Running to Reykjavik

Over $10,000

2006-09-01T08:05:00.000-04:00

While I mentioned that our Reykjavik Marathon Team Diabetes collectively raised over $1 million, I think I forgot to document here on this blog the fact that my final fundraising tally was over $10,000.

This astounds me.

Thank you all for your generosity and support.

Running free

2006-08-30T23:10:00.000-04:00

All right, I know I sort of suggested that the previous post would be my last, but I have two more things to say.

First, I ran today at lunch without any particular distance or speed goal, and it was glorious. Sometimes I just love running.

Second:

ATTENTION TEAM DIABETES REYKJAVIK members:

I've created a new blog to collect photos and wisdom and sort of act as a meeting place to share info, and I'm looking for members.

Any takers?

If I get a nibble, I'll try and figure out how to do a group blog - I'm sure it's not complicated.

Thank you and bless, bless

2006-08-30T07:16:00.000-04:00

I found it quite charming the way many Icelanders say "Bless, bless" when departing.

At some point this whole blog thing must come to an end, and as it seems to be turning into a monologue on my whirlwind tour of Iceland, now seems like a good time to bring things to a close.

My deepest thanks go out to all the people who have supported me on this adventure and donated to the Canadian Diabetes Association. Our Team Diabetes Reykjavik 2006 group raised over $1 million, and this is just one of the many marathons they run each year.

In addition to all the financial support, I'd like to thank the family and friends who provided much-need moral support through this obsession. It was a big one. Especially the lower points, and the moments of doubt and pain. I really couldn't have done it without you.

Finally I'd like to thank my "team" in Reykjavik: My roommate Jenny who inspired us all with her last-minute upgrade from the half to the full marathon. My running partner Dave who distracted me with his tales of adventure, helped me keep a good pace, and then sent me on to a strong finish. And my generous hosts Helga, Jonas, Egill and Friðrik who distracted me from the post-race pain and potential let-down.

Bless, bless.

What next?

2006-08-29T18:12:00.000-04:00

Everyone keeps asking this question. I don't know the answer. Keep running.

Jonas is talking about doing the marathon next year, and Rupert has said he'll do it if Jonas does. Helga would consider the half and Mary Jo has been talking about a marathon, so Reykjavik 2007 is a possibility. Besides, there's still lots of Iceland to see.

Dublin, on the other hand, is also quite an appealing option. As is Honolulu.

Stay tuned, but don't hold your breath... it may take a while to decide.

In the meantime, I may do the half in Collingwood in October.

Fimmvörðuháls og Sólheimajókull

2006-08-28T23:10:00.000-04:00

For the grand finale on my last full day in Iceland, Helga and I headed east along the south shore to take in a few more foss (I think I've had my fill) and fulfill my quest to see a glacier.

We did better than that - we walked on one. The Mýrdalsjökull glacier at Sólheimajókull a tongue that comes close enough to the main road that you can access it with only a short bit of really bad road. It was very humbling to walk on that giant, ancient river of ice.

And, while I didn't get to do the full Fimmvörðuháls Pass hike between the Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull glaciers, we did do the first little bit of it... up into the Skógarheiði. It was dreamy. Exactly the mountain hiking I had been craving. Again, I expect I'll be back to do the full hike - maybe even all the way to Landmannalaugar.

Craving Skyr (Eating in Iceland, Part II)

2006-08-28T21:57:00.000-04:00

If anyone knows of a place in Toronto to get Skyr, PLEASE LET ME KNOW - I'm in withdrawl. I even risked the no-liquids-in-the-carry-on rule and argued with the customs inspector to be able to bring one precious container home.

Jonas cooked up a spectacular farewell meal, that went somewhat under-appreciated by a couple of whitefish girls... I wish I'd taken a photo.

First was a rich fish soup drizzled with skyr and very salty Russian caviar. Next was a sampling of the day's catch: monkfish, arctic char, minke whale and bone shark. All grilled to perfection. The arctic char was delicious, the whale scared me a bit (Helga pointed it out to me earlier in the week at the grocery store and it looked like a cross between salmon and liver - big thick fillets in a deep red-purlpe shade.) but it tasted very good. Cooked it looked more like beef than fish. I guess it's a mammal thing. The texture of the bone shark, and the (unconfirmed) report that it was an endangered species that got tangled in the net and brought in by accident sort of turned me off. All in all it was a very impressive meal, and I was glad not to have to try the putrified shark "delicacy" that many tourists get talked into.

Haunted Reykjavik tour on fire

2006-08-25T20:24:00.000-04:00

Friðrik went missing for a few hours tonight - didn´t come home for dinner and left his cell phone at home. Just as Helga was verging on frantic, a very apologetic Friðrik called to confess he had lost track of time.

Later this evening as Helga was telling Jonas that she was moments away from calling the police, Jonas said under his breath that the police would have been busy... with him. Turns out both police and a fire truck arrived to reprimand him for a lack of common sense (after he called them on the charge of breaking a law - which law?) for lighting a torch outside the parliament.

So, in the future, the addition of the torch will only be for the cemetery portion of the Haunted Reykjavik tour. It just keeps getting better...

Journey to the centre of the Earth - almost

2006-08-25T20:14:00.000-04:00

Went with Jonas and Oli to the Snæfellsnes Penninsula today, with the intention of going to the famous glacier after a couple of business meetings but got sidetracked on a private boat tour around Breíðafjördur Bay north of Stykkisölmur with a somewhat eccentric Icelandic hotel owner... I know, poor me.

I did see enough of this magical penninsula to know that I must return.

Helga and Julie go camping

2006-08-25T06:24:00.000-04:00

Icelanders, much to my surprise, do not camp in tents.

As a gal raised on canoe tripping (car camping is foreign to me) I was entertained by many aspects of my whirlwind tour of northern Iceland. Helga and I arrived to find the camping section of the site deserted, while the trailer section was full. (Luckily, they were separated by a few kilometres of road.)

We set up our tent, portable table and chairs and unloaded the cooler and then proceeded on to Mosquito Lake (the only place in Iceland where the little buggers exist - though minimal by Canadian standards). Here we toured around some small volcanic craters and a huge area of bizarre volcanic formations known as Dimmuborgir.

The natural beauty was, once again, breathtaking - will post photos on Flickr next week - but the true highlight (for its novelty) was the disposable BBQ, followed closely by the frozen packaged hamburger kit. I was doubtful about the whole thing, but in the end this doubter had a delicious dinner at 10:30pm just as darkness was setting in...

