Mind, Motion & Matter

Running, Essentially . . .

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Exactly three years ago . . .

I neglected to celebrate my third blog-o-versary earlier this month. It all started when I took a blogging course at OCAD with a great instructor Greg Smith. I went on to complete the OCAD Digital Media Certificate which has helped me on-the-job with website content management  and communications.  Hundreds of blog posts later, here I am, albeit struggling to get in a minimum of two posts a month. I feel that if I don’t keep that up, I’ll stop entirely. Which begs the question, why not stop . . . hmmm, the topic of my next post? Actually my problem is not lack of content but too many ideas and too much to say, which makes it hard to get started.

Anyhow, the following is post from August 31, 2010 and it was interesting (to me at least) to see that I was then contemplating joining the UTTC Masters. It took me awhile to finally sign up but ta da, I’ve been a card-carrying member for over 1 1/2 years and loving it.

First Stop Sacramento  (August 31, 2010)

For someone who is used to running high-mileage in marathon training.  Running 50 miles a week hardly takes a thought.  I run about an hour a day with a 2 hour plus run on the weekend – this is the default.   However, with 15 weeks until my pre-Boston, marathon outing in Sacramento, the moment has come to either train seriously, forget about it or suffer in the final miles of the race.

2007, Sacramento 30K

So, I’m formulating my plan and the mileage build will go like this 57 miles this week, 61 miles next week and 57 miles the following week (including a rare day off for travel).  I like to do 2-3 solid weeks of building miles and then take an easier week.  Fortunately, this easy week will coincide with a trip to Germany.  My long run will increase from 12-15 miles to 17, 18 and up to 22 miles.

In addition to the increased mileage I have to start speedwork.  I’ve committed to hitting the track with a group.  For the past two years I’ve been taking evening courses, this year I will go to track school.  I’m excited about running on the new Varsity stadium track.  The very scene of my first marathon finish.  The coach, Paul Osland is a former Olympian who is now whipping a group of motivated masters into tip top shape.  I’m apprehensive about the return to the intensity of speed work.  My fast running for the past two years has gone something like this . . . run fast when I feel like it for 30 – 120 seconds.  Take as much rest as I need.

From what I can tell, the plan for Thursday is to run 150 meters at a very fast pace, 18 times and the do it again for a total of 36 fast repeats.  Then we are to bound up stairs, 2 steps at a time, 5 times and then repeat.  I’ve never done circuit training, of which we are to do 4 laps.  Hmm . . .

This could be painful.  Given that most of these runners will be peaking in the early fall, and my timing of a December marathon is unusual, I hope to get some sort of just-starting-out dispensation. I’m reminded of how once, when in top form I remarked to another runner as we readied ourselves for a grueling session à la Zeba Crook that his workouts were effective because they helped us to increase our pain threshold.  The runner turned to me and said, “but that is not what I signed up for”. No doubt . . . I’ll soon have a tale to tell.

Gulp . . .


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Running to work, “The Better Way”

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GO trains to the south, Don Valley to the east & cranes & construction, everywhere else. Welcome to Corktown Commons.

August has been my month to build a base for a cross-country season. I stuck to my resolve NOT to run a fall marathon. Instead I’ll race 4K to 8K distances, with only one 5K on the road.

My coach has suggested that I run no more than 20K in one day, and even consider splitting a 20K day up into two runs. My peak weekly mileage will be about 100K if things go well.  My biggest week in August was 75K or 46 miles.

This is how I fit in my runs this week as well as plans for tomorrow and Sunday.

Monday: Cycle to work | Run home from work = 4 miles | 4 MILES

Tuesday: Run to work = 6 miles | Run home from work = 4 miles | 10 MILES

Wednesday: Run to work = 6 miles | Cycle home from work | 6 MILES

Thursday: Cycle to work | Cycle to team workout, run hill repeats | 3 MILES

Friday: Run 4 miles to work | 4 MILES

Saturday:  Get out the door at 6:30 a.m. to run 10 miles | 10 MILES

Sunday: 5 MILES Projected weekly mileage | 5 MILES | 42 MILES

Money saved on TTC fares = $30

Two things that faciliate all this energetic commuting are a) Availablity of a shower at workplace b) A place to store my bike indoors overnight.

