Toronto, Part 2

My third marathon is in the books in the breathtaking time of 6:36! Or maybe I was just short of breath after finishing. Yeah, that's it!

What's a poor, slow runner to do when they do not provide a pace team for a six-hour marathon? Well, you follow the 2:45 half-marathon pace crew, that's what!  And that's exactly what I did for the first 18 km or so. When I arrived at the fork to split the half marathoners from the full course runners, I thought to myself that I really should have run the half.  You see, the Toronto course, like many races I've seen, gives ample time to the half marathoners (four hours), but then expects the full marathoners to finish in six. As you can see, I did not make the cutoff time, but the course staff generously did not disqualify those of us who straggled in late from the official results.

My race fell apart in the second half. By about the 28 km marker (two thirds), I was gassed enough to recognize that there would not be much running after that point. In fact, I was so slow that an official course truck began dismantling all the marker signs in front of me starting with 35 km! Those Torontonians sure wanted their roads back as soon as possible! Come to think of it, those Torontonians were all over the race course; crossing the road  in front of me to get to the other side any chance they got.

One factor which did not help at all was the heat. It peaked at around 75 degrees during the second half, and I ended up with some sunburn on my face where the sunblock had washed away. A definite misstep on my part.

I also need to confess that October was a really crappy training month, all in all. Within a day or two after my longest training run early in October, I came down with a cold/flu during what turned out to be a very active cold/flu season at the office. It was one of those situations where one cold ends and another one begins, and it was difficult to really tell whether or not I was going to get out from under it all. Although my October runs were supposed to be shorter anyway (the "taper down" period of training), I still found it hard to keep up. Needless to say that I was not 100% healthy during the marathon, so it was a minor logistical challenge to keep myself from coughing (I carried cough drops), and to clear out the congestion (a few pit stops at medical tents helped).

Enough of the sob story. I finished the race upright, and in the end that's what matters!

More thoughts on the race...

• The decision to wear a new pair of running shoes turned out to be excellent. That, and the additional step this year of wearing moleskin at the base of each large toe provided foot comfort for the entire distance.
• The few restroom and medical pit stops I made were all well-timed -- just by chance I did not face any lines, which was a problem with my stops last year in the Chicago race.
• A few fun costumes.  I was beaten by Thor, Batman, and the Flash. And someone dressed as a Lego block. I did pass one of Gru's Minions along the way, though.
• I chose to pump out the music during this race, unlike Chicago, in which I ran without music. Canadian favorites Metric, Rush and Feist were on the playlist. Had I known earlier I would have added some "Tragically Hip" to the list, in honor of Gord Downie, who passed away the week of the marathon, prompting emotional tributes all the way up to the Prime Minister himself! How tragically unhip of me to not have heard of them before all this.
• As usual, there were nice people met along the course, such as Vincent, a physical trainer who was running the full course but also stopping along the way to help some runners in need of a stretch. And, Alyssa, the "angel finisher" who ran the last 500m alongside me to cheer me on. Or the woman who told me she ran the down the wrong fork toward the half marathon finish, before being sent back to rejoin the full course. I told her she was one of the few who turned out to be running an ultramarathon that day! Or the guy who remarked that I had impressive calves, to which I pointed out that they were used in support of my ample belly. Hehe!
• I was not as impressed with the scenery along this course as I was with the Chicago layout, which wandered through several neighborhoods of distinctive character. There was one really interesting neighborhood on the Toronto course which I'd like to walk through again someday: The Beaches.
• With a post-race Subway sub in hand, and Gatorade instead of a beer, watching the Patriots thrash the Falcons on Sunday night football from the comfort of my hotel room was a thoroughly enjoyable way to recover!

Farewell, Toronto! Thanks for the hospitality! Perhaps we'll meet again someday.

In the aftermath of the marathon, I've left the running trails and roads behind, and instead set out once again on the road to perdition. A whole new entertainment complex with multiple restaurants has opened in my city, and while they were decent enough to wait until after my marathon to open, the fact that my daughter took on a part time job there portends that I will spend quite a bit of my leisure time in those establishments. Such as Chick-fil-A! Woot!

Yes, indeed, another fall marathon has come and gone, to be replaced by the turkey, gravy, stuffing, potatoes, pies, cookies, candy canes and egg nog of the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. To each of the three of you poor readers I wish a heartfelt Merry Christmas! And always check your tree for critters...

