tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4784666112675442162024-03-14T08:09:04.833-04:00Bong PagongBonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-45677933736780254082014-07-01T15:27:00.004-04:002014-07-01T15:34:50.653-04:00A Beautiful DreamI had a beautiful dream last night. <br />
<br />
In my dream, I was thinking of God and how He would look like.<br />
<br />
First, I saw wisps of bright white clouds slowly passing above the clear blue sky.<br />
<br />
Then, I saw a swirling pinkish light moving away from my sight.<br />
<br />
As the swirling pink light grew smaller in the distance, gradually another figure, on the left appeared. I saw an eye colored brownish green.<br />
<br />
The last thing I saw was a white duck swimming in calm waters.<br />
<br />
A couple of hours ago, the weather here looked gloomy, dark rain clouds hovered over grey skies. Then we had a big downpour, rained like cats and dogs. I saw some lightning on the horizon, and claps of thunder made Yuki jump on the couch beside Tin. Then the rain stopped.<br />
<br />
Now, as I look up the bright clear blue sky with the beautiful white clouds passing by, I think about God, who is the source of everything beautiful, everything good in this world. My sun kissed flowers in full bloom and plants sway as the gentle breeze and bright sunlight caress them. My brown wooden deck complement the healthy green leaves of my plants. I see deep pink, white, red, light pink, red/orange flowers swaying in the wind, most petals upward as if praising and adoring Him who created them.<br />
<br />
I savor this beautiful day. Although my body aches from two games of pick up basketball yesterday, I feel good, healthy and strong for my age. <br />
<br />
The ducks in our nearby ponds must be having the time of their lives in this time of plenty - sunshine, water, food. God provides.<br />
<br />
God is good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-8940607174217556862014-05-12T00:08:00.001-04:002014-05-12T14:43:36.181-04:00Remembering MotherWhere are you Mom?<br />
<br />
I miss you.<br />
<br />
My heart aches.<br />
<br />
I long for you. <br />
<br />
I love you.<br />
<br />
Tears fall down my cheeks as I go back in time - you looking at me affectionately, patting my head for a good deed.<br />
<br />
Mother, do you still smile now,like the way you smiled at me before? <br />
<br />
Do you even know how much soothing it is just remembering you?<br />
<br />
Happy Mother's Day Mom,<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
<br />
from me to you.<br />
<br />Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-48826005946330618422014-04-30T17:17:00.001-04:002014-04-30T17:18:53.931-04:00 In SolitudeAll alone sitting on a chair; the room is dark; <br />
Looking out the window; wet deck reflecting the vast gray sky; light rain from the sky falling; still and quiet inside. I open the glass door ever so slightly- cold breeze brushes my cheeks.<br />
<br />
And then a symphony of little beautiful sounds I hear - the wind howling, the pitter patter of raindrops hitting the wooden deck, and is that the chirping sound of a wet little robin I hear?<br />
<br />
I close the door, sat on my chair, close my eyes, pray in this moment of complete silence; nothingness; but me; and then You are with me; feel You; just the two of us; nothing else.<br />
<br />
Love, peace, perfection, truth and oneness with You, for a fleeting moment. Was it a minute or two or more? I do not know.<br />
<br />
All I know is You are true. <br />
In solitude,<br />
now,<br />
in perpetuity,<br />
tomorrow.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-141127514334268752014-03-14T02:29:00.000-04:002014-03-14T02:50:37.001-04:00 Why?Why am I awake this late, looking up, wondering ,<br />
why hours before dawn this cloudy sky has a reddish hue? <br />
Is it the moon, the stars, the backyard light reflected by the snow?<br />
<br />
I do not know.<br />
<br />
Three days from now I will be sixty,<br />
much happier than when I turned fifty, more in love<br />
than when I was twenty.<br />
<br />
My heart is light, burdens unloaded,<br />
filled with You, love, peace and joy.<br />
Sharing to the wounded, <br />
to You and everyone , even to Yuki, more so with Loy.<br />
<br />
Is it You within me,<br />
or me within You?<br />
<br />
Why am I here?<br />
You alone knows,<br />
am happy to know.<br />
<br />
To be with You,<br />
to be loved forever,<br />
when I am no more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-91955013117571200902013-05-01T10:45:00.000-04:002013-05-01T11:17:35.805-04:00Flowers of Assisi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The small town of Assisi in central Italy, best known as the birthplace of St. Francis, with a population of only about 3,000 is visited by millions of tourists yearly for its churches, sacred shrines, castles and narrow winding medieval streets. I had a chance to visit Assisi and enjoyed visiting all its important sites but occasionally I would stray away from our tour group to snap pictures of its beautiful flowers. I was impressed at how clean the old medieval town is. I wish we could learn from Assisi and make our own towns and cities in the Philippines not only clean but made beautiful by parks, gardens, trees and flowers.</div>
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<br />Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-6092826265922260282012-12-02T01:38:00.001-05:002012-12-30T21:28:51.121-05:00Flowers of the Holyland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span id="goog_585524627"></span><span id="goog_585524628"></span>Israel despite its arid climate is a land of beautiful flowers much to my surprise. During our tours of historical/biblical sites in the Holyland, I took a respite from listening to our tour guide, taking group pictures, listening to bible readings by intentionally straying away from the group for a few minutes to take pictures of flowers and plants in the sites. I always see the hand of God in every beautiful plant and flower which each in its separate self looks like a perfect masterpiece of art. Even though my camera shots were rushed, the pictures turned out alright, and just looking at them gives me so much joy and peace. Blessings.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-59067238402924808512012-11-27T12:31:00.000-05:002012-11-28T11:00:28.418-05:00Riding A Camel In JudeaJust returned from an exciting, enjoyable but tiring pilgrimage to Israel and Italy. Being a history major and a history teacher in high school in my twenties, I finally was able to cross out some must see places in my bucket list. Was amazed at how structures (palaces, temples, roads, houses, aqueducts, churches) and works of artisanship and art created by man from as long as 3,000 years ago are still preserved/restored to be seen and appreciated by us in the present.<br />
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I joined other Christian pilgrims visit biblical sites in Israel, mainly retracing Jesus life, from his birth in Bethlehem, his ministry of preaching and miracles in Galilee, Judea, Capernaum and Jerusalem, his crusifixion, death and resurrection. The Wailing Wall (which is a part of the old Temple of Jerusalem where Jesus also preached) in particular made quite an impression on me as Jews and Christians together touched the wall and prayed as one people.<br />
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It was quite an emotional experience , walking on the same grounds that were trodden by the feet of Jesus and his disciples, or ride a boat similar to the one during Jesus time in the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on water.<br />
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The exclamation point was when I had a chance to ride a camel (with one hump, in Saudi Arabia camels have 2 humps I was told) at the Judean Desert. Nobody else among the 11 other pilgrims I was with dared to ride the camel, maybe because we were beside a cliff, and one wrong move could be the end of the pilgrimage for the rider and the camel. The thing is, it was just like riding a water buffalo, which I experienced doing when I was young with my cousins Amang and Abel in the farming village of Sto. Cristo,San Antonio, Nueva Ecija.<br />
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We flew safely to Rome just in time, because a day after, rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas towards Israel rained the very places we toured. Rome mesmerized me. I had goosebumps viewing the Coloseum, asking in wonderment how ancient Romans were able to build such massive structures mainly thru manual labor. Like a child, I looked in awe at the great sculptures, paintings and architecture of Rome. Also had a once in a lifetime experience of seeing Pope Benedict in person at the Vatican where he blessed us and all religious articles we brought to the papal audience.<br />
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Our last stop was more a more leisurely tour of Venice, where, we had an enjoyable time riding it's famous gondola, feasted on a seafood lunch with a glass of white wine outdoors by St. Mark's Square, and an afternoon of sightseeing, shopping and walking the streets of the only car-less big city in the world. <br />
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When things get more peaceful in Egypt, I would like to visit the country too and see the Great Pyramid. Athen's Parthenon, India's Taj Mahal and China's Great Wall are also in my bucket list, the only reason preventing me from seeing these places - money. So, have to save more.<br />
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Peace and love.<br />
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<br />Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-4692093459554030812012-10-24T23:47:00.000-04:002012-10-25T00:15:32.679-04:00Fall Colours, Running And BasketballIt's autumn again here in Markham, and despite the dipping temperatures and more rainy days, there are days in between when the weather turns beautiful and sunny or the the rain stops, so one can get out, enjoy the scenery, get some fresh air. Fall has become one of my favorite seasons over the years. When I was new here, I used to hate fall weather for its gloominess, gray skies, , rain, falling leaves bare trees. As I lived 34 years of my life in a tropical country (the Pearl of the Orient Seas - the Philippines) where the temperature is warm and mostly sunny all year round, the experience of colder temperatures was quite a shock..<br />
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Now, I see fall differently. I love seeing the trees, shrubs and vegetation changing to beautiful fall colours - yellow, brown, orangy sometimes, pinkish leaves that through the days fall to the ground one by one until the branches of the trees where they were before are bare, and to me look like little hands reaching for the sky, praying to , praising and giving thanksgiving to the great creator in heaven. I love to feel the cold autumn breeze gently touching my cheeks, and savour the smell of falling leaves and damp vegetation.<br />
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In the last year my running mileage has been dramatically down from the previous years because of this chronic pain in the left side of my knee. The thing is, when I stop running for a long time the pain gets worse. I discovered that when I run slower and shorter distances, the pain seems to disappear most of the time. So, latelly in the last 2 months, I have been visiting this basketball court in a park close by and after my short slow runs, I reminish the good old days by shooting some hoops and a few times actually played 3 on 3 pick up ball with some youngsters. Of course I did not feel old when I was playing, felt it always though the morning after when I painfully struggled just to get out of my bed.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-1272362399404740492011-08-07T18:31:00.006-04:002011-08-08T18:42:00.078-04:00A Sunday Morning Run in the RainWow! It's been like forever since I last wrote on my blog. The last couple of months were quite stressful with a loved one getting ill, ending up having surgery in the hospital, and coming home to rest and recuperate with new mechanical parts in her body. I jokingly call her the "Bionic Woman". Seriously though it was hard to see her gradually change before my eyes from a healthy, robust, active, bubbly, cheerful, talkative, assertive person to one dependent on somebody just to get off bed, weak (physically), always feeling tired, sentimental, emotional, with a distorted sense of humor ( always joked about haunting me if she dies). I always reminded her not to renege on her promise for us to grow old together. Occasionally, I would joke her back by saying only the good die young.
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<br />On the home front, I still keep myself abreast with what is happening in the home country. I closely follow the controversy about an RH bill in the Congress, I read and listen to the pros and cons. Personally, I think it is about time the Philippine Congress enacts and passes an RH bill into law. It just makes sense. With our limited land area, diminished natural resources, uncontrolled population growth, a sputtering economy not helped by a world economy still reeling from the recent recession, an RH law is a must. For survival.
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<br />I was amused by PNoy's use (or overuse) of the word "wang wang" to make his points in his SONA. I like and am sold with the idea though. It is about time to rid ourselves of this wang wang mentality. If everybody is equal before God, then every Filipino should be treated equally irrespective of his status in life. Masyado tayong status conscious. It is obvious sometimes that some people from the rich and powerful class have this false sense of entitlement. Some think they are over and above the law. We need to get rid of these "wang wang" and "suntok" mentality for us to be able to compete with the Japanese, Koreans, Singaporeans. Our workers should feel they're treated with dignity and respect, and valued. Instead of saying to himself "nakakahiya" his mindset should be "kayang kaya ko ito". If our ordinary worker continues to unjustly get a "batok" or "suntok" from some powerful person without getting justice, we will not produce the confident and proud worker we need to propel the country to greatness. We will always remain the butt of jokes in Asia.
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<br />Now, on the running front. My mileage is way down.. In the last few months, my weekly mileage has averaged 15ks or less. That means 3 short 5k runs a week if lucky. Unlike when I was just starting to get serious with running in 2007 when I ran to lose weight, this time around, I have been running mostly to de-stress.
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<br />This morning was no different. Other than waking up early at 8 and preparing breakfast ( toasts, omellete, cream cheese, coffee, slices of orange, blueberries) for the whole family (Denise decided to leave her Toronto condo temporarily for the month to help her sick mom), I decided to lace up my running shoes for an early Sunday morning run. To de-stress.
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<br />Started my run on a warm and humid morning under overcast skies, no wind. Began my run slow because of the heat. Even with my slow pace I felt uneasy with my breathing. Everytime I tried to increase my pace, my breathing became more labored, so had to content myself with exceptionally slow pace. As I looked around my surroundings, noticed that plants and trees were much greener now than more than a week before. Understandable, because we just had rain in the past few days after the driest and hottest July here in Markham in years. As I passed by the nearby park and fields, I saw the grass and vegetation which were dry and brownish only days ago were now looking more lush and green. At the 1k mark, I was sweating like crazy. It was hot. Had to remove my hat everynow and then and wipe my face with my sleeve. I started to whistle to get some breeze. No luck. Mad at myself for not carrying any hydration. If only it would rain, I thought.
