It was early Sunday morning and the city streets, content in their slumber, greeted us with a soft spoken kiss of welcome.  “Race day” it seemed to say breathing its caress of wind in my ears; filling my lungs with anticipation and determination.  The sky, still dark; the stars singing their last refrain of lullaby before the sun spikes the circadian rhythm of the general inhabitants.  We were not the only ones embracing the early morning’s cloudless sky.  Others were stirring, preparing for their own races – answering their own challenges.  If the moment wasn’t perfect in itself, it became so as I looked from the front porch back into the house.  My toddler, Izaack (18 months) was blowing kisses and waving goodbye from the window.  In the process he was smearing his snot all over the pane in helpless innocent excitement.

        The bus took us from downtown Peterborough, to downtown Toronto.  The 10^th annual Achilles St. Patrick’s Day 5K run/walk was our destination.  With numerous athletes in our midst, each with their own varying abilities and skill, we took to the highway with friends, guides and snacks in tow.  Joyous hushed banter sang through the bus.  Some of us chose more sleep to fight butterflies, others discussed upcoming race goals.  I was very excited to hear that one of my guides is aiming towards a marathon in the fall. 

        Once we arrived in the big city, our temporary haven; we hesitantly left the warmth of the bus to pick up race kits.  After discovering a new t-shirt and socks to glorify my wardrobe, and a box of Lucky Charms, I found myself pinning both my bibs to my coat. There was one with my number to wear on the front and one with my Achilles athlete status to wear on the back.  There is nothing like wearing the truth on your back.  “Blind Runner” coming through!  It was an interesting relief to not feel the need to explain myself.

        I inherited (or recruited) a new guide for this run, a friend from school.  This, I found, added determination to my pace.  Having never run a race alone, I can’t logically compare – but I have to say that having a personal circle of inspiration in my side view mirrors was wonderful.  Both guides preformed immaculate skill and technique, right down to knowing when I would need that tender kick in the rear to incite me on.

        My memory is filled with the day, and my heart with the courtesy that runners have for each other.  The sounds of the busy streets, the families watching and cheering and of course all those feet… so many feet.  Feet thudding, feet pounding, some feet prancing, some tapping and patting – faster and faster like the build up of a rainstorm.  The minutes before we were released to race were like the calm before the storm.  That moment where, you know it is coming, you try and time your breathing and stay calm and enjoy the ride.  What do you do when you are standing in the middle of the rain storm?  Why you get wet of course!

        In the middle of that rain storm, I found of new piece of myself.  This experience of running is like a constant jig saw that came without a box.  I’m not sure what I’ll look like when the pieces are all put together, but that adds to the excitement.  During the race, I managed to spill my water on the kind soul that handed it to me, and with my guides help we outran an oncoming fire engine (sirens and all) and swerved to avoid the scattered piles of horse droppings on the sides of the street.  We ran.  I was focused and contemplative or at least I was until my guides mentioned in passing that it was nice to see some fire fighters and military personnel running with us.  I allowed a momentary distraction and then returned to my run, my race.  One of the best aspects of being visually impaired is my impeccable imagination.

        Near the end, my seasoned guide seemed to know just what to say to encourage my sprint.  This is something I’m told not everyone does.  I know some people are of the opinion that if you have the energy to run faster at the end of a race, then you could have run faster throughout.  My thoughts are, in that moment, why wait?  I’m close, so close, so why wait?  My heart was pounding its protest, my lungs were exploding and my mind wondered ‘where is the usual reserve of energy?’  It seemed to ask me from within why I was making it do this?  I answered my screamed body; every mother knows how to save an extra two or three seconds.  I told myself I had to hurry; the snot needed wiping off the window at home.  My guide loudly asked, “We are really close, can you see it?”  I knew what she meant, can I see it in my mind.  But the spectators on the sides of the road found it funny that a runner clearly labeled ‘guide’, would ask a runner clearly labeled ‘blind runner’, such a preposterous question.

        Post race was a whole new romance.  My olfactory senses were overwhelmed, and my body (which was suffering endless stress moments before) relaxed and enjoyed the atmosphere.  I was lucky enough to meet Lucky (Charm), and then enjoyed being attacked by a tree (guides apparently off duty) and of course the post race green beer.  Well if it was green I couldn’t tell!

        The bus ride home was just as wonderful as before but now we had a sense of shared experience.  This is something I’ll never forget.  I smiled and watched the CN tower fade into the horizon.  I rejoiced at the shared snacks, and then pondered how we managed to shave a full three minutes off my last 5K.

        I think in those last moments on the road home, I slipped in and out of reality.  I wonder what kind of new actuality I have made for my future by embracing this new passion.  The best part is; I get to find out…. One step at a time.

Anton Plas has two reasons to be really proud.  Firstly, he figures he has the record for the most consecutive registration and runs in the Around the Bay.  He figures he started in 1978 and hasn’t looked back.  But the second and probably most important reason is that he is the guy who is responsible for putting together the Ancaster Old Mill Race each year.

