Miles Tracker

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Buffalo ½ Marathon!!! 100km marker hit

As I passed the 12 mile marker, I was 63 miles (100km) into the 500 miles for the year. I had to stop and take a photo so that I could send a text out to people that have pledged to donate so much per 100km, which is fantastic, as it is a little goal to hit within my bigger goal for the year.


As you can tell by the tracker on top of the page, I am at 64.1 miles this year with some big days to come throughout the summer. This weekend coming is the Heart & Stroke, Ride for Heart which will be a 75km ride, then on the 14th of June will be the Niagara Ultra 50k, which goes from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls and back.

Saturday afternoon, Steve and I headed down to Buffalo to do the bib packet pickup, nice drive down. We checked into the hotel, walked over to the convention centre with about an hour left before they closed at 4pm. We walked around looking at the booths and then headed for pick up. After pick up we got in line for our pasta dinner ticket and were set for 6:30 seating. Walked back to the Hotel relaxed a bit then made our way to the church for dinner. We walked into the church and the place was packed, hard to find a seat. Pasta was ok, meatballs were great, bread and FREE beer lol.

After dinner we walked around Downtown Buffalo looked at some of the old buildings and the architect designs and stone work were amazing to see. In Toronto on a Saturday evening downtown is packed of people walking and driving, well not downtown Buffalo, we had to walk a while before seeing any movement. We then headed back to the hotel for an early evening to get some rest.

Sunday morning came at 4:45, got up slowly got this machine oiled (put a coffee on) and moving around. Steve and I left at 6:30 for a nice mile walk to the start line and as you came up Franklin to the start line area, there were crowds of people. The corral was one mass as the race was a chip race as opposed to gun time race, so it really didn't matter where you were if you were trying to qualify for Boston.
Running Free, Runningfree.com, Heart & Stroke, Damaged Hearts
Start Line ahead
Running Free, Runningfree.com, Damaged Hearts, Heart & Stroke
Behind for many blocks














Weather was a little cool at the start with a breeze, but it didn't take long to warm up. Star, Spangled, Banner was sung, then shortly after the horn blasted and everyone at the start line was off. About and minute and a half Steve and I made it to the start line to begin our ½.  

Running Free, Runningfree.com, Damaged Hearts, Heart & Stroke
Steve and I and Thousands more

Running Free, Runningfree.com, Damaged Hearts, Heart & Stroke
Steve and I at the Start Line Back right hand side, Me in the Red RunningFree.com Jersey
 and my K-Swiss Kona Canada Shoes 




Took my heart rate pill about now and the just before the start line a GU Espresso Love, since I didn't get my regular routine of Timmies in the morning before going into the start corral. We saw one the night before, closed, but not on the way to the start line, so second best is the Expresso Love GU.  We crossed the start line and we were off. I kept up to Steve for about a half mile, then patted him on the back and said see you at the finish line, break the 2 hour mark. We were in a big crowd and still doing a 5:45/km and that was wayyyy to fast for me, but it felt real good doing it and it would be amazing to be able to keep that for a whole ½.  So Steve found the pace bunny ahead and kept going. I dropped off to the left and slowed the pace down a little bit.

We headed up Franklin to Main on our way to the 5K mark just outside Delaware Park. The road was split with nice houses and spectators all along the route. We made it to the turn around and then on our way to the 10K mark on Delaware. As I turned, took another GU and looked up and saw a climb long and straight. Okay, find a spot ahead and go to it and don't stop. That didn't happen, had to slow down and walk (HR was getting to high). The sun was out now and started to really warm up, forgot my hat, so the sweat was just rolling down my face into the eyes, that burns.

As we topped the hill at the 4 mile mark, you can see all the way down the hill right into downtown. Such a beautiful sight with all the old buildings. By about the 5 mile mark, I was really wanting a Timmies and it made it worse by every cop that I passed at the lights was holding a Timmies I almost ran over, grabbed the cup out of one of the hands but thought, don't need to get arrested. I don't know how friendly they are first thing in the morning.