Toronto, Part 1

I arrived in Toronto yesterday! After checking into my hotel room I had to go find somewhere to exchange a bit of cash, since I discovered that my credit union debit card did not work in any of the ATMs I tried.

With the money situation resolved, and a late lunch consumed, I embarked on a long walk to the site of the marathon registration and fitness expo. The weather is wonderful, warm for the season with an ever-present breeze that I imagine has something to do with being situated on Lake Ontario. (View from my hotel room.)

I made an impulse decision that I hope works out well for me during the race. At the Brooks vendor display in the fitness expo, I decided to upgrade to the Ghost 10 series. They feel like a softer version of my Ghost 9s that I trained in. The toe box has a softer mesh design. Plus, the woman who cashed me out presented me with a "growler" jug -- I suppose that I will run happy if I can fill up that thing with beer afterwards ;-)

On Saturday I wore the new shoes out for a long walk to break them in and keep my leg muscles active.  I went into the iconic CN Tower, then on to Chinatown for lunch and souvenir shopping. A few photos from ground level and from tower level! (Bottom right is the little airport on Toronto Island which I depart from Monday.)

One aspect that quickly jumped out at me while on the street was how ethnically diverse Toronto is.  I wasn't sure whether that was due to tourism in the downtown area, but I was curious and confirmed that Toronto is considered one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world! Of course, the marathon is drawing in about 25,000 participants from 60 countries, I heard on the news.

I took advantage of the local urban diversity in the foods I powered up on over the last two days. Clockwise from upper left: pork rib ramen from Ajisen in Chinatown; chicken gyros dinner from Alexandro's just outside the hotel; some of the tastiest General Tao's chicken I've ever tried, from the Waterfront Deli right across the street from the hotel; the standard pre-race dinner: a Chipotle burrito bowl with chicken, black beans and guacamole. I should burn this all off and then some, tomorrow.

I'm pretty full, but I think rest is the best thing now to store up energy. Hope I did not do too much walking! Time to turn in for a good night's sleep. I don't have high hopes for my performance tomorrow, but as long as I finish in time for the Patriot's game at 8:30PM I'll be happy! See you next on the other side of the race...

10:57

Fall is here and the marathon training runs continue!

I'm about 80% into the training program I started back in July,  and we've passed the time I call "go/no-go." It's the ultimate decision as to whether I feel I'm on track to continue training up to the big running event or whether that would not be in my best interest this year.

This year's decision is brought to you by... Commodus!

He seems very convinced that I can handle a marathon, doesn't he?

But you're probably one of the two people in existence impatiently waiting for the true reveal: what/where/when the big event is... and the answer to that is... (insert drum roll)

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Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Sunday, October 22

http://www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com/

So, my third marathon will be my first international marathon, as well as my first trip to Toronto.  And, there's no better way to spend six hours in a city than running 26.2 miles of it! Er -- 42 km.  Let's stick to the preferred local units.

I'm going to keep this post short, since tomorrow I face the "dress rehearsal run."  Three weeks out from the main event: a 20-miler.  I'll be tackling the full length of the Nashua River Rail Trail, which I introduced earlier.

I'll leave you tonight with a late summer sunset view of the reservoir overlook from my local rail trail.  (You may recall the view from my post in May.)  Good night!

11:11

Yesterday evening was a 3-rabbit run.  A little surprising, since I was running the gravel track at our well-used public park, and the summer heat has broken; but a 3-rabbit run nonetheless!

It is usually my local rail trail that provides some nice chances for wildlife spotting, even though it is not quite as wild as some of the other rail trails I've tried.  Over the years, aside from the standard array of squirrels, chipmunks and birds, I've spotted deer, turtles, snakes, turkeys, possum, and my personal favorite:

This year must be the year of the rabbit, though.  Those critters are out in a force I have never seen before this year. They're so abundant that I've actually seen them in unusual places, such as hopping down sidewalks on busy streets.  Washington and Boston reports seem to corroborate this.

By the way, did you know that rabbit is the "ultimate in sustainable meat"?