009

Playing around in Corktown, the merry-go-round, deconstructed

And how did I get home tonight? After a few failed attempts to find Corktown Commons, earlier this summer, I finally found it while running to work one morning. I first heard of this intriguing park via a Huffington Post story. The article begins . . . “If you want to see why cities are centers of energy, look at the remarkable transformation underway in Toronto (and avoid the sideshow involving the embattled current mayor).”  Since locating the park I’ve visited a few times with workmates, who were amazed with the discovery as it is about 7 minutes from work. It is at the bottom of Lower River Street and you pass by Underpass Park. On a visit this Wednesday, my friend saw a frog. Tonight my husband came by my workplace where we had a romantic dinner of leftovers in the office kitchen and then I took him for a walk to this unique and very urban park. Cost of taxi home = $20 (pre-tip)

Definitely think I’ve found the “better way” if not the best!


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Run, Shower, Bike, Work, Bike

Welcome to my daily routine. I’m not training for a duathlon but I’ve taken to cycling across town to work whenever possible.  The trip is about 4 miles each way. The trip is made easier because I can use two major roads with bike lanes, Harbord Street and Sherbourne Street.

I recall hearing about a new bike lane in the works for Sherbourne street but it didn’t have much meaning for me as I have always been a west-ender who rarely strayed east of Yonge street. But now I point myself in the direction of Queen and Sumach five days a week and get to use this barely-six-week old bike thoroughfare. The lane is well-marked and raised, with a curb in spots and a slope in others.  The ride south is a blast as there is a pronounced but gradual downhill grade. Whee!

Best bike lane in town!

Best bike lane in town!

I’m a big fan of Portland, Oregon which has great infrastructure for cycling and many artistic and design flourishes paying homage to the bike, however I’ve never seen a lot of people actually cycling there. Or at least not to the degree that we Torontonians bike.

Bike art at Burnside and 13th avenue, Portland OR

Bike art at Burnside & 13th avenue,Portland OR

Outside of Powell’s Books (my favourite bookstore in the whole world) is a book-themed bike rack. But can you imagine a bike rack outside a bookstore in Toronto with empty parking spots? Of course, Portland is about 20% the size of the GTA but still it seems surprising in such a bike-friendly city.

Bike rack outside Powell's books

Bike rack outside Powell’s books

My first day of cycling to work was the day of the flood. I had to make a three hour stopover at the Eaton Centre where I bought a rain poncho, had a very bad dinner of curried Pad Thai and waited out the storm.

But I am in the groove now and getting cycle-fit which is helping my running in that I feel looser than I have for awhile even though I am running more miles than I have in months. I hit 40 miles this past week.

I found out that there is a shower in our office down the street which will give me the option to rearrange my run, shower, bike, work, bike routine to bike, work, run, shower, work, bike.  When I get to my peak mileage I’ll have to cut out the bike part some days and to run, shower, work, run, shower. Ah, the joys of Making It All Work *. I can’t imagine what a triathlete’s day looks like, with an extra shower or two thrown into the mix, followed by a lot of laundry.

* This is on my top ten list of time management books.


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Running slower but getting faster

While on my run this morning, I ran into a former club-mate who told me that a record I had held while a member of the Longboat Roadrunners was nearly broken the other day. The record was for a track mile. I didn’t remember having set a record for this event. So I checked the Longboat website.

I sometimes check the Longboat website to see what times I once ran as my memory of that is getting fuzzy. So I looked at the records and saw that a road mile I once ran in Buffalo, NY was credited as being a track mile.  This race took place 12 years ago.That mile, as I remember, was run on a road and park paths and had a hairpin turnaround point.  I like to think that a track mile would have been faster, tangents and all and with the important advantage of being able to gauge one’s pace per each 400 meter.

Like many keen masters athletes, I am somewhat fixated on measuring my performance on the World Masters Association (WMA) Age-Graded tables. Having recently run a 1500 meter track race, I wondered how my metric mile compared to that road mile. Here is the result for my run at the Ontario Masters Track and Field Championships earlier this month. My time was a very respectable 85.87%.

