Well June was here and even though there has been so much rain.  But today there was lots of sunshine that greeted all the runners for the 1/2 marathon, 10km and 5km courses…

Josefina and I were ready as we could be…honestly over my holidays I haven’t been running as much as I should have been.  I’ve been doing more hiking…but probably need to add a few more training runs into my routine. 

One thing I did learn which isn’t something that new… that I don’t like the heat…and really don’t like running in the heat any better! I’m excited that next month’s race in July… will be a wet one…with water and foam on the course for the Foam Fest Toronto!

Again so glad we are doing this together Josefina…we are 1/2 way through the year…6 races done 7 to go! Let’s finish this year strong.

Next Month: Foam Fest Toronto

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2017 quest…13 Races in 2017… (1per month and 2 in September) a baker’s dozen:

• January 5km
• February 5km 
• March 5km
• April 5km
• May 5km

Friday night I drove into Toronto to pick up my 5km race bib/shirt as well as Keenan’s for the marathon. The reason being…we had a bunch of fun and adventure piled into Saturday and I didn’t want to add picking up race kits to that adventure!

I decided to run the 5km race at the Toronto Marathon–instead of the MEC Race Series 5km race the following weekend for two reasons.  The first one being that next weekend I was in Haliburton for my sister-in-law’s fundraising dinner on the Friday night and going to a cousin’s Jack and Jill on the Sunday night—then it was Mother’s Day and wanted to celebrate with my mum… and not have to rush back to Toronto to do a 5km race.  The other BIG reason was my friend from Colorado was coming to run the Toronto Marathon…and I decided it would be really cool to also run a race in that event! (since I was going to be there to drop him off…and stick around ’til he crossed the finish line!) But that meant I had to ditch Josefina for May’s race.. (sorry Fina… I’ll be there for every other race though… I promise!)
It was an early start on Sunday morning… I had to drop off Keenan for his bus to pick him up and take him to the start line by 6:15am…and it was a 45 min drive into Toronto…thank goodness it was a Sunday morning and there wasn’t any traffic.  (My race didn’t start until 8 something)…However, the night before I had insomnia and couldn’t sleep… I think I fell asleep at some point around 3:30am and woke up just before 5am.  (I knew in my heart of hearts this wouldn’t be the day to beat a PR…I just had to put one step in front of the other..and finish this thing!) 

I finished.. with an ‘ok’ time… must admit did more walking intervals than running.  But it was cold and I was going on little sleep… so was pretty excited that I finished this thing! Was able to catch Keenan about 1/2 way through the marathon… the last leg was along the lake…he had a horrible head wind that he was running into!

Keenan finished marathon #89…you can read about his run here.  After he crossed the finish line we posed for a photo with the Toronto Skyline behind us… I must admit I had a bit of medal envy.  I guess I hadn’t really looked at the different medals for races in the same event before…but seriously can you see the SIZE of that marathon medal? Makes me want to get one of those… some day I’ll do a marathon…but probably not tomorrow.

It was awesome to run a race in the same event as you Keenan as your running and marathon streak of over 3 years… has been pretty inspiring and has made me want to join that club! 

Next Month: MEC Race Series Race #4… at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto

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2017 quest…13 Races in 2017… (1per month and 2 in September) a baker’s dozen:

• January 5km
• February 5km 
• March 5km
• April 5km

This month I was ready… I had done a few more training runs in the weeks since my last race.  I was pumped to be running.  Again, not sure of today’s  early morning start (I’m so not a morning person)…but luckily I stayed over in Toronto so the drive wasn’t too far from Josefina’s house.  Josefina had also been doing a lot of running…so when we started this race…we started with a faster pace…I stuck with her to just before the 1km marker, then couldn’t keep up with that pace.  I was so surprised when my tracker announced in my ear that my pace for the 1st km was 7:32 (that’s the fastest I’ve been in awhile…)

The really cool thing about this race… is I had a guy that I was able to keep pace with.  We basically played leap frog a bunch of times over the course of the race.  He’d be ahead…I’d pass him, then he’d pass me…and we’d go on that way forever.  Thing I learned today that running with another person…can help you maintain a consistent pace (this guy was so consistent).  I was more of a super fast–then have to recover and slow it down for a bit—super fast… kind of person. I need to work on my endurance before picking up the pace.  I was stoked to finish this race..but I missed my PR by 25 seconds… there’s always next race to beat that time!