I ran it last year and had a blast.  Anton promised me and other runners a challenging course.  He wasn’t fooling.  The hill on Jerseyville Road is challenging.  I lost the Gazelle going down the hill.  I never did see him again.   But leads me to the second thing that the Ancaster Old Mill race promises, lots of spectators lining the streets.

There was such a sense of community when I ran the race.  People lined the streets no matter where you ran on the course.  And that sense of community extended to a sense of family.  There were a bunch of homes that had sprinklers set up along the course.  They claimed to have been watering the course.  I think they just wanted to water the runners.  And we didn’t mind that at all.

But the other thing that the Old Mill race offers is the most amazing food at the finish.  The food is supplied by Ancaster Old Mill restaurant and by Liaison College. 

Maybe its time to be honest.  That was one of the big draws for me.  The food and the family.  And the medal that I got at the end of the race was pretty nice too.

The Gazelle ran a personal best at the Old Mill race.  He was pretty proud of the 26 minute 5 km he clocked.  I managed to run in about 34 minutes.

I’m debating whether to enter the 5 or 10 km race set for June 9.  If I enter the 5, I can convince myself it is to better my time from last year.   If I enter the 10 I’ll be able to eat more food at the end.  Thank goodness I still have a bit of time to decide.

Hello…

i hope most of you are still focused on running even though it has been a long and apparently never ending winter, but spring is coming, the sun is starting to shine more often and longer… soon the roads, paths and sidewalks will be clear and the summer trails will be open! Check out a few races that are out there and sign up for something in May or June… doesn’t have to be a long one to get you started and focused on a goal!!

I also wanted to mention that i do hope you are checking out the iRun magazine because there are some great articles in there, and many of which i have talked about in my blogs, but they have put more in depth information for your reading pleasure… almost makes my blogs a bit of a pathetic mess… but, it is kinda fun making videos!!

So i have a couple links that show a VERY good friend of mine… My BFF…WB, doing some exercises that we do during a couple of our weekly runs. Fun way to get warm and break up the run… no matter what you do, its gotta be fun or why do it! Even speed work and hills can be fun when you have the right frame of mind and great friends to do it with!! Enjoy the sunshine…

I read an article somewhere about pets.  I have conveniently blocked it out of my mind because it hits a little too close to home for me.

The article said that after a while people started to look like their pets.  And after listening to myself breathing, I have to agree in part.  Does sound like their pets count?

A couple years ago, I bought the most beautiful minature Pug.  For a day or two, I wrongly thought she was a boy.  And the most original name I could come up with, was Puglsy.  Thank goodness she was a pretty little girl, who was christened, Arwin.  Or to those that know and love her, DemonDog.  Said exactly that way because she is a bit of a terror.

I thought I could take her running with me when she was still young enough that that was only a dream.  My aunt kept telling me to forget that dream because Pug’s have squishy faces.  And as a result, can’t breath very well.

No wonder I picked that breed.  It sounds like me.  Minus the squishy face. 

I do have to admit though, that when I run I sound exactly like my dog.  Since she has the squishy face, her nose is a little pushed in and dogs apparently don’t breath through their mouths.  They do pant through their mouths.  Just like me.

That is why I wear headphones.  I don’t want to hear the laboured breathing that is me.  The snuffling and the snorting.  Just like Arwin.   Except she has a reason.

And when I run, the sound of my feet pounding on the ground.  No criminal could bear to hear the stomp, stomp, stomp of my feet. 

I am reminded of that childrens joke, “What do you call something that goes 99 thump?”  I can’t remember the punch line, but I think it goes something like “Terri running.”

I wouldn’t trade DemonDog, or my own running style for the world.  We are both unique in our own special way.

saturday @ the bike show
the bike show was great – it’s a good feeling, being able to support Canadian vendors. I bought my first road bike last summer and needed a couple accessories. I also want to get out cycling more this summer and was hoping to maybe sign up for an event. there were so many races/causes to choose from so I’m taking my time and going to pick a few duathalons to do this summer with LM. I was a good girl and only purchased 2 tubes, a water bottle rack, and a little seat mounted bag to store an emergency kit in. KB and KB gifted me with my very own tire changer tool – merci beaucoup!
here are a couple blurry pics for your enjoyment (I had a wee bit of a hangover and shakes problem):

the one on the bottom is of the bike (the blue one) I want ‘someday’ assuming I actually like the duathalon experiences I’m planning. but, as KB pointed out, I could just get aero bars for my bike…