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<br />I looked up the gray sky and wished for rain. At the 2k mark light rain started to fall. I took off my cap again looked up and prayed a second time, "Lord, let it pour, please". And then it did. It rained so hard that by the 3rd k I could hardly see with my eyeglasses all wet and cloudy from water and sweat mixed together flowing down from my head and cap. Like a young kid playing in the rain, rejoiced, looked up, opened my mouth, stucked out my tongue as the cool rain water wet my dry mouth and thirsty throat. In a few minutes, I was completely drenched wet, including my shoes. I saw puddles of water in uneven portions of the asphalt road. I then noticed something. Big droplets of rain sometimes create bubbles as they drop in the puddles while most droplets don't. Amazing.
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<br />By the 3.5k mark it was still raining and as I looked ahead I could see 500 meters afar the woods which was part of my favorite walking/running route. The woods looked fuzzy from that far , maybe I thought from the rain, or the humidity because although it was raining it was still warm.
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<br />Was feeling tired, but enjoyed the moment, listened to my breathing, the squishing sound of my wet feet in wet socks inside my soaking wet shoes, the sound of my steps as my feet landed on the asphalt road or puddles of water. Felt the refreshing cool rain water mixed with my sweat trickle down my forehead, my face, my arms, legs. Felt my wet clothing get heavier as they hugged closer to my skin. A bird chirping. The beautiful music created by rain dropping on leaves, branches, flowers, my skin, my hat. And then my 5k run was over. Walked for another 500 meters with the rain still falling hard. Arrived home completely drenched but refreshed. De-stressed.
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<br />Peace and love.
<br />Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-21593669007590930282011-05-29T21:53:00.034-04:002011-06-19T12:17:04.176-04:00Markham's Spring Flowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRys-sMAqal53WaDPzRJ5F3fisK5UN4GGJESLhfi1kwCgWD5iAA7Of3O4rEa_7BJl3PjXnn2wTiubEDsBy-srO7dC4NVt49H5W88MAIIEYs8BvEvN8ym7_z8mTwGXjEDNV4N9l-wvLed2q/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612353033664181890" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRys-sMAqal53WaDPzRJ5F3fisK5UN4GGJESLhfi1kwCgWD5iAA7Of3O4rEa_7BJl3PjXnn2wTiubEDsBy-srO7dC4NVt49H5W88MAIIEYs8BvEvN8ym7_z8mTwGXjEDNV4N9l-wvLed2q/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKWYfRhXbwq5aC2DTC6UJH8x43SfhoNxVKLRQ3sZ-tuByNIkig8ldJpMBMq0yDWTbss4iXLNjxGzoOgSw44_OUZqDHyQca3XqG8xsJ8bBK6Ip-7h2qNdbFqlDD3kSid-V1Ge2q2dMtJo-/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612352595660381522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKWYfRhXbwq5aC2DTC6UJH8x43SfhoNxVKLRQ3sZ-tuByNIkig8ldJpMBMq0yDWTbss4iXLNjxGzoOgSw44_OUZqDHyQca3XqG8xsJ8bBK6Ip-7h2qNdbFqlDD3kSid-V1Ge2q2dMtJo-/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CU_bi6oJd9eCl2XMpx9w6M5tFaIWgOvzCkIdrHRmdvsAdjT6moA2jtQ7JYfbVGSzTYZVqTzC3Hiz172foVSkevX-9GLzpyQcHuScA33Ia0Wakyzc-mdJRb9h6Ik8cs5PA430FHK_cbOr/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612352051437303538" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CU_bi6oJd9eCl2XMpx9w6M5tFaIWgOvzCkIdrHRmdvsAdjT6moA2jtQ7JYfbVGSzTYZVqTzC3Hiz172foVSkevX-9GLzpyQcHuScA33Ia0Wakyzc-mdJRb9h6Ik8cs5PA430FHK_cbOr/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBbt-aP9jXDFX9EJfAcwavuZ2o4ak0UXOPY-NVIp5o459eWOBCutn0RiUOb-ZxOPiCfzMGNBEUmxNePZ2juO692mAQ74zS8S2imhLHO-FICGZmnPgWqaIj2BM9bn1D7pcCcDQifYuSDt0/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612351555007540962" style="WIDTH: 300px; 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CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8P3auv-kol3oQbsaZ6KMib3H8uPM0iFxATN8nddZIyn9FAD7ORK1LaMTlGVtKX12ZyRYdHylF7CtW03zptd9rj2jbxK17POz-YBkvHhD3J-OSU1ZHXqYrFu0rHcRNiCdcnIEoiGUBQ8xB/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaKCi1VEQNQc_Nr0XDUtHw_qBtoeEuDSYngQdzxnMsJriAaoO0VhgEiojVAWkrNQOU49SUaSTfTar8nj9aW2wkIurLxCHD28nnOmvmMjJrdxn7f7vl9z1p-HkToSqfMG91vSsFRNuBFh-/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612342127132008178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaKCi1VEQNQc_Nr0XDUtHw_qBtoeEuDSYngQdzxnMsJriAaoO0VhgEiojVAWkrNQOU49SUaSTfTar8nj9aW2wkIurLxCHD28nnOmvmMjJrdxn7f7vl9z1p-HkToSqfMG91vSsFRNuBFh-/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgckDgq1T4KqIFbqTS5U5ahUM11iPsYxXU8smmBBeqlGP5qfU7t2zGZcooBs_bUnn_YaYUNZvGPnNxq7yZFIUbFbynIMcf9UkaPj3pxrVWQ_QzQQ4gyeSQiAGXzL3xOglzNkwVhkzr7U/s1600/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612341675930893986" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsgckDgq1T4KqIFbqTS5U5ahUM11iPsYxXU8smmBBeqlGP5qfU7t2zGZcooBs_bUnn_YaYUNZvGPnNxq7yZFIUbFbynIMcf9UkaPj3pxrVWQ_QzQQ4gyeSQiAGXzL3xOglzNkwVhkzr7U/s400/Markham%2527s+Flowers+2011+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Lately our weather here in Markham, Ontario has been wet and gloomy. The month of May so far this year is the rainiest ever if my memory serves me right. Actually, as I am writing this blog it is drizzling outside again.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Yesterday, I took advantage of a lull in the rain in the afternoon. I did a 7k run in 50:18 minutes, a fast time for my standard. That run gives me a little bit of confidence in completing the Alfie Shrubb 8k on June 5 (in exactly 1 week) under 1 hour. Last year, I finished the race in 54 minutes and change. Plan A is to finish the race under 54 minutes.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>This morning was a different story though. I woke up late and when I opened the door to our backyard, was pleasantly surprised to see a bright sunny day and heard birds chirping as if celebrating for such a rare beautiful day. I knew that the day's forecast was for rain later in the day, so I got dressed, picked a banana, filled 2 containers with gatorade and water, and rushed out of the house with a camera for a long solitary walk around my neighborhood (while the weather was still nice).<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I took some pictures of Markham's spring flowers and other plants/trees (some wild) that I was blessed to see this time of the year along my running/walking route, and I am happy as always to share them with you.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-60563562060971412812011-05-01T20:47:00.014-04:002011-05-01T21:42:28.896-04:00My Toronto Sporting Life 10k 2011 Run in Pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-LlCQu0xQ8n2VkW3d7I0WHQ9VorbylP2GBoY_ZmoNk4gDtRe8WNeKH9wvucIsWa3gDeWB2UuxZzblseETRbT_NE3YFOJsdSCOdiMMPFN7En3b_cjRbvYbcjuEHu8-W8HIhyHG6i1Q9Bh/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601919234879877602" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-LlCQu0xQ8n2VkW3d7I0WHQ9VorbylP2GBoY_ZmoNk4gDtRe8WNeKH9wvucIsWa3gDeWB2UuxZzblseETRbT_NE3YFOJsdSCOdiMMPFN7En3b_cjRbvYbcjuEHu8-W8HIhyHG6i1Q9Bh/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJea3XC-Yi78IjvakrlyyO-GfgYVeNe1tTlcb2lM-dTePX2wnYNU1cHckn3P0zIxugg5Boenbcstu8nnN0cLLsO0ndPtBlzCVcnJyF7nmiIehw0EdHRegB1Ni18tR0MsqSNJWbCenU6Ueb/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601918677035274578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJea3XC-Yi78IjvakrlyyO-GfgYVeNe1tTlcb2lM-dTePX2wnYNU1cHckn3P0zIxugg5Boenbcstu8nnN0cLLsO0ndPtBlzCVcnJyF7nmiIehw0EdHRegB1Ni18tR0MsqSNJWbCenU6Ueb/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_xtWEBT_Q_Shl1PCQlob2F7zIp7cssJXK09YZ3rqTctpUXTwMecot6VlVrUbDt_1V4EzR-THyraDul-TH7rRU1hYxNs7WXGE72uYkcCpvfAZkEJvmyN7MzVFnNE9gSFvW_vg1RGgMf2Q/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601918294315253922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_xtWEBT_Q_Shl1PCQlob2F7zIp7cssJXK09YZ3rqTctpUXTwMecot6VlVrUbDt_1V4EzR-THyraDul-TH7rRU1hYxNs7WXGE72uYkcCpvfAZkEJvmyN7MzVFnNE9gSFvW_vg1RGgMf2Q/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbPHRA3RbZ6u0mKCTwd9sXJLj4sVLpg9jdpUKeP2SgC84-pmuu7QapWtint5u45O3bpszRYfyPCRfUU-qw4iNqjkFuzeH6QQO_zzjs3QTxy7X7sEq0a9oRUS0opp5F5LCiSdmmbnJaHdB/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601917863815950018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbPHRA3RbZ6u0mKCTwd9sXJLj4sVLpg9jdpUKeP2SgC84-pmuu7QapWtint5u45O3bpszRYfyPCRfUU-qw4iNqjkFuzeH6QQO_zzjs3QTxy7X7sEq0a9oRUS0opp5F5LCiSdmmbnJaHdB/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WA1GUrxncnU8UPJA93sn9NIoVLIq4OiHIhcM2tF5X3rE6N73z9OSQB4OoWVHu6ge1hGEqxHXUvwMZuMnYnlE2kMwr2yPHjYEKhvns2V3f-g0OaZAp13GZxCcvb1L3nwLdV5w52AipGnV/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601917428846730210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_WA1GUrxncnU8UPJA93sn9NIoVLIq4OiHIhcM2tF5X3rE6N73z9OSQB4OoWVHu6ge1hGEqxHXUvwMZuMnYnlE2kMwr2yPHjYEKhvns2V3f-g0OaZAp13GZxCcvb1L3nwLdV5w52AipGnV/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+050.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf7MP3Oyh6kxW_1pvCWHeErYDC2PjJxObuVNwxBQGYM9rfyOUnrpqbWsWOYJwEBisHIwFORL2S6GHjZ_rfqBEMZs-QavRWUqoH5qh6pRjDINqO-ZX1faS9ogwK9Pc_vfUciGVTGCZ0u3K/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601917061167875938" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEf7MP3Oyh6kxW_1pvCWHeErYDC2PjJxObuVNwxBQGYM9rfyOUnrpqbWsWOYJwEBisHIwFORL2S6GHjZ_rfqBEMZs-QavRWUqoH5qh6pRjDINqO-ZX1faS9ogwK9Pc_vfUciGVTGCZ0u3K/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhkWf4of0fmJARumIpkYJSBeIZyJAEX9fzvuvtPYHYsSPTtc9M2txkBXVywvJ5xY_3oGfgIhCFbYzyLyzHClAsD9IxeQWmWGY8w_e0cGnBtOe0bS-qqoex1c7WHQ14Ho6DY_H4a7PCuef/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601916596447192194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhkWf4of0fmJARumIpkYJSBeIZyJAEX9fzvuvtPYHYsSPTtc9M2txkBXVywvJ5xY_3oGfgIhCFbYzyLyzHClAsD9IxeQWmWGY8w_e0cGnBtOe0bS-qqoex1c7WHQ14Ho6DY_H4a7PCuef/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRaGRAgNfCKW7OSu0p2Dh3IQ6xVq31k5yrF_XRa_z3_wSrn-U9ExGby6DqudGSIlQcmeZ6m2DK3UKhP8t6PY6HbMmsesGzKFPU9onYlRyFwBtCMzz01_wr0J1LWptmrRYowU-z5fQYxPg/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+061.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601916230715768178" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRaGRAgNfCKW7OSu0p2Dh3IQ6xVq31k5yrF_XRa_z3_wSrn-U9ExGby6DqudGSIlQcmeZ6m2DK3UKhP8t6PY6HbMmsesGzKFPU9onYlRyFwBtCMzz01_wr0J1LWptmrRYowU-z5fQYxPg/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+061.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF0AcUND3dgzbP4XxXNLAAjUGPyPLFk9gigHNj3eP2GFhIY5VOOcH-77FwXI62K9yFSQ_lRW1mYtEKYHwAhP4AwpthPiAzRssQ4iO44vKI1V5D6zBNmWxEOnRLy5jOjmwej-Xk3P3ojBS/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601915768977336210" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRF0AcUND3dgzbP4XxXNLAAjUGPyPLFk9gigHNj3eP2GFhIY5VOOcH-77FwXI62K9yFSQ_lRW1mYtEKYHwAhP4AwpthPiAzRssQ4iO44vKI1V5D6zBNmWxEOnRLy5jOjmwej-Xk3P3ojBS/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+075.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpgxTO906vSRR72g7wj6eJXJ782HNr77ryaod-5tie6R9XDVY7_7nEHBIKD_WhUownJPJWA5uF4AJNHWjPOMQ9g3Uw_u2WXr97x_p1kd0bgfulQ7l4-T3SR_jM3dKae0gHrr_JCgU-DZC/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+081.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601915388157463074" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpgxTO906vSRR72g7wj6eJXJ782HNr77ryaod-5tie6R9XDVY7_7nEHBIKD_WhUownJPJWA5uF4AJNHWjPOMQ9g3Uw_u2WXr97x_p1kd0bgfulQ7l4-T3SR_jM3dKae0gHrr_JCgU-DZC/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+081.