Mostly, I see them on the sides of the rail trail during my runs, just nibbling grass and watching the trail traffic warily. They tend to prefer the twilight to make an appearance. The truth is that there have been very very few runs over the summer that I did not see any rabbits at all, so I'd begun grading my runs by the number I positively spot. Hence, yesterday was a 3-rabbit run. What about my best run? Count 'em up!

Speaking of rail trails, there's another one I should mention.  The West Boylston section of the Mass Central Rail Trail is where I did my latest long run, and it provides a wooded (shaded) dirt track -- a very comfortable experience. The trail runs alongside a river and is really a scenic spot to just go for a hike and a picnic, explore the many side trails and fish in the streams.

The trail also features a historic mill site which is neat to walk around.  I'm curious what the area looked like when there was an operating mill on the river and an operating railroad adjacent.

I also used this trail last year in my marathon training, and it provides a welcome alternative to the pounding of runs on asphalt.  I like to park my car at the West Boylston end and break up my runs in half.  Run out on the trail a quarter of the run and back to the car, which serves as my water/medical station.  Then repeat to finish the run! This trail also has portable toilets in the parking areas, though not very clean. At least they have something to make a pit stop in -- unlike my local rail trail, which forces me to hop off into a nearby McDonald's or Dunkin Donuts to do my business. (And sometimes undo my run with a caloric purchase, hehe...)

After a run, it's great to relax with some cat yoga!

My buddy Nightpelt here uses his solid color to his advantage when he's outside; he's a prolific hunter of mice and birds. This year, however, his main catch has been... you guessed it.  Rabbits, of the juvenile variety.

11:59

LIRITW, Happy 4th of July edition!  It's fun to be able to post twice in two days...

Today I decided to try the Sudbury 4th of July Road Race, which has a long history. This race appears to be a quintessential community event (along with the annual parade later in the day). Walking up to the registration desk, I could tell how well the participants knew each other. Sudbury seems to be a town full of runners. Not really a surprise!

Another fun fact is that you have to be a town resident to win a race prize. Probably to keep the riffraff like me away.  If you look very closely at the bottom of my bib you can see I've been branded a "Non-Resident"... and I always thought Sudbury was a Sanctuary City!  ;-)

It was another glorious clear, sunny summer day to gather for a race, this time at Featherland Park in Sudbury. At this point in the summer, I'd actually prefer the race to kick off an hour earlier than its 9 AM start, to save me about five degrees in temperature. I quipped to one runner, slogging along with me in the back of the pack: "You can never start these summer races early enough." "You got that right!" he panted back.

The race loop was scenic, a down grade out and an up grade back, which induced me to go faster than I would have ordinarily tried in the beginning. I ended up with "positive splits," i.e. progressively slower miles. And to make matters more challenging, this was a 6K course, with the extra K thrown in to kick my butt.

However, there were the usual local residents who come out and cheer us on from their front yards. One older chap was serving up his own water and refreshments (not an official part of the race), and he smiled when I trotted past, "Good job!" "I'm so out of shape!" I smiled back. "First place for being last!" He chuckled.

Eventually, I made it to the finish line. As I said before, this looks like a town full of runners, and 95% of them finished well ahead of me. But, come to think of it, that's my usual result in any race.

Local agricultural update: I'm really pleased to report a significant downturn in winter moth activity on my blueberry bush this year.  This is the best crop in about five years, with even more to be harvested!  Today's haul:

Well, that does it for this edition.  Wear red, white, and blue, and get your fireworks on today!

12:04

And so it has begun!

I've just completed Week 2 of a marathon training plan, which will lead up to the main event in October! Take a guess where, if you're interested. (Don't worry.  I know you're not.)

This year, I'm following Hal Higdon's "Novice 2" training plan, a step up from the Novice 1 plan I followed last year. The plan is well laid out: runs on three days out of the week and a long run on the weekend.  In my own interpretation of the plan, I'll do something like this:

Tuesdays: shorter interval run, on asphalt

Wednesdays: longer interval run, on my local rail trail (asphalt), taking in the nice hill at least once. I'll talk about that hill some time. 

Thursdays: shorter interval run, on a local dirt track to lessen the impact on my legs and allow me to run faster than my desired marathon pace. (In other words, working up to sprint training, which I'll talk about later.)

Sundays (usually): the long run of the week, in which I hope to find interesting trails to report!

