The Young Guns + My Last Big Run

This has been a very active weekend.  Although I think every weekend is a fairly active weekend in our household.  It's just what we do.  This weekend started with us having friends over for dinner on Friday night.  We shared a lot of laughs and a lot of wine.  I'll admit I had a wee bit of a hangover when I got up on Saturday morning.  I almost bailed on our ride but figured some time outside in the fresh fall air would do me good. 

We were going to be riding with our friend Jordan, who had been at our place for dinner the night before, as well as Adam who is G's friends son.  Adam is all of 16 years old but has taken a keen interest in cycling.  Adam's dad mentioned this to G a while ago and G pointed them in the direction of our local bike shop, Wheels of Bloor.  The guys there fitted him on a decent entry level bike and got him into a good pair of cycling shoes.  G has given him some of his old cycling jerseys and has been bringing him along on some of the long rides he's been doing.  Last week they went out and did a route that was almost 100km.  It was Adam's longest ride ever and of course, being 16 years old, he had a ton of energy even after the ride.  G told me afterwards that he called Tom (Adam's dad) and told him that he thinks that Adam has the potential to be a great rider.  So since we were riding again this weekend, he emailed Adam and asked if he wanted to come along.  Apparently Adam was bouncing off the ceiling at being able to come out with G again.  Knowing G, he will continue to help Adam grow as a cyclist in any way he can.  I rode with Adam for a while and he definitely has the potential to be a strong cyclist.  He rode away from me on a climb like I was standing still.  I honestly think that us old fogies held him back a bit.  We talked gear, Top Gear and music (he also loves Rush) for quite some time.  He's a great kid and I'm happy that we can help him get those miles in on his beloved bike. 

It was a perfect day for a ride.  The fall colours are starting to come out.  I suspect in a couple of weeks everything will be lit in a blaze of colour.  Just in time for Thanksgiving! 

That's Adam speeding away from the Old Guys

When we got home, our nephew called to tell us that he made the Richmond Hill A Team for baseball.  This is a big. freaking. deal.  Drew is an incredibly talented baseball player. His previous team was coached by two dads that had their kids on the team and they played favourites so Drew never really got many opportunities to play infield or pitch.  Drew is an excellent all rounder who really understands the game.  He's smart and he's got the size and physical ability.  He's 13 years old, and already 5ft 9 with size 13 feet.  Every time I see him, he's grown another inch.  Seriously.  I don't know what my sister in law is feeding him but he keeps growing like a weed. Anyway, he didn't have a very good experience with this team so his parents decided it was time to move him elsewhere.  He went to Richmond Hill and went through all 5 rounds of try outs.  There was room on the AA team and the A team.   He made the A team and was totally ecstatic.  As were we.  This was a HUGE relief for him and a fantastic opportunity for a fresh start.  We weren't able to have kids of our own so it's nice to be able to be supportive and involved in the lives of these two budding athletes.  Both of them make us proud!

Today was my last big run before Scotia before I start to scale back my mileage.  My original plan was to get up really early and do my 24km before my 8:00 am swim.  Insane, I know.  My alarm went off just before 5:00 am.  I actually got dressed and went downstairs to eat breakfast.  Shortly after I ate, I decided that I really didn't want to go and run 24km in the dark so something was going to have to give.  I opted to bail on my swim.  I went back upstairs, put my pj's back on and slept for another 2.5 hours!  I must have needed it or something, ha ha.  I got up, got re-dressed and ate a Lara Bar, then headed out the door.  My legs felt very heavy when I started.   That's what happens when 1) you haven't been on your road bike in weeks and 2) you go out and ride a hilly 45km.  But whatever, sometimes it takes me a little while to get into a groove.  I figured by about 6-7km I'd be ok.  Sure enough around the 6km mark, I started to feel like I had warmed up.  My pace started to drop.  I was also boiling hot.  I opted for a short sleeve t-shirt when what I should have worn was a tank top.  After 15 years there are time where I still can't seem to get it right.  Oh well.  The run was tough.  Good but tough.  My legs were tired at the start and continued to feel that way throughout.  The last 4km were the toughest as I was running into the wind.  I also decided to push the pace the last few km so I had to dig a little deeper than normal.  It was all about running on tired legs today.  I guess you could say I nailed that, ha ha.  I made it home in just under 2 hours, one sore, tired, sweaty mess.  There is definitely going to be an epsom salt bath in my immediate future.   I am starting to get excited about Scotia.  I feel like these last few weeks of hard training are starting to pay off.  Look out sub 1:30, I'm coming for you!