And yes, it was chilly.

You can read more about the curious relationship between Icelanders and camping in this editorial from the Reykjavik Grapevine, an English-language bi-weekly newspaper.

Eating in Iceland

2006-08-22T17:40:00.000-04:00

Today I spent the day catching up on the things I didn´t get around to in Reykjavik last week. I went to the top of the Hallgrímskirkja (Church of Hallgrimur) with just enough time to enjoy the incredible view before the rain set in. Next on my list was trying one of the donuts I saw dozens of tourists photographing on my first day in town. I´m still not entirely sure why, but it was a good donut.

After a quick trip to the museum of photography, it was home to meet Friðrik, Egill and their two friends for a trip to the local swimming pool. While the boys goofed around in the pool, Jonas and I soaked in the hot pools (three different pools of different temperatures). We worked our way from one to the next, then hit the steambath, followed by a cold shower and a swim in the warm pool. Perhaps on Sunday I´ll bike around town to complete my own private Reykjavik triathalon.

On our way to pick Helga up from work Jonas and I came across a mobile TV unit parked at the hotdog stand, and decided we should test the recent announcement that this stand (sells nothing but hot dogs and pop) was voted second best hot dog in Europe. I had one with the works, and was a bit shocked when I crunched down on something the texture of a cheesy, but Jonas assurred me it was not accidental. While I´m no hot dog connisseur, I did find it to be quite delicious. (Helga, if you´re reading this, that´s why I had to pass on the ice cream.)

Skyr - a high-protien, low-fat dairy product unique to Iceland - has become a regular part of my diet. Any entrpreneurs out there may want to consider importing it to Canada - I´d be the first in line.

Helga took care to make traditional flat bread and smoked lamb sandwiches for our outings, as well as ones with "Italian Salad". I´ve also been treated to BBQ lamb and some kind of delicious fish for dinner.

It´s a wonder I´m able to squeeze my exploring in between all this good eating.

Tomorrow Helga and I will pack up the camping gear and head north toward Akureyri in search of hiking and good weather.

Between plates

2006-08-21T19:19:00.000-04:00

Not plates of food (for once, my life seems not to be focused on food - though Helga has taken great care to educate me about typical Icelandic food... that will have to be a future post) but something much more significant - continental plates.

Today I walked through a rift that is a sort of no-man´s land between the Eurasian and American tectonic plates. As if this were not humbling enough, the area we were wandering through is the site of the world´s oldest parliament - the Alþingi, founded in 930 at þingvellir. It´s difficult to say what is more impressive - the history, geography or natural beauty of this stunning place.

From here we continued on to Geysir and watched several remarkable eruptions of the smaller Strokkur (Geysir himself having been worn out by the repeated use of soap to enhance the dramatics of the eruptions). Egill, Friðrik and I had a great time poking around the many hot streams running down the surface and Jonas got some great shots through the mist. Watch his flickr for details...

4:07:38 chip time

2006-08-21T18:52:00.000-04:00

Found the official marathon results online today and was delighted to find that I came in 14th in my class (...out of47!), 225th overall. Was disappointed to see that there was some sort of screw up that found some of our Team D runners´ full marathon results listed under the half... this may explain why their bags were snatched from them at the finish or why they were given a medal for the half.

Unfortunate.

But we all know the real story.

Dream run in Iceland

2006-08-21T07:46:00.000-04:00

With the race behind me, my exploration of Iceland has begun. Did a tour of the Reykjanes Penninsula yesterday with Helga, Jonas and Friðrik - couldn´t ask for better guides!

ATTENTION TEAM DIABETES folks: Jonas got some fantastic photos during the race - check them out, you may find one of yourself.

I did it!!

2006-08-19T12:48:00.000-04:00

Unofficial time: 4:08 and it was FUN. The course was BEAUTIFUL and it was a gorgeous day - sunny with some ominous clouds in the distance - VERY windy.

Ran with a lovely fellow named Dave for first 37km then left him in my dust (with his blessing) - we had fun. Pushed hard for the last 5km and finished with a sprint down the shute that nearly did me in.

I was left with nothing, but four hours and almost as many Advil later, I´m starting to feel my energy coming back.

I´m so proud of everyone. Jenny upgraded from the half to the full and surprised herself (not to mention her family) with how strong she was. Dave cam back from 3 months of no running to finish his first marathon in almost 25 years. One of our women came in second at 3:36 and didn´t know what they were saying to her when they tried to pull her up on the podium.

Now it´s time for the victory party and a crazy night on the streets of Reykjavik - it´s the biggest party of the year here with almost two-thirds of the country in the downtown to celebrate. Great way to end (or rather, continue) a huge day.

$1 million!!

2006-08-18T18:17:00.000-04:00

Last night we learned that our group of 190 runners has raised over a million dollars for the Canadian Diabetes Association. I got goose bumps...

The Group becomes a Team

2006-08-18T14:08:00.000-04:00

Almsot slept through the 9am "fun run" this morning, but was glad that we hustled to get there as it actually was fun. And it was sort of a trial run - a chance to feel out the temperature and feel out the lay of the land before race day.

Race day. Right. That thing that has been driving me for the past six months.

The Group spent the middle part of the day at the biggest tourist trap in Iceland - which, as tourist traps go, is quite delightful. Rather than being tacky and leaving you feeling a little sick, this is a tourist trap that is truly beautiful and makes you feel great. (Never mind that it´s the effluent from a co-generation power plant... or maybe this is part of the charm.)We spent two hours floating around this giant hotspring, chatting and getting to know each other, all the while with white silica slathered all over our faces.

As with any large gathering of people, The Group is a totally mixed bag – old, young, extoverted, introverted, wild, laid back – you name it, that combination is probably here. But there is one thing that we all share - the time and effort we´ve put into our fundraising and training to bring us to race day. Tonight we had a dinner with lots of motivational speeches and valuable tips on things like race etiquitte and how not to get nipple chafing, but the most important thing I walked away with was the feeling of being a team.

So far I´ve managed to stay calm and not think too much about it – hoping this will carry me through the night so I can have a decent sleep... when I wake up there will only be so much time in which to get myself all freaked out. About the race. Tomorrow. Holy shit.

First impressions

2006-08-17T19:24:00.000-04:00

I have no idea what day it is.

My watch tells me it´s August 17th, 11:18pm, but my mind and my body are at odds with this reality - I'm exhausted and disoriented but exhilaratedd at the same time.