I made the 10K mark back in the downtown area without any problems, feeling pretty good, made the right turn to head out along Niagara Street for just over a mile, then turned towards the water front area for another mile into LaSalle Park. I saw a sign that said Peace Bridge - Canada, I thought maybe turn here and just run home LOL. Getting into LaSalle Park, this is where my right lower leg went one way and my upper went the opposite and a twist happened.  I had to pull up for about 10 minutes or so. No medics around, I was in between aid/water stations so decided to just rest it a bit. As I was waiting there, the BFD had there Water Pumper Boat on the canal spewing water out.

Buffalo Fire Department, Running Free, RunningFree.com, Damaged Hearts, Heart & Stroke


So there I was, resting and a rainbow appears from beside the boat. Well, I got up and said I won't make a PB today but lets go for under 2:50 then. Made it out of LaSalle Park, through some nice townhomes, then around to the Erie Basin Marina for an out and back. 


Erie Basin Marina, Running Free, RunningFree.com, Damaged Hearts, Heart & Stroke



Just before we went into the Marina, on the left was the road straight up to Franklin where the Finish Line is. That was a tease!!! Came out of the Marina, along side the Naval Museum with a few ships there past First Niagara Centre (Buffalo Sabres Home) and I thought we were going to turn left up the road to the finish line.... NOPE, they had to tease you AGAIN. Make a right towards First Niagara and then go around a block for a mile, took my final GU Roctaine and then a half mile up is where I stopped for the 12 Mile mark photo. Made it back to the start of the block and looked at the Garmin and didn't think I was going to make the 2:50 as it was 2:46 and I was in pain. I am cursing to myself trying to get myself to go faster and not stop, but as I made the right turn onto Washington Street, there is a climb, short steep climb for the Streetcars and I started to give up. Then this guy comes up behind me and says you can make it lets go and started pushing me to get up the hill. I make the top and had to slow to a walk and he said, I'll be back. He went back to get his wife up the hill, then came back to me with his wife as we were turning onto Franklin for the final stretch home. 

We are climbing a little grade to the finish line and about 400 metres away, him and his wife are telling me to go, go, go and started doing the theme from Rocky (da na naaaa, da na nawww) I laughed and said thank you so much for pushing me and ran the rest of the way to the finish line.  2:54:17, best ½ this year so far, but 12 min off a PB. I looked for them after the finish, but they were no where to be found, maybe they were doing the full marathon. It wasn't that hot, that I got delirious thinking that this all happened, but then again stranger things have happened to me.

This year was the first year that the finish line was being live broadcast over the web until the finish. Ivana didn't come down with us, so she was at home watching Steve cross the finish line in 2:10 he had a difficult time on the course as well and me cross the finish line. As I crossed there are two chutes right for the ½ and left for the full. I saw two video cameras at the finish line and I went to the one as I crossed and blew a kiss for Ivana who would be watching, the guy on the ladder with the video camera looked at me really really strange. No big deal I didn't care I crossed the finish line, had a fantastic day and passed the 100km mark.  

Well, I watched the video when I got home Sunday night and I blew the kiss in the wrong camera, that was for the Full marathon and the video for the ½ was on the far right hand side sort of getting a side profile of me doing it.  I didn't even see that camera, I was like a horse with blinders on, saw something in front and went right for it.

Thanks to all the Volunteers working the water stations, the aid stations and at the expo and post race. Oh, I loved the Pizza and Beer at 10 in the morning, wish we had that in the Ontario races. I missed you at the finish line Ivana, but thanks for watching.

Doing some yard work at home now and getting the knee to be ready for Niagara on the 14th.

Thanks again, Steve, it was a great weekend. The Damaged Hearts In Motion, RunningFree.com, Heart & Stroke Machine is mending again and will be at it on the weekend for the Ride for Heart.







Damaged Heart

Thursday, 22 May 2014

Sort of Ran with Ultramarathonman Dean Karnazes last night


I know I said that I would be back after the Buffalo Marathon, but I forgot that Running Free had invited Dean Karnazes to the Markham store for a meet and greet.

