Walk to Cure Cancer

Good Morning,

It is a nice day this morning. We are off to Vaughan Mills for a 5K walk, Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer. This is a 5K walk inside the mall, it is a fairly large mall with 3 laps inside will give us the 5k and a good way to raise some money for the Mackenzie Health Foundation for Cancer Care.

Yesterday we went out for nice warm up for today. Ivana is getting ready to do a 5K next weekend at the Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon so today's 5K will be good for both of us.  It was a blowing very cool morning yesterday when we went out with Maya. She loves being off the leash and just running up and back, side to side and just can't get enough of being free.

Downsview Park, it has a nice 2.75km paved loop for walking, running and even biking with up and down hills, go one way and it is a little easier with a long down hill, but go up the other way and you have a long and winding haul uphill.  A real nice place to go out in the morning and be alone.

This used to be CFB Downsview, I was based here back in the mid 80's, now it is a Federal Park which is being turned into an Urban Park. They have done a great job over the years making it a as natural as possible and are still working on it. If you want to know more about the Park, click here Parc Downsview Park.

Downsview Park

Can I Go, Can I Go, Come on let's go NOW

Well, I will post a few pics tomorrow and a little about the Walk to Cure Cancer.

Damaged Heart.

A PB on the Toronto Yonge Street 10K

Well, the Toronto Yonge Street 10K is over and I am a little behind in posting, but I was waiting and waiting for photos from Marathon-Photos, but two pics only. You know, for a company that is suppose to be the "Official Photographers" for the Canada Running Series, this company is lacking.  I know that it is hard to get everyone or even the ideal photos taken, but they should at least have photographers set up at the finish line making sure that there are a lot of photos to be taken.

For me, this is not about my first race and wanting a photo at the finish line (as for a lot of people it is their first race), I am wanting or trying to get photos of all at the finish line at least for this year. So I sent an email asking if there are photos which i can scan through to see if maybe the bib number wasn't visible that there may be one there, but no answer from them for over a week now. Oh well.

Sorry about the rant first.

It was about 5c on the Sunday morning, but it was to warm up to a nice day. All my gear was ready to go the night before, even my new jersey with some of the printing on it. Heart & Stroke logo, Ride to Conquer Cancer (friends of mine, Dino and Kelly are riding in it this year. This will be Dino's 3rd ride as a survivor, AWSOME), and RunningFree.com, great place in Markham to get your gear and very helpful staff. 

Ivana, Maya and I headed out the door for a nice quite drive to Yonge and Eglinton for the start line. Parking was a bit of a pain as I knew it would be. Driving in the area to find a spot was interesting as you see all of the people parking, getting dressed in warmer clothes, warming up and then you see the Elite's sprinting up and down the side roads getting ready, they are fast in practice!

Heading over to the start line was a nice little walk to warm up and then a little sprint for me as well. With the cool morning and a coffee, water I had to find the head as the bladder was telling me something. Line ups for the port potties were very long so we headed to Tim Hortons and it was even longer waiting in there. Well, bought a coffee instead to keep warm as there was only one person in line. We walked back to the start line, Maya was all excited as there was a lot of people around and she was jumping and didn't know what was going on. We got back just in time to see the start of the HandCycle Athletes starting and then 5 minutes later we all started down the Famous Yonge Street.

HandCycle:

Before the Start:

      

The Start:

I am just behind the blue sign on the left (can't see me)

2 Photos from Canada Running Series Website

Maya was wanting to jump into the corral with me, she has a little separation anxiety. I gave Ivana a kiss, along with Maya, and said I will see you at the finish line in about 1:10 min hopefully. 

Down the road I go and about 1K in, I am really feeling my bladder telling me to find a place to go or a am going to burst.  I knew there was a Tim Hortons about a ½ Km (NOT THAT I DRINK A LOT OF TIMMIES.......or know where most of them are) I ran off the road and right into the washroom, came out and went right back onto the road. A few people were looking at me as I entered back into the race.

