Ten things you really don't need to know about me, but seeing as how you're here, and you have nothing better to do, you might as well read it.

1.  I haven't run for four weeks due to a calf injury I sustained a week before the Manitoba Marathon.

2.  I've been to the physio-therapist 3 times in the last four weeks.

3.  I've been working out in the gym and I feel great!

4.  I discovered Spin class and I'm lovin' it!  

5.  I have 14 weeks to train for the Toronto Marathon.

6.  I just finished designing my run schedule which includes weekly: 1 long run, 1 hill run, 2 tempo runs, 1 steady run, the odd Spin class, some weights, some cycling, and a whole lot of core strengthening.  

7.  This blog gets a whole lot more visitors when I actually take the time to write something (go figure).

8.  I have come to realize that my computer has more memory than my brain.

9.  A 4:30 marathon has a nice ring to it.

10.  It's a good day to be alive.

Thank you to Michael Thaler's  sister, Valerie, for sending me Poems Along the Path.  

"But blessings of blessings I can still feel the life spark."  

Michael Thaler

Y'all come back now.  Mike

Manitoba Marathon Race Report

Click here for more pictures. 

I

zero for three

Hey kids, guess what?

I did it again!

I went out for a 6 mile solo jaunt on Saturday morning to burn off some pre-race jitters. At mile 2 my calf, the same one, kacked out. I had about 20 seconds warning that something was amiss; sort of like hearing a tick-tick in the motor and then ... what the?!... engine seizes!  By the time I figured it out, wham, it was too late... a familiar pain seared up the calf. Although not as serious as my previous calf injury, it's enough to sideline me for the slow dance on Sunday. The pain was about a 6 on 10 while my last blow out came in at 9 or 10 on the pain rector scale.  Recovery time is unknown.

Am I disappointed?

Yes, hugely.

My goal was to run three marathons this year, Fargo, Manitoba, and Toronto. So far I'm batting zero for three. In the grand scheme of things it's not all that big a deal. I still have my health and my remarkable Robert Redford good looks (hey work with me here... I'm still in denial). I'll just have to focus on Toronto.

Good luck to all who are running the full or half mary this weekend. Run like the wind. Run for Ted. Run for someone or something, but run. Embrace the pain. Cry. Laugh. Dance across the finish. Smile. Be proud. Run as an affirmation of life.  Run because it's a good day to be alive.

I'll be at mile 14 (just past Laura Secord School) cheering like mad. I'll also have a camera so look pretty.

Now go and get 'er done!

Mike

The Strength To Get Back Up

Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well. So dear friends, play those cards well no matter your circumstance.

Yes, it is a good day to be alive.

M

File Under "Idiot"

Kudos to Val Hudson for submitting the following letter to the Winnipeg Free Press. She expresses our opinions eloquently. I've had a number of idiots (mostly 20-something good-ole-boys, backwards ball caps, souped up half-tonne) yell all sorts of stupidity over the years. Thanks Val.

I'm writing on behalf of the cyclists, runners, and rollerbladers out there who are not in perfect shape but trying hard. For the most part motorists and pedestrians and very courteous and encouraging. But it only takes one rude person to dishearten someone desperately trying to get in shape by yelling hurtful discouraging comments -- "run fatty," "hey, your butt is too fat." How many people do you think you have prevented from continuing a positive attempt at loosing that "fat"? You don't know what situation they are in. They may have already lost 20 pounds doing what they've been doing and you come along and say they're still fat.

How about a "way to go," "keep it up" or "you go man!"? These will encourage that poor heart out there to keep going until they reach their goals.

VAL HUDSON

Winnipeg

Run For Rights

Mark Saturday, June 6th 2009 on your calendar for the 8th Annual Run for Rights. Whether you choose to walk, run, cycle or rollerblade, this event is a great way to get some exercise or warm up for the Manitoba marathon in support of social justice and human rights. Two events to choose from, 5 k and 10 k. Go here for last years race report.

New this year... June 3rd 2009 the first-ever Run for Rights benefit concert! Find out more…

See you on the start line!