W55 1500 Meter Run Sat 1:30pm
=================================================================================
Name Age Team Finals Age-Grading
=================================================================================
1 Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi W57 UTTC 5:53.60 4:30.72 85.87%

My mile time scores a 82.19% which is equivalent to a 5:06 miles.  At age 30 or so, I ran a 5:04 but in the 1500. My first race ever was a marathon and I’ve always had that as my main focus. Translating my current 1500 meter score to an open time gives me a 4:53 for the mile and an open time of 4:30.72 for the metric mile.  Hey, I broke 5 minutes for the mile. I’m getting slower but actually I am getting faster. This is how we aging runners cheer ourselves up!!

This is what I looked like when I was hypothetically breaking 5 minutes in the mile.

OMA Outdoors - Lynn 1500

Photo courtesy of Doug Smith

But my own personal reverie aside, I will contact my friend and tell her that whoever it was that nearly broke my record, actually has the record as my time is ineligible.  And congrats to her! I have a feeling that she did not look in quite as much pain as I was here.

Ps. And thanks to my coach Paul Osland, Olympian in the 800 meters. Now UTTC Masters coach and a driving force behind My Remote Coach. Check it out!


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At the track, proud to be 47th

Some stats about my first track race of the outdoor season at the  York University track team Twilight meet

  • 48     Number of entrants in the Women’s 800 Meter race on June 25th
  • 47     My finishing place (2:57.72)
  • 46     Number of years between the date-of-birth of the youngest and oldest entrant (that would be me)
  • 42     Number of years between my age and the age of my neighbour’s daughter who ran 2:31.25 in Heat 3
  • 5       Number of years between the oldest entrant and the next oldest entrant
  • 4       Number of heats run for the race
  • 3       Number of seconds faster I want to run at the Ontario Masters Track Championships on July 6th & 7th
  • 2       Number of masters teammates who joined me in running the Women’s 800 meter race
  • 1       Number of seconds by which Kailee Sawyer broke the meet record in 2:06.96
  • 0       Number of other entrants in my age-category
2 - The number of UTTC Masters teammates who joined me in the 800 meter race.

Well done Rita and Gwen and thanks for the camaraderie!