Everything was going well with the run, steady pace for me at 7:21/km while having to watch my heart rate. You see my max HR is only 145-150, but the meds help keep it steady and with recovery as well.  Good race going, I am warmed up, bladder is empty Feeling really good. Then the 3K mark is going past me and I all of a sudden hit the road, BOOM down I went. Don't know why, there was no holes in the road, I guess I just tripped over my own feet.  I know my balance is a little off since I have to wedge my left arm between my body and my water bottle on my fuel belt. Got up a little sore, walked for a bit as my right knee was giving me a little pain.

I picked up the pace a bit and then started running at the 4K mark and it was starting to hurt again at 5K at the water station. I walked the water station and then tried to run again, NOPE. Well I ended up running for a KM and then walk for a 1/2K all the way to the finish line.  

Videos: Here I am at the 5K mark and the Finish line (far left side behind a tall guy)

It was a great day over all for me, I had a PB of 1:20:36 even with the fall, but way short of my 1:10 that I wanted to attempt for. That's okay, I have a few 10K's planned for the year so hopefully I will be able to hit my goal.  I had a few people come by me telling me  they hope I make the 500 miles, which was a really good feeling. 

I took Monday off, went to see Cassandra, my RMT, at Yorkdale Wellness Clinic, to get her to work the knots out of my thighs and for her constant caring of my arm and shoulder weakness/stiffness. This arm still is not getting better. The weakness is going to be there and I am starting to feel the cramping in my right hand and muscles are twitching in the right arm once in a while now. I felt a lot better after my session with Cassandra, so good that I was running again on Wednesday with a nice stretching slow run and some power walking. 

I have been back training again and it is going well, I took Maya with me for a nice 5K this week, she was out like a light when we got back in the car and headed home, got home and you can see what she was like here. She couldn't even lift her head off of the antler that she loves chewing.

Maya pooped after 5K and she's an agility dog.

Now I am going to sound like a NASCAR driver here, The Damaged Hearts in Motion, Heart & Stroke, RunningFree.com Machine (I'm the Machine lol) done real good today even though it was a slow start with the Machine getting a little Body Damage from the pavement. We'll have to get the body into the shop and get the work done for the next one. All in all the Damaged Hearts in Motion, Heart & Stroke, RunningFree.com will be ready to go back to back days on May 3rd and 4th with the Mississauga 10K and the GoodLife Fitness Toronto ½ Marathon the next morning.

Well off for a seminar course this evening, will be back on here soon.

Damaged Heart

Toronto 10K Race Kit Pick Up

Hello,

Well I picked up my race kit today for the Toronto Yonge Street 10K which will be on Sunday morning.

They are closing down most of Yonge Street for this great 10K race with Canada Running Series. This race has been running for 26 years now, it has had many names over the years.

I have been in this race twice since my heart attack. The first year was in 2010 where I just walked and power walked the race and it felt amazing with my wife and friends waiting at the finish line. Then in 2012, I did it again looking to have a PB again and I power walked and jogged (shuffled) my way down Yonge Street and making it towards the finish line.

That year, I was on my way to doing it but there was an older man shuffling his way to the finish line as well, but about a km away I noticed him leaning way too much over and then he fell right in front of me.  I stopped, picked him up as he was trying to get back to his feet. I got him to sit on the curb for a few minutes and looked around for help, but no one was there.  He said I need to finish this, so I helped him up and I said I will walk with you to the finish line. Well we walked and then he started to shuffle again and getting faster, then down he went again. We can see the finish line just up the road at this point and he got up again. Then I said lets just walk so he agreed. As we were walking his son had seen what was going on and he came running up to us and held on to him and told me to just finish and he would get him there.  The man finished the race and it was good to see that he was okay after seeing the medical staff on site.

That race was also the first one that my wife had entered into as well along with a friend of hers. I waited at the finish line for her to finish and then we saw our friend crossing as well.

