42.2 years, 42.2k, even more thank yous

By

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September 25, 2010

To celebrate being 42.2 years old, I ran 42.2k today and felt like a very lucky man. Like about half of my marathons so far, I ran well for 35 or 36k and then a bit slower for the last 6k. I wanted to get as close to 3:30 as possible and I finished in 3:36. But it was a great day that celebrated life and running and raised money for a great cause.

I’d like to start by thanking my iRun colleagues Lisa and Donna, who were there for the whole run, staffing water stations at both ends of our course. It was a longer day for them than it was for me.

I’d also like to thank Brian, who ran the first 22.2k with me, Bob, the best possible training buddy, who ran the last 10k, and Rick, Heather, Len, Cameron, Cathy, Nancy and John (and Rayne) who jumped in along the way. And Sonja and her sister and friend, who helped us set off at the start.

And Rick Hellard, who measured the course, was very precise. My Garmin showed 42.21k at the end of the run. How much closer can you get than that?

Most of all, I’d like to thank the more than 70 people who donated to support my run for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. We’ve raised just under $6,000 so far, with a few more promised donations still to be tallied up. It’s very gratifying to be able to turn a run into a good cause.

Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement and support. It’s been a great day.

Dancing to the finish with One Good Earbud

By

BuzzonGear

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September 24, 2010

I like running with a group. We get together once or twice a week to hit the trails. While we run, we chat between breaths. It helps to pass the time. However, there are days when the group is just not enough to keep me motivated. Some days I need a little something extra, a little distraction to keep me on pace. Music! Music can give you that push to keep going up that hill or just take your mind off of the monotony of running. Sometimes I just need a little Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, or Lady Gaga to make me forget that I am making my body sweat and to will my legs to keep going.

Listening to music and running with friends presents a problem. It is difficult to discreetly put in your earphones when your buddy is speaking directly to you. In fact, it can be interpreted as rude. Many runners will tuck one earphone into their shirt and run with the other earphone in their ear. I have attempted that approach, but inevitably, that sneaky dangling earphone works its way out to cause havoc on the earphone that is sitting snugly in my ear. Then I have to sort out the slippery wires with sweaty hands, keep pace, and watch where I’m going. For someone who is a bit clumsy, this can be disastrous.

So, when I tested the One Good Earbud with the wrap around ear piece, I immediately liked the simplicity of the product. Why didn’t I think of this? The One Good Earbud is a single earphone that provides both channels of music in one earbud, so you aren’t missing any aspect of the sound. It fit my ear perfectly. Once it was in, I didn’t have to re-adjust the ear piece. Aside from the convenience of being able to chat with my friends, the One Good Earbud provides a level of safety. I can listen to music and still hear what is going on around me.

Overall, I was very happy with One Good Earbud. It is comfortable, maintains good sound quality, and helps me to enjoy my run safely. This week, I was able to charge up hills with my favourite power song and jog down the other side and converse with my friend. I rocked the hills and didn’t miss a beat.

If you are interested in purchasing a One Good Earbud for yourself, you can find them on the web at http://onegoodearbud.com/

Happy running!

For your next tune-up

By

Karen Karnis

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September 24, 2010

At the risk of sounding like the old guys discussing their colonoscopies in loud voices at Tim Hortons, I thought I would tell you about my doctor’s appointment this morning. I had to walk uphill – both ways! Oh wait, wrong old guys.

Anyway, I went for my annual tune-up and 75-point inspection, and as always, we discussed my diet and level of physical activity. While I am not due for much blood work this year, she told me that due to my level of physical activity, she was sending me for tests* for haemoglobin, thyroid, kidney function, IQ, midichlorians, some other stuff I can’t remember, and an EKG. “EKG?” I wondered aloud.

She told me that the current recommendation for anyone who is very active (there’s that term again! I love it when medical professionals say that!) is to have an EKG, both to ensure there’s nothing abnormal going on (at least not with your heart!) and to have a base line for the future.

