Welcome Back, Well me that is. Also Free Entry to Toronto Island

Friday, August 15th,

I know I haven't posted on here is a while and my apologies, but I have been healing and really started training late last week as the wound is healing well. There is still some pain left under the knee when I start out biking but goes away until I hit the road running. It is sticking with me, A lot of taping will be on both knees now as I am gearing up for this Sunday in Orillia for a Sprint Duathlon.

I have missed out on two races so far over the last 5 weeks, but I have to grind it out now until the end of the year. With two more IM 70.3 events coming up I need to get back into the pool as I haven't been able to be in there with the leg wound open.  

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Steve whom I went with to Buffalo to run the ½ marathon in May signed up for his first Duathlon which we will be doing together in Orillia this weekend. Steve has been runner for a long time and he is also training to do his first Marathon at the ScotiaBank Marathon here in Toronto.

I will be off to Running Free in Markham tomorrow to gather a few things that I will need for Sunday. Running Free has something on sale always for everyone, if you click on any of the items on the left hand side of the page it will take you directly to their website for online ordering. You can have it shipped to you or pick it up at there store in Markham as well.

Some really good news came today, as I have missed out on two races and entry fees gone as well, Multi Sport Canada who also runs a Tri Series on Ontario has picked my name as a Winner for the Toronto Island Weekend for a free entry into a race on the 23rd of August. Thank you Multi Sport Canada!!!!! So I will be doing a Sprint Du on the Sunday.

So I will be back next week with an Orillia Update.

Damaged Heart

Peterborough Half Iron 70.3 miles (The 3 H's)

Well, it was Hot, Humid and Hilly!!!

On Sunday was the Subaru Triathlon Series Peterborough Half Iron Distance. There were a few races going on at the same time in Beavermede Park in Peterborough. The Sprint Triathlon/Duathlon as well as the Half Iron Tri/Duathlon.

Short Version or Long Version??? Here is the Short Version -

Half Iron Du,
2K Run 11:58, 90K Bike 4:05:14 and 21.1K Run 2:26:38  Chip Time 6:49:35  HOT HUMID HILLY. Painful day but I still loved every minute of it sort of.  The long version is better to read, It has pictures.lol

Half Iron Tri
Winners
Richard Pady 
Kristen Bridges

Half Iron Du
Charles Bedley 
Tammy Purdy

Sprint Tri
Jackson Laundry
Kathy Eggenberger

Sprint Du
Scott Murison
Marie Claire Brisbois

Team Running Free (that I know about)
Barbara Smiley-Goldman 1st in AG and 3rd in women
Ray Haywood 
Myself (last of TRF) I am behind every Team Running Free Athlete 100% cheering you on even when you have left the park and I still haven't crossed the finish line yet, but I am behind you all the way just remember that!. lol

Ivana and I went up on Saturday to spend the evening and night at my Dad's place in Warsaw. Maya loves it up there where she can run around as much as she wants and we had left her there on Sunday during the race as it would have been to long of a day for her outside in the heat and she spend most of the time laying at the door waiting for us to come back. (for me that was going to be a long long time lol).

It was really nice spending the night up there with my parents and visiting as well. Lately it has only been short stays hauling trees back home.

Sunday morning came early, getting up at 4:30 to eat a little pre-breakfast and then trying to go back to sleep for a few more winks. The morning went smoothly getting ready, racking the bike on the car and easy finding a Tim Hortons for my morning coffee. We had stopped in on Saturday to do the race packet pick up so it gave me a little extra time on Sunday.  I racked my bike, dropped my bag and headed off to get all marker'd up. Saw a few Team Running Free athletes and chatted a bit then prepared for the start of the Half Iron Duathlon.

Ivana and I

2KM Run

The Swim portion started at 8am and the Duathlon started at 8:25 and I was off with 22 other athletes for a 2K run through Beavermede Park in the grassy area. I felt good and feeling loose as I started and even after the 2K. I was last coming into transition but I have finished the 2K portion with my best time so far. 11:56 and then spent 2:23 in T1.

Guy in red.. My wife has taken a pic every race of him, always
at the front.... Parichit Bagga 2nd Place

90K Bike

Out on Ashburnham, I thought good, not running for awhile now, maybe I could make up some time and get back feeling good.  I was going to take it a bit easy on the way out and then if I had it in me I would just lay it all out and go hard on the way back in.  Before I knew it, I was at the first bottle drop and I hadn't even finished my Gatorade bottle...... so exchanged water and pushed a little bit more towards Hastings. 38K I blew a tube in the front and had to change. Just after Hastings, the turn-around was good and I told the voices in my head to take off. I now was half way and ready to push it hard, hoping the big climbs on the way out were going to be easy on the way back with good speed and easier climbs. (This was a lot more hills than I had thought and was ready for I guess)  WELL, the hard push was HARD, Head winds which made the hill climbs just as hard. I was starting to cramp up, I couldn't eat anything as it felt like it didn't want to stay down.