Fridays: no running, but I'll practice flexibility exercises.

Saturdays: a backup day for the long run if Sunday does not work.  Otherwise, according to Hal Higdon, I need to do at least an hour of cross-training!

Mondays: absolutely nothing. :-)

For my Week 1 long run, I explored a new rail trail, the Nashua River Rail Trail, beginning on the Ayer side and going 4 miles up and back.  This is a great trail, straight and level.  The whole length of the trail is 12.5 miles and it seems to me to be a terrific trail for cyclists.  Indeed, the ratio of cyclists to pedestrians on the trail on an early Sunday was pretty high, and the traffic volume was low enough that cyclists can really pick up some speed!

Lots of shady stretches on this trail.

Granite rail markers provide a glimpse into a bygone era.

Yield to horses!  I didn't see any on my run.

Swamp-inspired sculpture.  You'll pass by a lot of swamp and pond areas.

Tunnel mural.

In Week 2 I doubled back to my well-used trail from last year, the Milford stretch of the Upper Charles Rail Trail.  This trail is curvier and has some busier road crossings than the Nashua River trail. One of my least favorite parts is the crossing of the entrance/exit ramps to I-495 at US 85. You also get to run under a low portion of I-495 in what is effectively a pigeon roost :-)  Besides these points, however, I love the scenery of the trail, which is very suitable for a leisurely stroll. Indeed, you'll see fishing and picnicking near the Dilla St. parking lot, and the trail is dotted with stone memorial benches on which to take a rest, like this:

I would have taken many more pictures in Milford; however, karma had a way of telling me I should focus on my run and not on handling my phone with sweaty hands. Lesson of the day: phones do not like being dropped onto rail trails. Ouch!

So, that sums up my first two weeks of fun!  Actually, not that much fun in the beginning of a training program.  I'm still working up to a comfortable pace.

Summer is upon us, and that means that everyone and their cousin try to sell lobster rolls!  Can you identify the sources of these?  Nom nom nom...

12:05

I unfriended Facebook months ago, and finally cut the cord for good.  (Actually, I only deactivated the account.) The simple truth is that I'm really not interested in your propaganda -- no offense intended! Our current political climate has a lot of folks in a real tizzy, and you have plenty of good company if you feel the need to spout on Facebook. I have my own uninteresting problems to work through, and Facebook is simply one more "news" channel to which I no longer subscribe.

The joke was on me, though, because not too long after I made my original decision to leave Facebookville my neighbors across the street corner put up sign in their yard -- directly facing my house for me to read each and every time I step out my front door for a run or any other reason.  You may have seen signs like this in your neighborhood too. (This is not the exact sign, but very similar.)

My full reaction to the sign might make for a post on some other blog venture later, but you probably won't be interested in it -- especially if reading this sign sends you on a Pavlovian search for the "Like" button!  Facebook culture has crossed the threshold into the physical world, and alas, there's no way for me to unsubscribe.

You can probably tell that I'm not a sign kind of person.  I don't put up yard signs during election season; I don't have any bumper stickers -- most certainly not those 26.2 and 13.1 ovals that I see all over the place!  (I actually prefer the 0.0 oval stickers.)

I do like to wear my race shirts proudly!  Yes, I have a bunch of those, as my colleagues can confirm. They form the bulk of my wardrobe, and right now I honestly don't think that's an exaggeration. Here's last year's collection.

Okay. There is one kind of sign that I fully and wholeheartedly endorse -- the marathon sign!  Race spectators make things really fun for the runners with their creative and hilarious signs, and I'm sure it's a part of why many of us look forward to race day!

You can easily search up some fantastic race sign ideas, but here are just a few of my favorites actually seen at the Chicago marathon:

• "Worst Parade Ever" (a marathon staple)
• "Hurry Up, the Kenyans are drinking all the beer!"
• "Show Trump and Clinton how to run a real race!"
• "Smile if you're not wearing underwear!" (another staple)
• at the 23 mile mark: "Your 23 mile warmup for today's 5K is finished!"

The signs can also be motivational.  One church from Chicago set up volunteers at different points along the route holding signs which read: "One day you will no longer be able to finish a marathon. Today is NOT that day!"

Be sure that your own bucket list includes attending a marathon as a spectator at least once, with signs, cow bells, and whatever good spirit you want to add to the mix!