So, this year I am really looking to finish in about 1:10:00 hopefully this will really cut my time down. 2010 was 1:33:34 and 2012 was a 1:21:59.

Back to picking up the race kit. Small little expo but it was very nice to look at some new product that was there, like the Garmin 910XT which I REALLY REALLY want to get sometime in the future. This nice gizmo can be used while you are swimming without putting it under you swim cap. A lot of freebies in the kit bag a nice tech shirt good colours and a COOL Max Hat,  in 2012 was Orange with the 10K logo on it. Not a big fan of the colour orange so it sits in the closet most of the time until it is the last shirt to wear. Here is a photo of the shirt, bib and hat.

Toronto 10K Yonge Street Kit

Well off to bed now, let you know how the race goes (personally) not going to be winning anything except hopefully raising funds for the Heart & Stroke. Well the 500 mile season will be really kicking off with this one and then it will be a busy schedule for the next 2 months.

I have new shirts for all my races this year, the unveiling will be in the next post. I will take sponsors to put on there logos, for a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation if Corp or person wants to help  out the HSF. You can email me.

Damaged Heart

Zackees Turn Signal Gloves on Kickstarter

Good Morning everyone. I saw this video of a great pair of riding gloves, even for runners as well.

Take a quick look and let me know what you think.



Damaged Heart

Training while Watching the Olympics and Nascar

Well this week has been a great week. Training is going very well, swam 4 ½ hours this week, worked on strengthening my right arm for more rotations and pulling to get me through the swim portion along with staring at a poolside wall holding on and just kicking.... not going anywhere started to get boring though. Had a long ride on Wednesday 3hours 20 min, felt very good and did a small brick right after of 25 minute jog. The legs were really wobbly in the beginning I could only walk for the first 5 minutes until my back loosened up and hips started coming around faster. 

I passed the time away, this week, on my bike trainer watching the Olympics and Nascar practices. Go Canada, for Women's Hockey again back to back to back to back Gold Medals 

and now as I am writing this, Men's Hockey has just beaten the USA to advance to the Gold Medal game, they are guaranteed at least a Silver.  Nascar, Danica drove her way into the Daytona 500 for Sunday's race. 

I am glad they brought back the old way of having to race their way into the Race. Danica finished a nice 13th in the Dual 125, she is starting in 27th spot on the grid and I hope she has a pit crew this year that can get her in and out of the pits real fast so she doesn't loose any ground. Happened to much last year, get it together Go Daddy Pit Crew. 

Sunday will be a big morning for me, I will be training with all three endurances sort of. I can't get a swim in in the morning, so I will do a mini duathlon with a 1 mile run, then jump on the trainer for 1 ½ hours, then jump off and head for a 6 mile run. I will get a real good feel for my legs and how they are going to react. I have been working real hard on my leg strength as I will have to use mostly legs for the swim portion of the IM 70.3. 

I will be back on Monday with an update as to how I feel after Sunday's training day.

Have a great weekend

Damaged Heart

Photos courtesy of Nascar and CTV

Valentine's Day Couples and Singles 5k Sweetheart Race (+playlist)

Hello again,

Here is a quick video posted on YouTube from the Valentine's Couples 5K. There is a big surprise at the end that I didn't know happened

Training has been going well this week. Swam for 4hrs total this week with improving with the one arm swim, legs are getter better in the water with power, but still frustrating with not being able to get on the go and swim with both arms.  Biking was a little down this week with only 7:45hrs, but they have been solid burns. One day was a good causal ride on the trainer while watching a movie. 16 miles in on the run for the week.  Today though is a complete off day as I have just hit the BIG 48 not yet 50 but closing in on it. I think next year I will be trying to be like Benjamin Buttons and try to go backwards and become a kid again.