Iceland, so far, has made quite an impression on me. The first glimpse out the window of the airplane, the bizarre yet familiar moonscape driving into Reykjavik, the people (both local and the Team D crew), the architecture, the weather - all are swirling around seeking expression in this sleep-deprived head of mine, yet finding no release. (trying to type on this bizarre keyboard doesn't help much...) Perhaps a good night's rest will make a difference.

For those who understand: did Jonas's Haunted Iceland tour tonight and it was AMAZING - everything you would expect and so much more, delivered with charm, wit and, yes, deep sincerity. Very impressive. I would recommend it as a must-do in Reykjavik.

Whale watching this afternoon was a grand success - sighted a rare Baskin Shark (huge!) and some rather elusive Minke whales as well as a host of puffins and other sea birds. Great scenery, weather and company to boot. Will try to figure out how to upload photos. Stay tuned.

Flood of email

2006-08-15T07:28:00.000-04:00

On Saturday I sent out a quick email to try and thank everyone for the support they've given me over the past six months, and was flooded with a whole new wave.

I was totally unprepared for the volume of responses, mostly simple one-liners, with final words of encouragement. This whole thing makes me very emotional at times... so thanks everyone, for your kind words and thoughts - I'll carry them all with me and have lots of time to think of each of you as I rack up the miles!

Back in action

2006-08-13T23:21:00.000-04:00

Exhausted but happy after an action-packed weekend, I'm pleased to report that I had two great runs this weekend.

A 16k on Saturday morning at a race pace that falls between 5:45 and 6:00 (JENNY: thanks for pointing out my error - I meant a pace that would have me finish somewhere between 4:00 and 4:15 - love that edit feature!) My highly scientific method of gauging my pace consists of dividing the total time of the run by the number of km Map My Run tells me I covered, so it's difficult to be precise about these things.

I did dip into some technology on my run this afternoon - used a heart-rate monitor for a tour of CastleGlen (the kind of run that reminds me why I love running - second only to Amherst Island in my inventory of favourite runs). Sadly the numbers don't mean all that much to me, but I can see how people find the strange little device useful. I may give it a more serious try in future training.

OK - off to bed. It's race week - I'm past my bedtime.

11° in Reykjavik (and a good tip)

2006-08-11T07:53:00.000-04:00

According to the Weather Network, it was 11° in Reykjavik this morning - the forecast only goes as far as Tuesday, but they're calling for sunny and 13°.

I've been *trying* to go to bed earlier and get up earlier so the 5am wakeup (1am Toronto time) on race day won't be such a shock. Poking around on Flickr this morning I somehow found myself reading about a group of photographers who recently toured Iceland.

Found an interesting practical TRAVEL TIP:

If you plan to use your ATM card in Iceland, and most of Europe, be sure to change you pass code to 4 digits before you leave. Otherwise there's a good chance you won't be able to use it while abroad. I think this is important because ATM machines are one of the best ways to get fair exchange rates for currency while traveling.

If you're bring a cell phone or lots of camera equipment, you may be interested in the other tips on offer.

TEAM D

2006-08-11T07:41:00.000-04:00

With an emphasis on TEAM.

When I dig past my gut reaction (read: aversion) to the idea of group travel, I uncover a collection of individuals - each one of them potentially full of character and interest - and remind myself that this is what I'll take away (not all the name tags and coach shuttles).

The small gathering of team members on Wednesday night brought this point home for me. I arrived late to find an interesting and excited group of souls with whom, no matter how utterly different we may be, I share two common facts: we've all spent the last six or more months training and fundraising for a very worthy cause and humbling goal.

It's really quite remarkable.

How do you say spam in Icelandic?

2006-08-10T17:27:00.000-04:00

So, for Jenny it was getting her package and hideous singlet that finally got her excited for the trip. Not me. I'm not a huge fan of the "group thing" and having all that group stuff rubbed in my face actually made me feel a little queasy.

For me, the real excitement hit when I got this weird email today. The subject line was: Reykjavíkurmaraþon Glitnis, and remarkably it took me a minute to mine the word Reykjavik out of that mess. When I eventually realized that it was not a creative new subject for spam, I was delighted to open it up and have my screen fill with this strange and magical language.

Gangi þér vel og góða skemmtun.

I'm going to Iceland!

And more immediately, I'm just heading out for my second post-back run - uping the ante from 6 to 10k this time... we'll see how she goes.

Back on track

2006-08-08T22:36:00.000-04:00

Ok... maybe not quite "on track" (whatever that means), but I did run today.

And it was FANTASTIC!

I was a bit nervous for the first few minutes - after two weeks off and all that pain, I wasn't sure how it would go. But after a km or so I relaxed, and then just reveled in the simple joy of the clear sky, fresh air and motion.

Haunted Reykjavik update

2006-08-07T22:40:00.000-04:00

Just heard back from my friend Jonas in Reykjavik - he confirmed that the tour is at 8pm on Thursday and that he will indeed be our guide.

Sounds like it's Jenny, possibly Jerry, Trevor and myself so far - all welcome!

I haven't done anything about booking - though you can book in advance on the Haunted Reykjavik site if you'd like. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to do it a different night if Thursday were suddenly fully booked...

Craving a run

2006-08-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

Mentally I'm SO ready to run again, but physically I'm still a ways off. The gap better close soon or I'm going to lose my mind... It was killing me yesterday to see all those people out there running - it's been ten days now and I'm trying to be smart but feeling anxious to get back at it.

Maybe tomorrow?

Haunted Reykjavik

2006-08-01T20:45:00.000-04:00

I got an email tonight from the friends I will be staying with in Reykjavik after the marathon. They've just returned from a trip to the eastern part of the Iceland and sent a link to some fantastic photographs.

Jonas has started up a business doing Haunted Reykjavik tours and it sounds like good fun. Any of you Team D folks reading this - we should try and set one up for Thursday night. Jonas is a born storyteller and a real character - I think it would be entertaining. Let me know if you're interested...

You can read a review of Jonas's tour written by Bjork's son - he does a good job of capturing the "essence of Jonas".

As for my back, didn't learn much new at the doc today - mostly got educated about which drugs can and cannot be mixed. Apparently I did it wrong. The human pin cushion experiment was a bit more interesting. Can't say for sure that it's made any kind of difference, but it certainly didn't make things any worse.

