Favourites

Time of year to run:
I have two.
1) Fall.
I love fall as it is, so I love it even more while running when it's not too hot and the cool, but not too cold, air is your face. As an added bonus, the scenery is awesome.

2) Spring
There's a specific time of year when it's just right to get out there without the toque and the layers and the fear of slipping on a run and breaking your face. The ground is dry because the snow has stopped falling and it's still a little cold, but it's not so cold that it takes quite a few minutes to get your body temperature to a decent level.

Obviously, I'm not an indoor runner. I prefer to be outside with people (sometimes dodging them!), with fresh air.

Time of day to run:
Handsdown, morning. Say, 6ish AM. It's not too busy yet, but it's bright enough that I'm not worried about someone trying to attack me. Of course, this is an exception in the winter time because there is just not enough sunlight during winter.

As an alternative, I enjoy a run when I get home from work or at night, but this would usually happen in the summer months since it's not so hot but it's still bright outside.

Place to run:
I don't know if this is weird, but I love running at Mount Pleasant Cemetary. There are a lot of other runners and bikers there, so it's not as strange as it sounds.

I also like running at Wilket Creek Park since it's connected to so many other parks and there are paths there where many runners, bikers, in-line skaters, etc., train.

I usually find myself running on sidewalks these days. I enjoy running against traffic, but either way, running so close to cars isn't the best place to run because of safety risks and also because of the poor air quality.

Things to wear:
Anything that's "Dri-fit", with chafe-free seams works for me. See Lululemon. I live for Lulu. I admit it's quite pricey there, so most of the time, I'm very careful with my choices on what I walk out of there with. I won't pick up something there like a headband that I could get for much cheaper somewhere else. Besides, I'm gonna drench it in sweat, so why bother? No offense to those of you who own Lululemon-brand headbands--I'm just not a headband person (my hair is too thick and then it does this beehive thing, and well, now that's beside the point).

I also love New Balance shoes. That's not just because they carry size 5 shoes for pronation (I'm sure I'll get back to that in a future post). They know what they're talking about and they care...or at least that's what the staff at the Bayview Village location is like.

If I do run with an MP3 player, I've always got something upbeat, like Jamiroquai or something from Nike's Power Songs.

I also want this:
I've asked "Santa" for it since it's in "Santa's" budget this year. I have a bad habit of not keeping properly hydrated...which in itself is a VERY bad habit.

Also, I got this from Jaye last year, and I can't run without it...which reminds me, I have to get the battery replaced yesterday.

Moment during a run:
I know, weird favourite. Most people would think that the moment I can stop running is the best moment of the run, but I actually love the 25-minute mark. I'm not sure what exactly is going on in my body at the time, maybe it's stabilization in obtaining oxygen and ATP or something like that that I'm sure I learned in school but have forgotten because of all the acronyms, but after 25 or so minutes, I feel the power kick in. At the point, I start to feel like I can run for hours, and so now, I'm hoping to see that through.

P.S. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

An Introduction

I've been a runner since I was a child. It started when I was old enough to participate in the annual cross country training at my elementary school. I'm not sure what pushed me to join, but I did. I don't recall ever finding it a daunting experience, so that's probably why I'm still doing it today. I found that I excelled every year, always making the cut-off for the following meets. I wasn't one of those people who came in first or had a huge lead (except that one time at a track meet!), but I like to think I was good enough. I got a C in Home Economics because I missed classes to go to meets. HOME ECONOMICS!! So, if you know me, you know I love running as much as I love sewing and cooking. AND, I think that C was totally uncalled for. I made killer pizza, pretzels, rearview mirror dice, and a bag!

I didn't join the team in high school, I'm not sure why. Maybe it was intimidation. Maybe it was because I thought I wouldn't have time. Maybe because I didn't have anyone to join with me. Maybe it was because the thought of running through Brimley Woods wasn't too appealing. I did, however, take Phys Ed all the way through high school and loved it -- even when it was co-ed and the boys didn't want to pass the football to me. But when they did, they saw I could run, I was fast, and since I was small, I could get through most of the time.

Then, when I got to university, I started running again. I think that's why I never saw the "Freshman 15" take effect. I actually started losing weight -- fast. I think it was my metabolism and my genes since my sisters also experienced the same thing, but I found that my stamina hadn't died as I thought it would have. I took advantage of the tuition fees I paid to Athletics at UofT and used the gyms all over campus. I ran in the mornings. I ran between classes. I ran after classes. I ran with my brother, Paul. I ran.

I started running to raise funds for charitable organizations years ago. I did a few walks in high school, but my first run was the CIBC Run For The Cure. It was an amazing experience. It felt amazing to be with so many people, in unity for a wonderful cause, and the spirit of the crowd was exhilarating. There was support all around. Since then, I try to do at least one event a year. Why not, right? I have legs, I'm capable, and I believe that I was given this ability and this strength for something good.

Paul could testify I don't run as much as I should or like, but that doesn't mean I don't love it. I admit, it's difficult to start again when you've been off it for a while, but the reward is great when you're back to a routine.

So now, why the blog? Why now?

Well, I'm planning to run my first marathon next year. I'm participating in the marathon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada, and I'm dedicating this run and this effort to my Mom, who passed away from Leukemia almost 20 years ago. One of my sister's friends ran this a few years ago, and I was so inspired.

I have officially starting my marathon training and I decided to start a runner's log. Here, I'll log my distances, my times, my progress, so that I can come back and see how I've developed...and if you're interested, you can see too.

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Test, test...run!