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzz2ASAzl-oug3caWFASClxHOKJa_PX_SuIy5XoEcvJJYPThGOz1cGSFzUq1ZOE64NcOxoBT5BA8IvdIkrQRvHJG5pnBHLTmMQOjyndF6ijzoxUa0mcNGVQ6vxMH7TzHt-5BJlurg5bfg/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601915058606872002" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzz2ASAzl-oug3caWFASClxHOKJa_PX_SuIy5XoEcvJJYPThGOz1cGSFzUq1ZOE64NcOxoBT5BA8IvdIkrQRvHJG5pnBHLTmMQOjyndF6ijzoxUa0mcNGVQ6vxMH7TzHt-5BJlurg5bfg/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp23qSNoYG5tMbDJIsxZRt6a-MjZ9Dkm5yFLrQ-wK98yH34LodlCg3-QrqcydeYAxJnULsbTRAUu0b-ZF8AzOA3dCTjvClwPk1J_Csw5zSKWTz5rBrF0D0z7DEXnUixkLJumEL6rn0f1mp/s1600/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+087.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601914719559949106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp23qSNoYG5tMbDJIsxZRt6a-MjZ9Dkm5yFLrQ-wK98yH34LodlCg3-QrqcydeYAxJnULsbTRAUu0b-ZF8AzOA3dCTjvClwPk1J_Csw5zSKWTz5rBrF0D0z7DEXnUixkLJumEL6rn0f1mp/s400/Toronto+Sporting+Life+10k+2011+087.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div>Had a fun time running the Toronto Sporting Life 10k with friends and more than 12,000 others in downtown Toronto on a cold, windy, overcast Sunday morning. Proceeds of the race go to a worthy cause, Kids with Cancer. A truly blessed day, considering it did not rain despite weather forecast to the contrary a day before. It was one of the best organized races I ever ran, safe course, enough marshalls, police officers, volunteers, hydration stations, bands playing music along the race course, food and drinks after the finish, a nice finisher medal, festive atmosphere.<br /><br />Peace and love.</div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-14828650987779648602011-04-12T22:04:00.021-04:002011-04-14T16:56:41.086-04:00A 10K Run in Markham in the Sunset<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzhJSG7CRi_cwaFGSg502QJKjGIrImR7KQShVX7idSfTPJUTDV63zwBntd_OPkZu-f9YxO85oDBp_kthIG_CzS1CHluxy23XGzDizEDNmUwt3LkboxaUDIkI32X_yTXHHpHlLy2eNyMxS/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594896362184217730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzhJSG7CRi_cwaFGSg502QJKjGIrImR7KQShVX7idSfTPJUTDV63zwBntd_OPkZu-f9YxO85oDBp_kthIG_CzS1CHluxy23XGzDizEDNmUwt3LkboxaUDIkI32X_yTXHHpHlLy2eNyMxS/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> After a restful 3 hour nap , I decided to lace up my running shoes and get out for a solitary 7k run in this cool but sunny late afternoon. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWbnDvIBSlwqYOfUJ2OWEHqI7GQl04ELvOAvNOxkk5nHtn9LgzO7p28-G-sLPykG8z6V6qvIxnYUpEBYNdzxFqmfiHwKJKPhT66Ym_GIVM7F-DK68FrNa8cqnFoJadAC3DCJaxwfQFrch/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594895671060629410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWbnDvIBSlwqYOfUJ2OWEHqI7GQl04ELvOAvNOxkk5nHtn9LgzO7p28-G-sLPykG8z6V6qvIxnYUpEBYNdzxFqmfiHwKJKPhT66Ym_GIVM7F-DK68FrNa8cqnFoJadAC3DCJaxwfQFrch/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> About 600 meters from my house is a small pond where geese congregate but they seem to be somewhere else at this time. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUFOPjmA6BXpLRf7FGI4ollrT7sDOSXYLlUCtk_LDW_E0Y28ELBaoBSuKSUKIoxo_iXI0jSiosf8I4ghjhnQdTtDSSLIVKGJHeAmlX3IsVH6ynq5kYHTVKKvk3XeN3ok_nJ673hEZgKXi/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594894853235550482" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYUFOPjmA6BXpLRf7FGI4ollrT7sDOSXYLlUCtk_LDW_E0Y28ELBaoBSuKSUKIoxo_iXI0jSiosf8I4ghjhnQdTtDSSLIVKGJHeAmlX3IsVH6ynq5kYHTVKKvk3XeN3ok_nJ673hEZgKXi/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Not even a kilometer into my run, passed by the nearby golf driving range where I used to hang around when golf and not running was still my fave activity 5 years ago. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnpjjLGOOBwsQLnVEFef-DfcKhu5b9-Que2LlJ14sBad9phmwDZFKl5J5kaGlg9_iM3e6fcNaKm4O_Nope-vcDhtXm6qCyK_aIsyJlFLzMC54b6S-7HMo2ujSUxy2mJ1tNe8vQD0aNroZ/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594894473342622754" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnpjjLGOOBwsQLnVEFef-DfcKhu5b9-Que2LlJ14sBad9phmwDZFKl5J5kaGlg9_iM3e6fcNaKm4O_Nope-vcDhtXm6qCyK_aIsyJlFLzMC54b6S-7HMo2ujSUxy2mJ1tNe8vQD0aNroZ/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> With winter over and warmer weather here to stay, construction of new housing close to home has resumed like this new development. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpynZavqE-40hbn_3vfEyvAg1PVzOMSI_VnRbQ7drsCdqiiLnjHufSqg0GRU-jkkJc4G2fuyJwdqdpwkIRATZOoAu4pBB4etZjXAOquhXQ7QlDaWwAWYicSDGYuEyu1HIazJ7XN1Bkqs0/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594894051884704434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpynZavqE-40hbn_3vfEyvAg1PVzOMSI_VnRbQ7drsCdqiiLnjHufSqg0GRU-jkkJc4G2fuyJwdqdpwkIRATZOoAu4pBB4etZjXAOquhXQ7QlDaWwAWYicSDGYuEyu1HIazJ7XN1Bkqs0/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> Close to 2 kilometers into my run is a Petrocanada gas station and the sign shows how much we pay for gas here in Markham per liter, a whopping $1.27 per liter. Considering that Canada is one of the biggest oil producers in the world, the price we pay for gasoline is absurd. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDHYkibdvtf7-mnSsDN5JmTsloy4zwNZCVM_by_0TkNUDIBaBQQNaXkFinbz0gToyzNFo80SEQ0aFnkQt1XAzFPuBr8ECFfHvkYUwvW5NQbAZRvziRvJJGD-RjNNt0jSTtZDCWyHdtVJS/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594893701869117474" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwDHYkibdvtf7-mnSsDN5JmTsloy4zwNZCVM_by_0TkNUDIBaBQQNaXkFinbz0gToyzNFo80SEQ0aFnkQt1XAzFPuBr8ECFfHvkYUwvW5NQbAZRvziRvJJGD-RjNNt0jSTtZDCWyHdtVJS/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> Dry grass remain standing upright even with all the snow, wind, and rain the past autumn and winter. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFF5aTplU7a-F4YYshzpep8D1Q0MOQs4MWO2qyqkPbSy9vp0K6-L-nDyOPo0yGpQukGfezq86RtKEJSrAtuQ6F-VuPEFQO8Mhbyn5BSlr4JUaZMzQOnJrOA8TZ6dQd2-FeM-K_wgdt4Dr/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594893306374812146" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFF5aTplU7a-F4YYshzpep8D1Q0MOQs4MWO2qyqkPbSy9vp0K6-L-nDyOPo0yGpQukGfezq86RtKEJSrAtuQ6F-VuPEFQO8Mhbyn5BSlr4JUaZMzQOnJrOA8TZ6dQd2-FeM-K_wgdt4Dr/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+034.jpg" border="0" /></a> The fairways of the nearby Angus Glen golf course will be abuzz with golfers in a months time when they turn to lush green. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5yXmuElaRHxrAOCg4tvjbzXzhHfRFL_LMNH5Nzn1siZDaNWL6G5bbhj6JNtLGyEXYGwuV5Cdm0FwWyO8HPoLTpp5AxVVGcTi3bOjlWszgGgsuvKAInA2BOapCXHjw1kqrKiolEEj7qvF/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594892934902441282" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5yXmuElaRHxrAOCg4tvjbzXzhHfRFL_LMNH5Nzn1siZDaNWL6G5bbhj6JNtLGyEXYGwuV5Cdm0FwWyO8HPoLTpp5AxVVGcTi3bOjlWszgGgsuvKAInA2BOapCXHjw1kqrKiolEEj7qvF/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+036.jpg" border="0" /></a> The Angus Glen golf course still brownish at this time of the year once had Tiger Woods and other PGA golfers walking its fairways and greens to play the Canadian Open. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99HT0uTgBwjSLHS3vADDMRUqfuc6wq_nAl_YRvWDS6irzaO4WZsUU0c6-lTyv8Lq7OzfpYqpmzi_ilYYCSiGvisOz_1vJxUaym1sMf8tduZfydghyn9KxXkRoGunEMwRMcT6zBGYBPJA4/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594892542879563346" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99HT0uTgBwjSLHS3vADDMRUqfuc6wq_nAl_YRvWDS6irzaO4WZsUU0c6-lTyv8Lq7OzfpYqpmzi_ilYYCSiGvisOz_1vJxUaym1sMf8tduZfydghyn9KxXkRoGunEMwRMcT6zBGYBPJA4/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+010.jpg" border="0" /></a> Passed by this quiet neighborhood along Major Mackenzie after Mc Cowan Road, with the sun slowly setting in the northwest. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8PpfyA3vH6Im7-S52hljxNsw_RdpyGCbx-p_2lADWhfF2WtTya8eVXD6PiIU9C3-M5q6aej1W2_UyHvg-5Lq1nhi2QRifpRDOKeB-dIE07SnV1xA-0usETOvWHesLPUilVChvOa2kEOA/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594891736880411522" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8PpfyA3vH6Im7-S52hljxNsw_RdpyGCbx-p_2lADWhfF2WtTya8eVXD6PiIU9C3-M5q6aej1W2_UyHvg-5Lq1nhi2QRifpRDOKeB-dIE07SnV1xA-0usETOvWHesLPUilVChvOa2kEOA/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> Met this solitary walker at the corner of Major Mac and Kennedy Road., as I waited for the pedestrian light to turn walk. We eyed each other, me thinking , what is this goose doing in a place like this alone when geese are supposed to be in a group, while the goose must be wondering what is this fat man doing running like crazy when he should just be walking. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIvsm7VwJ_qiL1mPW95Oehpm3pBUeuiFSOZMNvXxyMXLt4S-9SWilUAFYHo1UmNAagNgGcqaO1Bk5r073ePMTWi4Rqwh1YuMezh3jMWqxuzpuST55cLuey1MjL2w-_qGN7RunHAu1RqtH/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594890980235250626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIvsm7VwJ_qiL1mPW95Oehpm3pBUeuiFSOZMNvXxyMXLt4S-9SWilUAFYHo1UmNAagNgGcqaO1Bk5r073ePMTWi4Rqwh1YuMezh3jMWqxuzpuST55cLuey1MjL2w-_qGN7RunHAu1RqtH/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> Played once in this golf course for a discounted price of $125 years ago. Not worth it when you score over 100 and wins the most honest scorer award. <br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEmCNZl78gPSHR8fCy_3B5ZuYMYpivDGW5NLDDvkw_dXV4nCgucpMJPUH-Lqf3_S4NBtf6WPqT1kO1fC8L1xHiv2K0V0TS4351TZjPcnTo0siEgSQGRZZxq03vIWZV38fxauXOAJBDN3I/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594890544847441778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEmCNZl78gPSHR8fCy_3B5ZuYMYpivDGW5NLDDvkw_dXV4nCgucpMJPUH-Lqf3_S4NBtf6WPqT1kO1fC8L1xHiv2K0V0TS4351TZjPcnTo0siEgSQGRZZxq03vIWZV38fxauXOAJBDN3I/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Something about wooden bridges and streams that make me feel serene, peaceful, prayerful. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRMv3Cq3DgRK6jixN4Y17c1M1SRX5AXgJ-gnaLTydb6FA_IpowRAD4yCi0Apw7Na9yrpVlbZ8ZC2wlEVUHh9MIYzHcev2O9qIQ4rJeC9pujDj22x3MGhg90aKINIcqnPjTLwvJ4sLjTxW/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594890026522434034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRMv3Cq3DgRK6jixN4Y17c1M1SRX5AXgJ-gnaLTydb6FA_IpowRAD4yCi0Apw7Na9yrpVlbZ8ZC2wlEVUHh9MIYzHcev2O9qIQ4rJeC9pujDj22x3MGhg90aKINIcqnPjTLwvJ4sLjTxW/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+021.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>While the sun begins to set on the horizon, trees barren of leaves with their branches reaching up to the sky as if praying and praising the Creator create a breathtaking sight .</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nPdAsN9-Fh-spvseyhrXSwlT_7XAuhgi0R6ml_wwVO_J1ncm-9iniy0TrWlNftp4Ddqn0BF27aqjFO0SRhyphenhyphenK6ZSNnOXZBiOJ2X2xrBtwMupZFNdwnuZLeMu3i31xtR_pv_5G1K6qKE49/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889594216018834" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nPdAsN9-Fh-spvseyhrXSwlT_7XAuhgi0R6ml_wwVO_J1ncm-9iniy0TrWlNftp4Ddqn0BF27aqjFO0SRhyphenhyphenK6ZSNnOXZBiOJ2X2xrBtwMupZFNdwnuZLeMu3i31xtR_pv_5G1K6qKE49/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+041.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>A small stream winding its way down to where I was. </div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNqKMy0FWT3I_Otws-YJH2WJGIZSkGIofDMTZ5Vgd691ZpNMe-av0O3iYM7xvLZeC2YY8CR5qbYD8vkqV4oMmreZ0VYYYvDo-OWZkDwQAQ2y83QmJwVXGcPe6DyU0pMQaeSQvmq9caprG/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594889229787639778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNqKMy0FWT3I_Otws-YJH2WJGIZSkGIofDMTZ5Vgd691ZpNMe-av0O3iYM7xvLZeC2YY8CR5qbYD8vkqV4oMmreZ0VYYYvDo-OWZkDwQAQ2y83QmJwVXGcPe6DyU0pMQaeSQvmq9caprG/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+037.