From bad to worse... and then a bit better

2006-07-31T16:46:00.000-04:00

This weekend I've been overwhelmed by two things: The amount of pain the human body can bear and the support/encouragement I've received from friends and virtual strangers. Both have been in steady supply. Thanks everyone.

Saturday morning the pain in my back caused my body to shut down. I have never in my life been as scared as I was when I realized that I was passing out. For a brief moment I thought I was dying.

That was the turning point.

I stopped worrying about the marathon and just wished for some relief from the pain. I had NO IDEA back pain could be like that.

Four days later I'm still moping around my house and spending most of my day horizontal, but I'm feeling much better. Tomorrow I've got appointments to see my doctor and get some acupuncture. I'm confident that time and treatment will tell whether or not this marathon is still a possibility.

Enough sitting for now... thanks again for the support everyone!

CLOSED for repairs?

2006-07-28T20:16:00.000-04:00

In the roller coaster that preparing for this race has been I don't quite know how to describe the chain of events that unfolded this week.

The heat and humidity are soaring in Toronto this week (40+ on the "humidex") and in my determination not to go off the rails I spent two excruciatingly boring hours on the treadmill at lunch on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I daydreamed about chewing my arm off it was so torturous, but figured it was preferable to my equally excruciating attempt at the early-morning run on Tuesday (which, by the way, didn't do a whole lot to beat the heat).

Today was my rest day before my second and final 32km long run - the run in which I was going to prove to myself that it doesn't have to be as difficult as it was the first time. I struggled over a difficult decision not to visit one of my best friends and her family who I haven't seen in months largely so I could set myself up for a good run.

And then it happened.

Three weeks of stooping, painting, repairing and moving stuff caught up with me. The straw that broke the marathoner's back (hopefully not literally, though I have to say I've wondered a couple times today) was the action of changing my t-shirt. A wrong twist followed by stupid lifting of a sink and I'm sunk. Fuck.

Excuse me. I'm not sure what else to say. I can barely walk to the bathroom, I'm getting conflicting advice from all directions and I'm scared. I'm scared that my back is going to rip wide open. I'm scared that this pain won't go away. I'm scared that the last six months of preparation will all be for nothing. I'm scared that I'm going to disappoint all the people who have so generously supported me.

I recognize the fact that the human body is a remarkable machine, and know on an intellectual level that I will probably be feeling much better in a few days, but emotionally I'm a wreck and it's hard to see through that.

I just hope the roller coaster is closed for repairs and not decommissioned as a result of being structurally unsound.

Four weeks to race day!

2006-07-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

*GAsP*

I can't believe this thing that has been simultaneously in the distant future and consuming my every waking thought is now just four short weeks away...

At this time four weeks from now I'll be enjoying Reykjavik Culture night with my marathon behind me - how bizarre!

My absence here is not an indication that I haven't been running - though I have become a little less strict with myself on the training schedule - it has been an extrememly busy time lately, and on many occasions in the past three weeks I haven't even turned on my computer at night.

My 32km run came after a down week and was very difficult toward the end. It gave me a taste of the challenge that I will likely face on race day.

The "short" 23km last weekend was BRUTAL due to excessive heat - and perhaps an expectation that it would be great as it was a repeat of my best-ever route, around Amherst Island.

So, tomorrow morning it's back up to 29 and one more 32 after that. Then it's just me and the 26-miler, head to head. Yikes.

Thorsmork, here I come

2006-07-05T22:46:00.000-04:00

One of the things I hope to do after the marathon is a hike that passes between two glaciers and emerges in an area known as Godaland near a place called Thorsmork - the Woods of Thor. It all sounds very middle earth.

Yesterday my friend Helga sent me photos of her recent hiking trip to Thorsmork, and any uncertainty I may have had evaporated... what beauty!

There is no doubt in my mind that I will have recovered sufficiently from the marathon to to this hike. I must do this hike.

Straighten up and fly right

2006-07-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

Cleared my house of some bad energy this weekend and then went on a bit of a binge to freshen things up... after my long run on Saturday I put in 8 hours of cleaning and painting, followed by 17 on Sunday and another 6 on Monday. Luckily I remembered to put a run in on Monday before it got too hot, but somewhere along the way I started to feel a pain in my low back. Obsessed, I continued with my work and found at the end of the day that I (literally) could not stand up.

A hot shower, some Robaxacet and a Mojito loosened things up somewhat and this morning I was feeling good enough to go to work (but not ride my bike!). Tomorrow I'm off to see the physio.

Running is out of the question for a couple of days, but I did walk (slowly, and gingerly) home from work tonight.

Familiar faces

2006-07-02T09:47:00.000-04:00

First long weekend of the summer, and I'm spending it in a dark basement, painting. There's something wrong with this picture.

Did my long run (29km) on Saturday morning while I was waiting for the house to clear out... Again, I found those last few km difficult - hip flexors, quads and feet took a beating - especially the feet! I now have three toenails on the endangered list.

This photo was taken shortly after the run - that tan line is for real... and it's only going to get worse!

A strange thing happened. For the second week in a row, 5km from the end, I ran into old friends from highschool. It's amazing how a familiar face and quick chat can give you the boost you need to keep going.

Yesterday it was a couple who trained for and ran a marathon a year or two ago. I have been meaning to call Mandy for words of wisdom heading into the final leg of training, and now definitely will do so. I'm not sure if I imagined it, but I could swear the look on their faces as they continued their leisurely stroll down the boardwalk said "We're so glad that's not us!". Funny thing is, that look (real or imagined) made me realize that despite the difficulty and discomfort I'm loving this challenge and couldn't be happier.

Where did my Sunday go?

2006-06-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's long run was a new personal distance record: 29.5km!

While it was barely 3km more than the previous "longest run", I felt infinitely worse yesterday. It could have been the heat. Or the sun. Or the fact that I didn't start until 10am (which means I didn't finish until after 1pm - can you imagine a worse time to be running on a sunny Sunday?). Or perhaps it was the absence of my pace-setter (Jenny-with-the-magical-GPS) who was busy battling her own running demons.

Whatever the parts, the sum was exhaustion. I was WIPED OUT. It was all I could do to stretch, soak my feet and elevate before crashing on my bed for a good long read. Then a nap. Followed by more reading.

Today I'm feeling remarkably well in comparison. Those weird, radiating pains in my calf/ankle area are back, but otherwise I'm just a little stiff. The "contrast baths" (soaking my feet/calves in warm water followed by ice bath, alternating back and forth) and elevation seem to help, though it's not always practical - especially on the days I run at work - and I'm not ready to give those up just yet. Maybe I will become one of those people who's life revolves around their running after all.