I made the 2nd bottle exchange at the 60K mark took Gatorade and water, had a banana washed it down and kept going. Only 30K left to go and 20 of it will be hard, the last 10 should be easier if I could remember the first 10K.

Well around the 63K area, I was changing gears to start a bit of a climb and BAM!!! chain jumped down into the frame of the bike, ok unclip and pull over.....NOPE, I tried, but cramping and tired, my heal slipped into the rear spokes and the bike stopped reallllll quick, no strength in my left arm and down I went falling onto the road and I hear brakes stopping right behind me.  Another rider stopped helped me up and then flipped the chain on for me while I am assessing myself. Thanked him and off he went. I really really appreciate you NOT running me over and thanks for helping out.

You know, since I have been racing a lot this year both in the tri/du sport and running road races, I must say that the tri/du sport athletes are ..... more concerned with their fellow athletes (if they need help) than with runners. If you pull up on a run you will have 30-40 runners go past you without even saying a word to see if you are okay, but not in this sport of tri/duathletes.  When I blew the tire, there were bikes going past but almost everyone would yell out are you okay or do you need anything?  And if I would have said I needed a tube, I can bet someone would have stopped and gave me one.

 Back to the bike. I am back on and going again. Pushing down on the left pedal was starting to hurt more and more, I couldn't pull up on it so most of my work was being done with my right leg. So I tried to get as much speed down the hills to push me up most of the hill climbs and then stop and walk the rest of the hill, jump on and then go again.  Well the voice is back again telling me to stop and pack it in. We had a very very long conversation. I am glad no one was listening as I think I was cursing for it to go away. I paid the entry, I need to race 500 miles this year and I need to raise funds for Heart & Stroke, that is why I am doing this. I have a goal and not much is going to stop it, maybe a few things, but pain that I might be able to block out that is not life threatening.... NOTHING WILL STOP ME.

I see the Lansdowne intersection coming up and I have been passing runners on the ½ marathon portion and yelling out ON YOUR LEFT, it was funny as the first person that I passed was shocked, I think as he wasn't expecting a bike to pass by.   I made it into transition, blood dripping down my leg, into my sock feeling squishy.  I slipped out of my shoes, stopped at the line was asked if I am continuing, and I said YEAH!
Time was 4:05:14

T2
Ivana was there running up the outside of transition following me up to my area, asking what had happened. I quickly explained and told her that I would see her at 1529hrs, leaving me 1 minute before the cut off of being a Finisher of this race.  T2 3:28

21.1K Run
My only goal now was to finish but I really didn't think I could.  As usual, coming off the bike, it took a while to find my legs and with the pain of pounding down in the first 2K I didn't know if I could do it. I came around just before heading out onto Ashburnham and people were clapping and I heard a few saying ewwwwe. My legs were coming back and I was starting to self hypnotize myself and into not feeling the pain.   My pace started picking up and I started running out on the road and was sort of lost in a land of my own. Hills were a challenge, but walked a good portion of them as the pain in my knee was great as I was running down the hills, more work to get rid of the pain and push on. Then I am on my way back in and I am seeing that I am going to make the finish line before the time by a little bit. Blocking out pain and going blank, as I am getting closer I can feel it more and more now. I had to walk the last ½K and even at the finish line I could not even muster up a bit of a run it was too much. I crossed walking at 1514hrs. 7hrs 14 mins 36 sec.   Chip time 6:49:35.  I ran a 2:26:38 for the ½ Marathon, better than I thought ever.

Update on leg. Nothing broken, but it has really swelled up, so it has been suggested that I not race this weekend at TTF and take a couple of weeks off to recover. I agree.

After the Race

4 days later starting to swell up

Thank you goes out to my wife, Ivana for being there for me and trusting in me that I knew what I was doing when I went out onto the run, XXOO. !!!!!! Don and Dianne Borrow !!!!!! Runningfree.com,  Team Running Free and their athletes, NORCO Bikes for making a carbon bike that hasn't cracked or crumbled from taking as many falls this year with the problem that I have with my arm. Subaru Triathlon Official at the line who allowed me to head out onto the run. My friends who support me throughout this year for what I am attempting to do (There are still a few more big races to complete). Really, I guess my higher power and the Doctors at Sunnybrook Hospital (Dr. Strauss) for saving my life 6 years ago when I had my heart attack.  Dr. Winkler (an Amazing Dr.) for never telling me I Couldn't do anything. If there is anyone else that I have forgot, thank you and I apologize.

