When I go on spins I feel like I am cheating on running, I pass runners on a bike and there’s no longer that “yo, I’m a runner too” vibe going on. I just don’t get that when I’m passing pelotons of cyclists. Is it because they usually already ride in groups? So seeing other’s partake in their sport is not nearly as exciting as seeing dedicated runners? There’s just too many possibilities. Maybe it was just cause I was ripping yesterday with a die-dye shirt super breezy.

Also spinning in the morning than running in the evening is exhausting but I wish I did that more!

And recently I have started using Strava more frequently, lynx me up!

I forgot how tiring / hard it is to run interval hill repeats — but I still want to do more!

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?

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!