It was a really simple and completely painless** test – the lab technician spent more time sticking stickers on me than actually recording information – I was in and out in less than five minutes. I just thought I would throw that out there in case anyone happens to be chatting with their GP and thinks this might be a good idea. After all, on those rare occasions where you hear of someone dropping dead in a sporting event, most times the story contains the phrase “pre-existing, undiagnosed heart condition.”

*list may not accurately describe prescribed tests.
**for me anyway; anyone with a hairy chest or ankles may disagree.

Welcome to the Buzz on Gear

By

LWallace

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September 23, 2010

Hey iRunNation!
Welcome to our new blog brought to you by the iRunGear Test Team.

Rebecca Richardson will be leading our Gear Team. Rebecca, a busy mom to three young boys just completed her first half-marathon and is training for another.

We hope that all of you will share your opinions and insights into the various products we will be
reviewing.

In the coming months we will be reviewing gadgets, electronics, clothing, snacks and
everything else that helps make a run more comfortable and successful.
We want you to be part of our team and so if you’re interested in becoming a
member of our Gear Team or have a product that you would like us to review
please send an email to GearEditor@irun.ca

Thanks for your incredible support

By

MarkSutcliffe

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September 20, 2010

One of the great things about doing a run and raising some money is the incredible show of support you get from family and friends.

I put the word out about running 42.2k on the day I’m 42.2 years old and I’ve been blown away by the encouraging messages and the donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. Please have a look at the list of donors so they get the credit and recognition they deserve.

When I run my marathon on Saturday, I’ll be thinking about how blessed I am to have the support and generosity of family and friends.

Happy Terry Fox Run!

By

Vicky and Grant

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September 19, 2010

“I don’t feel that this is unfair. That’s the thing about cancer. I’m not the only one, it happens all the time to people. I’m not special. This just intensifies what I did. It gives it more meaning. It’ll inspire more people. I just wish people would realize that anything’s possible if you try; dreams are made possible if you try.” Terry Fox

Continue

Heroes

By

MarkSutcliffe

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September 18, 2010

I had the honour of attending the Army Week Mess Dinner last night, where I met so many of our inspiring men and women in uniform. iRun is proud to be a sponsor of the Army Run, probably the fastest growing event in Canada because of its unique opportunity to run with Canadian soldiers.

Just before meeting some of those heroes, I happened to walk by the small statue of Terry Fox in the lobby of Ottawa City Hall, where the dinner was held. Terry Fox is my All-Time Biggest Hero Ever, ahead of all my childhood sports heroes and the many people who have inspired me as an adult, with their courage, generosity and kindness.

What struck me about the scene with Terry’s statue is that a girl of about seven was posing with it when I walked by, her mother framing her in a digital camera. The girl was beaming, like it was a real thrill to be standing so close to a Canadian icon. When I read today on the Globe and Mail website about how Betty Fox feels about the fact that kids in school today are still learning about Terry, I thought back to the girl last night.

I remember very clearly seeing Terry Fox run. I remember the day he came through Ottawa. I remember when we crossed paths with him again on a family vacation in Ontario’s cottage country. I remember watching the news when he had to stop his run. I remember delivering the Ottawa Citizen the day that he died. So it’s no surprise that Terry is my hero.

But how inspiring to see someone who was born long after the Marathon of Hope looking so thrilled to be in his presence.

Good luck to everyone in the Army Run and the Terry Fox Run tomorrow.

Running and donating blood – is it in you to give?

By

Karen Karnis

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September 16, 2010

I’ve been a blood donor for longer than I’ve been a runner. I am told most folks don’t really feel any different after donating, but for as long as I have been donating, the morning after I have always been thirsty, and reaching for the top shelf of the pantry could produce a “head rush” like bolting upright from a lying position while bursting into an operetta.

According to my conversations with clinic nurses, when you’re first “down a pint” you are dehydrated, which explains the thirst and head rushes. You have to focus on fluid intake, but general blood volume returns to normal within a few days. However, your blood is essentially diluted because your volume of red blood cells is not replenished for several weeks. Red blood cells are those fabulous vessels that transport oxygen around your body, so you can see why you’d want them; having full blood volume without all of your red blood cells would be a bit like having a complete subway system without enough trains during rush hour.