Women 800 Meter Open/Senior
===================================================================
 Series Rec:: * 2:07.09  6/21/2005   Megan Brown, Newmarket Huskies            
    Name                    Year Team                    Finals  H#
===================================================================
  1 Sawyer, Kailee            97 Laurel Creek TFC       2:06.96*  1 
  2 Stafford, Gabriela        95 U of Toronto TC        2:09.29   1 
  3 Walmsly, Honor            93 U of Toronto TC        2:10.47   1 
  4 Nock, Paige               95 Durham Dragons A       2:13.46   1 
  5 Lucki, Alexandra          96 Etobicoke TFC          2:14.31   1 
  6 Serafini, Rosa            89 U of Toronto TC        2:14.63   1 
  7 Rouse, Savannah           98 U of Toronto TC        2:15.06   2 
  8 Raftis, Kylee             99 Central Toronto        2:15.29   2 
  9 McCuaig, Sarah            90 McGill Olymp           2:15.72   1 
 10 Martynova, Svetlana       90 U of Toronto TC        2:16.18   1 
 11 Lampard, Katherine        95 Central Toronto        2:16.76   1 
 12 Ambrose, Taya             97 Laurel Creek TFC       2:17.59   2 
 13 Hennessy, Kelly           94 U of Toronto TC        2:19.14   1 
 14 Smith, Stephanie          90 York University        2:19.14   2 
 15 Adamson, Jessica          94 U of Toronto TC        2:19.65   2 
 16 Thompson, Miranda         99 Central Toronto        2:20.25   2 
 17 Stewart, Kate             98 Newmarker Huskie       2:20.55   3 
 18 Freeman, Jenna            93 South Simcoe Duf       2:20.77   2 
 19 Macdonald, Alannah        94 Niagara Olympic        2:20.80   2 
 20 Nardi, Danielle           96 U of Toronto TC        2:20.98   2 
 21 Fedorov, Yulia            96 Newmarker Huskie       2:21.52   3 
 22 Emilio, Sarah             93 U of Toronto TC        2:21.94   2 
 23 Moreau, Julia             97 Laurel Creek TFC       2:22.59   2 
 24 Horner, Kelsey            97 York University        2:23.04   2 
 25 Nagy, Sarah               73 Newmarker Huskie       2:23.30   2 
 26 Thompson, Aija            93 U of Toronto TC        2:24.04   3 
 27 Papaioannou, Stephanie    97 U of Toronto TC        2:26.36   3 
 28 Rothenbroker, Meghan      95 Newmarker Huskie       2:26.61   3 
 29 Burrows, Arden            97 U of Toronto TC        2:26.84   3 
 30 Gobbo, Victoria           97 310 Running            2:27.70   3 
 31 Charbonneau, Natasha      98 South Simcoe Duf       2:29.80   3 
 32 Carley, Hannah            97 Newmarker Huskie       2:30.10   4 
 33 Thomson, Kennedy          98 Runners Edge TC        2:30.38   3 
 34 Park, Laura               97 Newmarker Huskie       2:30.57   4 
 35 Earl, Celeste             98 U of Toronto TC        2:31.25   3 
 36 Chenskikh, Darya          94 York University        2:32.38   4 
 37 Tramble, Lindsay          98 Etobicoke TFC          2:32.48   3 
 38 Mccormick, Audrey         98 South Simcoe Duf       2:35.30   4 
 39 Armstrong, Jasmine        98 South Simcoe Duf       2:35.63   3 
 40 O'Hagan, Heather          61 Newmarker Huskie       2:36.44   4 
 41 Mayer, Katarina           98 Etobicoke TFC          2:39.50   4 
 42 Waller, Georgia           00 York University        2:39.89   4 
 43 Bailey-Mason, Gwyneth     66 U of Toronto TC        2:44.08   4 
 44 Botelho, Rita             60 U of Toronto TC        2:51.59   4 
 45 Abell, Sarah              01 U of Toronto TC        2:52.63   4 
 46 Rout, Jennifer            64 Newmarker Huskie       2:56.55   4 
 47 Deutscher Kobayashi, Lynn 55 U of Toronto TC        2:57.72   4 
 48 Reynoso, Aura             66 Newmarker Huskie       3:05.23   4


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I run because . . .

Lynn Kobayashi, Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi

Running the ramparts in Quebec City (August 2012)

Today is National Running Day, a day to tell family and friends why you run. I run most every day except when recovering from a marathon or resting up for a big race. I started running in 1980 and ran my first marathon in 1981. Here are a few of my reasons for running although the longer I run, the more reasons I find, which includes all the great friends I have made through the years and the husband I met in 1985.

I run for physical and mental health!
It’s the easiest way to stay fit and a sure antidote for stress release. Things always look better after a run. If I had to break down the benefits to me personally, I’d estimate that the balance is heavily tipped on the side of mental health.

I run because it is accessible!
Is there anyone physically capable of running, who has not done so? With no equipment required, it is a sport where talent can shine, even in the poorest of countries.* This means the talent pool of the world is mobilized, making running THE most competitive sport in the world.

I run because I enjoy competition!
If you are able to run, you have likely also raced, be it on a track or to catch a bus. You can compete with yourself, others or a machine.

I run because I can!
The longer I run, the more resonant this becomes. I remind myself daily of all those who cannot run. This includes my husband for whom the occasional 5K run is a rare treat because of a torn meniscus. And my sister-in-law, very recently diagnosed with cancer in her spine and now immobile. Plus my friend Hassan who triumphed by walking 5K last fall with the crutches he needs due to the effects of polio. The courage of those who face physical challenges and cannot run motivates and inspires me.

Happy Running Day!

* See Maria Mutola’s story

My hero Hassan!


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Speak soon . . . see you in June

Lynn Kobayashi & Pat Deutscher

Sister Tibebe Maco, recipient of numerous humanitarian awards.

May was a merry month!  But rather than squeeze in my minimum two posts per month, today and tomorrow, I am declaring May 2013 my official blog holiday month. I’ve blogged a minimum of twice a month for 33 consecutive months beginning in August of 2011.