Dean Karnazes is an Ultramarathoner who i found out last night has raced 50 Marathons, in 50 States, in 50 Consecutive Days, then his last marathon is the NYC which he finishes in 3 hours flat. There is more about him if you would like to read at www.ultramarathonman.com

It was a great night, runners and Team Running Free athletes from all of the stores showed up to meet Dean and run a 5k together. Well we started out, I have not run up in that area before, so the group went off and of course I was slower, but I had already done a brick workout in the morning so I was just there to do a light 5k.  I lost the group at about 2.5k so I took a bit of a different route. I finished the 5.2km and was back at the store before anyone..HURRAY, I beat the Ultramarathonman, nooooo. They went quite a bit further than the 5k LOL.  Good for everyone that kept up and did it.

Racing 500 Miles in 2014, Markham,
inside Markham Running Free

Dean is off to Calgary this weekend for the Marathon, but him and a few others will be running  a special 50K race that will start 7.8km before the start line of the Marathon, run to the start line and then the Marathon course. 

Some Team Running Free Athletes with Dean





Damaged Heart


Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Long Weekend Here in Ontario

Victoria Day weekend is here again and it was busy all over.  Driving around here, there also being stuck in traffic two days in a row.  Training has been going well this week, we are off to Buffalo this weekend for the ½ marathon on Sunday. We are heading down on Saturday for the Expo and a free pasta dinner.  I like how Buffalo puts on the pasta dinner as part of your entry fee. A lot of series charge you $20.00 for a little bit of pasta, Thanks Buffalo. Team Running Free will be represented in Buffalo as well, me of course but there are a few others running in the Full Marathon attempting to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Good Luck to everyone, let's make a big showing.


This past Saturday, Ivana, Maya and I headed down to Niagara Falls just for the day to have a day out, let Maya run in a new place, check out the tulips that were in full bloom (yeah, yeah I know) and to scope out the route for the Niagara Ultra 50km that is coming up in the middle of June. This will be my longest run ever, time will probably be about the same as doing a 70.3 for me. I haven't yet set a time frame to complete it, but mostly looking to be able to finish it.  We took a look at two areas of the route, the area around the Floral Clock through the park trials and then the HUGE hill climb up Queenston Heights and the switchback. That hill will be a hard climb. I have been doing some hill work but nothing like this. I am looking forward to having a good day in June.




OH we bought a new Bandana for Maya, She goes nuts when she knows that she is going to wear a bandana. This one says "I Dig Canada" perfect for Canada Day this year.




This past week has been about speed work for me, as I would love to get a personal best in Buffalo on a relatively flat course. I have also been trying to figure out a way that I can ride the bike on the road as June 1st is my 75km Ride for Heart, which is part of why I am doing the 500 Miles this year to raise funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Still have to modify the bike to use for my left arm, still don't have the strength to hold it if I hit some bumps.

Well, I will be hitting the 100km mark this Sunday during the race and those of you who have pledged to donate per 100km get ready to make that donation and I thank you for pledging per 100km as it is another goal to hit during the year for me as well.

Have a great weekend and I will post up a report of Buffalo when I get back.

Damaged Heart

Wednesday, 14 May 2014

Camp OOCH! Sporting Life 10K What a Day!!!!!

Well the Sporting Life 10K for Camp OOCH is over and $2.2 Million Dollars was raised to help send Kids with Cancer to Camp.

from SportingLife10K.ca website 
"Celebrating 30 years Camp Oochigeas, or “Ooch”, has been providing magical camp experiences for children affected by childhood cancer since 1983. Camp Ooch is much more than a summer camp. Ooch is the only residential camp in Ontario to offer on-site IV chemotherapy treatment and blood transfusions. Camp Ooch offers year-round programs for children affected by cancer in Muskoka, at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), two other regional cancer centres and Ooch Downtown in the heart of Toronto. As a registered charity receiving no government funding, this is all made possible by the generous support of fundraisers, donors and volunteers like you." 

Damaged Hearts In Motion, Richard Borrow, Racing 500 Miles in 2014, Running Free
Some of the 27,000 in teal blue shirts supporting Camp OOCH


It was a fantastic day on Sunday, getting up in the morning ready to attempt this 10K. Basically the same course I did 3 weeks ago for the Toronto Yonge Street 10K where I PB'd by 1:23sec.  Ivana and I drove to the start area, but where we normally would park, the street was closed due to construction (In Toronto we have to seasons... Winter and Construction). This year there are streets closed all over the city due to construction. Well we had a little bit of a walk to get up to the start line to meet some friends whom I was going to try and run with, Steve and Jennifer. I found them just before the start and took a couple of photos and then we were off down the famous street in Canada, Yonge Street.