This week is the start of Daytona Race Week and I will be doing a lot of training while watching practice rounds and 125's races getting ready for Sunday's start of the Nascar Season. "Go Daddy" and Danika Patrick, Get the Pole again this year and win the whole thing and put those words back in the "King's" mouth.

Well, a new pair of shoes yesterday. I have been an Asics person for quite a while now and I have tried other shoes but have not liked them or have had pain with them. Well yesterday I went to Running Free in Markham and wow great people there. The best of it was that I was allowed to bring my dog, Maya, into the store, they love dogs there. Prices are good there and a lot of sales going on as well. I am going to be going there a lot in the next little while, I love this store. I have to somehow get some Running Free ware.

While I was looking around for a new pair of Asics Kayano's I noticed that K-Swiss had put out a line K'Ona S, perfect for the Ironman World Championship in Kona. They were designed for certain countries specific colours and markings. Well, I had to try a pair on and I must tell you that they are very light in weight  and the initial feel of them are almost like not having anything on your feet. Here are my K'Ona S Canadian Flag shoes.

I will give these a few good workouts and try to give you a bit of review on them "If anyone is interested".

Well my birthday is almost over and training day starts again in the morning. So off to bed and getting ready for the Chilly ½ Marathon on March 2nd.

Oh by the way, donations are coming in and I am so thankful for the support.

Damaged Heart

Valentine's 5K Burlington

Well, the start of 500 miles has begun. 

Sunday morning started out with a good sleep ( i know what did we need a good sleep for it was only 5k), but it does help in the overall of having good sleeps. As a usually morning, I got up, made coffee for us and then we set our way to getting dressed warmly and trying to decide exactly what we needed. When Ivana get cold, she stays cold all day so we had to make sure that she had enough to keep warm.

We packed our extra bag for after, made a thermos of tea for after, warmed up the car and headed out, after stopping at Timmies for little breakie and coffee. By the way, I love my coffee. Hook up the IV and let it run all day longgg. 

Make sure our Road ID's are on (Get one of these. I can't say how much they do work)

The drive to Burlington was actually good. It was suppose to be snowing but it held off until the end of the 5K but the drive home was a lot slower as coming back into Toronto, the snow had started but it was a little slushy. 

We arrived at the site, Ivana put on the rest of her warm clothing while I went into registration to pick up our timing chip. VRPro Events had set up with Cedar Springs Health Racquets and Sportclub with having an indoor place to keep warm before the race started and afterwards. There were a lot of couples tied together with the ribbon and it was nice to see that people do this together as well as the singles out there attempting to place first or even first in AG.

The race started the countdown and then we were off. We started off jogging for a while and then moved to a power walk and back and forth with the jog and power walking. We did two loops to make up the 5K. Nothing interesting happened but Ivana and I had fun. The 715 Mohawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron we on hand for volunteers around the course cheering and at the water stations. After the race, the Air Cadets were walking around in the Sportclub with trays of pizza for everyone. 

When we crossed the finish line, we were given a medal each as you can see in the shape of a heart, fitting for Valentine's, but also fitting for Damaged Hearts In Motion as starting this campaign off for raising funds for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

I would like to thank VR Pro, Cedar Springs Health Racquets and Sportclub (for opening their doors and all of us making a mess of their club with the snow and water on our shoes) and the 715 Mohawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron for everything they have done to put this event on.

VR Pro puts on a lot of 5 and 10K events throughout the year. If anyone wants info on their races, just click on their name and follow the link.

VR Pro
Cedar Springs Health Racquets and Sportclub
715 Mohawk Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron
RoadID
Damaged Hearts In Motion Donation Page

Continued training started on Monday, the Chilly Half Marathon is next on March 2nd unless I can find a 10k to squeeze in somewhere, then April will be the big one in New Orleans for Ironman 70.3.

If a Corporation or business is wanting to have their logo on all my gear, please get in contact with me and I am not looking for money for me, just a donation for the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

3.1 miles down

496.9 miles to go

Damaged Heart

Race Kit Pick Up Day

Hello again,

Well, another cold day but the sun is shining and it feels good no matter how cold it is.