How has your weekend been?  Did you get out and enjoy the great fall weather?

Snippets from a Saturday Morning Run

Out the door into the sunshine.


Woof Woof.  Hi Maggie, cute sweater.  No I can't stay and play, gotta go for my run.


Down Riverside to the top of the hill.  Take in the view.  Picture time.  Palace Pier in silhouette.

Palace Pier

Off I go.  Across the street, boogity boogity.  Ugh, tights are sagging.  Red light, stop, adjust tights.

Maybe I'm overdressed....nah.


Hit the path.  Left or right?  Hmmmm....right.








Eastbound towards Ontario Place.  Lots of runners.  Even more cyclists.  Oh look, sun hitting the water, birds overhead.  More pics, click click.  Bob and weave around the pack of walkers.
                                                                            

Trees

Wow those trees look great.  Click.  

Robo Cop runner in full compression gear.  Avoids eye contact.  Far too focused on running like a superhero.  Ha ha ha ha.  

Uphill to the Legion.  Ohhh cops are out - SPEEDTRAP!  Wonder if I'd register on the radar.  Chug chug chug up the hill.  Turn up the volume.

He's nearing the brink but he thinks first 
The parallel universe could be the perfect scene
He's nearing the brink but he thinks first 
The parallel universe could be the perfect scene
He's nearing the brink but he thinks first
The parallel
I think you should know you're his favourite worst nightmare.....


Past the Argo rowing club.  Rowers!  Ohhhh this is a nice pic.  Gel time.  

Rowers

Blue skies, seagulls and airplanes.  Almost at Ontario place.   Hmmm....right or straight? Last time I went right.  Straight it is.


More runners.  Loads.  No one waves.  Cranky buggers.  Didn't your mom ever teach you about manners.   Watch the cyclist!   Stick to the right.







Inukshuk.  This deserves a picture.  Love this.   Look both ways before getting back on the path.       Around the bend.  Hello there Mr. Smiley; wow you're tall.  Nice shirt, I've done that race too. 

Inukshuk

By the trees.  Memorial sign.  Beautiful light.  Winding path to Tip Top Tailors.  Wonder if I'll get to Spadina?  Hmmm...maybe, not sure.


Down the path past Tip Top.  WOOOOOSH.  Into the wind tunnel.  Holy smokes. Out on to Queens Quay.  43 minutes and change.  Probably won't make it to Spadina.  Bathurst.  Red light.  Almost 45 minutes out.  Keep going?  Yup yup.  Look at that.  45 minutes out and I'm at Dan Leckie Way.  Close to Spadina but not quite.  Gel time again.




Turn around.  Red light again.  Cabs everywhere.  Legs feel good.  Time to pick up the pace.  Going to negative split the run.  West along Queens Quay, retracing my steps.  Back into the wind tunnel.  Pushing pushing.  By the trees & memorial sign.  Runner up ahead.  Target acquired.  Caught.  Bye Bye.


Go go, around the bend.  By the Inukshuk.  Into the wind.  Where did that come from?  Bloody hell.  More runners up ahead.  Pick, pick, pick.   


Off on your way, hit the open road,
There is magic at your fingers
For the Spirit ever lingers,
Undemanding contact in your happy solitude


Caught you.  And you.  And you.  On the promenade.  Right into the wind.  Chilly.


Down the hill past the Legion. Here comes the Robocop Runner again.  Avoids eye contact again.  Well aren't you just too cool for school.  


At the Palais Royal.  Smells like burnt toast.

Ohhhhh yeaaaahhhhhh.   You wreck me baby.  
You break me in two.  
But you move me honey, 
Yes you do......


Sunnyside Pavilion.  Shelter from the wind.  Hello Mr. Smiley.  Nice to see you again.  Legs are starting to tire.  Pace is hard.  Heart rate hovering around 165.  Give 'er.  Tourists on a bench.  Family snapshot.  Say Cheese!

There's something wrong 
With this plot
The actors here 
Have not got


A clue
Baby I'm howlin' for you.   
Da da da da da, da da da da da.


Getting closer.  Red light turns green.  Gotta go, can't stop.  All the way across Lakeshore.  Queensway, red light.  Gu wrappers into the garbage.  Should be home soon.  Another 10 minutes, maybe?


