Mind, Motion & Matter

Shop window on Ossington street

I received interesting feedback last weekend from my run group about the elements of a successful blog.  I was told that one mistake that I’ve made is to link food consumption to exercise, as in two posts I made called A calorie burned is a calories earned for a treat!  Click here for post 1 and then post 2.   Apparently, I should identify 3-4 themes, and the less congruency between the the themes, the better.  Well, I have to say that I don’t really get it.

So I’m told, there is a blogger who did very well by adding to his foreign policy blog, the additional elements of zombies and Salma Hayek-sightings and ended up making more money on his blog than from his job in academia.  Until this time, I had not heard of Salma Hayek but now I know that many consider her the sexiest woman on earth.  I also know that inexplicably, there are many men interested in zombies.  It is possible that the foreign policy blogger may write exceedingly well on those two topics in addition to his main topic but it strikes me that the intention is mainly to draw traffic from search engines to his blog.

Anyhow this did get me thinking about what, in addition to running are my secondary themes are or could be.  So there’s food (without the guilt?), organizing/time-management, interesting books/poetry and  what else . . . ?  I suggested shoes, and got a big no-no, that being still about the running.

When I mentioned time-management I was told that this was still about running.  True. I had posted something saying efficiency gains equals more miles.  After thinking about this I realized that in fact, I had got the paradigm wrong and in fact the efficiency gains are not about running more miles but about being able to do the others things I enjoy while running more miles.  In thinking about the time spent training for a marathon something else occurred to me.  When not training for marathon but running to keep fit, I consider running 7 hours a week, the minimum with an hour for weight training and an hour for stretching.  In fact, the marathon training is not the total time spent running but the extra time added to the fitness routine.

The extra time is in the range of 3-5 hours a week for the running itself and then a couple of extra hours for additional sleep, while at the peak of training.  So in my time accounts book, it is not that much extra time, and of course the key period is about 10 weeks long.  At one time, I thought the benefits of marathon training were superfluous however the older I get, and feel that the quality of life that comes from intense training is tremendous.

I kept a journal from age 12 to age 32 – so I do enjoy the discipline of writing a bit about my day.  However, I am trying to limit the time spent on this to 15-20  minutes.  For me, this means that the entries are mainly anecdotal.  It is possible that I am spending less time writing emails as I’m finding that I get very few emails asking how I am.  Is that because friends and family are reading my blog?  It occurred to me yesterday that balance in our busy lives might involve keeping up with the day to day stuff by visiting friends blogs and then making phone calls or (gasp) writing snail mail letters.

As for the daily run; One of the features of my runs in the last couple days is that I have been listening to The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe.  The only problem with audio books is that when you hear something that you might normally highlight or underline, well, that is difficult.  My husband did find an e-book of the same, and with quite a bit of effort tracked down one passage I thought I might one day want to quote.

I also did 10 x 45 seconds (about 200 meters) fast.  For this I switched to my fast-running music which includes Led Zepplin’s, Immigrant Song, Holiday by Green Day, Rasputin by Boney M and I Want to Move It, Move It.  I’m back on track for marathon training however it is slowly dawning on me that I am going to be a good deal slower than I had planned.  Part of me is thinking I should delay the marathon but I know I want to run one and I think the longer I wait, the harder it will be to get back to it —- We shall see

Washroom at the Pinakothek Moderne in Munich

Was that Salma Hayek I saw go in there?

Last Saturday

The first mile of the 14 mile route was marked by colourful art on a fruit market van.

Seen at Bloor and Manning

View from Strathearn bridge

Our group ran uphill, in Moore park and then through the cemetery.  As we left the park via the Merton street exit that connects with the beltline, a porta potty was spotted.  This is exciting news for runners, who celebrate the addition of another potential pit stop on primo running routes whilst logging 15 plus miles.  The early part of the day was lovely and some fall colours are starting to develop in Cedarvale Ravine.

Yesterday

HTO Park, the urban beach

I ran through HTO park, the urban beach quite early in the morning.  The waterfront is fairly busy in the early morning with exercisers, dog walkers, city staff, firemen, police, Porter staff, enroute to work.  So, if my mom is reading this post.  I hope any fears she might have for my safety are quashed.  Although, I do not run through Coronation park in the dark and take the street route, past a number of high-rise condos.

Wm. Lyon Mackenzie Fireboat near marine fire station

Farewell to mama kanga and baby who were spotted leaving our home to take residence in Kitchener-Waterloo with their owner. How the decades have flown by as the 20th birthday of this duo soon approaches.

Leaving home

La vida loca!

