May 26

From May 22 – May 26, I had the opportunity to visit one of the most hospital places in Canada: the city of St. John’s. While I was there for a work conference, it also provided the backdrop for some fun and entertainment, the kick-off of the Terry Fox foundation’s Tour of Hope, and as far as this blog is concerned: some good training.

The people of St. John’s are fantastic. So down to earth, so eager to make you feel welcome, so quintessentially Canadian you’d think they cast the mold for the rest of us. When your time there includes a private concert for 350 people by Great Big Sea and the chance to hear Rex Murphy speak on what it means to be a Newfoundlander/Canadian words can describe it but your heart and mind will never forget it.

On the training front, you should know that St. John’s really is a rock. And not a flat rock. Any trip includes some impressive hills that remind you of Vancouver or other coastal cities such as San Francisco. I have no idea how they deal with that with the snow. I went on one two hour run along the East Coast trail that included a 200m climb up a hill/mountain and carried along the path over rock & bush, past lakes and trees. Oh yeah, it also included about a dozen postcard views that included ice bergs sightings and snow (which I still haven’t figured out). Following that, I walked to Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). On a side note: anytime a local talks about MUN they have to add that it is the largest university east of McGill. I think John Crosbie was responsible for that. I had hoped the pool was set up for 50m (which I have never done) but unfortunately was the regular 25m. The water was still wet though and got some work done.

With two events down only the bike is left. Last year, I took my bike to Banff for the same conference and rode approximately 350km while I was there. Due to the 90% probability of rain and cold I left my rig at home this time. Weather was good however and 5 of us were able to get decent enough road bikes to rent and we headed out to the most easterly point in the Western Hemisphere: Cape Spear. With some fantastic climbs and big winds it took us slightly less than 2.5hrs which included some descents at 80km/hr.

On one of the rides last year I had the honour of meeting Daryl Fox, Terry’s brother, who leads the Terry Fox Foundation. As impressed as I was of his ability to take me to school on the bike up the hills, it was his thankfulness and humility that struck me the most. No ego, no pretense, nothing. It was only later I learned he would focus on other events after running his first and only marathon as he came in only 3^rd place and has been a nationally ranked duathlete (run/bike/run events). My pride wasn’t as bruised from getting dropped by him.

Daryl and the original van they used back in 1980 for the Marathon of Hope will be going coast to coast to raise awareness and money for cancer research. You can read about it HERE. ScotiaMcLeod will be hosting the Tour across the country in various communities. While all the details have yet to be released, we do know we will be welcoming the Tour of Hope to Brampton on July 15^th.

The conference ended fittingly. After playing such gracious hosts we were there to help raise over $215,000 at a charity event to help the local cancer centre purchase two pieces of equipment. It was the least we could do to say: “God luv ya cotton socks b’y.”

Mississauga Race Report

I finished today in 3:19 which is virtually identical to my marathon in the fall and leaves me short on my Boston qualifying time for the time being. It is tough having a set time target as there is only success or failure. It leaves nothing for race day uncertainties (not being "on" that day), the things you can't control (weather or wind; or both!), and even when you are successful can take the focus off the other positive benefits of being able to play like this. In the end however, much of what draws me into this sport is the fact the clock doesn't know any of this, doesn't care, and doesn't lie. It is what it is...

On the positive side, I still have time to qualify as an under-34 male, was happy with my effort and realize that some changes in approach are needed to move the next few rungs up the fitness ladder...

PS. Happy Mother's Day! Katherine prepared an UNBELIEVABLE lunch and we celebrated with Mumsie & Mommy(in-law) at our place. While I wish the morning went better, it was a great day!

May 4, 2008

If you are here to visit us for the first time, please take a second to go to the bottom of this page and read about THE CAUSE so you have a sense for what we are trying to accomplish and who we are trying to accomplish it for.

It is so motivating to see where we are in only a few short weeks. Anyone who has raised money for charitable organizations understands how challenging it can be to place your cause above all else and extend your message without the benefit of “professional” fundraisers, significant marketing budgets and the like.

People have already donated $4000 to support Sick Kids as part of my racing Ironman Florida on November 1^st in Panama City Beach. Not only is this motivating but the momentum is just getting started in my view…let me explain.

On June 13-14^th we will be having the “Lawnboy Cup”, a baseball tournament in memory of Jon Holiday. For many, it marks the beginning of summer…players will include friends of Jon’s brothers and sisters: Kevin, Jenny, Julie and Chris, family and friend’s of Jon who will come together to share some laughs, some beverages, and many memories…

While it will surely be “Good Times” the timing of the tournament is special as June marks Jon’s birthday and the anniversary of his death. Lawn would be turning 25 this year and while it is sad considering that, it is special to have the opportunity to have seen his friends finish high school, university/college and now beginning careers, getting married etc. Not only is it special but I would also describe it as unique: he was and continues to be the tie that binds us together after all this time.

There will be more on the baseball tournament I promise so check back here every 2-3 weeks for updates.

June will also be bringing two other charitable events: on June 13^th I am doing a bike ride from Hamilton to Sick Kids Hospital as part of the Kids for Cancer ride which is an unbelievable event: a 19-day cross-Canada cycling tour. While I am only doing a stage, I will be riding with Toronto dentist Al Jeffries who is doing the ENTIRE 7600 km journey and has raised almost $20,000 for Sick Kids. You can read all about things HERE

Finally, on June 21^st I will be doing the Solstice Century Cycle for Kids from Toronto to Niagara on the Lake. The 100-mile cycle is in support of SWIM FOR KIDS Shaun Chisholm is swimming across Lake Ontario in mid-August in support of The Hospital for Sick Kids Burn Unit.

But without getting ahead of myself, I have a major short term event to focus on…

TRAINING UPDATE
Today marks exactly one week out from the Mississauga Marathon. In trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, this race is only second to the November Ironman in terms of importance on my race schedule this year. Training is generally going well. I feel fit and injury free. Over the last few weeks I have done the two big runs I was hoping to complete (both over 3hrs) and have added in a couple big days of +4-hour bike/run workouts (the scary part is, by the time Aug/Sept/early October come around and I am in the thick of Ironman training, 4-hour workouts will be ‘short’).

My only issue at the moment is that it is hard to gauge where my run fitness is as I still haven’t done much pace work outside in daylight – my long runs have been on a marked path but most of the run is done pre-dawn which means I can’t see the kilometer markers and I haven't done any races yet this year. Going by the treadmill speeds I think I am good but I don’t have a ton of confidence in it. I can say my swimming is as strong as it has ever been. A combination of consistency of being in the pool 3x/week, some additional drills/volume, and some coaching have me feeling good about things in the pool. The trouble is, there is no swim in a marathon!

So while I think fitness is good and I am confident is both my race prep and nutrition plan I wish I had a bit more insight into the time I think I am capable of running. Not that it matters really... regardless of the circumstances you simply have to take what the day brings and get out there and just give’er! Worrying is just wasted energy and emotion.

For those that who may be interested: good, bad, and/or ugly I will post my results here next week.

Also, based on some of your helpful feedback we will be adding some additional graphics and pictures here. If someone is familiar with using Blogger and have some tips to share please send me an email: glenway@hotmail.com