Up a wee hill, on the Kingsway.   Careful, lots of cars. Cross the street.  SWOOSH. Lexus on the wrong side of the road blows by me.  Idiot.  Up the Riverside hill.  Push push push.  Ouch ouch ouch.  Legs hurt.  Want to stop.  Heaving lungs.  Lactic acid.  Ease up.  Catch my breath at the top.  Second wind, back at it again.  Minutes from home.  Musical interlude, playing air bass in my head.  Leave That Thing Alone.  Bring me home boys.  Round the bend and down to the pathway with 3 minutes to spare.

Happy Days. 



All images Copyright Phaedra Kennedy, 2011

Stay Golden

The chill in air belied the golden light.  I stepped out onto the curb, inhaled the crisp air and turned my face to the sun.  A small smile spread across my lips.


I love days like this.


I started my watch, more for time than for anything else, and headed down the street.   The sky was a clear bright blue which was tempered by the warm mellow glow of the late fall sun.  It was a perfect day for a long run.  I eased into a comfortable pace and made my way south towards the water.  The sun on my face and the rhythm of my breath was calming.  As I came to the top of the Riverside hill, I was struck by the beauty of the light across the Humber River Valley.

Humber River
Copyright Phaedra Kennedy 2011

Days like this make me truly appreciate being able to get out and run.  I'm truly lucky.

I stopped to walk along the edge of the valley.  I didn't have anywhere I needed to be so I stood for a while and savored the view.  The weather had been unseasonably mild for the last few weeks so there were still plenty of leaves on the trees.  Most of the red ones had gone leaving behind the seemingly hardier orange and yellow leaves.  This just amplified the sense of being enveloped in a warm golden glow.  As I continued along to the waterfront, I couldn't help but be reminded of the scene in the movie The Outsiders where Ponyboy recites Robert Frost's Nothing Gold Can Stay.  The character of the light in that scene was much like the character of the light this morning.  Sadly I knew that these days of glorious light would be short lived.  The impending grey of winter was looming.  Daylight savings time was upon us and the days would be shorter, nights longer and weather colder.

Nothing Gold Can Stay.


I headed east along the waterfront into a chilly wind.  The sun was still hanging fairly low on the horizon, taking it's time making its low arch across the sky.  I was running into the golden light, it's warmth being slightly overpowered by the wind.  I knew that by the time I turned around the light would be gone.

Nothing Gold Can Stay.

Lake Ontario
Copyright Phaedra Kennedy 2011

I continued my journey eastward, stopping a few times to appreciate the view of the lake.  I made my way out to the gates at Ontario Place and decided it was time to turn around.   The sun had climbed higher and the shadows had become shorter.  The golden light had faded into the clear bright blue of the sky.  The chilly wind was now at my back, nudging me home.  The magical light may have gone but what it left behind was just as beautiful in it's own right.

Nothing Gold Can Stay.


I climbed up the Riverside hill, huffing and puffing with the extra effort.   As I crested the top of the hill, I glanced down into the valley below.  A lone rower was gliding his way across the glass-like water towards the marsh.  He quietly disappeared behind the reeds, leaving a hint of a wake behind him.  Much like the golden light of fall, making way for the cold light of winter.

Change In The Weather

As much as I hate to say it, it's getting to be that time of year again.   The air is noticeably different.  The humidity less frequent.  Yes folks, fall is on it's way.  The temperature tides are shifting. I witnessed it first hand up north this weekend.  The trees have started to change.  Never mind that it's only the beginning of September and "they" say we're supposed to have an Indian Summer.  Fall will be here before we know it.

I, for one, look forward the return of fall.  Don't get me wrong, I love summer - the long lazy days, the sunshine and blue skies - all of it is wonderful.  But there is something about the fall that I just love.  Fall is definitely my favourite running season.  The air is so much easier to breathe and I'm generally not covered in a layer of sweat and grime when I'm done a long run.   I love going out for an early morning run in the cool, crisp air.  Especially when the sun is shining and the leaves have started to turn.  Absolute heaven. 

For me, fall brings the end of triathlon season but ushers in a whole new running season.  There are multiple fall marathons to participate in along with a myriad of other shorter distance races.   It's nice to be able to take the fitness earned over the summer while gearing up for a longer A-race and test it out at a shorter late season race before the snow falls. 

The end of fall is usually when I take stock of my racing year.  Did I reach my goals?  What would I do differently?  Is there something else I want to try?  Fall is a time of reflection and re-evaluation.  It's time to relax, put my feet up and hope that my toenails grow back in time for another beating come January.