Strange game this training thing.

Solstice run

2006-06-21T23:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Solstice everyone...

After work I rode my bike halfway across town to meet up with some friends who were completing their second annual solstice run to raise money for cancer research. They call it Run to the Sun and the idea is (are you ready for this?) to run from sun up to sun down.

They began this morning in Barrie, Ontario and ran all the way down Yonge Street (92km!!) to Lake Ontario.

Way to go boys!

Diabetes reality check

2006-06-14T21:00:00.000-04:00

Last night I was given a very stark reminder of why this run is so important.

I ran into my neighbour Brenda who has a personal connection to diabetes - she lost her brother a few years back to diabetes-related complications after watching his health deteriorate for 21 years.

As she chronicled some of the many issues he faced during his decline, the emotion in her voice, her eyes and her body language was strong and raw.

It was a poignant reminder of what all this training is for.

On a lighter note, Sunday's LSD was grand - Jenny and John came to meet me and we took a giant (26km!) tour of the waterfront, ravines and roads of east Toronto.

The run itself seemed to cause more than the regular amount of pain in my calves, but for a couple of days afterward they felt oddly pain-free. The physio told me today that it may be "compartment syndrome" - time to do some research...

Sunday LSD beyond the Marshall 40 Foot

2006-06-06T23:08:00.000-04:00

My friend Jeff asked me today if I run with music. Nope, I told him, just my thoughts. Running has always been a way for me to clear my head and work through anything that is troubling or confusing in my life. As I tried to explain this to him, something got lost in the translation and he simply concluded that I must run on peyote. Pretty much.

There is a certain high that comes with the long run. I'm discovering that I really like these Long Slow Distance (LSD) runs - there's something about the combination of slow and steady and treading new ground that really appeals to me. Each Sunday I head out to run a distance longer than I've ever run before, and I really have no idea how it's going to go.

This past Sunday I ran 24km, and I felt invincible. Felt like I could have gone another 24. OK, the last couple of kms were not so shiny, but the majority of the run felt great.

I think the key to a great run is location. This week I was lucky enough to be at one of my favourite places in the world - Amherst Island. After two days of cool, grey weather (when the forcast had called for sun), the overcast began to break up as the ferry pulled away from the mainland. By the time I headed out from Foot Flats Farm, the sun was shining, the wind was blowing and there were whitecaps on the lake.

My run took me along the entire length of the south shore road, almost to the fishing village and then over the middle and back to the farm. In the two and a quarter hours I was gone I saw only three vehicles. And dozens of cows, hundreds of sheep, a bunch of dogs and a llama.

Every run should be like that.

Oppressive, habit-changing heat

2006-05-30T23:15:00.000-04:00

The first real test of dedication to my training came this mooring when I broke my beloved lunchtime run routine and got up early to run in the relatively cool morning air. For a mid-day runner, this was not easy - it took me almost 5km just to wake up!

Hope the heat breaks soon, though I'm sure there will be plenty more tests as the mileage builds up and the summer wears on.

What was I thinking, signing up for an August marathon?

One outta ten ain't bad

2006-05-29T22:15:00.000-04:00

I was a bit rushed yesterday (and obsessed with the chocolate milk thing) and didn't really give my run with Jenny in Hamilton its due.

Jenny was exactly what I expected (a credit to her excellent writing skills) - good, easy company. The time passed quickly, the scenery was lovely or interesting (sometimes both) and oddly, the run felt practically effortless - or at least compared to what I was expecting. I don't want to speak too soon, but I suspect this had something to do with finally trying out the 10-and-1 method. While I'm not ready to embrace it for all runs, I think it will become a regular part of my long run routine.

Jenny, the chocolate milk - they were chewing madly on chocolate milk cartons, as if they wanted us to discover the secret healing power of this magical drink. Maybe I watched too much Littlest Hobo as a lass.

Another Toronto Team D member surfaced last post and I've invited her (Sarah) to run with Jenny and I in Toronto on June 11th - any other takers? Make yourselves known!

The ultimate recovery drink

2006-05-28T22:06:00.000-04:00

I met a former sports medicine doctor last night, who, apparently, conducted a study while in med school to determine what the most effective recovery drink is for atheletes after multi-hour training sessions. The results may surprise you.

Chocolate milk!

After my longest ever run today (19km) my friend Andrea prepared a fine cup of just-right chocolate milk for me and I must say, I've never felt better.

Hey Jenny, think Mini and Maya were trying to tell us something?

Stress fractures debunked

2006-05-26T09:07:00.000-04:00

Five or six weeks ago I went to the physio about some ongoing pain I was having in my lower legs. After a bit of questioning, he declared I might have stress fractures and suggested I hold a tuning fork to my bones for confirmation. This vagueness did not rest well with me, so I continued to monitor the pain and come up with my own theories. Anyone familiar with the pitfalls of e-self-diagnosis would know what a bad idea this is.

Finally, yesterday, I sought a second opinion. I paid a premium for a clinic I've used in the past that has some expertise in sports injuries, and went in feeling seriously skeptical when I was kept waiting 15 minutes for the first appointment of the day.

In the end nothing was "solved" though she did reasonably confirm that it's probably not stress fractures, but soft tissue damage stemming from some low back problems. Physio #1 also grilled me on when I might have damaged my tailbone area, and it was either a car accident 11 years ago, or a series of falls on my tailbone as a teenager who was never really cut out to be a figure skater.

The mechanics of the human body never cease to amaze me.

Live and learn

2006-05-18T22:26:00.000-04:00

Apparently running after work is NOT for me.

In addition to skipping my noon run today, I stayed late at work for the third day in a row. When I arrived home I had a particularly delicious snack to take the edge of my hunger and quickly lost any motivation I may have had, longing instead to stay home and eat more cheese.

Finally at 7pm I dragged myself out the door and headed for the Leslie St. spit, figuring I might be inspired by one of my favourite spots in Toronto. Sure enough, there was a very dramatic sky, a stormy nip in the air and nobody but me and the foul. I dutifully put in my 8km and then came home to a feast.

In my frenzy to prepare dinner, I neglected to stretch properly. (You may see where this is going) Next, I rewarded my dedication with a big bowl of mango sherbet and settled into the couch with a book and... you guessed it... promptly crashed HARD. Woke up after 10pm stiff as a board.