Daughters of one of my Saturday run group are taking part in elementary school cross-country races at Ashbridge’s Bay in the Beach. Good luck to them.

Something I learned from my many years of coaching is that most kids aren’t thinking about winning a medal but rather worry about finishing last.  We had a special award for last-place finishes which only was claimed once.   Making it to the start line is where the attitude of a champion begins.  Another thing I have learned is that most people are good losers but in fact it is a challenge to be a gracious winner at times.

This photo records the year that Dewson elementary upset John Ross Robertson, the perennial victors in the Boys 7 & under category at the City Finals.  Coaching a team of 80 or more runners is much more nerve-wracking than running one’s own race.

I have wonderful memories of my many years of coaching including my participation in the races as the “rabbit”.  Sure wish I had photos of being pursued by over 200 boys age 8 and up for 100 meters, wondering whether I would be overtaken, only to have the whole crew run out of steam and run far more slowly, for the remaining 800 meters of the race distance.   Pace yourselves girls.

Dear friends,

I hope you will click on this link to a memorial tribute that my brother placed in the Whitehorse News to honour the memory of his wife Karen, who died 10 years ago. This is the same brother from the town square meeting in Frankfurt.

Please click here: KAREN

I believe that the spirit of love, our loving spirit continues on after we die, physically. And Karen exists for me very tangibly as a presence in that realm of peace and stillness where loving and courageous spirits meet and merge and and help us all to be our better selves.

Karen, I miss you and think of you often.

Lynn

Here is something I saw on my run this morning.

Monday, October 4, 2010 - Small, tall ship on Lake Ontario 6:45 a.m.

Yesterday, I woke at 4 a.m. and launched into a flurry of fall cleaning; storing all spring and summer clothing and bringing out fall and early winter clothing, including running gear. Temperatures are now in my ideal range for racing a marathon 2C-12C. I have not run a marathon earlier, than the 3rd week of October for this reason with the risk of seasonally high temperatures a worry to heat-shy marathoner, any earlier than this. The fall marathons I’ve run in the past decade are the Columbus marathon and the Detroit marathon, twice each and the Chicago marathon.

The year I ran the Chicago marathon I did so because it was unusually timed a couple of weeks later than usual. The conditions were close to ideal that year, albeit a tad breezy. A far cry from a couple of recent disastrously hot days for that event. The billing this year is 10-10-10 with the race taking place next Sunday.

Chicago has a huge field of close to 40,000 runners, to manage the various paces, runners are positioned are seeded and assigned corrals at the start.  It is possible that in 2006 I was the oldest woman in the first corral, right behind the elite athletes, as I had run 3:10:09 a year earlier in Detroit.

Because of my closeness to the starting line, it only took me 17 seconds to get there thus the differential between my Gun Time and Chip Time was 17 seconds.  The table below shows my 1st place finish. I’ve spent far too much time trying to edit the table so here you have it the top 25 finishes in the 50-54 category.  If you click on my name, split times will pop up.

I’m remembering that over the last 1KM a motorcycle pulled up beside me and was filming me.  I wondered if I was doing to be on television however, I believe it was a commercial photographer, as many runners were offered the chance to buy a CD with video footage.  I didn’t buy the CD and rather regret it now.  It seemed expensive at $75 however considering the service and who knows whether I’ll ever place 1st again, I should have bought it.

I’ll have to check the timing for the 2011 race, as the course superbly delivers on its “fast and flat” promise.

A week ago, we were in Frankfurt, sitting in the main square with my brother, when an unusual sight passed us by; The famous (apparently) beer powered wagon. Well, powered by beer drinkers, that is. My worldly brother and his friends were aware of this wagon-bike, which is like a mobile bar with pedals for each beer drinker. What a sight! It happened too quickly for a photo but I did find these two photos on the internet.

What a joy, dry fall mornings are. As usual, I ran to the lake and back in what I consider the ideal temperature range for running. For my easy pace runs, I don’t wear my watch but only note the time of my departure, as I have good sense of how much time a run will take and whether or not I am dawdling. Not wearing a watch makes the time far more relaxing.

Tonight we ate at the Bloor Street Diner and I was happy to leave with having had just one glass of bubbly, knowing that I’ll be thankful for that when I get up tomorrow for my long run of 15-18 miles. On the way home, I briefly thought we were coming upon a band of Oktoberfest revelers as there was singing and a lead accordionist. The group it turns out was a band of merry Hare Krishna celebrants. This was something that we used to see regularly, say three decades ago. Generally, there seemed to be a feeling of upbeat camaraderie in the air. Maybe it has something to do with Nuit Blanche.

Avanti, avanti!