12:13

Today I had the great pleasure of running in the inaugural Trooper Thomas Clardy Memorial Run, my first organized race of the year.  This race took the place of the "Spirit of Hudson Run" from previous years, which is a classic small town festival race series that I've enjoyed.

The new edition of this race is a memorial to a Massachusetts State Trooper who lost his life in 2016, leaving behind his wife and children who reside in Hudson.  The State Police had a strong showing at the event, and there were many nice touches, such as playing Taps; the national anthem sung by a State Trooper; a helicopter flyover; and even Governor Baker was on site to hand out the race awards! There were more than 1000 runners, given the high profile of the event, and weather conditions were clear and sunny.  A truly memorable experience!

There were retro police cars, and mounted police, too!

Some more random observations about the race and my own run:

• We usually get fantastic race weather in early June; today was no exception with a finish at around 70 degrees.  The course had a great mix of shade and sun.
• Nice course through the neighborhood behind Hudson High School, with folks watching from their yards and cheering us on.
• More than any course I can remember in a while, though, there was a lot of road slant -- I don't know the technical term.  The result is there were several stretches of road where one foot was planting noticeably lower than the other.  This isn't ideal!
• I chose a typical blend of running/walking, where I slow down for up grades and shady parts, and let gravity assist on the down grades.
• I was satisfied with finishing under 40 minutes for my first race of the year.  Considering I've just started letting loose with some real running in the last couple of weeks.  My mile splits were negative: each faster than the previous, and that's exactly what I would hope for in any race.  I had enough juice left to finish at a strong clip!
• However, after crossing the finish line, it took my tired body a few minutes to realize that water was not to be found in the immediate area.  We had to cross the the parking lot back to the registration tents to get to the post-race refreshments.  Perhaps it was due to finishing in the 70th percentile and supplies had been used up, but I'd like to see a bit more race staff with water set up right after the finish line.

Selfies from the starting line and the finish gate!

Gutting it out to cross the finish line!

After the race was done, a stop at Dunkin' Donuts was a fitting reward.  Forgive the stereotype  ;-)

Moving on to other personal news...

I've recently started a new job at a company for which I previously worked.  I'm looking forward to working with a new product line and new colleagues, as well as catching up with my former colleagues who are now in different parts of the company. There were several tangible benefits which made taking on this new position a no-brainer: a bump up in pay, a new opportunity for career growth, even a private cube in the office (which corporate culture seems to be trending away from, but this introvert will take it while it lasts!). However, there is one benefit that cannot be overstated: I cut my commute time down from an hour of stop and go driving each way to twenty minutes of mostly highway each way.

Aside from the extra time gained, more than five hours a week, which in itself is also a pay raise, it's the quality of the driving which is notable.  I just mentioned that my previous commute was stop and go driving -- imagine the repetitive stress on your right foot as it switches from gas to brake over and over again for an extended time.  Well, apparently there is an unofficial term for the condition that can arise: gas pedal knee.  I definitely felt some leg pain on that commute in the first months of that job.  Eventually, I think my body adjusted to the strains of pedal pressure without any long term issue, since I was able to train up to a marathon again last year.  Here's hoping that the improved commute quality will help to bring about even better results this year!

Till next time, friends... stay blue!

16:14

We've had some sort of a real Spring season this year, with generally cool, rainy weather which has extended the typically short season.  Actually, April was a weird month that gave us a prank of a snowstorm on the first of the month, and then hit the 80s ten days later.  Weekends, though, have been pretty great these two months -- often peaking in the "golden" range of 55-65 degrees, which I love to run in.  So, I've kicked off my long run practice for the year, albeit very slowly; more walking than running for now, and sticking to my local rail trail.

Fantastic Spring sky on my first long run of the season on the rail trail:

Springtime view from the high point of the rail trail overlooking a reservoir:

I've also acquired my final pair of running shoes for the season, deciding upon the Saucony Kinvara 7. This is my third different Saucony model -- I ran my first marathon in Saucony Triumph!

Shoe update: I got really lucky this year and made two great selections in the Brooks and the Saucony pairs. Both are amazingly comfortable on my feet and I'm looking forward to another marathon later in the year, knock on wood.  At this point, the Brooks are in the lead to be the main event shoe.