No more after work runs for me.

And the winner is...

2006-05-16T23:07:00.000-04:00

...The Kid!!

Congratulations to Jonathan (the intern at work!) who is the lucky winner of an MEC Tarn 2 tent. The poor guy had to borrow money from Beth in order to buy three tickets - looks like his luck is changing.

Jon: use it well, if you can ever slow down enough to go camping for a weekend!

Droopy socks, aka three down two to go!($4000/$6100)

2006-05-12T23:38:00.000-04:00

After all the excitement and chaos of the auction two weeks ago, another landmark in the series of fundraising goals snuck by me.

Pull up your socks, Carter!

Picking up where I left off on the last round of thank yous, a huge thanks to Louise, Ross, Jacquie, Paul, Marney, Sean, Rosemary, Vivienne, Beth, Ted, Helen, Dave, Cathy, Deedee, John James (the elder), Janet, Vivian, Leslie, Kay, and Hau.

As this all proceeds it becomes increasingly complicated to thank people in a timely fashion - I've been relying on my reports from the Diabetes association and the tally on the online donations site, but both of these lag behind due to processing so if you haven't been named outright, please don't think I'm ignoring you!!

I promise I'll try to stay on top of it, but in the meantime know that I appreciate your support beyond what I can express in this blog.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The Tortoise and the Hare

2006-05-11T22:35:00.000-04:00

Up until this week, I was convinced that I only had one speed.

At the urging of many sage and experienced runners and marathoners, I bought myself a watch (two, almost three weeks ago... still don't know how to use it) with the intention of assessing my pace. Only problem is, none of my running routes come pre-marked with kilometre indicators.

Never mind - the old I-ran-8.5k-in-53-minutes-so-I'll-simply-divide works just fine, as long as I remember to look at the clock on my way out and as soon as I return. So, today I was bang-on my "steady run" pace of 6:22 (ok, 6:23 - but there were a couple of red lights). And the other two days I was somewhere close to the tempo pace.

Last week it was all I could do just to get the runs in, never mind worrying about pace. Now, inspired by Jenny's efforts and armed with the knowledge (from Sunday's race) that I actually can move faster if I put my mind to it, I'm all about pace.

I love the way things change week to week in this training game.

101 Reykjavik

2006-05-10T23:27:00.000-04:00

The title of what appears to be an Icelandic "slacker" movie.

Trivia: 101 is the zip code for the oldest part of Reykjavik where Iceland's cultural elite are rumoured to live.

101 days to Race Day - 100 if I don't get myself to bed soon...

Me and Rick Mercer

2006-05-08T22:15:00.000-04:00

One of my kind and generous supporters told me last week that she's been following my training and fundraising progress on this blog. She said that there are only two blogs that she reads regularly - mine and Rick Mercer's. This made me grin... partly because of the absurdity, partly because I was recalling some of the hilarious retouched photos I've seen on his blog, but mostly because it means that there is someone out there (other than Jenny) who reads my blog.

So: thanks Fran. And thanks for coming out of the shadows and trading in your "lurker" status for a comment.

As for the rest of you - your support (both your donations and your encouraging words) means a lot to me. Thanks.

00:49:02.0

2006-05-07T22:16:00.000-04:00

I ran my first race ever today... and discovered, contrary to earlier statements, that I actually do have at least one competitive bone in my body.

If only I'd pushed myself three seconds harder at the end there...

But seriously, I was in it to get the experience of running with a few thousand other people - and what an experience it was. In all there were 7,253 runners who took over Yonge Street from north of Eglinton right down to the base of the CN Tower. At certain points on the course you could see thousands of people in the road ahead of you, with the knowledge that there were thousands more behind.

Seven thousand healthy people out on a cool sunny spring morning, pushing themselves and raising money for a good cause. It was worth cheating my schedule of 3km and going way too fast.

And now a soak in a bath full o' Epsom salts.

Stick to The Schedule

2006-05-05T23:09:00.000-04:00

My training did a bit of a backslide this week.

Everyone tells me the key to pulling this off is sticking to your training schedule.

I started the week off strong with an easy 13.5km on Sunday, followed by the auction on Sunday afternoon. Sunday night a hurricane hit my apartment in the form of two small nephews and a brother - the sleepover was fun but a restless two-year-old does not make a good bedmate. Needless to say, I headed into the work week exhausted.

Monday was a much needed rest day, yet somehow after a series of fiascos at work and a very busy week of evenings I lifted my head and it was Friday. I got my three mid-week runs in, but they were all slightly short, and I had to do Thursday's on Friday.

To round out this "off" week, I'm running in a 10k race on Sunday so I'll be shy 3km and probably end up running much faster than I should.

I swore to myself when I started all this that I wouldn't become one of those drips whose life revolves around their training. It's more than just my muscles that need to be flexible...

So, I won't beat myself up about my shortcomings this week, but rather steel my determination to be more disciplined as I move forward.

Beyond My Wildest Dreams

2006-04-30T23:33:00.000-04:00

My brother and two wee nephews lay sleeping as I hide out in the back room of my apartment attempting to tally the results of this evening's silent auction.

After six weeks of living and breathing auction preparations, a very surreal couple of hours proved to be extremely successful. With a few small details to iron out, it looks like my total will come in at somewhere around $3500!!

Above and beyond the huge success it was as a fundraiser, I think people enjoyed themselves. The list of people to thank is too long to tackle at this late hour, but it must be said that I could not have done this without the help, generosity and patience of a whole lot of people. So, THANKS!

You know who you are.

The Mustard Man giveth

2006-04-22T23:44:00.000-04:00

I may have written about this already, but I have to speak about it again.

I've spent a good part of the last six weeks or so preparing for what will hopefully be my main fundraising event - a silent auction to be held at a local restaurant next weekend.

It's been a lot of work.

But it has also been a very moving and eye-opening experience - people are incredibly supportive and generous. And this is true not only of friends, colleagues and family members, but of acquaintances and perfect strangers. With the exception of one very prompt and kind decline, every single individual/business I approached for a donation has come through with something. Some have even approached me to offer something. And some have given more than they initially offered.

Jeremy, the mustard maker, told his employee to "give this woman whatever she wants" (not something you hear every day. He proceeded to question me just long enough to ascertain what I was looking for, then told me to go away and come back in 15 minutes. When I returned, three beautiful gift baskets were waiting for me.