My husband noted last night that there are lots of photos of food on my blog and not very many running photos. So check out this trailer for Autumn Gold a film about Masters track and field athletes.

And now for the food!

Saumon Saisi
crispy skin salmon with choucroute,
smoked bacon and celeriac mustard remoulade

This meal was enjoyed at Auberge de Pommier, part of the Peter Oliver restaurant empire.  It stands as an oasis in the near no-man’s-land of lunch dining, York Mills and Yonge.  Ãs for the photo, I am someone who blinks a lot, it can be hard to get a photo of me with my eyes open.  I’m dining with a friend, who I consider something of a mentor in that she has been coaching me and shedding some light on how to shine in the job application, interview process.  I am very grateful to her for her interest and enthusiasm in helping me and others learn how to best navigate the workplace.

Incidentally, she has been running for more years than I have and plays tennis regularly.   I asked our waiter to take our photo and it turns out that he has done some running and triathlons and that our paths crossed at some point, and he remembered me.

I had a good run this morning with a few 200 meter pick-ups.  I’m finally back on Toronto time.  I woke at 5:30 a.m.  A bit later than my normal time to rise.

Farewell September.  Welcome autumn gold (and red)

My husband and I had our double espressos just before 9 p.m. and I went to bed just after 10 p.m. which is on average the time I usually go to bed. I was looking forward to waking at normal Toronto time. I woke at 3 a.m. and lay awake for 45 minutes and have been up ever since. I’ve done have the prep for dinner tonight, anticipating low post-work energy levels and will do my daily post early in case I crash, shortly after dinner.

While on my run yesterday, I realized that fall officially began while we were in Frankfurt. The weather seemed very similar to ours as did the flowers in the market, pictured here.

Watch your step, chestnuts & cobblestones in Frankfurt

A word of advice to runners, is to remember that the falling objects in the autumn make it a hazardous time for twisted ankles. So tread carefully!

p.s.  And don’t forget to eat your vegies!

Again, awake at 3:30 a .m.   We will have to head to Starbuck’s this evening for a doppio espresso after dinner so I can stay up until 9:30 p.m.  Surprisingly, I’m not feeling tired at work, which is good given that I am only 2 1/2 weeks into the job.

My lower back is feeling a lot better.  I did a light run on the treadmill at the YMCA, some stretching and then a bit more running, followed by a whirlpool bath.  Leaving the Y, I almost felt 100% but then all the sitting at work and it is a bit tight again.  Allow me to stress that this falls into the category of an under use injury and highlights the crippling effect of inactivity.  Although in hindsight, I have been neglecting stretching and am forgetting that I am not immune from the stiffness that comes with aging.

As we descend back to workaday reality and struggle to get our dinner on the table, memories of some remarkable meals we enjoyed are savoured.  In Munich, we dined at Käfer-Schänke an elegant eatery which seems to be part of a Munich catering-dining empire, the Oliver & Bonancini of Munich.  It was the most glamourous evening of our stay as we dined with a couple of friends, one of whom attended Michigan State on a track scholarship.  Spirits were high and I ended my dinner with the following dessert  CREAM BRÛLÉE / Tahiti Vanille / süßes Muskat-Kürbiskompott / / Tahiti vanilla / sweet nutmeg pumpkin compote //  Tonkabohneneis / Grué de cacao / / Tonka bean / Grue de cacao

Which is what happens when you wake up at 3:30 a.m. It is 7:50 p.m. and I will be heading to bed very soon. I left the house at 5:50 a.m. for my run and the lake looked like this.

I did not run along the lake because of the darkness. I did a tempo run and it felt great to run fast however I experienced some back pain for the rest of the day. I think all the sitting in the plane yesterday (about 9 hours for an indirect flight) contributed to this. A few minutes ago I had to ask my husband to put my socks on for me.

A birthday card arrived in the mail for my husband.  A picture of two turtles wearing party hats, one says to the other, “Happy Birthday, 150 is the new 100!”  We had a good laugh about that although laughing hurts my back. Actually, it is more in the hip area, the sacroiliac joint is locked up.  This is a something that is aggravated by inactivity.  I used to get a lot of pain when we used to drive out to Saskatchewan and Edmonton to a family cottage.

Amazing Adina, apartment hotel

Here we are on our last night in Frankfurt at the amazing Adina apartment hotel which was about half the price of our tiny Munich room and four times as big. It was #2 on the Trip Adviser list for Frankfurt. We’ve had good luck with Trip Adviser.  I finally read the manual for my camera to find out how to set it on auto-timer.

I’ll probably be getting up early tomorrow. I hope to make a more significant post then.

Cheers,

Lynn