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Running back after reaching the 5k point. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE_zjB1P7Su-nFivYR3v_xYof4SZBhj7984AfajO1ZXW0eg4lX7rb01-lpdsr6FRnLcy7BMQrOnpbbVoudQH6-O9L1dv9W6abS-AWxVyEbsJ2AzKrEX-P7OTPwbaL_uS8WykkrmbUWdFO/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594888318752515090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeE_zjB1P7Su-nFivYR3v_xYof4SZBhj7984AfajO1ZXW0eg4lX7rb01-lpdsr6FRnLcy7BMQrOnpbbVoudQH6-O9L1dv9W6abS-AWxVyEbsJ2AzKrEX-P7OTPwbaL_uS8WykkrmbUWdFO/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+011.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>Felt my hands get colder while the sun was setting, so had to wear my thin cotton gloves. The temperature at this time must have gone down to 5 above zero. I thought, I made the right decision to wear my Runningroom jacket on top of 2 layers of technical shirts. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUVXSaGGa8VonBAYldNAm56fIqRWI-8FSmviAInm1HQ0wsr9pAh-VrVQNrjXsuX9w87rE2nywk-XF_Uvt2Cg4YAzJjj18ZPGEeNMkgC-jJHpkQhhb5MRyBFHTnw3Jqslwm1GKvYLNr6t/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594887518694389394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUVXSaGGa8VonBAYldNAm56fIqRWI-8FSmviAInm1HQ0wsr9pAh-VrVQNrjXsuX9w87rE2nywk-XF_Uvt2Cg4YAzJjj18ZPGEeNMkgC-jJHpkQhhb5MRyBFHTnw3Jqslwm1GKvYLNr6t/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+028.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div>For God so loved the world..... </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vi9FVXtHWC_g1AcY3K9EmcVO4b0Z1hGNWHzjwXmi5i6j23vE3_wp85oLSQnIWmtuKQsHS2_Pb375ff883AG-p04u4eRShXRLhUNcrhXUy04uVMi3seMvv2bnWvl2yK1hM79iQv48JtZE/s1600/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594887081881346290" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vi9FVXtHWC_g1AcY3K9EmcVO4b0Z1hGNWHzjwXmi5i6j23vE3_wp85oLSQnIWmtuKQsHS2_Pb375ff883AG-p04u4eRShXRLhUNcrhXUy04uVMi3seMvv2bnWvl2yK1hM79iQv48JtZE/s400/A+10K+Run+in+the+Sunset%252C+april+12%252C+2011+026.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><div>Peace and love.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Did a total of 10ks (got carried away and added 3ks to the 7k i initially planned to run)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My next race is the Toronto Sporting Life 10K on May 1, 2011.</div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-31460467725532922482011-02-07T18:13:00.019-05:002011-02-09T18:25:57.831-05:00My Condura 5K Run in Pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1Z5W6Iw2fjLAS_5cdfji19mzjE2I7feFLtBqbITZSdXrPw-l9rBZBMns-BjUuGMHxwy6Wq9md1gn5ho3Hyeyg1nXyAVjFe3SVMFbZ0DJgAjm7hh2kcZeGNJV6I8G8VgtSEiL76jBNClD/s1600/DSCN4911.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 300px; 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HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571096402236306418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr29zNztFvAHFvDiZBf0_kh4mO44kel9yNwwvVZ7dEaDDSFs9_plDd01Gsgg2DOgrvNMXYZsfOWc3ESE2EeJnX84_VhcVKyoQmDfVrkWSRggEpC-lbSIFiSIYWEZzZ6sk8oXi9SsQ_wC3i/s400/DSCN4879.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgCvK1pMUa2lfSBoD4F9j4406yKA0Qnv0gth5xxOZTeYqmXEbVWoOZXVJNt_eguhyphenhyphenG6SGHO_3y-k_4J-PmFpMzPE8RPuEMUKytNVNd5F13Ji2uBDssWO7C1PWjh1fczNvHI4tcL_9KaDY/s1600/DSCN4886.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571095825100052226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgCvK1pMUa2lfSBoD4F9j4406yKA0Qnv0gth5xxOZTeYqmXEbVWoOZXVJNt_eguhyphenhyphenG6SGHO_3y-k_4J-PmFpMzPE8RPuEMUKytNVNd5F13Ji2uBDssWO7C1PWjh1fczNvHI4tcL_9KaDY/s400/DSCN4886.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWoWCI67opkrJ4s-NVN-SZWw-3O6oA4Hsjgq_WwH8U5h7XSIAf2ZgQHKljcHmnUi9X_caaeFWs6CH7GdK_y-kQC60wzyUn-0JfKjjc9i92N9PKdd5GoYzy1uijATU9war765K_b3pGeLd/s1600/DSCN4912.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571095158892362306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWoWCI67opkrJ4s-NVN-SZWw-3O6oA4Hsjgq_WwH8U5h7XSIAf2ZgQHKljcHmnUi9X_caaeFWs6CH7GdK_y-kQC60wzyUn-0JfKjjc9i92N9PKdd5GoYzy1uijATU9war765K_b3pGeLd/s400/DSCN4912.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfPcNL7a0frXtEp3JF1gGoX8gkEv6WZ5-96qpEj1pFabkIh_wHELeSVdAIV43cGXMdQfJ5pGS40DLaUP8KWTMHbcPyj7bLX_KYI8pc5N059Uw4LALCqMIKqbgekOfDc3qeoUBm88ImVYD/s1600/DSCN4913.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571094442489984626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfPcNL7a0frXtEp3JF1gGoX8gkEv6WZ5-96qpEj1pFabkIh_wHELeSVdAIV43cGXMdQfJ5pGS40DLaUP8KWTMHbcPyj7bLX_KYI8pc5N059Uw4LALCqMIKqbgekOfDc3qeoUBm88ImVYD/s400/DSCN4913.JPG" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkTR_BkqcHZXIf7iu-mmPhLtyccS4YkhAX_XTWBD3s6Ae44fX9ViEfGk1bOzM8m_z5ycsjeke9axOJOo0EqACU4iJySoR1YoOc7Jppde7yxdy1A1Gh6bGFuOVGZX69fuwd9zv54eml0z8/s1600/DSCN4915.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571093240888000978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkTR_BkqcHZXIf7iu-mmPhLtyccS4YkhAX_XTWBD3s6Ae44fX9ViEfGk1bOzM8m_z5ycsjeke9axOJOo0EqACU4iJySoR1YoOc7Jppde7yxdy1A1Gh6bGFuOVGZX69fuwd9zv54eml0z8/s400/DSCN4915.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVtCuxQ9H8XcDPbmsPNsQ9VPMSd-oJOptnjlCxfkoFYy8dWovgN2Hk43AVtsoyjGpH1ReyEEXUEszdg64plv7EgAXObsKIqfHH-Tw1wFATUrFJLLSFDrDBhgZOykZoDP-JwVPkNbyVHDH/s1600/DSCN4916.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571092653521084274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVtCuxQ9H8XcDPbmsPNsQ9VPMSd-oJOptnjlCxfkoFYy8dWovgN2Hk43AVtsoyjGpH1ReyEEXUEszdg64plv7EgAXObsKIqfHH-Tw1wFATUrFJLLSFDrDBhgZOykZoDP-JwVPkNbyVHDH/s400/DSCN4916.JPG" /></a><br /><br />If pictures speak louder than words, then everything that the organizers of the Condura Skyway Marathon races promised proved to be true, plus more. I was quite impressed with how organized the race I ran, the 5k was. There were sufficient race staff to help participants find parking, guide them to the start area. The race announcer kept the crowd up to date and pumped up while warming up minutes before the race. The race started on time. There were more than enough water and gatorade in cups in the hydration stations (3 in the 5k).</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>The post race festivities were as much fun as the race itself. In addition to the finisher medal and loot bag, runners were showered more freebees. Fruit drinks, spring water, bananas, popsicles, powerbars were given out. I saw group of friends, whole families of runners, individual runners lining up to the numerous booths offering goodies or meeting famous celebrities. We enjoyed hot breakfast of tapa and tocino, garlic fried rice, eggs, hot coffee. Some people sat on the grass while eating like having a picnic.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My brother Lino, and his son, Kevin who ran their first ever roadrace had so much fun like myself believe the Condura run just converted them to be runners for life. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>Overall, the Condura , based on my own experience is one running event that Pinoys should be proud of. The Concepcion brothers, Patrick and Ton did an excellent job showcasing to the country and the rest of the world that the Pinoy is capable of organizing a running event equal to or even better than some of the more prestigious races in the world.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Peace and love.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-19474982966387701752011-01-06T19:03:00.020-05:002011-01-13T16:04:47.709-05:00Running in the Snow with Condura in My Mind<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfkh0GyBu87XWkL1WGcBJWIkPLfBQdAe6cQNP3U7lpghHF1az6M2MqVaTUE4DCAltQlb-4aLJYMcGcCf7hG61gbTgqgNGu8vc4zxU5iL92zwvCHO59Bwy4toi3jRuDQ3CsiiG_d_fSFqm/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559244214463305378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCfkh0GyBu87XWkL1WGcBJWIkPLfBQdAe6cQNP3U7lpghHF1az6M2MqVaTUE4DCAltQlb-4aLJYMcGcCf7hG61gbTgqgNGu8vc4zxU5iL92zwvCHO59Bwy4toi3jRuDQ3CsiiG_d_fSFqm/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />For the first time this new year, I got out of the house for a run. The temperature was not too cold, around minus 3 Celsius, with light snow falling and about 3 inches of snow on the ground. Had a chance to wear my Asics trail shoes and my winter running pants and top, which remained unused since last winter until now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBSktaCSyr7IIpRLWjsVCjtaGc7tZmhJ1DUedkTL30yUVlqpAQlPSGM_VZl1rvmjKkxOoXnR_TbyDk7JtuxkQApvQTjysUDK3mwIyYrz0lP7NgaN-buXszEIU45h18mtLIF67Ym02Egxf/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559233007046535730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBSktaCSyr7IIpRLWjsVCjtaGc7tZmhJ1DUedkTL30yUVlqpAQlPSGM_VZl1rvmjKkxOoXnR_TbyDk7JtuxkQApvQTjysUDK3mwIyYrz0lP7NgaN-buXszEIU45h18mtLIF67Ym02Egxf/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Before lacing up my running shoes for the run, I finally did what I have been planning to do for a long long time since taking up running in 2007. I registered online to run my first road race, the Condura 5k in my home country, the Philippines. The date is February 6, 2011, exactly 30 days from now. I am so excited. I heard that the Condura Skyway Marathon is one of the best if not the best organized race in the home country. Proceeds of the races will also go to a great cause, the protection of dolphins in Philippine waters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvtDnftwcf3nQKELkGcqWYi0b6Fczs3DMF_IR3j3RZXwXjdAua9A3pgUjJUFyr-e33WMKx_WohpSis95Hvqzmg6xsSmTGX5d9OFJqTvt601D2jwzWD2N7x7hsC0H4gO-5vacquX8nLbuq/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559232079840831026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvtDnftwcf3nQKELkGcqWYi0b6Fczs3DMF_IR3j3RZXwXjdAua9A3pgUjJUFyr-e33WMKx_WohpSis95Hvqzmg6xsSmTGX5d9OFJqTvt601D2jwzWD2N7x7hsC0H4gO-5vacquX8nLbuq/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Passing by my favorite running route, most of the ground without tall grass and trees were covered by white snow. The ground was quite uneven but not slippery, and my new running shoes performed great showing good grip as I plodded on the snow covered pathway slowly. There was nobody around, and all I could hear was my heavy/labored breathing, the howling of the wind and the sound of my slow/heavy feet hitting the ground. Running alone and loving it, the serenity, simplicity, peacefulness, purity of the surroundings engulfed my heart with so much joy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SjD7p4ao1iFAlMeXuMyyWIWxRcdig02kxh6ZNeyHC-U9IgNBNhBTCX_s57Dj9lrkY7LLenuOlWeux3ZPD-5ZWI0D12FmF1e9W_vu5OlTNE5bKs7Rode_t7Rop4W8VDNpW5bU0g2LGo9x/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559231641083538162" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SjD7p4ao1iFAlMeXuMyyWIWxRcdig02kxh6ZNeyHC-U9IgNBNhBTCX_s57Dj9lrkY7LLenuOlWeux3ZPD-5ZWI0D12FmF1e9W_vu5OlTNE5bKs7Rode_t7Rop4W8VDNpW5bU0g2LGo9x/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As I passed by the playground in the nearby park which was empty, I thought of the Condura races, which have attracted more than 4 thousand runner entrants as of today. It would be so different from this, as I imagined myself running side by side with thousands and thousands of runners (most of whom look like me, :))in the warm sunny day of early February, instead of the freezing, gloomy weather we have here now. This race will also be special because I am running with my baby brother Lino and my nephew Kevin, both of them running a road race for the first time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt_wi3eAop1hFNSEeZQPtF4YHdQQdEiAqViSU3gv84SEKn1ODhFXlxId0vrDwqKjf9q6lbgg5JLs88QhGp2tc2CHlEUZSuRswlUqax9d9VGCbUJQeSm42OmdfehgBcks5B7clUUpxr6Vy/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559231049576245858" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDt_wi3eAop1hFNSEeZQPtF4YHdQQdEiAqViSU3gv84SEKn1ODhFXlxId0vrDwqKjf9q6lbgg5JLs88QhGp2tc2CHlEUZSuRswlUqax9d9VGCbUJQeSm42OmdfehgBcks5B7clUUpxr6Vy/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A happy thought or maybe a wish popped in my mind. That during the run, I see or meet some of my favorite Pinoy blogger runners, whose inspirational posts I have been following in the last few years. I have not met anyone of them personally and it would be icing on the cake when I meet one of my idols. I know with thousands of runners participating the likelihood of being in the same place at the same time with the people who most inspired me in the sport of running is remote. But one can always dream. Imagine, running side by side with the Bullrunner, Baldrunner, Runningshield, Ninjarunner, RunningDiva, High Altitude, Secondwind, Sheerwill, In a Nutshell, Jet,Nora, Try Athlete, Run Unltd., Succulence Unleashed, Jinoe, Doralicious, Hotlegs Runner, Ani, Pia, Scientist Runner, Runner for Christ, JRunning, Gingerbread Report, Kulit on the Run, Kastilyong Lapis, Rick Gaston , Fr. Amado - the list can go on and on. Wow!!! The who's who of Philippine running.