I have to go back a bit first to the beginning of the week as this week was a truly humbling week for me. As you know, I entered into a couple of draws last weekend and I almost never win anything except those give-a-ways that cost you more money so they really aren't free lol.   The week started out by winning a Finisher's Pride Metal Frame as I had posted earlier, then as the Sporting Life 10K was sold out, 27,000 people, I had to attempt to obtain a BiB# for the race. I had obtained a bib from a woman who couldn't make the race, paid her for the bib and I received an email from the Heart & Stroke for my Fund Raising Campaign that a donation was made. I looked it up and the person that I purchased the Bib from donated that money right to the Heart & Stroke in memory of her father. That really made me feel deep and warm inside knowing the kindness that is out there in this world. So I decided that her fathers memory would be Racing the rest of my 500 Miles this year on my Jersey's along with others if anyone would like to let me know. 


So the next thing that happens is that I get an email from Kim at Running Free in Markham, asking me if I would like to join the Team Running Free for the remainder of the season. You see, in September you get to make an application for Team Running Free for the next season. This team consists of Elites, AG's and all of the rest of us athletes that are at any level of performance with personal goals to attain and a desire to give back. Well, I said YES, so on Saturday I went and talked with Kim and picked up my Team Running Free Gear. I have to say that I love the Tri shorts, I ran in them for the Sporting Life 10K and were really comfortable, can't wait to go for a ride and then see how I feel on the run right after. So the week has been fantastic for me which has been a big uplifter for me to really get out there and start raising funds for Heart & Stroke. Thank you again Finisher's Pride, Amy W for your bib and Kim at Running Free for allowing me to be a part of your Team

Damaged Hearts In Motion, Racing 500 Miles in 2014, Heart & Stroke
Jennifer, Steve and I


Well back to the Race.  Beautiful weather for Mother's Day and running down Yonge Street. We started off at 9am in our wave and I was going to try and keep up with Steve and Jennifer for as long as I could. Now I am about 7:45-8:10/km, not the fastest but I can go and go and go just like the Energizer bunny I have no problem going the distance, I sometimes don't know when I will be done but I will persevere to the finish line. My moto on my Road ID is "Progress Not Perfection". As long as I am going forward I am progressing. At the 1K mark we were 6:50/km and I was feeling good, a little pain in the knee but breathing was good.  1.5K comes and my HR is 167bpm (max for me is 145 bpm) and I realized that I forgot to take my medication before the start. So I told Steve and Jennifer that I will catch up in a while, I backed it off to a walk, took my pill some water and waited for my HR to come down.

Now as you can see, Steve is quite tall so it was easy to look ahead and down the hills and see him to keep them in my sight. Started power walking and then into the run I went keep them in sight the best I could. I was keeping a good 7:12/km then later a 7:23/km pace for most of the race knowing that I probably won't catch up to them, but no worries, I'll still finish. If I keep this pace up, I am going to PB for sure on 10K. I was feeling really good, running, walking chugging and talking with people around me that were asking about this 500 miles in 2014.  My race was so good that nothing was really bothering me, my knee was aching but I kept running then when the HR got a little high, I would walk then start power walking then back to the run I would go. 

8KM - I looked at the Garmin and saw 1:02:23, the whole time during the race I am thinking seriously about making a 1:15:00 race, that would be a big cut time in my 1:20:36 PB, but I can't make that time if I just keep walking as well, so I decided not to walk the rest of the 2K and just run it the best I could. I lost track of Steve and Jennifer somewhere around the 6K mark.  I ran the rest of the way to the finish line seeing Ivana just before it, stopped for a kiss and then kept going. 

