Monday, Feb 7: Winter in Calgary; Canada Games kick-off in Halifax
I had really hoped to get down to Halifax for the Canada Winter Games for several reasons, including the number of great sport friends that would be there but it was not to be. I’ve been part of 11 Olympic or Paralympic Games but the Canada Games are something very special; it’s Canadian with a generous helping of youthful exuberance; similar to the fun of a Briar in that all of Canada is represented but less beer and a lot more hair! As I thought, I heard and read nothing else than what a great event it was and how much fun was had by all who were a part of it. I knew that Chris, Lindsay and their team would deliver a stellar event but I was pulled in other directions for the two weeks of the Games.
Speaking of being pulled, my Monday cross-training was different than planned. The 30 minutes on a stationary bike was routine, other than it was one with a video simulating a race where I took great delight in riding “through” virtual riders to detract me from my burning legs, it was the free weight session after that was curtailed. My shoulder, unfortunately the right one, which is my “good one”, requires surgery after years of over-use, pitching baseball and too many tackles in rugby and football...or more likely, chronic overuse on a pc keyboard. Regardless of the source(s), the weight lifting came to an end that day for even the exercises selected for not causing undue strain were giving me some grief. Guess the strengthening of arms and shoulders and pursuit of a svelte physique will have to wait post-surgery.
Tuesday, Feb 8: Back to the treadmill
As much as I loathe treadmills for runs of any distance, they are a great training aid when trying to hit a constant pace (speed) and the footing is far more predictable than on Calgary paths, streets and sidewalks after Chinooks followed by sub-zero temperatures. A week closer to the marathon and according to plan, increases in mileage were on order. After the usual 15 minute warm-up, it was back in place on the belt for 400m intervals but for this session, it was 12 of them. Not pretty, the sweat was flying, possibly causing a few in the gym to pause and reconsider running on the treadmill next to the one I was using. It’s not supposed to be about looking good at the gym, is it? Don’t fret, I do follow hygiene rules and basic etiquette, and most times, my socks are actually a matching pair.
Thursday, Feb 10: running for planes, my specialty
Wednesday, the day after the speed workout and day before the Thursday tempo, involved a couple of nice long walks out in the winter sunshine; a chance to stretch the legs and get some fresh air without too much concern about footing. It was a relaxed affair compared to packing up and heading out the door on Thursday which was another day of travel, flying from YYC (Calgary) to YYZ (Toronto). I’ve been known to cut my departures close and many know me for saying that “if you’ve never missed a flight, then you’re spending too much time at the airport”, but it was the arrival that cramped the schedule more than the departure. Traffic was very heavy on the Gardiner “expressway”, so it was after 6pm when I got settled in downtown, rather than the planned 5h00pm. As I had a dinner meeting at 7h30pm, it became a 'fast ' 7km on treadmill in 24m25s, only 1km less than the scheduled 8km. It was a quality run so wasn’t worried about it being slightly shorter than planned; the 7km tempo suited purpose nicely.
Sunday, Feb 13: Toronto lakeshore breeze
Our planned leisurely Sunday morning after a late night at the annual Great Valentine Gala at the Royal York didn’t materialize although we did manage a relaxed, albeit fast-food, breakfast. Naturally while away from home, Lisa received an offer on her condo so there we were faxing real estate offers back and forth from a local retail office supply store. (Just to add to the marathon training, we’re selling Lisa’s condo; looking to rent out my house; searching for a new place to live; finishing up my term-contract position with the Canadian Paralympic Foundation; looking for a new job back out in Calgary; and planning a September wedding and overseas honeymoon. As they say, bring it on....) There were also several calls to make on other matters including a rather important overseas conference call. For the training schedule, it meant rather than an early Sunday run, it was going to be a late afternoon run, the idea hanging heavy on the day.
With most major tasks, whether physically daunting, mentally challenging or both, it’s always best to tackle them early for the anticipation of the task becomes a burden distinct and unto itself. Typically, the thought of what needs to be done is fare worse than the actual undertaking itself; reality rarely ever meeting or exceeding the expectations that one creates and builds upon in their mind. The same goes for long training runs, so I always prefer to get them done early in the day. Once out I quite enjoy the run itself, especially when with company: it’s the thinking about it that I’m not so keen on.
The sun was already low in the sky -- not that it ever gets that far above the horizon in the great white north in February – when we headed west along Queens Quay to pick up the lakeshore path. It was +2C so reasonably warm but the wind was howling from the west and as it came in off the lake, it carried a very chilly edge, pretty much like an icicle knife that cut through the best intentioned running apparel! One of the safety precautions for winter running is to always start out into the wind and then return with it at your back, not because you can use the injection of energy towards the end but rather to prevent hypothermia as the difference in heat loss is staggering. So west it was, into the teeth of what they were calling a ‘breeze’, a rather formidable impediment to speedy progress but good for endurance training.
As we turned the corner in the park, we caught the spectacle of Lake Ontario angrily churning in the wind, the waters whipped into an eerie greeny-grey with white crested waves battering any and all obstacles. Further along, the waves were crashing over the breakwaters near the rowing club, coating the cement barriers with frigid spray that quickly froze in place creating the most fanciful ice formations. The resulting ice “carvings”, natural ones created by the wind, were as striking as any I’d seen made by the hands of an artisan with a chisel. The work of art in progress provided an inspiring backdrop as we chugged our way along the path.
At 3.5miles, Lisa reached her target and turned back for the condo while I continued on west, heading for the shelter of High Park where I was hoping the woods would provide a respite from the arctic inspired ‘breeze’. As soon as I entered the winter wonderland of the park, the wind seemed to abate and I was left to enjoy a much more relaxed run through the park. Being that it was relatively warm with the paths being sheltered from the wind, it was a busy day in the park with lots of people out enjoying the end of the day, walking dogs, skating or wandering around Grenadier Pond. As I completed my loop around the park and turned to retrace my steps back through the park, out to the lakeshore and east along the path, the sun was disappearing below the horizon.
One hour, 45 minutes and I had completed the scheduled run: 21.1km (13.2 miles) was in the books. Felt quite tired at the end, the legs not easily coaxed into repeating additional steps but another goal was accomplished and I was one step closer to a fun marathon race in April. An evening of dining in front of the TV, watching the 2010 Vancouver Games anniversary special, awaited the post-run stretch and shower. Were the 2010 Games really over a year ago? Nearly nine years being involved with this particular version of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and just like the long-run, it was fast becoming a distant memory.
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