Next Month: Toronto Marathon–doing the 5km while my friend Keenan does the marathon!

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2017 quest…13 Races in 2017… (1per month and 2 in September) a baker’s dozen:

• January 5km
• February 5km 
• March 5km

So with March’s run it brought NEW shoes… decided that my old shoes just didn’t have enough support left in them.  I did the thing most runners will tell you NOT to do…run in a brand new pair of shoes.  (I did and didn’t actually suffer.) My foot held out…but still is randomly swelling…and not fitting into my regular work shoes…so been stuck wearing sneakers, and other options that aren’t as fashionable! 

This race Josefina wasn’t able to join me… but my boss/friend Cathy was running the 30km around the Bay… so it was nice to see her at the beginning of the race and see her cross the starting line.  

Here go the runners that were doing the 30km…some were doing the race in a relay team…but others did the full 30km on their own.  Hamilton’s Around the Bay Road Race is older than the Boston Marathon… it’s been happening for a long time!  Always minutes before a starting line…I often stop to think… what the heck did I get myself into. But I always enjoy myself…and can’t wait to do the next one…but in those first moments, I stop to wonder what the heck!  After my 5km finish I waited to see Cathy cross the line.  It’s fun to be part of this running community.  Even though my times aren’t the best… for me they are awesome, and I’m actually out there doing something.  I have realized this month that I need to do some more training runs in order to keep up my times…and improve on them.  Really would love to beat my PR from my race at Downsview Airport in the Fall of 2015.

Next month: MEC Race Series– for their Race #2… back on Lakeshore Blvd in Toronto.

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2017 quest…13 Races in 2017… (1per month and 2 in September) a baker’s dozen:

• January 5km
• February 5km

February’s race happened earlier today.  This race was at the Toronto Zoo… the Move your Paws Race or Polar Bear Race! We lucked out for weather— no snow, but it did rain before the race!
On February 18th I missed 2 steps and had a box in my hands so couldn’t stop my fall.  I ended up landing on my right foot in a crumpled up.  (my toes were under my foot and I landed on the bend of them….) After an ER visit, x-rays and then a follow up with my family doc a week later and another x-ray… it was determined nothing was broken but it was just ‘soft’ tissue damage and I could be on my foot as long as I could tolerate it.  Fast-forward today… I was able to get my foot into a running shoe and Josefina agreed to walk this 5km with me. (sorry for the icky photos)…
One surprise was that I ran into my boss and her family doing the run! Cathy has been one of my running mentors…seeing her posts of her daily runs, over the past few years has made me want to join in that running club! One thing you can do when you are walking a 5km you can stop to take some selfies… and try to get one of you with a lion!  I also ran into my friend Michelle…its fun to see friends at these events! 

I was so excited to finish and get this medal… my foot was a bit sore, nothing a little ice and elevation for the afternoon and it will be as good as new!

I still remember visiting the Zoo in 1985 with my Gramma & Grandpa my mum and brothers when the first Panda Bears were brought to the zoo.  It was a big road trip from Haliburton down to Toronto…but a fun day of exploring and seeing animals… I think I even had my first camel ride that day too!

So I couldn’t leave the zoo without seeing the baby Panda Bears. Luckily their exhibit isn’t far from the main gate–so not much more walking for my poor foot…. it was fun to see them playing and eating!

Next Month: Hamilton Around the Bay… (only doing the 5km this year.. not quite up for the 30km!)

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2017 quest…13 Races in 2017… (1per month and 2 in September) a baker’s dozen:

• January Race