I am about 500 yards from the finish and it was the longest distance in my mind, then some guy (the one on the right in the photo above with the beard, I think looked like him) slapped me on the back and said "Lets GO" and he started running, so I followed and he turned around at the finish line right before me and HIGH FIVED each other. Awesome Finish..... 1:16:00.01 Personal Best. There must have been a lot of factors on Sunday for me to have that great finish, Amy's fathers' name on my jersey, Team Running Free, the slap on my back, my wife and my friends there running the same race. Thanks to everything that fell into place. 
Running Free, Heart & Stroke
Running Free, Heart & Stroke









Running Free, Heart & Stroke, Runningfree.com
Steve and Jennifer before the Finish Line

Running Free, Heart & Stroke, Runningfree.com
The Guy behind me is the one that Slapped my back

Running Free, Heart & StrokeSteve and I are off to Buffalo for the ½ marathon on May 25th, and we are both looking at a PB there.  Steve makes his PB, he will be waiting a little bit at the finish line for me. Here is to Steve making it under 2 hours and me under 2:42.























Here is a few plugs for friends, supporters and my company, Things couldn't get done with out them.

Heart & Stroke            Road ID
GU Energy Gel   Mizuno   Montrail   Aquaman   
7 Systems Supplement   CW-X   Fox River   Nathan   Quntana Roo


Damaged Heart

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Good Life ½ Marathon and 5K

So..... I posted the other day about Finisher's Pride, the medal frames. Well I had received an email from them, saying that I won their give away which was a Skinni Frame to put my medal and bib in.


Damaged Hearts In Motion, Richard Borrow, Good Life ½ Marathon
Finisher's Pride Frame

Well, it just came in the mail today, FAST DELIVERY.  Well I have immediately put the bib and medal in and will be sending them a HUGH thank you and posting it up for them. Very easy to put together with the bib and frame and bang right on a wall.



If anyone wants to get one of these or they have a mini as well, just click on the link above and it will take you right there. It looks like a nice way to mix the two frames together on a wall for display.

Thanks again, Finisher's Pride, nice product.


There was a lot of people at the Good Life Toronto Marathon on Sunday. The full marathon went off at 7:30 and I guess it went well. The winners were, Brendan Kenny of Dundas, ON for the males at 2:26:25 and the top female was, Rachel Sinasac of Toronto with a time of 2:55:18, Great Work both of you.

The half started at 8:30, so we got to sleep a little bit in the morning, which I really needed to after the night before doing the 10K in Mississauga. We were going to pick up our friend Kelly at 7:30 so that I could get to the start line in time and then Ivana and Kelly could make their way down to the finish line. 

The wind was blowing really good in the morning, chilly and I am just in shorts and a shirt. Not wanting to put anything extra on as I knew that I would be getting warm not too far into the race.  Well, we didn't pick Kelly up until 8:00, I was moving really slow, knees were hurting and I didn't want to move that fast.  

We showed up to the start line at Mel Lastman's Square in the upper North York area of Toronto, not far from home at least, with about 4 minutes to spare. As we are walking to the start line I hear that there is one minute until race time, ooooopppsss a quick kiss and off I run to the start. I guess that was my warm up LOL.  I watched as the runners were starting and I waited a bit and then jumped into the line and started.

I really had to get the legs moving as they were just telling me to stop and go home to rest.  I made it around the first couple of turns and then onto Yonge Street for a bit of a downhill until the 4K mark where we are now into Hog's Hollow. I think this is a 1K climb of a fairly steep hill. I power walked up the hill it okay time, and found a water station on the other side, good timing. I must say that I loved that there was aid stations about every 2K along the course. There was a lot of people out cheering everyone on, a lot of signs and I saw this one and I had to stop to take a picture of it. Cute!

Run Now, Poop Later


I had tried to set out to do the ½ in about 2:50, and I was on pace for that. I hit the 10K mark and I was 1:19:23, now I am saying, I know you're sore, but you are going to make this even with a couple of minutes to spare, keep chugging along.   Well, 14K hit and somebody, (without my knowledge) swapped out my legs for two Tree Trunks with roots imbedded and my quads felt like concrete. It was the hardest 7K left that I have ever done. All the way to the finish line it was trot, walk and almost crawl my way. We came across King Street and then the wind was REALLY blowing head on, just what I needed, more resistance. I am looking down at the Garmin and seeing my time just slipping away and I couldn't do anything about it, except know that I will finish this race and knock down 13.1 more miles off my goal for this year.