May got off to a quick start with the third year of the People4Kids Gala at the ROM. CLICK HERE for 2013 photos. Last week, we were pleased to have the chance to meet Sister Tibebe Maco, recipient of The Africa Prize for Leadership, awarded by the Hunger Project in recognition of her courageous fight to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. We were introduced at a talk sponsored by P2P Canada and CUSO. Her organization HIDA is one of the People to People’s NGO partners for the orphan-sponsorship program supported by the gala.

See you next month!

Lynn

Ps. I am back in training. Hope to race 800 meters and 1500 meters at the Ontario Masters Track Championships.


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A matter of time, crossing the line at Boston

It is taking me awhile to process the experience of crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon at 2:39:20 p.m. – 10 minutes before the explosions went off at 2:49:43 p.m.

BostonFinish Area3in-x

Where I was standing when I heard the explosions is shown by the *X*

Runners are greeted at the finish line by officials whose  job is to make sure they move along quickly through the post-finish line area which spreads over three city blocks. This process includes; recovery drinks and water, getting a heat sheet blanket, a sticker to keep the heat blanket secured, a medal, the option of a photo while wearing the heat sheet blanket and medal and then a bag of food. I did all of the above, except for the drinks in those ten minutes.

Just after receiving my bag of food explosions were heard and a very large plume of smoke rose to what seemed like 20 stories high. It appeared to be at least a mile away. My sense is that we were all thinking “this can’t be good” but were hoping that it might be simply be a gas explosion. Nobody wanted to believe that it could be something more sinister.

An integral aspect of the Boston Marathon experience is the spectators. Having been buoyed by their support all the way, I now realize survivor guilt is inevitable. The rational question is “Why anyone?” but as a benefactor of the incredible enthusiasm and cheer-leading at Boston the question for a participant becomes “Why so many spectators when they were only there for us?”.

PROTECTED FROM ANXIETY

Somehow the mayhem did not immediately spread two blocks past the finish line.  We did not hear a chorus of sirens wail, leading one woman to echo our hopes (or state of denial) when she said, “It’s funny that there aren’t more sirens maybe that means its not serious.”  We saw one or two officials run towards the finish line but without giving us any direction. We had no idea what was going on. The roar of the crowds at Boston are deafening. I think I will always ask myself why we were not able to make out that the screams of encouragement from two blocks away had turned to screams of anguish, pain and terror.

We finishers continued,  albeit with some anxiety, with the usual post-race routine, the next step to pick up a checked bag. My checked bag contained items that I was willing to leave behind should the line-up be overlong.  I have a cache of old gear saved expressly for this. My habit with out-of-town marathons is to stay at  hotel within reasonable walking distance to the marathon finish should I decide to skip picking up my baggage and have just a heat blanket to keep warm. I still considered picking up my bag as there was still no sense of panic in my immediate area. I walked by the baggage bus and saw that there was a line-up of 6-7 runners for my bib number sequence (which by usual standards is quite reasonable) but decided that it was sensible to skip the baggage check. I walked quickly out of the runner-only area eager to reunite with my husband asap.

Our hotel was 1 mile from the finish line and our meet-up plan was a street corner enroute to the hotel. The understanding was that if he was not there, I would likely head back to the hotel and message him. At the best of times, nothing is more unpredictable than trying to connect with friends and family after a marathon, especially when you are away from your home city. The chaos and worry that ensued for all those who were more immediately affected by uncertainty in reuniting must have been grueling.

Boston after the finish line

Turning towards a spectator friend for a photo after crossing the finish line in 2007

My mental construct was that my husband may have seen me cross the finish line and be walking parallel to me on the sidewalk toward the exit to the runner-only area or our meeting spot. I drew this image from 2007 when I was spotted by a friend just after I finished and she took a photo from the sidelines. Since I did not realize how close the blast had been this image did not cause me to worry. I walked over to our meeting spot and my husband was not there so I walked quickly back to the hotel where I immediately emailed him.

3:26 p.m.
Subject: I am at the hotel 🙂

Shortly after, he replied . . .

3:31 p.m.
Subject: re: I am at the hotel 🙂

Thank God

After this an email arrived which included a link to a photo from the devastation at the finish line. I was then that I became aware of what had happened.


