QUOTE OF THE DAY

A MANTRA FOR THE WALKERS(COMPETORS OR COMPLETERS )

"IT TAKES A STRONG MAN/WOMAN TO SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT --- MANY DEAD FISH FLOAT WITH IT"

Prior to doing my year in review I wanted to say that the absolute best thing about this past year was meeting, working with, learning from, becoming friends with and chatting with some awesome people in this great sport and this forum. There are a few I would like to take the opportunity to thank publicly -- there are so many I will probably forget some but here goes ---- Sarah(racewalker) thanks for all you have done here in the forum, and helping at my clinics; Running Room managers, Paul Shields in Oakville, Hayley Cockerton ex of Rosedale now area manager in Edmonton, Kim Wade at Commerce Court; Brenda Barron; The big fella(Mark), Louis, Sue, Mischa, Glen and Lin in Mississauga, Nancy in Oakville, and Ginny in Brampton and my special virtual friends Stephen in California and Tammy in Utah....YOU ALL TAUGHT ME ALOT and helped make my year a good one -- I thank you and am humbled by your support and Encouragement!! MY YEAR IN REVIEW: I waited till today as it was exactly one year ago today that I completed my first Marathon in Las Vegas in 5:17(including 14 minutes in various porta potties -- Now it is "if you want to make it to the podium take immodium ) --- Since Vegas I have completed one more full marathon and 5 halves plus a couple of 5kms. The Mississauga Marathon was almost a DNF after suffering severe and I do mean severe back spasms and resulting bleeding blisters for the 30km mark in --- I was 9 minutes off my PB However This became a benchmark race for me as I consider finishing it a personal victory( some called it courage - in retrospect I probably call it foolhearty!!--the pain of finishing and all that ) Early in the year I was 2nd in the mens division at the Chili Half after setting a then PB of 2:23:59 -- that mark was eclipsed at the Suwako Half in Japan in October by a minute+ Sandwhiched in between those two halves were 1st place overall finishes at the new Brampton and the new Whitby Half Marathons and a 2nd overall at the Port Perry half where I was thrilled to beat my last years 2nd place finish time by 5 minutes -- Port Pery you can only compare to Port Perry -- there is no other race like it for hills and rugged country roads...---- and also a Master's 1st place in the OTMH 5K with a PB of 33:19 and I also had a PB 1ok time this year of 1:07:32 ----so race wise the year was phenomenal for me with tons learned and more places to go!! Throw in teaching 3 half and 3 full marathon clinics and It was a busy year highlighted as well, clinic wise, with John Stanton Okaying and supporting a first ever Personal Best Walking Clinic beginning in January 2008 -- what great way to start the New Year Sorry for being so long winded -- thank you all