Two stalls down I stopped in to invite my butcher, Tommy, to the auction. As I walked away he told me not to leave yet - he had something for me. And he produced two more gift certificates.

Veronika from Henry's School of Imaging, who responded enthusiastically to my initial inquiry (as if I was doing her a favour), offered me a $200 gift certificate. When I went to pick it up she informed me that they had increased it to $260.

I could go on and on, but instead let me just say thanks. Again. To all the generous souls who have made this such an enjoyable and inspiring process.

All this has led me to look at charitable giving in a new light.

CHECK OUT some of the great items up for AUCTION ON APRIL 30TH!!

Intervals

2006-04-20T22:17:00.000-04:00

Went out for my Wednesday Running Room tag-along expecting (and dreading!) to run 10 hills.

Instead I was introduced to interval training - what a pleasant surprise... until I woke up this morning. I guess the whole lactic acid thing worked because despite more than the regular amount of stretching last night, I woke up stiffer than I've been in weeks.

I finally got my hands on a concrete training schedule tailored to my race and estimated pace, and have connected with a few other Reykjavik marathoners in the Toronto area, as well as an entertaining librarian in Hamilton.

Looking forward to meeting some of the characters who I'll be traveling and running with.

Collingwood -> Thornbury

2006-04-17T23:26:00.000-04:00

Well, almost.

I started from my parents' place just west of Collingwood and ran to Thornbury along the Georgian Trail on Saturday.

It was a beautiful day and I made decent time, but MAN, was it ever boring! Hills may be excruciating at least they provide some variety...

As for my prvevious post - I've put a call out through the CDA looking for other Reykjavik marathoners in the Toronto area and have recieved a few responses that may provide some options - this is encouraging.

Cold, wet, lonely and disappointed

2006-04-12T23:10:00.000-04:00

Tonight I went out for my fourth night of hills with the Running Room group that has kindly adopted me as one of their own. I saw the group head out but was late and somehow lost them. Sadly, I didn't realize this until I had run 4km through the pouring rain to the bottom of our customary hill... only to find it deserted.

I ran the hill anyway but was ready to pack it in after my first one - it's just not the same on your own. I told myself that if there was nobody at the bottom I was free to go. But, of course, when I got there I found one lonely runner stretching.

We compared stories, confessed to strikingly similar escape fantasies and agreed to do four more hills. The good company and motivation made it easy.

I had been looking forward to this kind of support and camraderie from a training group of my own, but found out today that we must do our clinic online. This is disappointing for many reasons. It sounds very isolated and, as one who spends her entire day online, a bit too much like work. I'm going to have to see what I can do about connecting with other Team Diabetes marathoners here in Toronto.

If you're out there, identify yourselves!

Two down, three to go $2700/$6100

2006-04-11T22:32:00.000-04:00

I've mentioned to a few people recently just what a giant psychological step it is for me to reach the fundraising goals set by the Diabetes Association. It makes this whole huge thing seem manageable.

What's even better is reaching said goal in advance of the deadline. And thanks to many generous souls, it's happened again. This past weekend, a full ten days ahead of "schedule", I hit my second goal of $2700.00 so it's time for another round of thanks.

Tara, Aimee, Edson, Heather, Stephen, Liisa, Greg, Ian, Fran, Peter, Len, Mary, Pat, Owen, Mary Jo, Rupert, Greer, Holly (again!), Carol, Anne and all the awesome curlers from the RTRS: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT!!

I could not do this without your help. Thanks.

While I'm in thanking mode, I'd like to recognize the Ontario government for making significant financial commitments to support Ontarians with diabetes. Managing diabetes can be a very expensive endeavour, and Ontario is now the first province in Canada to fund insulin pumps for children with diabetes.

Tuning out

2006-04-03T22:28:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I had my longest run yet - 16km.

Yes, it's a far cry from 42, but still longer than I've ever gone before.

Just before the half-way point I began to feel a little restless and fixate on how much further I still had to go when around the bend came a guy running at twice my clip... and juggling. It was the most remarkable sight and brought a much-needed lightness to my attitude. I wonder if they'll have sideshows in Reykjavik?

Further down the road I came upon a huge early spring picnic in the Land of Giant Picnics. Cars were parked bumper-to-bumper on both sides of the road for about two kilometres, and most of them had shallow dishes with a thatch of green growth on the hood and/or roof. When I finally stopped to ask about it, I learned that this odd and amusing sight is part of the Persian New Year tradition known as "Sizdah Bedar" or "getting rid of thirteen" where Persians throw their bad luck into running water and spend the day outdoors in nature with their families.

My final lesson for the day was that sometimes it's OK (maybe even good) to tune out. I've always been good at listening to my body, but surprisingly there can be value in ignoring your body... or at least not listening to every little ache and pain.

Who knew you could learn so much before noon on a Sunday?

It doesn't hurt to ask

2006-04-01T00:19:00.000-05:00

Fundraising lesson #1: Just ask. All they can do is say no.

Just asking proved to be quite fruitful today.

Coming soon: a sneak preview of some of the great items that will be on offer at my upcoming silent auction.

Killer hills

2006-03-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

I finally went out to my first Running Room Wednesday night group run last night and was lucky enough to hook up with Lisa and Dave, a lovely pair of tag-alongs who made it all surprisingly enjoyable.

As one who normally runs alone and at mid-day, I was a little under-enthused about the prospect of heading out in the dark as part of a mob. I joined a training group that have been preparing for this weekend's 30K Run Around the Bay in Hamilton, and we did an 8.5K route that invovled running up and down the same long hill six times! It was fairly gruelling, but left me with quite a feeling of accomplishment.

So, finally I've broken into the realm of "training".

And it feels pretty good.

Thank you Edward Levesque

2006-03-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

A huge thank you to Ed who has offered the use of his restuarant, Edward Levesque's Kitchen for a fundraising party and silent auction.

Mark your calendars - April 30th 5:30 - 7pm.

See my website for details...

Guinness & Irish stew

2006-03-18T13:52:00.000-05:00

People are always asking me about my training program.

The short answer is: I don’t really have one.

But people don’t want to hear that, and the truth is I do have one - it’s just that it’s more of a philosophy or an inclination to follow my gut than a “program” per se.

In April I will begin a marathon clinic with the Running Room and will have quite a strict program to follow from that point onwards.

In the meantime my goal has been to build a solid base and get a good start on my fundraising. For the month of March, that base-building includes developing and sticking to a steady training schedule. Which brings me to the Guinness and Irish Stew.

