What’s it like being a shape?  A man probably in his mid sixties asked as I was running down Dufferin Street this afternoon on the final stretch home from my run. It was the furthest I’ve ran since mid December and still was only just over 8 miles. During my run I was thinking about how out of shape I have gotten these past 6 weeks. I took nearly a full month off from running. I would go out here and there, but no more than 15-20 miles TOTAL since the middle of December. “Gah, I’m outta shape” I keep on telling myself these last few weeks I’d been itching to get out but never did. This was surprising knowing how much I look forward to runs, how much better I feel after and all that jazz.

As I past this man on the street I couldn’t think of what to saw in response to his query so what ended up coming out was “*Deep sigh* It’s a lot of work!” That’s all I had… I was worried of coming up with a smart ass remark and still I feel this was the best I could do but wasn’t that good at all.

Either way this encounter got me thinking how running skews one’s perspective of what “In Shape” really is. Here I am coming back from a ~8 mile run loving life that I was able to get out this afternoon kicking myself for not getting out sooner and thinking I am getting fat from taking 6 weeks off but to others and complete strangers I am like a super athlete or something and am in shape. 

Today these were my stats:

Definitely not by best but still something to be proud of for being able to accomplish. When you compare yourself to the best of the best you often forget that what you are able to accomplish is still something to be very proud of your self for doing. I am not saying don’t compare yourself to people better than you, there’s no better way for inspire you to do better but never loose sight of what you have accomplished yourself and be proud of that accomplishment as well!

Either way it was a great day for a run, I loved it and I also got some self-reflection going in regards to my current physical fitness and how other possibly perceive it. As well as I think today is my official beginning of training for this year’s Toronto Good Life Marathon this May 15th 2011! Anyone else running this one?

The Terry Fox Run is tomorrow, September 19th 2010 and there’s a few run sites around Toronto and the world. Find the closest run site and get out there and participate!

I’m participating at the High Park run site. I hope to see everyone out there!

I’m pretty excited I get to do a nice run through High Park this morning. I haven’t really have had much time since I moved into the Parkdale area - I’ve managed to get one High Park run in. While looking for hill training routes around Toronto I came across this blog post on TorontoRunner.com with what seems to be a nice 27KM long run! I don’t have time today but maybe tomorrow I’ll test out the route, at least in the next week or so.

I have also came across a list of routes on the Running Room’s site with 38 routes sprouting out from the Bloor West store. Definitely something to look into.

Anyways I’m off to High Park and the Lake Shore for a run. Have everyones a nice long weekend!

The Acura 10miler race was pretty fun. Given I only registered yesterday afternoon it wasn’t something I originally has on my race schedule - it was definitely a kind of last minute decision. It was just another excuse for a good run sunday morning, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It was well organized and it wasn’t too humid given the temperatures in Toronto the last week. Running out onto Leslie Spit there wasn’t any shade but since you were out in Lake Ontario there was a tiny breeze.

The course was pretty cool, until today I have never been out along the Leslie St. Spit, its a really nice place I am thinking that I should start to make some more use of it. Running out into Lake Ontario you almost forget your in Toronto when you look down South over the lake and than at the turn around you look North and see a wonderful view of the Toronto Sky Line!

I alway enjoy running in a group of people, there’s always someone to catch up to. Anyways upon finishing I watched the Awards for the top 6 male and female finishers and headed back home. I checked the results when I came home and realized that I came 3rd in my age group! I was totally not expecting that.  Here is my official times and splits:

139 1:13:29.3 4:35 1:13:01.4 1985 SHAW, JORDAN TORONTO 119/802 3/44 Men 20 - 24 36:57 36:33

I thought I was doing just about average I wasn’t pushing too hard because of the heat but apparently I did pretty well, I was surprised to say the least, 3rd place in my age group, 119 in my gender and 139 overall.  

Maybe it had to do with my pre-race diner of Greek style Gnocchi and a strawberry pine-nut salad?

The race was fun, apparently I did well and it was a great day for a run! 

I’ve just moved downtown and am looking for some people to run with. So far I’ve really only run solo but that can get a little boring at times especially during long runs. If anyone wants to hit up a run sometime send me a message and we’ll get running! My email is jrdnshw@gmail.com. Enjoi your Sunday!

I’m doing the Toronto 10miler at the Distillery District tomorrow. it’s the first race I’ve actually done in Toronto, I’m excited and good night.

Who’s run an ultra before? Is it worth doing? Was it harder/easier than you thought it would be? Any different training than a marathon other than ‘running farther’? Would you do another? I’m seriously considering them.