Made the drive out to Burlington this morning to pick up the Race Kit for tomorrow's Valentine Couple 5K to start this 500 miles in 2014 off. Nice drive out and back. I guess I am used to the bigger races when it comes to kit pick up as not much in the bag this time but it is only a 5K I guess.

Here is what was in our bag(s)

Two pink hot/cold packs (which will come handy throughout this year) cliff bars samples and Florida's Natural Nuggets.....(don't know how natural but....) our race number to be shared by us and oh yeah, red ribbon so that Ivana and I can be tied together for the whole race, Yep she is tied down to me now LOL.

It is suppose to be -10c/14f tomorrow morning with some snow flurries as well tomorrow morning. If it snows it won't be that bad. I like the snow just not blowing cold wind.

Well, will be back with a race report, yes it will be small as it is only a 5K. We will be walking and jogging a bit of both. Start small and end big.

Damaged Heart

Snowy Day and Training

Hello everyone! 

Yesterday was a bit of a Snow Day here in Toronto. We had a dump load, but it was nice to see snow finally since for the past 5 years we have not had that much snow for the winter season. I know people are complaining about when will this ever end. Get over it people, this is Canada and it is winter time.  Ivana was out using the snowblower yesterday as I have had a problem with the strength in my left arm. Over the past few months, the strength and usage of my arm and hand have been going down hill. Waiting on doctors, having tests performed but can't have the MRI due to the Stent in my heart, so now the testing will take longer to figure out what the problem is. So shovelling is a little difficult with one arm and using my foot to kick up the shovel to toss the snow, but Ivana is liking the snowblower as we have had to use it quite a bit.

This is the snow around the house that fell yesterday

and then around 5 o'clock in the evening, this was a fantastic sight to see. The snow stopped around 3pm.

So onto yesterday's training. As you know Ironman New Orleans 70.3 is coming up in April, so a lot of the training is for that right now, which should be able to give me the endurance and practice to start with the 5k, ½ marathon and then onto New Orleans. 

Yesterday was swimming again (which is almost everyday now) as I have a coach just trying in the beginning to help me figure out a way to swim with the one arm as I can't get it to come over the top or even keep up with my right arm speed. So a lot of time is spent trying different strokes and a lot of leg strengthening to overcome the left arm.   

Swimming is going well though, should be able to complete the swim portion, depending on my wave entry.  After the swim yesterday, was indoor running stationary (5.4 miles) as the snow is getting to much. 

This weekend, on Sunday, is the Valentine's 5K in Burlington which will start the 500 mile trek to my goal for 2014 and to help raise funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Ivana is sort of ready for it as she and I  are doing this one together. She will be there with me for my 500 mile trek, but won't be doing them. She has said that this is my goal not hers, but will be helping along the way. She is a major supporter. I have my donation page set up with the Heart & Stoke Foundation yesterday as well. Enza from HSF has been fantastic on helping me.  If anyone is wanting to donate you can click here or on the Heart & Stroke Foundation logo on the right hand side of the page and it will take you to my page on the HSF site and they have a secure donation link.

Have a great weekend and I will be back on Monday with an update from the Valentine's 5K

Damaged Heart (Rick)

Help Us Reach Our Goal

Help Us Reach Our Goal

Damaged Hearts In Motion 500 Miles in 2014

Our Fundraising Goal: $7500

Our Current Progress: $25

Our Fundraising Thermometer

Thermometer by School-Fundraisers.com

My First Day on Blogging

Hi there everyone, I am really new at blogging.

A friend told me a way to get my story out there to people and to help try and raise funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation would be to start a Blog. Well here I am attempting to do this. I will try to keep this updated regularly as well as updating as to how training is going along with race reports.

I don't know where to begin, but I will attempt and if anyone has suggestions as to how I should keep a flow going please let me know.