Despite a festive evening of Guinness and Irish Stew, I’m sticking to my Saturday long run plan and heading out to run further than I ever have before.

Here goes…

Photo Show fundraiser until April 12th

2006-03-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

For those of you who live in Toronto, I am taking part in a show that's on now through April 12th at Arts On Queen in the east end of the beaches.

All proceeds from the sale of any of my works will go towards my fundraising goal and a tax receipt can be arranged.

Check it out - there's some great stuff.

Are you a MAC user?

2006-03-16T13:23:00.000-05:00

Much to my horror, I've just discovered that the Team Diabetes online donations process does not seem to support Mac users.

So, if anyone out there has tried to make a donation on a Mac and is wondering why I haven't thanked them or even acknowledged their support, this is probably because your donation did not go through.

If you are not able to access your tax receipt online with the password sent to you by email from the Canadian Diabetes Association, this is an indication that your donation was not accepted. Please contact me!

I'm going to see what more I can find out about this...

Google never lies

2006-03-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

I've just discovered a very cool site that allows you to plot points on a map and calculate distances. Becuase MapMyRun.com uses the Google Maps application, you can choose the map view, satellite view or "hybrid" view which combines images of recognizeable landmarks and reference points with street names - very useful.

The good news is, now I can be more accurate in logging my distances.

The bad news is that my lunchtime run which my brother estimated was "at least 10k" and I had pegged at about 8k, is actully only slightly over seven.

The truth hurts.

Not as much as my body will when I start running some of the distances I mapped out this morning.

Time to get serious

2006-03-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

March is my month for easing into the serious business of a training program.

I've been warned that one of the most common rookie marathoner mistakes is to over-train. To do too much too soon. This is a mistake I hope to avoid.

While I don't plan to subject the general public to the minutiae of my evolving training regime, or an inventory of my aches and pains, I will attempt to document the major milestones, both positive and negative.

In these early days I want to build a really solid base, so I've been doing tons of stretching, yoga and pilates in addition to two or three 8-10k runs during the week and a longer run on the weekend.

I also went to see an osteopath to get a few bits unstuck, and bought myself a fancy new pair of shoes.

Another Team Diabetes member (why so many from Ottawa?) has stepped forward and identified himself - Micheal and his girlfriend Waleah are tackling this as a team of two. While it would be great to have the moral support of a partner, I can't imagine trying to raise $12K - good luck to you both!!

One down, four to go $1400/$6100

2006-03-02T21:58:00.000-05:00

Much to my surprise and delight, today, a full two weeks and a day before the first of five fundraising deadlines, I reached the required amount of $1400.

I can't tell you what a relief that is.

So - Mom and Dad, Mark, Marc, Charlotte, Beth, Kevin, Holly, Steve, Craig, Lynn, Sandra, Linda, Elizabeth, Davey, MEC, and everyone who bought cards or burritos - thanks for helping me out early in the game when I needed some sort of indication that this is actually do-able.

Your support means the world to me.

Staggering generosity

2006-03-02T17:47:00.000-05:00

As February went out with a flu, I was feeling a little discouraged - but March, for fundraising at least, has come in like a lion.

New month, new attitude.

Last week I was floored when a co-worker (someone I barely know) donated $100 to my cause, without skipping a beat. He's not wealthy, not trying to impress, but just a guy with his own private reasons for sharing his good fortune. His no-nonsense approach bolstered my confidence and made me feel oddly proud. These people believe in me.

This came on the heels of two casual friends who pledged a similar amount.

The real shocker came yesterday, however, when I found in my inbox a notice that one generous soul had made a $500 donation.

This fundraising thing is going to work out after all...

To EVERYONE who has made a donation, be it $4 or $500 - my deep and sincere THANKS.

I don't want to pry, but if there is a story behind your donation, or someone you had in mind as you donated, feel free to share your tale in the comments here.

Nasty three-letter word

2006-02-28T19:06:00.000-05:00

F.L.U.

I'm heading into March with my first setback (hopefully) behind me. Having not had the stomach flu in a dozen years or more, I had forgotten how it flattens you. Yesterday I felt like I would never run again, and today a month seems realistic. I expect I'll be back at it by the weekend.

On the up side, Taylor, another Team Diabetes runner identified herself and donations are gaining momentum.

Keep washing those hands!

I'm not alone

2006-02-23T22:34:00.000-05:00

Last night, flipping through a running mag, an article about running blogs inspired me to google "Reykjavik Marathon" and "Team Diabetes". Low and behold, I discovered Heather in Ottawa and Sarah Anne in Toronto - and that was just in ten minutes.

It gave me a strange sense of calm to know that there are others out there struggling towards the same goal...

I suspect there are more of you - don't be shy, make yourselves known!

Mother knows best

2006-02-22T22:40:00.000-05:00

When this endeavour was still just something I was contemplating, my mother suggested that the fundraising would be particularly challenging for me as I'm not accustomed to asking people for help.

This, coupled with an eternal hopefulness-for-instant-results, has proven to be a rather leathal combination in the early days of my fundraising campaign.

I was totally unprepared for how difficult it is to ask people to consider making a donation, and for the vulnerability that comes with asking for help/feedback and getting silence.

Now, as the momentum slowly builds, I find myself daily surprised and moved by the generous words and donations of family, friends, acquaintances... and even the odd stranger.

Six months to go...

2006-02-19T15:41:00.000-05:00

T-minus six months - the thought is both terrifying and motivating.

It's Sunday, I'm tired and I've put in fourteen hours this weekend doing fundraising, plus another one and a half for a run. All I want to do is nap.

This is when the fact that I'm doing this for a cause much bigger than myself comes in handy - helps me scrape myself off the couch and do just a little bit more. One more letter to write, one more email to send, one little tweak to my site - then I can be lazy and feel good about it.

The good thing about running in -25°

2006-02-18T17:48:00.000-05:00

The weather in Toronto this winter has been unseasonably warm which, scary as the global climate implications may be, has been quite nice. I've barely had to contend with snow and ice and never had to revert to a treadmill. The biggest drawback has been the hoardes of people out on a balmy February afternoon, making the waterfront run downright crowded.

Not today.

Despite the beautiful sunshine, even the dogwalkers seem to be staying indoors today.

Can't say I blame them.

It was my first test since committing to this marathon - I really didn't want to go out in that cold. But I did it. And now I feel invincible.