Damaged Heart

Here are a couple of pics of the day and TRF athletes.

TRF ???? (Please Let me know)

Barbara TRF Markham

Ray from Barrie TRF

Heading off to Peterborough Half Iron on Sunday

So it has been a couple of weeks getting ready for Subaru Triathlon Series Peterborough Half Iron this Sunday.

It is going to be a good weekend as Ivana and I are going up to my Dad's on Saturday as he is just outside of Peterborough so we won't have to get up early and make the drive up there for race day.  

Oh, after my DNF in Guelph, we stopped in at Running Free in Markham to get a few things that I needed for the MEC ½ Marathon the next day and they have Tech Time Saturdays in Markham where the companies set up in the store, show their product with displays, discuss with you and you can fill out a ballot for a free draw. On that Saturday, a Saucony rep was there with their new line of running shoes and I filled out a ballot. WELL I won a new Saucony Hoodie, fits really nice, warm and looks good as well. It is a new line that they will be bringing out in the fall as a sort of Vintage Style.  Thanks for the info on your running shoes as well as this great hoodie.

Ivana and I went for an easy bike ride last night through the Humber Trail up here. I have seen many deer while riding through there, but when Ivana wants to see "Wildlife", whether we are in the city or up north, it seems that the Wildlife does not want to show up. Example, Ivana loves loons and while we were up north camping last year, early in the morning the loons are out singing and you can see them on the lake, but when Ivana got up, they were no where to be found, lol. Well, last night, we got to see 3 deer altogether just standing right on the edge of the path eating away, we stopped they looked at us and kept on eating. We took a bunch of pics and Ivana was really happy to see them. They we not scared, just a little apprehensive.

So this weekend's race is the biggest one so far for me with regards to distance. Since my Dad lives up there, I have dedicated this race In Memory of my Nanny, Edna Borrow (Wickman) 1988. My next few races will have dedications In Memory as well and I will post their names on the In Memory page as well as on my Jersey. Remember, if you would like the name of a loved one on my Jerseys and a race dedication, please do not hesitate to email me or leave a comment so that I can get back to you. 

Heart and Stroke effects a lot of our lives, research and dedication from Health Professionals goes along way for the ones that survive and it is a long road to get back on our feet with help from family, friends and even people that don't know us. If you would like to donate, please click on the page tab Donations up at the top and then click on the Heart & Stroke logo which will take you to the Heart & Stroke secured page.

Hoping to see some Team Running Free Athletes up in Peterborough this weekend.

Damaged Heart

Subaru Cambridge Duathlon - Anniversary

June 16th

Well today is my 6th anniversary or birthday it all depends on how you look at the glass - half full or empty.  I tend to look at it as a birthday of sorts as it was a re-birth on my life 6 years ago when I had the Heart Attack. Today I spent some of it at the same hospital that I was taken to on the day I had the Heart Attack, as my mother had to go there for a little operation.  It was a different day spending it there knowing how far I have come in the last 6 years. So lets move on.....

SubaruCambridge Duathlon

Dino and Kelly came for the drive to Cambridge with us early morning. Drive was nice with getting my Timmies for the haul. We arrived at Shade's Mills Conservation Area around 7:30 and headed over to registration, bib'd, marked up and bike racked up.  It was well set up withe easy transition before getting my gear laid out in order. Another Team Running Free Athlete came up to me and said hi and introduced himself as Alain Lai from Markham team as well. It was nice meeting someone else and from the same team. We chatted a bit wished each other luck and I was off down to the beach to watch the start of the Triathlon. When the Elites went off, one guy (Ben Sayles) took the lead and just kept gaining ground on the other athletes. Out of the water in 9:54 and kept his lead all the way. I was at about the 8km mark on the bike when he flew past me going in the other direction with about a 3 minute lead before the next guy came by.  Ben won the triathlon in 1:19 and change.

Well 9:15am is rolling around and the Duathletes are getting ready to start our Sprint Duathlon. When I signed up for it, I didn't look at the run course. We started on the beach for the 2km

portion, ran on the beach, then the grass and then I finally got to see some road, but quickly made the turn around and back to transition through the beach. I didn't want to start out to fast as i had to keep looking down for my footing. It was a good time for me 12:54 with a 1:58 in transition and then off on the bike I went.

