QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There is the truth about the marathon and very few of you have written the truth. Even if I explain to you, you'll never understand it, you're outside of it." Douglas Wakiihuri speaking to journalists

I guess that is a marathoners way of saying"If I tell you, I will have to kill you." That is reality though - until you have done it you will never be able to understand it - why we do what we do - it is more than we do it because it is there or because we can or because of the competition. When you feel that special emotion surging through your veins after you cross the finish line the first time you will then understand - then you will want to do it again and again..............

Off to the gym this afternoon for some strengthening workouts and some cross training.

Tomorrow is the second day of my "Walking For Wellness" clinic I am instructing at work - this is alot of fun. My friend Julie Boyer - Ironwoman Triathlete - is speaking there tomorrow - I know she can hold an audience for hours if the rain comes as it promises to.

Monthly total = 295km Year to date = 1190kms

Cheers all - have a good day

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The will to win means nothing if you haven't the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa, 1989 NYC Marathon winner

A beautiful day - a great workout - great friends - great effort -----------What else can one ask for.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible."

Doug Larson

Well, how poetic is that - finding the poster of Roger Bannister and Larson's quote - believe me, that was not planned just happened - must be a sign. I sure can identify with the quote - each time I am told something is impossible I will try my utmost to make it happen - like a 5hr marathon for a walker before years end - considering I am doing only 3 marathons this year I will have to pick my spots.

I am finally beginning to feel psychologically ready for doing the long distance of the marathon - I was having my doubts as I usually do before a race - now to get ready for it physically - Properly......

Out to do about 18k this afternoon with Glenn and Lin and early tomorrow to do the 25k lighthouse route in Oakville with the clinic - our last significant distance before Mississauga.

The rain is clearing -looks like a good afternoon...............Every day is a good day to walk - just some are better that others

QUOTE OF THE DAY

THE LAST LEG TO THE MISSISSAUGA MARATHON BEGINS TODAY

Marathon Motivation

Got enough marathon motivation to push you across the finish line? It’s one thing to be motivated to start training, it’s another to stay motivated every day.
Training the mind should be considered equally important to physical marathon training. Following are a few simple techniques to help build mental toughness and create the proper mindset.
Visualization Set aside a few minutes each day, or at least a few times each week, to relax and picture in your mind the runner you want to be. Picture yourself making a great training run or running the actual race. As you are creating that image, try to get other senses involved by trying to feel what it will feel like to achieve your goal or push through any obstacles you envision.
Affirmations Flood your mind with positive thoughts by talking to yourself every day. Tell yourself that you are a marathon runner, a sub-four hour marathoner, or whatever it is your goal might be. Our minds operate in the present so the more we tell ourselves something, even if it is not yet true, the faster our mind believes it and begins working now to make that affirmation a reality. Also, put an affirmation, race brochure, or inspiring quote somewhere you will see it every day like on your desk or bathroom mirror.
Block the Negative Be aware of negative thoughts creeping into your mind. When you catch them, stop them cold in their tracks by telling yourself the opposite. For instance, if you catch yourself thinking you are tired during a run, tell yourself several times, with emphasis, that you feel great or feel strong. Do the same for any pain during a run. By telling yourself the opposite, you are diverting your focus from the negative to the positive.Over the course of training, you may find yourself lacking motivation at some point. This is very common. Maybe you get discouraged because unexpected events have caused you to miss a run, a few runs, or even a week or more of runs. Maybe something in your life diverts your focus from training and your goal. Whatever the case, do not let it stop you from achieving your goal!
Think of supporters cheering you on as you run with ease through the marathon or half marathon. Think about how rewarding it will be when you cross the finish line and reflect on what you have just accomplished.
Surround yourself with positive, motivating things. Watching running movies is great for marathon motivation. Find something that connects with you emotionally and you will find that your intensity and desire will grow to where you don’t just want to achieve your goal, you have to achieve your goal.

Take a step back and think about why you have set this monster goal for yourself and see yourself enjoying all the benefits you expect to have once you accomplish your goal.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

H. Ross Perot:"Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility and commitment."

So much for orthotics - two days without them and my legs and feet are almost pain and blister free - once again if you are going to get them make sure you trust the person you are dealing with.

A good night with the clinic - 16 days until the Mississauga marathon - getting keyed up now and the group is excited.

Looking forward to a couple of good training days this weekend - looking at 23 km each day and then start to pull back for the marathon

Have a great weekend everyone

Cheers

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If God invented marathons to keep people from doing anything more stupid, the triathlon must have taken Him completely by surprise." P.Z. Pearce

I used this quote as it reminded me of my friend Julie - triathlons are here thing - and she thinks I am crazy!!!! Julie has agree to come and talk to my walking clinic which began at work today - 23 people showed up out of those who had registered for it with 6 more sending their regrets. An awesome group - it has taken a life of its own already - I gave them an 8 week schedule and they have taken it upon themselves to organize lunch time walks in order to keep on track with their necessary mileage. May even get some of them to the Running Room on Sundays for long walks.