Yesterday I took a departure from long runs with some climbing on Mt. Monadnock -- hill climbing is a great workout alternative.  I saw a few folks actually running up the trail, but in a characteristically uninteresting style, I myself did not make it to the summit and have no pictures to share. Rest assured, though, that I feel some burn today.  (Not as much as my brave wife who did climb all the way and has some scrapes and bruises and sore calves/quads for her effort!)

Switching gears... Memorial Day is a time for me, in recent years, to reflect on the ultimate sacrifices that have been made to preserve the foundation of freedom we cherish in this country.  Having had an active day yesterday and a rainy day today, I chose to stay in and watch the film Patriot's Day.  True, it is not a military story, but it is a story that contains ultimate sacrifice within the war that has been upon us in this age.

Overall I liked what the film accomplished.  It did not dwell too long on the bloody aftermath of the Boston marathon bombing itself, but it provided a decent (dramatized) narrative of the day leading up to the bombing and the days of investigation and pursuit afterward.  You need to get past Mark Wahlberg's composite character, who somehow manages to be directly involved in every pivotal moment in the investigation.  The other major characters are well represented.  I'm sure that I learned some new details, but since the film is a dramatization, I would have to stop myself from being too certain about anything specific.

One thing that the film captured was that the bombing was a both a local and global event -- precisely because the Boston Marathon is a quintessential annual event that both defines Boston and is celebrated around the world.  2013 was also the year that I ran my first marathon, in October, and I had truly payed attention to the Boston marathon all the way through for the first time that year. Needless to say, 2013 is pretty well etched into my memory.

17:05

Today is one of my favorite days of the year ... my new shoes finally arrived!  There was a bit of a shipping delay thanks to Stella and her "bombogenesis", but the shoes are here.  Two pairs, anyway.

One good thing about being inactive in the winter is that I can look forward to a new season of running.  It all starts with the shoes, and I order three pairs per year.  One pair is actually for day-to-day walking and that pair will see little running.  Another pair is for training.  The third pair is for training and the inevitable long event I'll be working up to this year.  (Even I don't know what that will be yet, so don't ask.  Last year it was Chicago, and all I can tell you is this year will NOT be my first choice of New York -- I wasn't accepted in the lottery.)

On the left, the New Balance Zante Fresh Foam.  For three years now, the Fresh Foam has been my go-to choice for comfortable daily wear.  I try to put in some walking every day, and these shoes caught my eye from the time they were an editor's choice in Competitor magazine a few years back. My only issue with this line of shoes is the mesh, which is the reason they are so comfy, tends to fray in places, especially near the toes. The Zante is a different edition of the Fresh Foam, and it appears to have better toe design, so I'll have to update you later about how they work out.

On the right, the Brooks Ghost 9.  I ran Chicago last year in a pair of Ghost 7s, and have heard from a Brooks sales rep that the 9s are even better.  (Gee, that's surprising news.)  I'll be the one to evaluate them, thank you very much, but I'm hopeful the Ghost 9 will be this year's long event footwear!  This will depend on what the third pair of shoes turns out to be; I am still choosing.  Perhaps my third pair should not be so blue.  :-)

And, oh yeah, it's Saint Patrick's day.

St. Patrick's day on a Friday during Lent puts me in an interesting spot.  I'll usually take advantage of one of the many deals on fish sandwiches that not so surprisingly appear this time of year.  Today was no different, and I ended up selecting the most Irish fish out there.

In fact, the Filet O' Fish owes its existence to the Catholic Friday fish tradition, which some, like my sister and her clan, follow all year long, while others, like my wife and daughter, adhere to only during Lent.  I'm not Catholic myself, but follow these dietary practices with pleasure to support my family.

When dinnertime came around today, though, the gloves were off and I was ready to savor something with beef for the occasion, so I made a selection from the 99 Restaurant's St. Patrick's menu.  Braised beef with root vegetables -- the sauce was really tasty.  It will take many miles on my new shoes to burn this one off!

So fill to me the parting glass 

And drink a health whate’er befalls 

And gently rise and softly call 

Good night and joy be to you all

17:17

Ah, winter snow.  Undoubtedly it creates some memorable views, such as this shot across the frozen river behind my office.  A peaceful resting ground on the other side!

