Going Long

Getting back into a regular training routine, after several weeks off. 

It was a beautiful, crisp, sunny day along the lakeshore in Toronto this morning. 

Only issue this morning was slightly irritated nipples due to a couple of layers worn in the 5C temperature.  I need to remember not to go out the door anymore without Bodyglide on!

Sat in my cold water bath for 15-minutes after getting home - and feeling fresh tonight. 

Good run this morning.  A couple of false starts going out the door, though.

First, no water belt (duh!).  Then, needed another layer because of the wind.  Finally out the door at 5:45 am and had a pretty relaxing run.

Noticed that my Garmin is one hour fast this morning.  No patch for the week postponement of the switch back to standard time. 

Lots of runners out this morning.  A couple of TTC buses and very few cars.  Those drivers are sleeping late!

A dusting of snow this morning in Toronto.  Wore the Mountain Equipment Co-op "Union Suit" once piece and it was a mid layer today, under my ancient windbreaker.  Felt pretty comfy, even as I gasp at the cold wind that greets me on the front porch.

I'm trying to find some routes that I can stick with through the winter (i.e. no off-street bicycle paths that will not be plowed.)  Today's was a good one, but seemed to go on, and on, and on.  A real tour of the neighbourhood from north to south and east to west.

Last night I got the bright idea to lower my target pace by 22 seconds per kilometer, and switch from the 4-hour schedule to the 3:45 schedule.  Fell way behind warming up and could not make the difference back up.  We'll see how much stronger I get over the course of the next couple of months.

Marathon clinic night at the Running Room in High Park.  Only 10 or so people registered for this "shoulder" season between the fall races and the beginning of the January clinics.   And so far we haven't had more than four people out for any of the group runs.  It's a bit frustrating for the organizers and coaches, but I'm doing my thing and preparing for many a solo morning run.

Tonight was also a bit different because I was pushing Alex and Jamie in the double jogger.  First time since June or July for that. We had a quick "picnic" dinner in the running store before heading out for the run.  They seemed to be having a good time, and fell fast asleep as we left the noise of the main streets for the quiet of High Park and the Lakeshore.

First time out on the ice, playing hockey with some co-workers at lunch time.

It was fun, but I am one of the slowest and most "challenged" players out there!  hehehe

I grew up in the U.S. playing baseball and football as a kid.  Didn't get serious about learning to skate and play hockey until I was an adult. 

There are a few good adult beginner leagues in the Toronto area, and that's where I honed my modest skill set.  I played with the same group of guys for three winters and summers until the team went their separate ways.

Now it's lunchtime fun (pain!) twice a month. 

Did my long run on Saturday this week, due to other plans for Sunday . . . Bills and Jets in Buffalo.

This was the farthest I've ever run by myself, and it was ok, although the iPod ran out of juice about 4k from the end.  :-(

Going out I kept to my easy pace pretty well.  Coming back was a bit more trying.  Had to make a slight detour to pick up some US$ for the game tomorrow, and I never seemed to get back into the rhythm that I had in the first part of the run. 

It was nice to see some of my peeps at Starbucks at the end of it all.  They had gone out together doing a tune-up for a half-marathon race tomorrow morning.  Good luck at Angus Glen everyone!