In talking with other runners, I’ve heard quite a variety of experiences, from one extreme where they didn’t notice anything at all, to the other where they’ve stopped donating completely while in training.

My personal experience is that for a day or two after a donation, I feel lousy when I try to run. After that, I don’t feel bad as such, but my level of effort to maintain the same pace is much higher. When I am running at easy pace, it feels more like moderate pace. Anything harder than easy pace and my legs start to feel like they’ve been filled with cement. When I get into the really intense work, my lungs feel like sieves – unlike when I have asthma symptoms, I feel like I am still able to take big, robust breaths, I just feel like I am not getting anything out of them.

However, this gradually gets better over time, so that in about 2 weeks, I am always back to my old self (your mileage may vary).

Whether or not to donate blood is a very personal decision, and I would never judge anyone for their choice. However, it is worth noting that according to Canadian Blood Services, someone in Canada needs blood approximately once every minute, and 52% of Canadians say they or a family member have needed blood or blood products for some sort of medical treatment .

Giving blood is important to me, and not just because they feed me cookies (although that’s a big part of it). As a member of that not-so-elite 52%, I just happen to have first-hand knowledge of the life-saving power of my donation. It doesn’t conflict with my training; I just make a point of knowing the affects of the donation for me, personally, so that I can time my trips to the clinic accordingly. I joke with my husband that I am getting a 2-week period of “altitude training” without the expense and hassle of flying somewhere for it!

My first supporter

By

MarkSutcliffe

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September 16, 2010

Want to say a big thank you to Dave Daze. Even before I sent out my mass email encouraging everyone to support my run, he went to the donation page and was the first person to chip in.

And while I was thinking of everyone donating in increments of $4.22 or $42.20, Dave went Imperial on me and donated $26.20. Thanks Dave!

Dave is a great runner who has done Boston several times and has encouraged hundreds of children at the school where he teaches to do the Ottawa Kids Marathon. His email signature says it all (and maybe explains his donation): “Twenty miles of hope, six miles of truth.”

Why I Run

By

KSkinner

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September 13, 2010

After a ten minute search, I find my sneakers shoved into a corner of my closet. It’s been at least two weeks since I’ve run and yet, here I am, scrambling to get organized.

My hat? My headphones? Socks?

There is no one holding me accountable today, and yet, I quiet the negative voice in my head, I ignore the sink full of dishes. I run, but what does it accomplish? I run so I can run again so I can run again so I can run again. Like laundry or dishes, a break is always welcome but ultimately a bad decision.

The air is cool, I wonder if my shorts are enough. The dog pulls on her leash before I am fully ready to start but I let her lead my dragging feet. I am awkward, clumsy feeling after this long break. My feet hit the asphalt heavy, my legs are cold my breath ragged. I hate this.

My ear buds blare pop music produced sometime within the past decade and my thoughts wanter. My lungs expand, contract, expand. The cool air fills them – my mind empties.

Somewhere between my house and the halfway mark, things change. My feet find a steady rhythm, my mouth turns up into a smile.

I make a quick decision and turn into the woods, a well groomed trail through my neighbourhood. Release the dog from her leash and she darts away. Push my legs harder, faster up the hill – I always try to race her. I’m almost there but then she’s back, suddenly, crashing past me. Push my legs up the steepest part, around the fallen tree, over the large rocks. My legs feel like jelly, my lungs are screaming and then: I’m out of the woods. I jog slowly to my house, breathing hard.

My shirt is damp, clinging to my back. My legs tremble, my lungs feel hot. Face flushed, salty; this is why I do it. This is why I make myself run (to run again and run again). Because I get to see my dog thundering by with her tongue hanging out. Because I get to feel my lungs scream. Because I get to feel my knees buckle under me.

Because it makes me feel alive.