sunday long run

distance: 15.80M (25.28km)
time: 2:51:59
pace: 10:53/M
calories: 1826

notes: this was a good run. ME and I did a similar route to last week’s long run. it was gorgeous out and it was nice to not need my run jacket. saw lots of other runners out too and many waves and hello’s were exchanged. I felt I could have pushed it to maybe 17 or 18 miles (27-32km) but it was nice not to be in a delirious, exhausted, crampy haze by the time I reached the doorstep. I managed to get a wee bit of a sunburn (thank you freckly, fair skin). we tried sport beansand I really liked them. they were much more tolerable than gels and they come in caffeinated versions too. I think for my marathon, I’m going to do a combination of gel and sport beans.  neither seems to upset my tummy too much.  ran in my Nikes. I think the pressure point thingy in them at the ball of my foot might be causing some of my feet issues. for the last few runs I’ve been on, both long and short, my feet have been very sore, almost bruised feeling, afterwards. I thought it might have been plantar fasciitis and I’ve been rolling my foot with a golf ball at work. that helped the tendons but now there’s this weird bruised feeling right below the pad below my little toe. it doesn’t hurt when I walk or run, just afterwards feels bruised. ideas anyone? hoodieruns@gmail.com

CBD – thank you for your comment about the squares!  I did bake them in a 9×13 but stored them in a 9×9 plastic container. my bars were lovely and chewy but so fulling that I cut them a bit smaller than bar size. do you havve the nutritional info for your version? mind sending the info to me at hoodieruns@gmail.com?  do you have any other receipes runners might enjoy that I can feature and properly credit you for?? :o)

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the Great Tim Horton’s Roll Up The Rim Tally –  hoodie 5 : Tim Horton’s 12
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Lately as I have been getting ready to go for a run I have been thinking that it sure seems like I have a lot of gear to get ready to go out!  Who ever said all you need to run is a pair of shoes obviously has never caught the bug!!  I can’t believe how much of a difference 5 yrs can make.  I remember when I was training for and running my first ½ marathon in 2004 my list of gear looked like this:

–          Cotton Shorts ($15)

–          Pair of old boxers ($10)

–          White ‘sport’ socks ($3)

–          Cotton Shirt ($ free with a case of beer)

–          Hat (from old Navy I believe) ($15)

–          Analog Watch (with a very small digital stopwatch) ($200, nice watch just not made for running)

–          Shoes (probably not the right type) ($90)

Total ($333)

My goal during my first ½ marathon was to break the 2hr mark, I came just about as close as you can finishing at 2hrs and 46 seconds!  Not too bad considering I was probably carrying a few extra pounds from the sweat soaked into my cotton clothes! From what I can remember I had chafing in places I shouldn’t and blisters on my feet like crazy!

Fast Forward 5 years and in order for me to go for a run I need:

–          Running Shorts (quick dry of course with boxer lining) ($65)

–          Running Socks (again quick dry) ($20)

–          Technical T-Shirt (quick dry) ($30)

–          Running Hat (quick dry) ($25)

–          Garmin ($300)

–          Shoes (Specific make and model of New Balance to fit my square shaped feet) ($130)

–          Energy Gels ($3.00)

–          Water Belt ($50.00)

–          IPod ($100)

–          Sunglasses ($30)

Total ($743)

WOW twice as much money! You would think I would run twice as fast!  Unfortunately that is not what happened.  Instead it takes me twice as long to get ready to go out! I have also become so dependant on having all of these items for my runs if I forget something it feels awkward! Same thing goes for my Garmin or Ipod running out of batteries it just feels weird to run without them!!

I am starting to feel more and more like a little old lady who is dependant on meals on wheels and the Young and the Restless to make it through the day! 

My PB in the ½ is 1:51 so I guess being equipped with more up to date equipment has helped a little…..wonder what would happen if I spent a little more…..besides my wife giving me trouble and insisting that she spend the same amount on new furniture!!

A study was done last year by someone in Germany.  A scientist or maybe a runner who tired of justifying his feelings, decided to make it official.  Runners high is real.

What the scientist did, was inject a bunch of runners with a contrast of a special sort.  It bonded with the chemical that was thought to be resposnible for runners high.  Then the runners were sent off to run.  And after the run, were put through a PET scan.  The scan showed the areas in the brain that were resposnible for the chemical release of the chemical.  Lo and behold, the brain glowed a bright colour. 

Eureka, he or she shouted.  We found it!  Proof that there is such a thing as runners high.

I read on one of the sites that talked about the study.  They compared runners high to something I can’t talk about it a general audience blog. 

What prompted this search you ask?  I finally have experienced runners high.  It isn’t the feeling promised in one of those websites.  But it is a feeling that I know happens.  I can tell you when the high sets in.

I was running this morning.  Getting ready for Around the Bay in a couple weeks.  I was running a 10 km route. 

I went from worrying about how the run was going to go, to “Hey this is great!  I know I said to myself that I would stop at 10 km, but I could just keep going.  And while we are at it, I bet if I went and did this and this, I could solve the global economic crisis single-handedly.”

You’ll notice I’m being pretty vague about what I need to do to solve the economic crisis.  Unfortunately as soon as the chemicals swirling around my brain subsided, I lost the great ideas.

Maybe when I run again on Tuesday, I should bring a notebook.