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgh1WaH6l_wfgxC42RExi3uB-KqTDQsPQE4UclIqywzn-xHCZtpixQpvJy-HrXgD-CZR58jOwJIecQWyTGmOWt0T6jN8EkzSTmQLGGrDjRPTXxaZQZbjklIkDA7RmJauPBfTnFdXXGHMi/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559230556978520930" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgh1WaH6l_wfgxC42RExi3uB-KqTDQsPQE4UclIqywzn-xHCZtpixQpvJy-HrXgD-CZR58jOwJIecQWyTGmOWt0T6jN8EkzSTmQLGGrDjRPTXxaZQZbjklIkDA7RmJauPBfTnFdXXGHMi/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The snow started falling harder late into the run and I felt my hands getting really cold.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JSb3LZNMIhq4a8hb8r4AcHcEI7qsY0I2lgK6GMAjg18zXqlPJRSFVjjyrG4j7iuvxW4sQ-mkbZLnVYQijVcuh6cjQ5HvKNclOwPalR1yIfb0bYru4HOJAtRN9XHWNFWLiCxzb7cSGd37/s1600/January+6%252C+2011+run+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559230152437564386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1JSb3LZNMIhq4a8hb8r4AcHcEI7qsY0I2lgK6GMAjg18zXqlPJRSFVjjyrG4j7iuvxW4sQ-mkbZLnVYQijVcuh6cjQ5HvKNclOwPalR1yIfb0bYru4HOJAtRN9XHWNFWLiCxzb7cSGd37/s400/January+6%252C+2011+run+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />These white dots are snow falling that were illuminated by some street lights. My legs were feeling heavier at this time around the 4-5 k mark, but my breathing was good considering the cold wind, that was making my nose, ears and hands feel cold.<br /><br />Did a total of 5.64 ks. Felt good.<br /><br />Will try to run 7ks on Saturday.<br /><br />Peace and love.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-2243417848911098342010-10-25T20:04:00.015-04:002010-10-25T21:40:00.400-04:00Fall Colours<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexE_vHErQt1dJWSoP0L1_s0uG_A_yD-gSltN8WXWc-MU5EWbZksgCnd-MAd1CkbYEc56vQM6J5wKIUZHx3eUXm4ESZ4pQ66H26lFJnOTAZlp2OHlk71RRa7l89tTE5zTPp_VkuYhT_uZV/s1600/Fall+run+october+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532147039649744818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexE_vHErQt1dJWSoP0L1_s0uG_A_yD-gSltN8WXWc-MU5EWbZksgCnd-MAd1CkbYEc56vQM6J5wKIUZHx3eUXm4ESZ4pQ66H26lFJnOTAZlp2OHlk71RRa7l89tTE5zTPp_VkuYhT_uZV/s400/Fall+run+october+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>After working this weekend, it was time for a well deserved day off for me today. Slept long last night. Walked Yuki in the morning with parts of the pedestrian walkway and the grass in the park still wet from 2 days of rain. Did some catch up reading of newspapers from the home country and then had a $15 haircut. After a hearty lunch of sinigang na baka with white rice, went to play chess on the internet. Won more than half of my games. By around 1, was tired playing and felt sleepy. Went upstairs for a nap with Yuki following me. Woke up at 5 with Yuki still snuggled beside me. An ideal day except for one more thing lacking. A run.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo5edNXHu5516o1a2_q2aWFK3WX0oBfz40ke2siLFCFAr0vnNkWBaXFP0ZFui9jmh6Rw-NTNIFnA_EHLjn11zRgh1SFqesyIGem5lf4_mryuY6rs0Mtmu1nrUVpK1Xaxc5tV5-aXw1Ugm/s1600/Fall+run+october+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532145562580258642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBo5edNXHu5516o1a2_q2aWFK3WX0oBfz40ke2siLFCFAr0vnNkWBaXFP0ZFui9jmh6Rw-NTNIFnA_EHLjn11zRgh1SFqesyIGem5lf4_mryuY6rs0Mtmu1nrUVpK1Xaxc5tV5-aXw1Ugm/s400/Fall+run+october+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As I laced up my running shoes Yuki was looking at me pleading to take her, but not this time . The weather was perfect for running, around 16 degrees, breezy, cool but comfortable. Just wore shorts, short sleeved shirt and carried as usual my camera and a plastic bottle of water.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXGJbKmCHZu1xDbkH6Bf4IsOQ8Wt-JHOJf8k_NJ4NkXbgVIiqEYRiXBm7wwESI8nONdQq3EsTocfXfORrKgtkfP-pa8wfn1VaAhRQjlEVqR1Eco-KTfQje9POddmZreD-DkL1Hond0bfK/s1600/Fall+run+october+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532145105868941042" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXGJbKmCHZu1xDbkH6Bf4IsOQ8Wt-JHOJf8k_NJ4NkXbgVIiqEYRiXBm7wwESI8nONdQq3EsTocfXfORrKgtkfP-pa8wfn1VaAhRQjlEVqR1Eco-KTfQje9POddmZreD-DkL1Hond0bfK/s400/Fall+run+october+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A few steps from my place, some of the shrubs are starting to change color from green to red.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZWwIlDrHIL7sV7Tk3zXz7ZyJTIlwPlZN6GUCT8nZPtFNRoPw_Uv-HZedOtefaejr0g7ubCcsbubcJtgZ8JEs16xkonazPquPtekl_UttUpvLSvT53jBfD9aRfs-bhfC3YqhBODxCUKgx/s1600/Fall+run+october+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532144692852893458" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZWwIlDrHIL7sV7Tk3zXz7ZyJTIlwPlZN6GUCT8nZPtFNRoPw_Uv-HZedOtefaejr0g7ubCcsbubcJtgZ8JEs16xkonazPquPtekl_UttUpvLSvT53jBfD9aRfs-bhfC3YqhBODxCUKgx/s400/Fall+run+october+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I passed by my favorite trail and found that most trees were bare of leaves and the pathways were just covered by dry leaves.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMxjHe-oqPackvm90FJ0v5kou0lkhWORgYG1TWKJn3F_fnC696E1X0t2j3zswZz5u6Ll351pWZbM1fqqwp-vSQb3luEVojuvQ5LgkfjYqGPHoy8NCkntzLS7DLWpV2BR_vTGvvc7k7pGw/s1600/Fall+run+october+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532144243507662546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMxjHe-oqPackvm90FJ0v5kou0lkhWORgYG1TWKJn3F_fnC696E1X0t2j3zswZz5u6Ll351pWZbM1fqqwp-vSQb3luEVojuvQ5LgkfjYqGPHoy8NCkntzLS7DLWpV2BR_vTGvvc7k7pGw/s400/Fall+run+october+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />"Yellow" trees. Their leaves are green during late spring and summer but turn to yellow during fall before they finally fall off making these trees bare of leaves in late fall.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCR9Jst3_phzgWoueeeaKdJjoThhAMHcHXt_RkR4mZjNiW1rAu-sa04mZcg5tI4NDzznBQkds8MdoU65b2hz6YCMO0Ns817r86S3dxjlvbd66w7jAR9SZoVRk_3MOzTuy6Bo2jDil8_KP/s1600/Fall+run+october+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532143631220190626" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCR9Jst3_phzgWoueeeaKdJjoThhAMHcHXt_RkR4mZjNiW1rAu-sa04mZcg5tI4NDzznBQkds8MdoU65b2hz6YCMO0Ns817r86S3dxjlvbd66w7jAR9SZoVRk_3MOzTuy6Bo2jDil8_KP/s400/Fall+run+october+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It was so quiet and peaceful running late afternoon in my neighborhood. So different from the noise, traffic, people in the streets of GSIs Village in Quezon City where I grew up. For the more than 5 kilometers I ran, was lucky to see more than a dozen people total walking the streets.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBFlGwCaH4JIFHGSaKNn67tZwCv8JR2U_7yyJVVyL-kG7AWERNUlR6igJ4cQjA0OX7wlLPEncsSFY50LVtrbLuo0upkOEsasMinsqAQrMnb7wGaygEegcpQveOs_fY-BrZ9gPcASRNCjZ/s1600/Fall+run+october+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532143106955413570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBFlGwCaH4JIFHGSaKNn67tZwCv8JR2U_7yyJVVyL-kG7AWERNUlR6igJ4cQjA0OX7wlLPEncsSFY50LVtrbLuo0upkOEsasMinsqAQrMnb7wGaygEegcpQveOs_fY-BrZ9gPcASRNCjZ/s400/Fall+run+october+017.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another part of my neighborhood. My walk break. Had to take a sip of water and snap some pictures. This time, I was sweating despite the cool breeze, but overall, felt good, relaxed, serene, happy.</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPUA_UpWY-u7Qk_RzqD3hsNLEUIgshPsJZnQnosFu7vQITvcGsj_nnCsFvTz_0IuWyzJ5jKTV_FP9SCdLim9AmwBORpRvjOnYqvGMWdE-djgQFiIYclB8yiSV8dofzHpKOr2b4syRc-7t/s1600/Fall+run+october+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532142075995876642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPUA_UpWY-u7Qk_RzqD3hsNLEUIgshPsJZnQnosFu7vQITvcGsj_nnCsFvTz_0IuWyzJ5jKTV_FP9SCdLim9AmwBORpRvjOnYqvGMWdE-djgQFiIYclB8yiSV8dofzHpKOr2b4syRc-7t/s400/Fall+run+october+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />We can find beauty in the simplest of God's creations, like these reddish colored trees starting to shed off their leaves.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN9DW50l3mE2NjPPZ38xzLBjukh70i7GVvd-ncqYqUmlqDasFSVACxTM1l5rMVYDJFZk-5lX68Ysdg9S15mW0gm367KCs0jVDotltOh6qmY7y_6FmfEXlqSpqKOuSohrYbAMDBOdJ_3Ia/s1600/Fall+run+october+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532141708092559890" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzN9DW50l3mE2NjPPZ38xzLBjukh70i7GVvd-ncqYqUmlqDasFSVACxTM1l5rMVYDJFZk-5lX68Ysdg9S15mW0gm367KCs0jVDotltOh6qmY7y_6FmfEXlqSpqKOuSohrYbAMDBOdJ_3Ia/s400/Fall+run+october+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I ran on a winding pathway close to a pond, I was all alone, it was so quiet all I could hear was my breathing and the sound of my shuffling feet.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs4hf3JCHjR48cjWGt_0f44BNwbNdBNTcusm9b5cmv5-_eyN4Ma9mQEtb7YDF2rrniwVV9LkemB2tHk0JJTkHkWTmaIhmGkFOFWgl-1TWHa6C6ahQ4FmKWOAUxekDO-PLZS8T2Ntr6_Sk/s1600/Fall+run+october+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532140932562622098" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirs4hf3JCHjR48cjWGt_0f44BNwbNdBNTcusm9b5cmv5-_eyN4Ma9mQEtb7YDF2rrniwVV9LkemB2tHk0JJTkHkWTmaIhmGkFOFWgl-1TWHa6C6ahQ4FmKWOAUxekDO-PLZS8T2Ntr6_Sk/s400/Fall+run+october+020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On solitary runs like this, I always feel a oneness with my surroundings, a closeness to the Creator, a peaceful feeling, living in the moment, forgetting about everything other than my being the center of the universe . I wonder if every runner experiences the same feelings on his solitary runs.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR0eeX2V9Yn1H208McOKCl4ZmQqHKpXFDVkSwduiGRYWs4FUEvX5J3IsAFBSXpQqLCpxMI2M4wdhFsrvVXBKq3AHP757nDFBJpSdbCxOvD-rbywD_qDIllE8L56HrQm7hDnRsej9dmP8A/s1600/Fall+run+october+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532140354086488498" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsR0eeX2V9Yn1H208McOKCl4ZmQqHKpXFDVkSwduiGRYWs4FUEvX5J3IsAFBSXpQqLCpxMI2M4wdhFsrvVXBKq3AHP757nDFBJpSdbCxOvD-rbywD_qDIllE8L56HrQm7hDnRsej9dmP8A/s400/Fall+run+october+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On the way back home, it was starting to get dark.