I was sucking back GU and water just to get my body to say YES I can finish this. 

As I was coming up to the finish line, I saw Ivana and Kelly there just before the bend to the finish line chute. I saw as sign on my right and laughed and Ivana had taken a pic of it. This is true, I was almost the size of him as well when I had my heart attack (289lbs).... If Rob Ford can run so can you.  Very true.


So here I am coming of the last bit before the finish chute. In pain, arm just dangling on my side, but glad that I had finished 10K the night before and now 21.1K 3:08:36, not my best but not my worst.



I know the other day I said that I was going to try for a TriFecta doing the 10K, 21.1K and a 5K...... well no!!!  I went and watched Ivana and Kelly start their 5K, took some pics and crawled my way to the car, laid the seat back, ate some food, drank some Gatorade and relaxed for a bit.


Then lifted one leg at a time and then my body out of the car got back to the finish line and waited for the girls to arrive.  I am waiting and waiting and still they weren't there. Maybe I missed them, nope. The course wasn't really marked that well, there were no volunteers at the turn around to say where they had to go, so they kept walking along with a lot of others truing to find their way.  Well it happened that they just turned around when they hit the Boulevard Club. They went about 1 ½ km further then turned around, so just over an hour they were coming up to the finish line finally. Good walk for them.   They both did a great job on Sunday as well. This race was Ivana's Valentines Gift from me to enter this race. I know my bad for pushing it, but she has been working towards it and I hope she had fun.













Here comes that Nascar Driver again, the Damaged Hearts In Motion, Heart & Stroke, Running Free.com Machine had a Blast this weekend, running, walking, crawling and spending the whole weekend with Ivana. Now I am ready for Sporting Life 10K on Sunday and then my friend Steve and I are off to Buffalo at the end of May for the ½ marathon there.

Thanks again to Finisher's Pride and to Running Free in Markham, OH and to Amy W, I really appreciate what you did.

Finisher's Pride on Facebook

Damaged Heart

Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Mississauga 10K May 3, 2014

Wow, what weather we had on the weekend, especially Saturday afternoon/evening.

Friday was a busy day, off to Running Free in Markham, then stopped in Port Credit for the Mississauga Marathon Expo to get my bib and shirt and goodies for the Valeant Pharmaceuticals 10K run for Saturday night, some really nice give aways. I walked around the expo for awhile talking to a few people, then off I went to downtown Toronto and popped into the Expo for the Toronto Marathon, just to grab the bib and out again.

Saturday morning, woke up, Ivana and I headed out the door to go to the Expo in Toronto so that she could get her bib and shirt for the 5K that was happening on Sunday starting after I would be finishing the ½ marathon.

We walked around the expo for HOURS, really I figured we would have been there maybe 45min to an hour, but no. We stopped at every booth there was chatted looked around and there was some nice things there. Ivana bought socks, shirt and a few things. I had to get a few Gu's, got a new fuel belt and then filled out a few raffle draws looked at going to Bermuda for a Marathon in January next year. If next January is like anything that we had this year, WE ARE GETTING OUT OF TOWN!!!!!  Oh, Ivana is wanting to do a race in Montreal, as they are giving out medals with little lights on them for all of their races. They look cool. 

We stopped at this booth called Finisher's Pride where they had metal frames so that you can put your bib and medal in it for display, they looked really nice, they were having a draw as well, so yes we filled out the ballots.  They open from the back and you can wrap your bib inside along with the medal. This is what they look like.



Well, Saturday afternoon the rain started it was coming down pretty good in Toronto and by the time we left for Mississauga for the 10K, which started at 6:30pm, the rain would start, then stop, then start again.  Driving over I just kept thinking please stop at least for the race then start up again after. 

Parking was pretty good, we drove to almost the start line, parked in a plaza as Ivana was going to watch the start and then drive over towards the finish line and take the shuttle bus to the finish and wait for me there. 

Walking to the start line, trying to warm up, it is still raining and then with about 4 minutes to start, the rain stops, then sun is coming out and it is warming up AWSOME. Horn blows and we are off, not before I stop Flash and get a selfie with him LOL. 