Mike

Air Force Run, Race Report #2

A guest blog by Linda Klaric

Today was the inaugural Air Force Run. For first timers 17 Wing didn't do too bad with over 270 1/2 marathoners. When it's a first run you don't really know what you are going to get or how it's going to go...so there were a few surprises. Some (maybe more than some) are a little OCD when it comes to how we like our races.

LOVED the flyover...pretty cool!!! Something you just don't get to see at other runs.

Being able to stay warm and get the last washroom break in at the Fitness and Recreation Centre was a real treat.

The race pack came with a great technical short sleeved shirt and a few extra surprises.

Volunteer support along the entire route was fabulous! Air Cadets along the runway cheering us on...I think every volunteer made eye-contact and said a few supportive words...one guy even offered to order us pizza and beers...Thank you sir!!!

Running in a part of Winnipeg I don't usually get to run in was a nice change of scenery.

It was kind of cool receiving my medal from a 17 Wing Colonel...many members of 17 Wing shook our hands when we crossed and thanked us for coming out.

A few things runners are not so crazy about...

A 9:00 am start time...I know I would love something with an 8 in front...too much down time in the morning. I like to get up nice and early eat my porridge and be out the door.

I would prefer my 1/2 marathon to be the usual 13.1 miles and not 13.49 miles (which is what my garmin read)...I am still going to count it as a PB at the 13.1 mile mark though...in case someone asks.

What no food??? A little disappointing to run 13.49 miles and the food is gone...Where are the bagels, pancakes, muffins? Come on people a girl needs her white food!!! Apples and pears aren't gonna cut it.

When you see the finish line and someone waves you into a park to do a final loop...not cool people...when I see the finish line...I want to cross it...too much of a tease for me. Hey, that could be where you cut out that extra .39 miles!

The medal itself...well...kind of a disappointment...the date and year would of been nice.

When all was said and done...my friends and I had a great run...a few of us ran a PB. The community support and energy you felt from the military community was palpable and I just can't say enough about. What a great cause to support and I can't wait to do it again next year!

Linda Klaric

Air Force Run, Race Report

Melissa on the tarmac.Bernice, John, Lorie

David

The start... speedy guys up front.

Mike, David, Melissa, Lorie at the port-a-potties. Click all photos to enlarge.

Reflecting with a cool amber beauty at my side and a bowl of the forbidden fruit, Miss Vickie's on my lap (ummm, Miss Vickie... whisper sweetness into my ears... ummm). Yes, it IS indeed a good day to be alive. Here's my report, unedited and from the heart...the good, the bad and the what the?!

First the good.

Soldier On and The Military Family Resource Centre are two deserving recipients of the proceeds from this inaugural run. They do a tremendous job and both deserve all the accolades and cash that we can muster. These are good folks with noble objectives and I salute them both for the work they do. I encourage you to support them whenever the opportunity presents itself. Score... A++.

The fly-over was amazing and made this race unique from all others. It zoomed past at rocket speed with little time to pull out the camera. Nice touch! Score... A+.

The SARS demonstration was fun to watch and again, is unique to this race. Hopefully these two events will become a tradition. Score... A+.

Running on the tarmac amongst the planes and one dwarfed helicopter was a nice air force touch. It would have been better if the course went a little closer to the planes, but no biggy. Unique and tradition building. Score... B+

The family atmosphere was super. Lots of kids, mascots, smiles, and good cheer. Charisma abounded. Well done. Score A.

A reasonable number of port-a-potties for the crowd. No line-ups, all clean and tidy, and a couple of nice little hand-washing station. Score... A

The indoor facilities were great, lots of space in the gym to store your gear, stretch, and hangout away from the elements. Also, indoor washrooms is a huge plus for all runners. Score... A.

The Bad

The course was between 13.45 miles and 13.50 miles depending upon whose Garmin you checked. This is a huge no-no for any serious runner. A half-marathon is 13.1 miles, any deviation in distance is a significant disappointment for anyone hoping to achieve a personal best. I over heard one runner say she got a PB, but it was about 0.35 miles before the finish line. At an 8:41 average pace the extra 0.37 mile added about 3 minutes, 11 seconds to my time which would have given me a new PB of 1:53:46. Score... F.