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUObA-uNdgUFiLgkEfOPrx8zrAySlvCLXYkymzeTW04dWeMeDPLAwEVptHjRKrMyz9RFWUA7PgwqMrGJiIgWsQxbBhDpg67Iwq2rWEp1MubF8SMfGtoTcw9x5JfbjfiI2amv0TArp9RS/s1600/Fall+run+october+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532139916434776962" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUObA-uNdgUFiLgkEfOPrx8zrAySlvCLXYkymzeTW04dWeMeDPLAwEVptHjRKrMyz9RFWUA7PgwqMrGJiIgWsQxbBhDpg67Iwq2rWEp1MubF8SMfGtoTcw9x5JfbjfiI2amv0TArp9RS/s400/Fall+run+october+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I could see the sun slowly setting in the horizon as I increased my pace in the last 2ks. I try to ran faster the last 2 kilometers of my training runs to simulate that of an actual race. I still don't know if it is a smart thing to do. All I know is I haven't been injured running slower during training and then faster the last few ks.</div><div> </div><div>Arrived home safe, sound and happy. Took a shower, took Yuki, my baby for her last walk of the day around the block.</div><div> </div><div>I think I'm ready for a 7k run on Wednesday. :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div><br /><p> </p><p> </p>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-14063578610900919142010-09-30T09:51:00.003-04:002010-09-30T10:21:44.073-04:00Walking 101After more than a week of rest and medication (and not running at all), I think I'm well enough (the coughing is almost gone) to go back to training again for my next road race.<br /><br />So, this morning and the next couple of days, I will try to do 30 minute walks at the least to get the feet and leg muscles working again. After this, I intend to walk run,<br />and then by the weekend, a 5k run should be easily doable.<br /><br />Missed running the Scotiabank Toronto half marathon on September 26, but these road races are always there, and my running life goes on.<br /><br />Thinking about running the 5k race at the Toronto Marathon weekend in October or the 10k Zoo run. The shorter distance races should get me into the groove again.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-56295109022713208812010-09-25T21:42:00.010-04:002010-09-28T12:27:23.944-04:00Kuya Freddie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg2dVE9HMH4QY0y54b5T4LPGRml7YvKpi32DByaJyz5-lIBktK_bQHNGmuA1mQ-73A-loz8wTXUBvJ3BDO1AeaNcjeBqTJxElUUtBT9SkQyR2CkTyW8p16LFCNaOjxGxvRKqln5JMSVx4/s1600/DSCN0291.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521281501106488178" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg2dVE9HMH4QY0y54b5T4LPGRml7YvKpi32DByaJyz5-lIBktK_bQHNGmuA1mQ-73A-loz8wTXUBvJ3BDO1AeaNcjeBqTJxElUUtBT9SkQyR2CkTyW8p16LFCNaOjxGxvRKqln5JMSVx4/s400/DSCN0291.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Kuya Freddie with Ate Chi and his sisters Jeric and Jojo in his favorite part of his house, the kitchen</em><br /><br />Today, I was supposed to be preparing my running shorts, shoes, socks, shirt, Garmin 305, hydration belt, gatorade/water and containers, bib number, timing chip, gels for tomorrow morning's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront half marathon race. I entered this race about 2 months in advance and did my homework, I mean did enough training runs, rest. I was ready for it and was actually tapering from 10 days ago. Instead, I am home resting with a cough, runny nose, , too sick even to do anything physical, much less run. I am also very sad and grieving because of the untimely death of my brother-in-law and friend Kuya Freddie. His funeral service was held this morning at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Markham.<br /><br />Before my family left the home country for Canada, I was a struggling young lawyer with a low paying government job. Previous to that,I had the chance to practice. I remember my first client was a poor bus driver who brought me a live but very thin and sickly looking chicken in my father-in-law's house. My father-in-law, also a lawyer who is a succesful practitioner in his own right, let the man in and with a grin in his face called me from inside his house to meet my client. Another time, another poor client handed me an old,dirty, crumpled 50 pesos bill during his trial, but come court recess, I asked him to join me for lunch, but he wouldn't because he didn't have money. I ended up giving back to him the 50 pesos and also paying for his lunch. After similar episodes where instead of earning a living I was giving charity, I knew my career as a practicing lawyer was over. I joined the Department of Justice but the pay was not much. So, Jojo and I agreed to give it a try in Canada.<br /><br />I first met Kuya Freddie when my family arrived in Canada in the late 80s. He and his family immigrated to Canada in the early seventies. He was a tall, handsome, meztizo looking guy who looked physically strong and fit with well toned arms and upper body. He was into basketball , fishing, camping, and golf. He was also a handy man who did most home repairs, plumbing, electrical, carpentry work himself. I found him genuinely friendly, hospitable, cheerful and helpful with us. He was a happy fellow with a good sense of humor. He was fairly succesful professionally, working then as a junior manager in a bank. He went to work always looking sharp in a business suit. He was also an outdoors type of guy who owned a trailer and a boat.<br /><br />He went out of his way to help Jojo and I find jobs. He enrolled my kids to a nearby Catholic school. When we finally found jobs, after staying for free for a month in his Markham home ,we decided to move out and rent a cheap apartment in Toronto. We ended up inheriting his old sofa and love seat. When one of his friends bought a new living room set, he asked for the sofa (which was to be thrown away) and delivered it to us.<br /><br />Nevertheless, after one year of working odd, low paying jobs , I was ready to call it quits here in Canada and go back to the home country where my old job was still waiting for me ( I only took a leave of absence for a year). He convinced me to wait another year before making a final decision of going back home. A few months after, I luckily got a government job, which I still hold up to the present.<br /><br />Kuya Freddie's helping me to adapt here never stopped there. He included me to join his basketball team, recruited and sponsored me to be accepted in his religious/service organization. He taught me how to play golf. He made sure Jojo and I joined him and Ate Chi in social gatherings where we were introduced to his friends who then became our friends. In golf tournaments where his golf buddies became mine .<br /><br />His house became the center of all family gatherings, where he would tirelessly man the barbecue, cook Chinese cuisine and made sure everybody took home left over food. Made us all laugh to tears with his jokes. He would embrace and carry on his lap grandnephews and nieces, affectionately called his adult daughters, my nieces, as his babies. He would terrorize the younger children with pranks, jokes. He would discipline (with words of wisdom)his children, nephews and nieces including my children when they needed to be. He'd answer our calls jokingly with "Pizza, pizza, how can I help you." He arbitrated and settled fights, misunderstandings between and among his siblings (3 sisters and 1 brother), Jojo included. He installed new light fixtures and did needed repairs in our house. He fixed my screen door. Helped me put up new kitchen cabinets . Gave us an electric drill. Put up flower pots holders and planted plants in our front porch with Ate Chi.<br /><br />He liked telling stories , funny, inspirational and amusing about his struggles, like selling bras for a living to support his family early into his marriage. About his love for and being protective of younger brother Art, who when they were teenagers went home crying after getting bullied by bigger guys. Freddie took his father's gun in the storage place, went back with Art to confront the bullies, who seeing Freddie with the weapon all scampered away scared. About standing up to and challenging a group of bullies to a fight in a Toronto bar when the latter made fun of his Pinoy group.<br /><br />Last Sunday, September 19, Kuya Freddie and Ate Chi came to visit us at home. He brought Jojo a gift of a kitchen knife set for no reason or occasion. He just said he saw it on sale so he bought it for Jojo. We shared a hearty lunch of Peking duck (which Kuya Freddie cooked and prepared with lettuce and hoisin sauce), sinigang, fried plapla, fried shrimp. We then had a scoop each of Selecta queso ice cream and then just relaxed in the family room and watched ASAP on the Filipino Channel. He joked and laughed with his niece Tin, my daughter. He told us of his excitement to see the new condo they bought in the home country which will be completed and be ready for occupancy in December this year.<br /><br />As I watched Kuya Freddie walking to his car as they were leaving our home , I saw him smile and greet my neighbor who was tending her garden in her front yard. She smiled back at him.<br /><br />Later that same afternoon Kuya Freddie had a heart attack in his home. He passed away at a young age of 57.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-85469796737214255472010-08-28T22:44:00.006-04:002010-08-29T00:43:01.135-04:00A Major Major Improvement.Today is the sixth day of my one week vacation leave. I should have been in Paris or London today doing last minute shopping before our flight back home. That was the plan, a European vacation this week, until Jojo talked me into buying new furniture, a flat screen LED TV, dining set 2 months ago. Pooff!! there went our European vacation. So instead, the last few days we've been busy fixing things in the house, painting our front door and garage door, replacing the humidifier filter, cleaning the electrical air filter, mowing the lawn, gardening, walking Yuki. Not the typical things somebody on vacation would enjoy doing.<br /><br />The truth of the matter is , I am enjoying it ( the vacation) so much, I wish our vacation were longer. Love the long afternoon naps after my chores. Love the time to connect with long lost friends thru the internet, again after finishing my chores. Enjoyed looking at our teenage pictures at FB found by a friend from a "lumang baul". Read my favorite running blogs. Enjoyed pictures of my favorite triathletes at Camsur Ironman. Finished reading a book.<br /><br />Well, come this Monday, the worker ant (that's me) will be back at work again toiling and saving for the rainy day ( and a vacation in some exotic place in another continent).<br /><br />At the Philippine front, felt pride in our own Venus for almost winning the Miss Universe title. Her "major major" Pinoy fans (the 4 friends on youtube), whose video of them celebrating was viewed by millions around the world, are typical of all Filipinos. We supported Venus with all our hearts and minds and prayers that it was like a whole country willing her to win. That is so true specially also with our boxing hero Manny Pacquiao during his fights or CNN Hero Of the Year Efren before he was announced the winner.<br /><br />On the subject running, my next race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half Marathon is just 29 days away. This week gave me 3 quality training runs so far, the last was tonight, a "fast"<br />10k in 1:16:10. Previous to this, my last two 10k training runs were in almost identical times of 1:19 and change. Considering that my last 10k race (Vaughan 10k) was in a slow race time of 1:17, my time in tonight's run is a major major :) improvement.