill -17C. Ran in neighbourhood and then back home. Slower than usual.

20:1 (x2) = 5.16 K
YTD = 1668.83 K


Thursday, December 24

Remains cold -7C with wind-chill -15C. Ran in the neighbourhood. Then went to Metro to buy a loaf of 12-grain bread and some apples. That was followed by picking up my Resolution Run 5 K bib + jacket. I'm bib #4055. Pick-up was disorganized as there was a line-up and it moved slowly; unfortunately, the RR workers didn't put the registration list in alphbetical order and they had to find the surname :-( Different course this year -- at the CNE. I liked the "old" route near the Distillery District. We'll see...

20:1 (x2) = 6.02 K
YTD = 1675.85 K

20:1 (x7) LSD

Sunday LSD was great! Ran north to Lawrence, east to Yonge, and then south back to downtown Toronto. Some steep hills -- e.g., Castle Loma. Opted not to run north to York Mills since that would mean Hoggs Hollow -- maybe when it gets closer to the Toronto Marathon I'll do that. Weather much more bearable -- about -1C. Great scenery through Forest Hill and listening to music once again helped the time go by. Thank goodness for no snow :-) I saw some trails but they were icy so no can do.

Today = 19.74 K
TYD = 1662.67 K

Can't believe Resolution Run is next Sunday. I'll be close to 1700 K but doubt I'll be able to surpass it. Will set my running goal as 2010 K -- will be tough to reach but nothing wrong with aiming high.

Now on 2-week holidays from school. Regular runs of Tuesday and Thursday will be met, regardless of weather condition.

been neglectful in posting...

Not sure why I have posted updates on my runs...lazy, tired??

Here are the totals since my last blog (thank goodness for the Garmin!):

Tuesday, December 8 5.92 K
Saturday, December 12 17.50 K YTD = 1633.41 K
Tuesday, December 15 5.52 K YTD = 1638.93 K
Thursday, December 17 4.00 K TYD = 1642.93 K

I did not run on Thursday, December 10th since it was very cold and I didn't feel I had the appropriate clothing. I did run on the very cold Thursday, December 17 but had to stop the run short at 4.00 K. It's actually warmer today but it's the last day of school (not sure how they relate).

Looking forward to the LSD this Sunday. I wore the thick running pants and spandex top and it felt good on last week's LSD. No more running along the Martin Goodman Trail as it's too cold to be beside the lake.

Today was the last day of school and I'm on holidays for 2 weeks. I look forward to the regular runs 3 days a week during the break. Resolution Run 5 K in a couple of weeks -- wow, it's come quickly!

1000 Miles Reached!!!

I did it!!! I reached the 1000 Miles goal this morning. Great feeling to have met my goal for this year. There is still 3.5 weeks to go so I hope I can get the mileage up to 1700 km for this wonderful running year. I'll be posting a reflection of the year near the end of December. My immediate goal is to PB for the 5 K distance at the Resolution Run.

Today = 17.08 K
TYD = 1609.99 K

The celebration was "disrupted" as I had my semi-annual dentist checkup. A couple of years ago, I had to get a wisdom tooth removed since there was a cavity on the tooth nearby (this is a good tooth). Part of the filling was missing today so the dentist had to re-fill it -- with a nerve very, very close-by. If the nerve was disturbed, automatic root canal. I don't like the sound of a root canal. Good thing the filling went well and there is no post-pain. Knock on wood...

Thursday 20:1 (x3)

Thursday
Got in 6.51 K after work. A great run and stress-reliever! YTD = 1592.90 K To go - 16.1 K. Looking forward to reaching the 1000 Miles this weekend :-)

Tuesday 20:1 (x1.5) + Massage

Left work asap and then did a 30 minute run. Got in 4.72 K. Then headed off to get a massage for the (very) stiff back, shoulders, and neck. I have $750 work insurance and have only been getting massages for the past several months. I'm thrilled I'll reach the 1000 K mark this weekend! I have run 1586.4 K so far and have 22.6 K to go.