That 1/2 mile gravel trail near the end has got to go. Nuff said. Score D

The medal is -sorry, there's no way around it- chintzy. It's a simulated silver in colour, but looks more dirty grey than silver. It's a little bigger than a loonie (about the same weight) attached to a short red, white, and blue ribbon with a super chintzy gold clip. There's no writing or date, just the stylized shoe with wings and a Maple Leaf in the background. Sorry, doesn't make the cut. Score... C-.

The what the?!

Coffee. Where was the coffee? It was a cold race and more than one person was asking the where abouts of the coffee pot. I'm not asking for Starbucks here, but heck, even a weak, over perked cuppa-military Joe would have hit the spot. The lack of coffee helped disperse the crowd to the closest Timmies. Coffee brings adults together, it warms the belly and kick-starts the energy. A post race must. Score... F

The food went pretty fast. I ran a sub-2 hour and by the time I arrived at the food tent there were slim-pickings. There was tonnes of fruit and yogurt which is a treat, but the bagels were long gone. No one was checking for bibs at the food line so it's possible non-runners were eating the food intended for runners. Juice and pancakes would have been great. Score... C

The half-way turn around point was a bit of a what the?! There was one lonely, although very friendly, volunteer directing us to turn around at this (she pointed) pylon. That was it. No crowd, no music, no cheering, no sign. This is where runners begin to fade. It would have been nice to mark that crucial spot with a little more oomph, a little enthusiasm, some blaring music. Even rounding a flag would have been better than rounding a orange pylon. If it weren't for that great volunteer we would have lost a few runners in the field just beyond the pylon! Score... C.

The after-burn.

It's easy for me to sit here and critique the race from the comfort of my couch with Miss Vickie snuggling up alongside. Events like the Air Force Run take tremendous organization and the dedication of hundreds of volunteers. Yes, they made a few mistakes, which I'm sure will be corrected next time, but the community pulled it together and built a new race from the ground up. The organizers and race directors should be proud of their achievement. Well done!

By the way, not sure if you noticed Ted Swain's name on the confirmation list. I hope someone managed to run with his bib. It would have been fitting. Good old Ted, his spirit lives on.

Vic Keller

Congratulations to local fitness guru, Vic Keller, for his amazing commitment to promoting fitness and improving the quality of life for hundreds of people who might not otherwise have had the confidence to take that first, lonely, painful step towards taking control of their destiny. Geoff Kirbyson of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote an article, Trash Your Old Body On This Hill, about Vic which appeared in May 25th's Free Press. Kirbyson quotes Keller "I'm helping people reclaim their lives" and, if I may add, he's probably saved a few lives along the way.

Take Jon Paintin for example. Paintin weighed over 400 pounds several years ago and was a confirmed couch potato. He's now a fit 195 pound, two time half-marathoner in addition to countless road races of various lengths. Jon is adamant that he owes his success to Vic. In his words...

"I've never felt better in my life. I can honestly say it was Vic’s careful, balanced approach, along with the support of the entire power runner’s team, that enabled me to accomplish this. I am forever in their debt.".

Thanks Vic. Your efforts have been acknowledged and are appreciated by many.

Hmmm, wonder what kind of advice Vic would give to help me achieve that elusive sub-four hour marathon? Maybe I should ask?

Ted Swain Run For Fun

In Memory of our dear friend and fellow runner, Ted Swain.

Thursday, May 28th, 6:30 p.m. at the Kenaston Running Room

5Km/10Km Run/Walk/Ride

No entry fee

Donations will be accepted for the Ted Swain Family Fund

at the Winnipeg Foundation

After the race:

Pot Luck: Appetizers/Desserts

Share Your Memories of Ted

Sign our very large card

Donations will be accepted for the Swain Family Trust at the Winnipeg Foundation. The Swain family will be working with the Winnipeg Foundation and members of the Running Room to set up an annual event in Ted’s name. See you there,

The Kenaston Running Room Team