<br /><br />This week, I did my solitary runs mostly at sunset, with the orange/pinkish sun gradually disappearing in the horizon. The weather this time of the year here is ideal for running , cool, breezy, serene, peaceful.<br /><br />Everything is good.<br /><br />Later.Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-70625777800198701122010-07-11T16:43:00.018-04:002010-07-12T15:38:34.043-04:00A Most Relaxing Sunday Run - the Acura 10 MilerI just ran the Acura 10 Miler in the Distillery District of Toronto this morning, a most relaxing Sunday run . After backbreaking work to renovate our kitchen the whole day yesterday, Jojo suggested to me not to run the race so I could finish our project, including repainting the kitchen . As always, she was unsuccesful. My run day is never negotiable. Nobody can take it away from me (even under the threat of sleeping outside the kulambo, :)) , unless I give it up on my own. To keep the peace, I promised to complete everything after my run. As I am typing this post with my two fingers still dirty with paint, I just finished painting the whole kitchen. If I were back home in Quezon City, I would have just hired laborers to do the job for me. Here, their (carpenters/painters) services are too expensive.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHJ3Z8QgepsJGGHCJjX_T7LMY7bMv21Q-r4X_DfBOf9Zv4otl5_2YH35oCF74_ZtAp8lLkTfjeqOAp60-ZrartoWxebmZWy4jc3KH8vu89vf5IJc648ibRzqW3i7evOT3wQBe01h6XDjn/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492768649551972274" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHJ3Z8QgepsJGGHCJjX_T7LMY7bMv21Q-r4X_DfBOf9Zv4otl5_2YH35oCF74_ZtAp8lLkTfjeqOAp60-ZrartoWxebmZWy4jc3KH8vu89vf5IJc648ibRzqW3i7evOT3wQBe01h6XDjn/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The start area at the corner of Trinity and Front Streets in Toronto, the CN Tower in the background. The morning was sunny with the temperature just above 20 degrees Celsius, for me a bit too hot for comfort. This race also introduced a new thing in running, the timing chip on the bib numbers instead of placing the chip on the runner's shoe or around the ankle. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi857NbF9uxukVWY88ZFpVtpA-WywATG0FDd2Rmi5vwr02xz-TTIgz2ztnl5909VnaoYqqfPQkCz3VsinlLPc6DhOgXb_-kpBWtT5jtkHNCkmGrzO7n0g9uehQYEfnDtGhammfZfChyphenhyphenQ4dQ/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492762947282992066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi857NbF9uxukVWY88ZFpVtpA-WywATG0FDd2Rmi5vwr02xz-TTIgz2ztnl5909VnaoYqqfPQkCz3VsinlLPc6DhOgXb_-kpBWtT5jtkHNCkmGrzO7n0g9uehQYEfnDtGhammfZfChyphenhyphenQ4dQ/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The yellow brigade of young volunteers were hard at work early preparing to assist runners in the race with hydration (gatorade or water).<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3SiRPbL9Il4UJIsrAJqBYvm6TBvA2DPoLfTBgVkckZlcdessDskg6PqYDzQmmjKc5uRHy97nl-L9t_YRxHayoLxeH62pM5yvJ4QbyI53DJtjUYmQ0rKMOzAb9lzrQjBo4nPdj1Pmz3uF/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492762660507586738" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3SiRPbL9Il4UJIsrAJqBYvm6TBvA2DPoLfTBgVkckZlcdessDskg6PqYDzQmmjKc5uRHy97nl-L9t_YRxHayoLxeH62pM5yvJ4QbyI53DJtjUYmQ0rKMOzAb9lzrQjBo4nPdj1Pmz3uF/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A young and cheerful volunteer ready to answer all kinds of questions about the race from runners and their friends and loved ones.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XVZ93U0QKsw6qc-SZuxNBYQ7l4kUBkrUGA8-XvYGvp3GCpek91CC2BGyuRLWS_CIRcpW9MRyc-ol9M_IrUKEF78LzRv9VXXFR8Rm3Wot3Vyy64gkTP7u5dgD7dRpx84-L8s69nOUocXc/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492761981197750978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XVZ93U0QKsw6qc-SZuxNBYQ7l4kUBkrUGA8-XvYGvp3GCpek91CC2BGyuRLWS_CIRcpW9MRyc-ol9M_IrUKEF78LzRv9VXXFR8Rm3Wot3Vyy64gkTP7u5dgD7dRpx84-L8s69nOUocXc/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Shortly before the 8:30 am start, more than 2,000 excited runners await the starting gun for the 10 miler and the 5k run.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiih3SbT4L4lDsM4jeBd5Zio_vHc-YwDbxooAh3bB4CrwogYNYrfHhUu2biGKLJ6PIaj_au6KWoa0k4PPB0E6vNSnt4NhtZR6FJgcR04kdDpgZiW76y1SJtbTwgMtWG6fiq25vilCJ6riR/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492761529718694770" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiih3SbT4L4lDsM4jeBd5Zio_vHc-YwDbxooAh3bB4CrwogYNYrfHhUu2biGKLJ6PIaj_au6KWoa0k4PPB0E6vNSnt4NhtZR6FJgcR04kdDpgZiW76y1SJtbTwgMtWG6fiq25vilCJ6riR/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The race is on, I ran at a leisurely pace of between 7 -8 minutes per k at the early part of the race, and after the warm up, ran even much slower. The winner finished in 48 minutes.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQSlN9Ae3IJmd2FyHxJktd4AvKRrBLfMy73VHemuGK0wd3J95kyAzN0zHVn4OoWvlTTtEf7qieXElQyc3K_JEhMdlaXitHBaR9qyJS172oBQ4tB6a_nMhbQZHPaXVmfEthXeiAe4rgh7-/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+032.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492761049499366946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQSlN9Ae3IJmd2FyHxJktd4AvKRrBLfMy73VHemuGK0wd3J95kyAzN0zHVn4OoWvlTTtEf7qieXElQyc3K_JEhMdlaXitHBaR9qyJS172oBQ4tB6a_nMhbQZHPaXVmfEthXeiAe4rgh7-/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+032.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />More runners, around 75% ran the 10 miler, those on the right and the 5kers on the left.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ky8C9-hNxFGLAT2C2OwK3Y4ZFwqamPswh-4wQ9TWFKv8FpX3B4twPximoTYhA8wkyZ1STSfX11Dzd8vL12jC1W4l2xhmOvB69pHrLQMH4z53bFY_SqnozYba20gd4h6VPM018FnMjA5y/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492760700880537506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ky8C9-hNxFGLAT2C2OwK3Y4ZFwqamPswh-4wQ9TWFKv8FpX3B4twPximoTYhA8wkyZ1STSfX11Dzd8vL12jC1W4l2xhmOvB69pHrLQMH4z53bFY_SqnozYba20gd4h6VPM018FnMjA5y/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />More volunteers serving the runners at the water stations,which were strategically located every 2k with more than enough cups of cold water and gatorade. Runners were also treated to tents with showers to cool them down.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0Upt1FCngM0LeDJMau7uRBYmWk_3h1HnJiP7KTIV4aydit1liIIiiVKlL441UrSj47rciDLZCsMV1Ncz8KMkOhGJu2ZMdDUOPSau9w1Zg8IUcYnLLDj-uFxFxmbvRwNzqCJR0dgFla0r/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492759866365449074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0Upt1FCngM0LeDJMau7uRBYmWk_3h1HnJiP7KTIV4aydit1liIIiiVKlL441UrSj47rciDLZCsMV1Ncz8KMkOhGJu2ZMdDUOPSau9w1Zg8IUcYnLLDj-uFxFxmbvRwNzqCJR0dgFla0r/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It was a joy to see the the skyline of our beautiful city, Toronto basking in the sun this bright Sunday morning.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Dm9M-hNDaEhB9D4FFUTWfvB-c802bYtXMPk5fI9221g9sEkVw1MFh0PMgws-r4xmKtSnu5Oa27Trdw8nLGCOg2hF8Axdn_csXcN8vWpxGmR3GcmvSlNeV8u6v4LNfhrLWugY5yXny4C/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492759521985028290" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5Dm9M-hNDaEhB9D4FFUTWfvB-c802bYtXMPk5fI9221g9sEkVw1MFh0PMgws-r4xmKtSnu5Oa27Trdw8nLGCOg2hF8Axdn_csXcN8vWpxGmR3GcmvSlNeV8u6v4LNfhrLWugY5yXny4C/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Another view of the Toronto skyline farther away just behind these yachts /boats in the lake.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2syuVKQcjw1N2GWXNd4JF_Y5X3TOamrEOdBhqupvOQyjsIa_CAGdIq3tt_d6lmuXxYxRiqB_ddBbh-t1iUgCh7LIFwEH6ElQRgNzgkCccY069_VZehx8W0NSQ1GRm0SW08XAI-wB1RKPK/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492759150288441362" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2syuVKQcjw1N2GWXNd4JF_Y5X3TOamrEOdBhqupvOQyjsIa_CAGdIq3tt_d6lmuXxYxRiqB_ddBbh-t1iUgCh7LIFwEH6ElQRgNzgkCccY069_VZehx8W0NSQ1GRm0SW08XAI-wB1RKPK/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Wild flowers and plants abound everywhere along the race route.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA5UZl1WB5tHrZiuS_aJhfR7g5eh2LFggCvqrstqtUD7P0L1ocarxUPoc3Bqtnv6l8xaaEubR3i7dvkINPoQQncKx5Wf-gJhoTnzJVHmXya3GYe8jltRUBoUt_32KnwPODz5cLXb6QLaq/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+063.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492758033255456802" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA5UZl1WB5tHrZiuS_aJhfR7g5eh2LFggCvqrstqtUD7P0L1ocarxUPoc3Bqtnv6l8xaaEubR3i7dvkINPoQQncKx5Wf-gJhoTnzJVHmXya3GYe8jltRUBoUt_32KnwPODz5cLXb6QLaq/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+063.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>At the end of the run, a sight I always look forward to, the smiling faces of volunteers handing out the finisher medals.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgdpyd-qwoePKK35RW96PIlULrYd2t2YAdqpdFTabXkrQfigrj8qBMvX5u6a_SUO0Ash3LoqJiIDdNO2Lt59nFEAKjT4sDmeHyYqB-3GygmGKmUINbB6XX3uaSD6jI7YJGy8p6WxSfzYv/s1600/Acura+10Miler+2010+064.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492757221282214978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgdpyd-qwoePKK35RW96PIlULrYd2t2YAdqpdFTabXkrQfigrj8qBMvX5u6a_SUO0Ash3LoqJiIDdNO2Lt59nFEAKjT4sDmeHyYqB-3GygmGKmUINbB6XX3uaSD6jI7YJGy8p6WxSfzYv/s400/Acura+10Miler+2010+064.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Sweet! </div><div></div><div></div><div>My next long race is the Toronto Scotiabank half marathon in September.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-64887795956244010472010-06-19T22:22:00.026-04:002010-06-20T01:05:55.926-04:00Markham's Wild Flowers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_82xOIkxIA4g-AeRhYM38bO267M950GRBOARevtUWBGvBu1fAolPPsG5ToiHWeqQn3Tb762jyOXqpwHs4tFWDnldIJu7yjkxr1oCHE8Lv0DJRTR6pazER4VDheyJfEiaM1d36JFph4OA/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484686474677626834" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_82xOIkxIA4g-AeRhYM38bO267M950GRBOARevtUWBGvBu1fAolPPsG5ToiHWeqQn3Tb762jyOXqpwHs4tFWDnldIJu7yjkxr1oCHE8Lv0DJRTR6pazER4VDheyJfEiaM1d36JFph4OA/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Went out for a solitary run on Thursday at the nearby trail and woods. Carried my camera and took some pictures of wild plants and flowers that abound this time of the year among vegetation that grow along the trails and woods of Markham. While clicking my camera, I thought of blogger friends Lidj, crownofbeauty.blogspot.com and Caloy, secondwind.blogspot.com, the former for her superb photographs of everything from flower to dew, and the latter for reminding me again that "the best things in life are free", for his post and pictures of his new running route.