Out on the 30km bike course it wasn't long before I found my first hill. ¾ of the way up I just lost power, unclipped and ended up walking, jumped on and tried to make up some ground. From here out to the 15km Turn-around, it was a fantastic ride, little rollers, flat stretches and some nice scenery (cows, horses). My left arm was hanging in there for me, resting nicely on the handlebars not having to switch my big ring to go over the hills. BUT on the last Klick of the bike course I changed gears to start the climb and my arm collapsed, my head went down between the handlebars and my left foot, there is where i lost balance and fell out to my left with my feet still clipped in. I am glad now that it was up hill not down hill. Gathered myself, got up and fixed the chain and got back on the bike. My shoulder was hurting, my arm now just dangling with not much strength left to put it up on the bar and climbed the hill holding on with just the right arm. Made it back to transition, off the bike, trying to run but my arm was just flopping beside me. 1:20:03 (Ben finished the whole Tri in 1:19:??) lol. While Racking my bike, I wanted a medic so that I could have my left arm Tensored to my body to be able to run the last 6km segment. I asked to strap my arm to my body, but they just didn't know how to????? well no tensor bandages in their kits, so we tied a sling around my arm and body and off I was.... so I thought, got stopped and they wanted me to sign a waiver to continue.  (I understand the legal aspects of why, but my problem with the arm and muscles was already noted on my registration and I had already signed my waiver. Didn't need to sign another. Told them nothing was hurting and then I just started to run out and go.) 4:29 in transition.

The run was interesting, between my shoulder bouncing around and starting to hurt and the fact that we were running in the bush trail, roots, rocks and half the time I am looking out for SNAKES. Sorry I don't like snakes, not bad if I see them, but not if they sneak up on me. So I am seeing sticks that I think are snakes but their not. Then I think it was stick, but NO it was a little garder snake. LOL.

Going up one of the little hills at about the 3km mark, I caught up to a woman and we chatted and ran together for the rest of the 4km. We came down the last hill, turned left and she said lets go and we crossed the finish line together. Thanks Michelle Svartsjo for the company.

Finished the race in 2:33:51 64th place out of 71 (not last) my 6km was very disappointing for me but with one arm not being able to go through the motion and a little pain, it does slow you down. 6km 54:29 a 9:05/km.







I have to say nice job Alain for finishing 17th overall.

Alain Lai Team Running Free

Cambridge.... I would definitely come back and do this race again next year. This was the first time it has been run in Cambridge, so PB's were set and course record was set as well. Subaru Triathlon Series put on a great event, the Volunteers were amazing as well as the chit chat among the athletes, newbies and veterans.

So now, I am getting ready for a big weekend, Guelph Olympic Duathlon (52km - 2-40-10) on the Saturday the 21st and then the MEC ½ Marathon on the 22nd in Toronto. Then I will have a week and a bit off until Peterborough Half Iron Duathlon on the 6th of July. It will be a good weekend as we will get to see my parents who live up there.

Have a great week everyone.

Damaged Heart

Special Race this weekend, Not Niagara

Hello, So, Niagara has been what I have been training hard for as it was going to be a hard race for me at the 50km distance and I haven't done a Marathon since 2011. Well Niagara won't be happening due to a registration problem, as I didn't get a confirmation back when I did my entry online. I had checked the site and didn't see my name on the competitors listing so I had to email then phone and was told no it wasn't there and that the 50km had been sold out by then.

Well, onto looking to make up the difference in the milage that I will be missing out on, so I found a Sprint Duathlon in Cambridge, as part of the Subaru Triathlon Series, for Sunday, then an Olympic Duathlon in Guelph next Saturday, then my ½ marathon for the MEC Toronto is already scheduled for the Sunday. Then I will have a week off before Peterborough's Half Iron Duathlon on the 6th of July.

Well the Niagara was going to be a special race as I was going to dedicate it to a wonderful woman, good friend, great wife and a great mother to 3 boys. I will now make the dedicated race the Sprint Duathlon in Cambridge in the Memory of Marina Pezzetta. Yes, you might recognize the last name, it is Dino's mother. Marina passed away in April 2009 from a Stroke. As I have said, I will put names up on my "In Memory" page and will add them to my jersey as the year goes on. Marina was a great wife to Antonio "Tony" Pezzetta, Mother to Dino (Kelly), Ronnie (Ellen) and Danny (Maria). a great friend to Ivana and I as well as to Ivana's family.

Well, I hope to see some of the Team Running Free members in Cambridge, as I haven't see any so far. It would be nice to talk with a few.

Damaged Heart