Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father

If I was a good blogger I’d start teasing that I have a big announcement to make, then two days later I’d vaguely mention a new addition to our family, then something about a future runner in the house, then eventually I’d reveal that we got ourselves a puppy. But I’m not a good blogger and I’m not into drawn out announcements with a twist, haha, not pregnant, just a puppy, gotcha.

So yeah, PUPPY! Whippet puppy! Future championship runner (no pressure)!

We never saw nothing but brass taps and oak

I’ve always known I’m pretty lucky to live where I live. Like most who live here, I appreciate this luck in a quiet way. Outside of the odd hockey game, nationalism is on the subtle side. I dig it that way. Who would’ve thought that the one thing other than hockey to stir nationalistic feelings would be four beers and a one mile race?

We were both too tired to sleep

I am so stoked to be running two relays this year. Two famous Canadian races. Both are runs I’ve wanted to run as long as I’ve been a runner, and it just so happened that both worked out this year:

1. The Canadian Death Race
2. The Cabot Trail Relay

All this relay talk got me thinking about another relay I ran, almost a year ago. Actually, it’s the only other hours in a car style relay I’ve ever run. Last year the Ragnar series came to Ontario and organized a race from some small town on the shores of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. 12 super rad women, 2 sweet SUVs, lots of junk food, approximately 24 hours. It was awesome, it was stressful, it was crazy. I loved it.

12 crazy cool gals

Trying to keep up with you and I don’t know if I can do it

So this happened.

I’ll put one foot in front of the other one

I ran a marathon. My tenth, but first one in almost 2.5 years. I was a little nervous and almost pulled out at the last minute, but I’ve got a couple of big races coming up this summer and I knew I could use the test, kick in the butt, and endurance boost. So I somewhat reluctantly ran.

Maybe you wonder where you are

Spring is just around the corner (allegedly, I have yet to see any evidence of winter’s end) and I have three “races” under my belt so far this year. So far this year, I’m secretly disappointed.

I keep reminding myself that I have loads of good and bad excuses: a concussion, an injury, a polar vortex, continued low mileage, training through races, laziness.

The excuses don’t help. I’m still running the same times / slower that I was running last year and the year before. Which kind of sucks.

First up,

Everybody’s looking at my tight pants

My cool and in the know friends have been holding out on me. I am never in the know, I don’t even know the know to be in, so I rely on my friends to keep me knowing. I don’t want to publicly call them out for not sharing the know, so I won’t name names, but they sound a lot like @ali_zim, @Fueling4Fitness, and @PostTweetism*.

They recently let it slip that there is a song that may just be the greatest winter running song ever sung. This song beautifully captures the art of wrangling oneself into winter-grade tight tights that leave nothing to the imagination, with confidence and without the bashful need to cover up those tights tights with some loose fitting gym shorts.

This song isn’t new, but until last week no one (by “one”, I mean those souls who sound like @ali_zim, @Fueling4Fitness, and @PostTweetism) thought to send me the magnificent YouTube video.

To make up for this lost time, I watched it 37 times consecutively. It’s a bit hypnotic.

On the borderline of the edge and where I walk alone

I think I am the only runner in this city opposed to a proposed new stadium (domed track and field) at Central Tech HS. Sounds crazy, right, a runner opposed to a fancy pants new track at a location that may or may not be very convenient to work and or home (like I’m telling you internet crazies).

I use the word opposed reluctantly, as it sounds so political. My concerns aren’t the usual complaints about a big ugly dome hiding a lovely heritage building, or traffic, or parking. My “opposition” is entirely selfish. I’m the angry old man shaking a first in a get off my lawn manner. I’m certainly not feeling passionate enough to make a sign, or show up at a community meeting, or even do the most basic of reading in the matter, but I have a self-interested and uninformed opinion that could flip flop readily and dammit I will be heard.

If you want a thing that’s hip, do the bearcat

I woke up this morning and the internets told me it is International Polar Bear Day. Having never had an encounter with an in the wild polar bear, I’m much happier with the bear kind of polar than I am the vortex kind of polar.

So yeah, you may have guessed that we are in the midst of yet another vortex and cold weather alerts and arctic winds and other horrifyingly cold newsy stuff that is apparently never going to end and so I stopped listening to all weather reports out of fear I’d go into full retreat and opt to stay in bed until April. Polar bear, good; polar vortex, bad.

Admittedly though, I do love saying polar vortex.

But back to polar bears. I’ve spent most of the winter falling in love with the baby polar bear at the Toronto Zoo. I know zoos and zoo born animals are controversial, and I’m not saying my love of the polar bear means support for animals in captivity, all I’m saying is that this bear and the videos posted by the zoo are so freaking cute I watch them on repeat.

Here is the little guy experiencing snow for the first time. Sure at first he’s like, WTF is this shit, but once he adapts see how happy he is, running about in the white frozen water? We’ve had a record number of snowfall and vortex days this year and the last time I saw flakes I started to sob in my pancakes and reached for some extra syrup.

This little guy motivates me to love snow. I haven’t successfully translated this motivation into actual running in the snow again, but it’s a first step (side note, the video of his first steps is just as charming).

Is keeping me waiting

I’ve been running with the same Sunday long run crew for years. People come, people go, people come back, but the start time has always been the same. Snow storms, gale force winds, lightening, heat alerts – nothing has ever postponed the run. Until now.

You freezing my booty, my face, my cortex

This is my winter 2014 running anthem. I can’t stop laughing. Or singing. Or nodding in agreement.

I also really like saying polar vortex. Kick it. Au ja.

Title: Polar Vortex (You Are Friezing) – Flula. 2014.

Running through the field where all my tracks will be concealed

The trick to winter running is dressing appropriately.

I couldn’t skate in junior, but my fists rang like a bell

I went back to the hospital and was given the reassuring news that my brain doesn’t seem to be swollen or bleeding, it’s just concussed. Because I’m an insane person who thought I’d be running two days post-concussion (crazy or hopelessly optimistic, you decide), I don’t think my doc trusts judgement and so he gave me a helpful return to running plan. It’s actually a return to playing hockey plan, because… this is Canada? Apparently the same principles apply.

When it got cold, ohhh, we bundled up

I finally make a goal, set my mind to training like I’ve never trained before, and the universe laughs in my face then gives me the finger.

I love winter training. Truly love it. Running in freshly fallen snow, bundling up against the cold northern wind, navigating winter’s natural obstacles. I always say I’ll take -40C over +40C and I mean. I still do love it, even though winter is doing a damn fine job of rebuffing my affections. Winter, it seems, has foreseen me.

Random Pinterest Pic About Winter Running

I’ll give a little bit of my love to you

Last year I posted a List of Awesome Gift Ideas for Runners Who Have Everything, Including Everything on the List I Posted Last Year, which was the followup to the 2011 List of Awesome Gift Ideas for Runners Who have Everything. This isn’t a list for new runners who need shoes and coats, this is a list for runners who have the basics and might appreciate something a little different. Items from past years’ lists have appeared in the 2013 lists of popular running publications, so if you want to be cutting edge (as far as it goes among runners), this is the place for ideas.

So this year I bring you another List of Awesome Gift Ideas for Runners Who Have Everything, Including Everything on the List I Posted Last Year and the Year Before (and Lots of Closet Space)**.