Has been a strange week for training though - I have been getting the mileage in but not to the intensity I want but that turned around last night as I went to Oakville and got in to a excellent speed workout and mentally felt much better. I tossed the orthotics last night -- I have had severe blistering and my knees have been much sorer than at any time in the last 16 months - the only thing different were the orthotics - today after a hard workout last night my knees feel much better and the blistering has not gotten any worse -- lesson learned - "go to someone for orthotics who genuinely cares about you well being and not one who only considers his pocketbook"

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed." Jacqueline Gareau

It is good to be back home and training -- the evening with my clinic go my competitive juices running again and I will be thankfully going out for a long one this afternoon with Glenn and Lin. Tomorrow we will be doing 32k with the clinic group in Oakville. An exciting week coming up as I begin my clinic at work that was proposed some time ago - I am overwhelmed by the response as 34 people have signed up for it. In the first week of June, I begin to instruct my second half/marathon clinic for the running room in Oakville - so an exciting summer coming up with races and clinics.

A couple of pictures from Japan -- the first --"the running room goes to Japan" - an off the cuff and fun spur of the moment one day clinic -- the instructing is fun in Japanese. The last picture is why I love Japan in April --"SAKURA" ie .cherry blossoms

post training soak

Hill training!!!!!!!!

pre training meal

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Og Mandino: "I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain,
Henceforth will I apply all my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy."

Good morning all ---- a good night's sleep last night has put a brighter light on a new day......The jet lag is essentially gone and I can begin again ---- a quick 3km last night just to relax and back to my clinic tonight - I can't wait to see them all and again on Sunday when we do our last 32km before Mississauga. It is going to be a great race -- after the hill training in Japan a negative incline course will be a welcome yet boring relief.

A couple of pictures from Japan are above -- a typical traditional breakfast, the backdrop of my training ground, and my post raining treat - the hot spring spa -- now these are hot!!!!!

Have a great day all!!!!!!!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Charles Kettering: "It doesn't matter if you try and try and try again, and fail. It does matter if you try and fail, and fail to try again."

"Ingenuity, plus courage, plus work, equals miracles"

TADIMA(i'M HOME) -- and I am just exhausted -- a 13hr time difference and a 13 hour flight makes for a long day - arriving in Toronto last night and in to work this morning for 0400.

I however will never complain about hill training or hill in a race any more -- I had 6 days of training in the mountains -- at 4000 feet above sea level and at an average grade of 14% with the steepest grade being 19% --------gives a new definition to the word endurance.......

It was a great trip as it always is over there and with my closest friend with me it certainly made for some memorable moments........pictures will be posted when we have a chance to download them..........

Back to training tomorrow -- missed my clinic group --- and only 4 weeks to get ready for Mississauga.

Cheers everyone -- have a great day..............

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“The only way to get people to like working hard is to motivate them. Today, people must understand why they’re working hard. Every individual in an organization is motivated by something different.” Rick Pitino Basketball Coach

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz Football Coach

I have found it extremely difficult the last few days to do any really effective training with the 0400am start at work. Last night we were able to get 10 hills in with the clinic group in spite of the cold and then a few km this morning. The plan is to do about 12km tomorrow morning before getting on the plane to Japan.

No posts till the 18th of April.............Sayonara everyone..........till then

REMEMBER "It is not the destination that counts ---- it is the journey" --no matter what you do in life................

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it."
Napoleon Hill

Well isn't this just a great way to start the day -- getting up at 3 am to be in to work for 4am -- actually wasn't that bad -- at least so far -- ask me in a few hours!!!
Going to try to get in a few km this evening and then another early start tomorrow and the clinic tomorrow night. It will be interesting to see how my body reacts to the change in workout times as for over a year the preferred workout time has been the early morning before work which obviously is not a functional idea at the present time.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"When you develop yourself to the point where your belief in yourself is so strong that you know that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to, your future will be unlimited."
Brian Tracy

When it takes you as long as it has taken me to figure this all out, your future will be unlimited however short that future is.

A quick 12km this morning before heading out to work - just what the Doctor ordered as it was crisis after crisis when I got into the office.......and a short turn around tonight -- finish at 8pm and back in for 0400am tomorrow -- I shiver just thinking about it.

Starting to get pumped about the trip to Japan on Saturday and finally 6 great days at a hot spring spa -- been there several times in the past and it is a great place to train -- high altitude and all hills -- you are either going up, down or sideways - promises to be excellent endurance training for the Mississauga Marathon.

Cheers all - have a good night

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It is only through work and strife that either nation or individual moves on to greatness. The great man is always the man of mighty effort, and usually the man whom grinding need has trained to mighty effort."- Theodore Roosevelt, in a speech about Grant, delivered at Galena, Illinois, April 27, 1900

"The turning point in the process of growing up is when you discover the core of strength within you that survives all hurt."- Max Lerner

Well, I had a choice today -- feel sorry for myself and put a picture of a toilet on my blog or try to see past it all and try motivate myself and hopefully others as I do so...........I chose the later -- and once I saw Lerner's quote I was sure that I made the right choice. Unfortunately, I didn't find this quote several years ago but better later than never as the old saying goes.......

A great weekend of training --- 32km with Glenn and Lin on Saturday -- we did the first 16 km of the Mississauga Marathon in a loop -- Neagative incline on the way out --- which means basically that it was uphill all the way home -- but a great workout............Sunday, the clinic group got together and the goal was another 32km --- but pouring rain and wind and cold temps put a halt to it after 16km. All in all, a good training weekend. A day of rest today and back at it in the morning.

April Totals = 333.9kms Year to Date = 893.9kms