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Post-Boston Marathon

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your concern and care. I deeply mourn and grieve for the loss of life and injury suffered by so many at the Boston marathon. My heart and prayers go out to their friends and families. The spectators at Boston are one-of-a-kind and exemplify the best of American exuberance, civic pride and love-of-sport. As a runner whose spirits have been buoyed by the unbelievable cheer-leading of Bostonians for a fifth time, the fact that spectators were a target adds yet another element of tragedy. If city dwellers everywhere could rise to the level of support and celebration that exists at Boston, cities everywhere would be better for it. Boston, we feel your pain.

Lynn

Lynn Deutscher Kobayashi

Finish line 2007


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The Boston Marathon, a bigger picture

Toronto_Marathon_1995

Running a first marathon with mom

Before I met Amy, the author of this blog post, I met her mom, Jeraldine Ballon. But the circle has closed and now Amy and I are members of the same track club. Knowing something of what the Boston marathon means to her, I asked her to share her very special memories of her mom and their shared love of running. Here is her beautiful story.

Scroll

It has been 12 years since I last ran the Boston Marathon, but this time of year still brings back many memories of Boston and my mom. Of the 10 marathons my mother ran between the ages of 51 and 56, four of them were Boston. This is her story of becoming an athlete, and her road to Boston.

Boston marathon 1997

Boston marathon 1997

Always the last kid picked to be on a team, I don’t think my mother thought she had an athletic bone in her body. Plus, as someone with a penchant for beer and potato chips who happened to be rail-thin, she may not have thought that she even needed to exercise. Everything changed when she won a membership to a posh, downtown Toronto gym. I remember the day she went in for her fitness assessment in a pair of sparkly sneakers she’d purchased on vacation at a K-Mart because they were the only ‘runners’ she owned.

The positive experience she had in the gym quickly snowballed and she fell in love. Not only did she enjoy watching her body grow stronger, but she discovered running. Her goal of running a marathon followed soon after and she planned to run the New York City Marathon. As I stood on the sidelines that day, both our lives were changed. My mom was hooked, and I was inspired. I promptly began training for my first marathon

Together we ran marathons in Toronto, Chicago and Washington. My mother also went on to run Paris. Our times decreased and our love of running increased while we logged hundreds and hundreds of training miles together. My mother started to get really fast, consistently winning her age category. I counted myself lucky to have this special relationship with both running and my mother.

Boston 1998

Boston 1998

And then there was Boston. My mom ran Boston in 1997, 1998 and 1999. And she ran with me after I qualified in 2000. Boston in 2000 was also special because it was just six months after her hysterectomy. She had had emergency surgery after cancer had been discovered in her uterus. Funny enough, it was her running that led her to self-diagnose. Her training had made her so aware of what was going on in her body, that went things started to feel ‘off’, she advocated for herself very quickly. She was treated, given a clean bill of health, and a 98% survival rate.

Things were good that fall: I was newly married, newly graduated from business school, and working in a great job. Training for was going well too, until one day when my mother told me that she didn’t think Boston 2001 would be in the cards. She wasn’t feeling well.

A few months later her worst suspicions were confirmed: Against the odds, the cancer had metastasized and her body was riddled with it. She was told that she had a few months to live. Nothing could be done to treat her.

In April 2001 I traveled to Boston with my husband, my dad and my mom who came to support me. My mother was not in great shape. It took a lot of effort to walk even a block or two. But she managed to score three passes to the finish line seats on the bleachers on Boylston Street. (Thank you, Adidas!) That was not an easy race. Heartbreak Hill took on a new meaning for me that day. Choking back my tears, I saw my family in the stands as I crossed the finish line. Boston was the last trip my mother took. She died a few months later.

Losing my mom was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. But how lucky am I that I had a mother who, by inspiring me, introduced me to running and changed my life? How lucky am I that I got to run the Boston Marathon with my mother? How many people get to say that?

Boston 1999

Boston 1999

I haven’t run Boston since that year, and in fact took a ten year hiatus from the sport. But I have started to run again. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back on Boylston Street one day; maybe with one of my own daughters. One thing I know for sure: When I run now, the inspiration my mother provided is right there with me.

~ Amy Ballon