Why Damaged Hearts in Motion? Well, I am pushing my late 40's very soon next week and a half and this all started back in 2008. Probably earlier, but the significant date was June 16, 2008, the day after Fathers' Day I had a heart attack which was a Widow Maker. Well the day it happened, I didn't even know I was having a heart attack. Those big tell-tale signs were not there, I thought that my lungs were collapsing.

Back then I was a big guy at 289lbs due to the fact that 2 years prior, I had just finished having my 3rd back operation and with a drop foot, walking with a cane and not really doing anything, the heart attack was just waiting for a day to tell me, You're either going to die or start changing your life!!!!!!! 5 ½ years later, I am still here and have changed my life. It took a long slow time, by setting one goal at a time.

Every year since being in Rehab at Toronto Rehab (Cardiac) I have been setting goals and mostly a bigger goal every year. During my Rehab I was asked to set goals and a realistic goal, well I thought, Hell, why not put on my list ½ marathon just to COMPLETE it, nothing more (I had not been physically active in 15 years). That was January '09 and I set the goal for Sept '09. As I learned to walk and then walk without the cane, I was getting faster (still dragging my foot) but faster. I decided in June to enter into a 10 mile race and see where I stood. I signed up, showed up and was completely amazed that i finished the race walking (I think I was very very close to being the last person crossing the line. What was amazing to me at the time was that my wife was about ½ km from the finish line waiting for me there and she and I finished the race together. I was bawling like a child, it was such an emotional day for me. I finished in 2 hour 22 minutes and 22 seconds 10 Miles THAT was ENDURANCE for me, well I still had the ½ marathon in a couple of months to get to.

Now, as I am still in rehab for my heart, I had to adjust my goal of just finishing the ½ marathon and between July and September the goal went from finishing to 3h50m then 3h35m to 3h20m then I settled on 3h15m, well I finished in 3h10m flat NEW PB lol yeah oh well I tried to think that. Then A friend of mine said that he could enter into a ½ marathon that was coming up in 3 weeks and wanted to know if I would like to do it, I jumped at the chance as I though I was on top of the world. Well I was still in so much pain from the first one, that I thought that I might be able to do it in 3 hours or just less, (too much ego going on)  Well I do complete the next ½ in almost the time that I wanted, if I didn't stop to go to the port-a-potty twice ( i have now learned a secret about that during races ). I finished the ½ in 3h00m12sec DAMN I was really upset with myself until I realized, hey I just finished my second ½ marathon all within 16 months of having a Widow Maker and set my new PB.

Every year I have set goals since, trying to do more and get healthier, I have done 10k's ½'s and a full since then. I have set a hugh goal for 2014 and that is to race 500 miles throughout the year. I have 5k's 10k's ½ & full marathons bike rides and 2 HIM's Half Ironman 70.3. All of this is a personal goal to set out and a little hardship on my part to be able to raise money for Heart & Stroke Foundation, so that others may be able to receive the care and attention that I received during my rehab and better yet to be able to live due to the fact that the money raised goes towards better equipment for diagnosing and for saving lives of people like me.

Yes I am asking for everyone's help in ANYWAY that you can. I am not just asking for donations, which is my goal, but knowing what our times are like and with money not being always available, if you could volunteer at functions that the Heart & Stroke Foundation puts on in your area or even come out and cheer me on at Races that I will be entered into and Yell and say Hi! Maybe at some point this year, don't buy a coffee at your favourite place for a week and take that little amount and donate it to the Heart & Stroke it would go a long way to helping the Heart & Stroke as well as helping me attempt to achieve my two goals.  I will soon be having a link to the Heart & Stroke Foundation for a page to make your donations directly.

I will be back on here again very shortly and giving updates as to training and anything else that comes up. I will have a posting up for all the upcoming races and then race reports. Please keep coming back and reading and letting me know that you are here by saying hi.

If you have comments please let me know. Thanks

Damaged Heart