But when you get a couple of large snowstorms over a few days, it gets challenging to find sidewalks that are clean enough to pass.  Taking a walk at lunchtime becomes an obstacle course of icy patches, puddles where snow is melting from the applied salt, and impassable banks that force me to walk around on the street.  Yes, this is reason #187 to doubt my runner credentials: I don't really run during winter.  The rail trail is not maintained in winter, and sidewalks are as I just mentioned.  Street running in winter; well, you take your life in your hands with that.

In fact, shoveling snow is usually the most intense workout I get during the winter months.  This, it is well-known, is a terrible fitness plan.

As an alternative, I do own a treadmill, but I am usually not motivated to spend a long time with it.  I'd much rather be active outside!

Recently I decided to check out running in Wii Fit U.  It's really easy; just hold a Wii remote in your hand or pocket and run in place!

-- I get treated to fine winter views, just like a real race.

-- I get passed by my daughter, just like a real race.

-- I get cheered by bystanders at the end of the race (runners who finished long before me).

Wii Fit U running scores points for creativity and a fun rendering of the real life activity.  Is it enough to keep me interested during the snowy winter months?  Probably not.  Is it a real running workout?  Also probably not.

Hey, there's one sure sign that Spring is just around the corner, and that's the Shamrock Shake.  Now comes in tasty chocolate!

18:22

Somebody needs to tell Tom Brady and the Patriots to stop putting on a great show every Sunday, because I don't think my body can take it anymore!  And what I mean by that is that my numero uno weakness in life is the availability of delicious food -- and all the great opportunities to consume large quantities of it.  If you're one of the few poor souls who decides to follow this blog, well, food will be a prominent part of it.

In fact, I also hold the title for worst runner in the world. Yes, I am the runner who, in 2011 after finishing his first 5K since college, celebrated with a beer with his colleagues and then still felt famished after arriving home so went out again for a Big Mac. I'm also the guy who, last year, decided not to let the Chicago Marathon stop me from sampling Stan's Donuts the day before the race.  Okay, three donuts.  The big kind.  In addition to my traditional pre-race Chipotle burrito bowl dinner.  After the race, I rested for an hour in the hotel and then did what I like to do most.  I ate three quarters of a small Gino's deep dish pizza.  Come on, it's Chicago, right?

Look, some runners can live and train on McDonald's and get away with it.  I am not one of those guys.  I get it.  The extra belly weight I'm carrying around prevents me from being a better runner and is generally not good for my health.  There are plenty of reminders of this everyday from news articles, pharma companies, and the internet in general.  Last year I did make an effort to try to manage my food consumption, and joined two different programs.  By the end of the year, though, I realized that I just wasn't ready for it.  I'll probably write more about those dietary experiences later.

Which brings us back to the Patriots -- here we are on another Super Bowl Sunday and I'm about to sit back to hopefully watch Tom Brady win his record-making fifth Super Bowl ring, and heck ya, I'm gonna eat!

Pre-game snack plate, a Harry and David gift set from my favorite sister that I've been saving for this exact moment!

Game time meal, tacos!  Go Pats!

19:36

Thanks for visiting my 2017 blog! This year I'll share some glimpses of life as the least interesting runner in the world. We'll laugh, we'll cry, and most of all, we'll run. Nothing much to tell about myself in post number one as I've already told you I'm the least interesting runner in the world. Try not to be jealous.

Now, I do have a very interesting and talented daughter, who attends our nearby technical high school.

Today we did a four mile walking loop down the local rail trail and over to her high school, then back home along the main road. (I always like to say, "walking is just running slowly!") Our mission -- her mission -- was to complete a photography assignment for her shop by capturing interesting shapes with her camera. I was a trusted "shape spotter." She doesn't often share with me what she's doing in school, so it's a fun treat when it happens. In return I hope to get some pro help from her with my nascent digital presence in the year to come!

You'll hear a lot about the rail trail in this blog -- it's fantastic and the trail head is close to my house. On a January day that tops 50 degrees you might see something like this, with the melting snow forming little balls on either side. (Wait, above 50 degrees in January? Cue the climate change commentary...)

All that walking made me hungry for a Jersey Mike's buffalo chicken wrap together with a cold Dos Equis.  I don't always drink beer after a run, but when I do...