Selfie of me and Flash just before the Start






Here is the rainbow

As I am crossing the Start line, there is a rainbow appearing and I am thinking LUCKY CHARMS maybe I can get a PB tonight. NOOOOOO the start was down a hill, then up a hill then down a hill then up a hill and once more the same, I thought Mississauga was pretty flat along the lakeshore but not until we reached the 5K mark was it a flat course. I figured with the 10K tonight and then the ½ marathon tomorrow morning, I would take it easy and save my legs. As you know, I am not out to win anything except to race the 500 miles this year and raise money for the Heart & Stroke. 

Well, I felt good during the race and was making the hills so why not go for it.  The weather was nice now, people were encouraging others on, I was trading places with a few runners and power walkers it was a great night. 


Great waterfront path just before 5K














8K came and OUCH, the knee felt mushy and then a pain was setting in. I cranked up the music louder on the phone and talked myself into finishing this race and not worry about it. I came along the final KM and you can see the finish line on the other side of the water inlet and I said push it now, I am looking to PB by about a minute, then I had nothing left in the tank to go the last ½ km.  I saw Ivana on the left just before the finish line and I tried to get to the line in time, but was 23 seconds of my PB. That was still ok for me as I still had to go tomorrow morning (in 12 hours) for a ½ marathon.

Another 6.1 Miles Down
(sorry Marathon-photos, I will be ordering)


It was really nice seeing families out there doing the relay, kids all over the place running and having fun, parents encouraging them all on.  I had a blast even knowing that I was going to be at it again in the morning for a little bit longer.











I heard that Mississauga Marathon had raised over $150,000.00 for all of their charities. Great job to everyone who was out there raising money.

Well, I will be back with the ½ Marathon Report later.

Damaged Heart

Friday, 2 May 2014

Tri-Fecta Weekend ????? Update Walk to Cure Cancer

As in the last post, Ivana and I were off to Vaughan Mills for the Vaughan in Motion Walk to Cure Cancer held inside for a 5K walk to raise money for the MacKenzie Health Foundation for Cancer Care, on April 27th. 

We got there with about 15 minutes to spare, we had to finalize the registration get our T-Shirts make our donation to the Walk to Cure Cancer and make our way to the centre of the mall for the start with about 25 seconds left. 

There were a lot of people there, families, kids all to walk 5K indoors to have fun and raise funds for the community cancer care, even Doo-Doo the Clown, Spider-Man and Queen Elsa were there for the kids and having their photos taken. All of the participants in the walk raised over $30,000.00, FANTASTIC, with 100% of the raise money will be going directly to the MacKenzie Health Foundation as Vaughan in Motion to Cure Cancer is staffed 100% by Volunteers.



Some of the Great Volunteers

Starting behind everyone
Maple Pioneer Italian Seniors Group







Training has been going well this week with running. Stairs, hill training and speed work yesterday. This weekend, I will be attempting to do a Tri-Fecta.... well Saturday will be the 10K in Mississauga at their Mississauga Marathon Weekend. They have a 5K and 10K running Saturday evening at 6:30pm and then on Sunday morning I will be doing the GoodLife Fitness ½ marathon in Toronto.

I have been getting ready for the ½ marathon for a while now, which won't be a problem, but when I had picked the 10K in Mississauga I was thinking that it was during the day not the evening before the ½ marathon. So this week I thought that since Ivana is doing the 5K at the GoodLife Fitness as well on Sunday, I figured, maybe, Just Maybe, I will finish the ½ marathon before Ivana starts her 5K that I will do the 5K with her.  I will play it by ear and see how I feel as it is suppose to rain all weekend here.

Good news this week for me. A friend of mine, Steve, is going to Buffalo with me at the end of May. We are doing the ½ marathon at the Buffalo Marathon. Thanks Steve.

Donations are starting to come in for the Heart & Stroke Foundation towards my $7,500.00 goal to raise before the end of this year. As some of you know, I am attempting to Race 500 Miles in 2014 and this month of May is going to be a busy month with races every weekend and start the month of June off by riding 75K in the Ride for Heart for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Then the summer will be triathlons leading up to 2 half Ironman's into the Fall.

Well, up earning in the morning for a workout, then go to Running Free in Markham for a few things.

Post after the weekend.
Damaged Heart