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqtVaV67cVeL5HP74zEm38xbqj-pV8c5zEZ7phUNikYekHtXUjzt-f62ZTjVyFeDQTgMcB4xxGoatj2NOiVkEIoIFAq8ZDzatZ3pcz8VYpJuvm5kNHrL6obACEHqtbOklB45PipTbUi6r/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484686219724365538" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqtVaV67cVeL5HP74zEm38xbqj-pV8c5zEZ7phUNikYekHtXUjzt-f62ZTjVyFeDQTgMcB4xxGoatj2NOiVkEIoIFAq8ZDzatZ3pcz8VYpJuvm5kNHrL6obACEHqtbOklB45PipTbUi6r/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFujc4wpFCqn2xh8FlDYTae8NVR2XYjjejB5v4pTEp8PjhzQ5Ag0Qx4yVVuuY2rTro0Ty0mZgLnXtfnCanTTJVMI-fkSNPIJLiZnjFniMyi9OpgZWJLtCYd986c71ar2IyDxvZcrfFmot/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484685904884955362" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFujc4wpFCqn2xh8FlDYTae8NVR2XYjjejB5v4pTEp8PjhzQ5Ag0Qx4yVVuuY2rTro0Ty0mZgLnXtfnCanTTJVMI-fkSNPIJLiZnjFniMyi9OpgZWJLtCYd986c71ar2IyDxvZcrfFmot/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv4JOqCnYORCosb1DSF6eKuk5haqDUMiUSdi03rulPkBrsqzjRRT5ymF_HY-SPuvb3w44_lF1dWF4ia64yeq_J09r2tnEjihuN6lxLQeOFZQ6ZNlN_Ae44dEJi6gJ-S9MHBWPh45ZYVEr/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484684503239639186" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmv4JOqCnYORCosb1DSF6eKuk5haqDUMiUSdi03rulPkBrsqzjRRT5ymF_HY-SPuvb3w44_lF1dWF4ia64yeq_J09r2tnEjihuN6lxLQeOFZQ6ZNlN_Ae44dEJi6gJ-S9MHBWPh45ZYVEr/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4MLkLbinlqcf2qRIZRk8IxyTkJyFwtbWDfE4ndDrQEc22IhdeKmdFb4wD-uEzZyvNw-oNsL3eG2dbcxjvNac78gJp8Ke0pDegfoEU3iwS6tuaatJHu1vFN7rYgK5eg7mem0vd21yWpxy/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484683844221313554" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4MLkLbinlqcf2qRIZRk8IxyTkJyFwtbWDfE4ndDrQEc22IhdeKmdFb4wD-uEzZyvNw-oNsL3eG2dbcxjvNac78gJp8Ke0pDegfoEU3iwS6tuaatJHu1vFN7rYgK5eg7mem0vd21yWpxy/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWIAhAbawITqrV7m8R0qtdPioscDlbaIwCgpJKuwiXO90Uzcx0qqn_7Go2hVP0FKUIRdFfqva4VX6VncSQxV3CnyDKbxh8p5PUWK1zcqGuTt2dMphnch1bIy51rQ39qdxFoXxMtGHpy7u/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484683484178320242" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWIAhAbawITqrV7m8R0qtdPioscDlbaIwCgpJKuwiXO90Uzcx0qqn_7Go2hVP0FKUIRdFfqva4VX6VncSQxV3CnyDKbxh8p5PUWK1zcqGuTt2dMphnch1bIy51rQ39qdxFoXxMtGHpy7u/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-mDPQWUAcMWfrXorHtTGphgFd5DZqrpio6Q7xcXnNS9KtfQgWr_Qg9xhJiVy0OB7TwE2p3RY-y3d7RIq0ytgWuuEdJsYCfrAOKzlDLWaNlJTjryKa0Dt-RYzHHzRdemw_4DeL9aaKOPM/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484683162453331618" style="WIDTH: 400px; 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CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuK3_SVuj1zftm5QTrpWfrnN3w-NQB5qperZVnwQyCOZtRmQObC4bBxa40fV2p3nNc3xX3atnXWPCB8nWJTFeHBQowvxUKPvpTKcX2aVbKMzqVY_toSmOQIz0o0deOTfVpfIEut8Ln01G/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6EU-N7NP4lYhJqMBiarBsx_FWJtYluhrhizRMLtw9vjk0gYxgQAJClq2G4E2kwk_v2MU51kC7BtUUZpNOWGKa-ggAVzKNgAF7px9s3njaI9dj8TFrWrvyn9Xws6Oh-VcvKLOc-U_Aft-/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484681083457856466" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6EU-N7NP4lYhJqMBiarBsx_FWJtYluhrhizRMLtw9vjk0gYxgQAJClq2G4E2kwk_v2MU51kC7BtUUZpNOWGKa-ggAVzKNgAF7px9s3njaI9dj8TFrWrvyn9Xws6Oh-VcvKLOc-U_Aft-/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE-wdCjUbb_1RfO2EkS0QFHL6Q7qw_NmytzW2PdsthUe-mV8IM0DK_BMRhdGBG1rVubgcXgxpBFDmz3c1o98EiqTfFLB88lUdzjAG8dTYz3IrnH1GlCdQb9xPA5KBBcFlz6GZNP7H_RPe/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484680487705214642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE-wdCjUbb_1RfO2EkS0QFHL6Q7qw_NmytzW2PdsthUe-mV8IM0DK_BMRhdGBG1rVubgcXgxpBFDmz3c1o98EiqTfFLB88lUdzjAG8dTYz3IrnH1GlCdQb9xPA5KBBcFlz6GZNP7H_RPe/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYK_pWLOW9rzIebKNlxG6jOob7-N_G-V04VsKWzju161HiPAxCnv6F86uf4GUSVRgPGBGQgsSGgUUDmZXZ-ShE0glhQiaNABn9Xdlg6oOHFPHz6KPUi6tgRXNyXzbyZ0kM5pbX2_VJl9/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484680219309658354" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYK_pWLOW9rzIebKNlxG6jOob7-N_G-V04VsKWzju161HiPAxCnv6F86uf4GUSVRgPGBGQgsSGgUUDmZXZ-ShE0glhQiaNABn9Xdlg6oOHFPHz6KPUi6tgRXNyXzbyZ0kM5pbX2_VJl9/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9uYecxLIQfe7qWrH6jayHUNxva9Hg1XTZdTG-uIv0SHuYwsRhCUSjrnqw8LqlsqbKuwVAL0H9MLCskgmkUTT7T40FnqJUC8tQZVHsKfqP1wqDKreqDhutVgdqeMB_eGRrsUZYBl3TxCO/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484679928792850290" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9uYecxLIQfe7qWrH6jayHUNxva9Hg1XTZdTG-uIv0SHuYwsRhCUSjrnqw8LqlsqbKuwVAL0H9MLCskgmkUTT7T40FnqJUC8tQZVHsKfqP1wqDKreqDhutVgdqeMB_eGRrsUZYBl3TxCO/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPG_AdaPvl9dHtrckMuHL0-gtEs1XPs_7iXv-TN5kBdm09kOHA_RQ4_UdY3bJUpiP9WVzLcw1F2JEgi0CjnIsL-rPPtANKuykDgL7E_eIP7gcm6JBLaCp4XrOrHz9Lskuh15Lqp5E_tm2/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484679411650327106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPG_AdaPvl9dHtrckMuHL0-gtEs1XPs_7iXv-TN5kBdm09kOHA_RQ4_UdY3bJUpiP9WVzLcw1F2JEgi0CjnIsL-rPPtANKuykDgL7E_eIP7gcm6JBLaCp4XrOrHz9Lskuh15Lqp5E_tm2/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K4F5OCJ0cQKTUD8S7n0vYgb9-tT1RkSnlzEWIptiRYtyho3W2ztRcxecYVP4Wvl42i__JhVLLo8Wa_oD9mN2SGe0pmm_iiDZZm8f6KHn7MWVtdwiXuXtJTwCMPmNmFvVFAEp8IbLxEe8/s1600/wild+flowers+of+markham+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484679090499652594" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-K4F5OCJ0cQKTUD8S7n0vYgb9-tT1RkSnlzEWIptiRYtyho3W2ztRcxecYVP4Wvl42i__JhVLLo8Wa_oD9mN2SGe0pmm_iiDZZm8f6KHn7MWVtdwiXuXtJTwCMPmNmFvVFAEp8IbLxEe8/s400/wild+flowers+of+markham+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>My next race is on July 11, 2010, the Acura Toronto 10 Miler.</div><div> </div><div>Get inspired, visit 365ultra.blogspot.com and runmoretalkless.blogspot.com, two great posts on the San Diego 100Miler. These ultra runners are the toughest.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-53070163098551540442010-06-06T20:41:00.019-04:002010-06-10T10:52:13.739-04:00Alfie Shrubb 8K Classic- Running in the Rain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW-YmvIWF0F_bOISgqXjTrpgU-yC6B96_6SA2dH6bGD7xRzKrA76efb7AyaMzzpHfRJtR01l8gD13k7cid24Gn2Av4NKdSstS0RIofUNlVsLEhkeBYIiRwjPWtz6zH6SWbdYLa8Wy4Z-Q/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479832752381727634" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguW-YmvIWF0F_bOISgqXjTrpgU-yC6B96_6SA2dH6bGD7xRzKrA76efb7AyaMzzpHfRJtR01l8gD13k7cid24Gn2Av4NKdSstS0RIofUNlVsLEhkeBYIiRwjPWtz6zH6SWbdYLa8Wy4Z-Q/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I woke up early this morning, around 5:30 only to find out that it was raining and the temperature was at 12 degrees Celsius, too cold for my race at 9 am, the 8th annual running of the Alfie Shrubb 8K Classic in Bowmanville, Ontario . Over breakfast and coffee, I thought that going back to the warmth of my bed would be the easier and more comfortable alternative to running on a Sunday. But ultimately, I decided to go for it (I adhere to my coach Isaac's teaching that running races in the worst weather conditions builds character) and drove 32 miles east to Bowmanville, population 80,000 plus, a small rural town east of Toronto. The race was to raise funds in support of the Claringdon Museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3UOwv2y9nK5zuAlSnAxjSVrkIkxSE8hPfkEatghWTZ5LSQ9qOBdRx90ud2YgUG4NNX16Au9GYoHaQZCYRES8QZC2bBjNF9FSJw4qNMFAuJ71ebgbDa3uPGaI1fxqSnRwQd8Ae9BrudSX/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479832042114055282" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3UOwv2y9nK5zuAlSnAxjSVrkIkxSE8hPfkEatghWTZ5LSQ9qOBdRx90ud2YgUG4NNX16Au9GYoHaQZCYRES8QZC2bBjNF9FSJw4qNMFAuJ71ebgbDa3uPGaI1fxqSnRwQd8Ae9BrudSX/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This race is named after an English runner, Alfred Shrubb (1879-1964) who at one point in his prime owned world records in running from 1,000 yards to 11 miles. His most famous rival was the native Canadian, Tom Longboat, winner of the 1907 Boston Marathon (2:24:24), whom he beat a number of times . Later in life , he made his home in Bowmanville, Ontario, until his death in 1904.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-6hRZ4dHAUKcJ2JaIUojXpXPvwsCQdPNvD8wC0R9DMiV7io4utyFSdB4u0M7Xh6k77iK6HZK1ejRfvGSMtylsfeg9EHmu7ztStka7nIj4B8EqDBJ29pUbuRwm2fIWWLkHWOn6mlrMVJf/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479831476944723842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-6hRZ4dHAUKcJ2JaIUojXpXPvwsCQdPNvD8wC0R9DMiV7io4utyFSdB4u0M7Xh6k77iK6HZK1ejRfvGSMtylsfeg9EHmu7ztStka7nIj4B8EqDBJ29pUbuRwm2fIWWLkHWOn6mlrMVJf/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />These records were accomplished by Shrubb without the help of modern technology, training techniques, cross training methods, technical shirts, non-blister socks, nor different types of modern running shoes (stability, motion control, trail, cross trainer, etc) that we runners of this generation enjoy. I stand to be corrected here, but I believe, when the official result of this race is released, none of the participants posted a faster time than the 24:33 he did in 1904.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479831131006842034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb255UkeZpRREuT8IbfTzCbj6qEjAToFFwwHtarhiCFKgibACdKr3sojtH_3-kJ1dEJuhgaU6gu32DAgz-AaQ_p6YHJpLhrlRAeyDIOe4BzkwbrpFFc0ngWpM7hyphenhyphenCqbCN7BBJ8h67I70t/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+009.jpg" border="0" /><br />I proceeded to the start area 5 minutes before the race hoping that the rain would stop. Most runners who were there wore jackets, some carried umbrellas, while some stayed under Runningroom tents. I wore a Lady of the Mist (from going on a boat under the Niagara Falls) rainbag which was handy as it protected me not only from the rain but the cold wind as well.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQc4Swz-xw54aIRG7TxCbY-iaWeeNtrXd-OyKFZmcrNQYxQqxg1jr8phmygomsJ3oS3PBzYeY-IIaiX1kqdEmuRveHR_sXpMqHo_nnVt7BWXySFXWGlA-LAF3gAY7YfClWWPcQeu9EMXK/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479830773363401954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQc4Swz-xw54aIRG7TxCbY-iaWeeNtrXd-OyKFZmcrNQYxQqxg1jr8phmygomsJ3oS3PBzYeY-IIaiX1kqdEmuRveHR_sXpMqHo_nnVt7BWXySFXWGlA-LAF3gAY7YfClWWPcQeu9EMXK/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At almost start time, I positioned myself at the very back. The sky was still overcast, rain was still falling but no longer as hard as earlier in the morning. I was only wearing a shirt and shorts under my rainbag and the cold wind only made matters worse. My fault. When you train running in the winter, you become too cocky. Lesson learned, it's ok to be overdressed, never underdressed.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvF4Iggkedr3jck6EfDgORqw5hMOcQioCbfEzKvm6J-UXEihcdDbHFzsch5TLixd5EEBf3d7Ol8ig8XaftWLbUW5Q_hHrcx0JkUbjcR-pdjKS_x4i267vYqbxrRJgrcvMUrD04mgYJlgw/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479830427733137266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvF4Iggkedr3jck6EfDgORqw5hMOcQioCbfEzKvm6J-UXEihcdDbHFzsch5TLixd5EEBf3d7Ol8ig8XaftWLbUW5Q_hHrcx0JkUbjcR-pdjKS_x4i267vYqbxrRJgrcvMUrD04mgYJlgw/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The one good thing about running big races (where participants number in the thousands) is you finish faster than a few hundred even if your time is slow. In small races , and in very bad weather too, I find that most participants are hardcore, seasoned runners with fewer slower runners participating. In this race, I saw the back pack thin to a few dozen runners in no time after the start. I entertained the thought of the possibility of finishing last in this race if I run this race like the Vaughan 10k the Sunday before.</div><div><br />From being last in the pack, I started to look at runners in front of me who looked out of rhythm, out of shape or just plain slow. I then aimed at catching up and then passing each runner I picked. First, I observed his/her leg turnover and then I made sure that mine was much faster and the strategy worked. When I experienced breathing difficulty or heaviness in my legs, I slowed down a bit and looked at the beautiful surroundings to distract me from it. I discovered and now know that one does not need to be elite to enjoy running. As I passed one runner after another, I felt a combination of joy and excitement, and looked ahead for the next one to pass. I finished strong as I passed about ten runners in the last k. Can't wait to see the official results to find out how many runners I passed.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpA2X6qJ8GDb59BeIvrmgsy1w3hwYXoEveR-79R7LicfxM_vErPlM0fgxCO03aCLkJy0fO6C5O_QUMhjlpCrnioHalGjjHO0oVjpWb2hjh3Jkv3umZP7WP3MB4HE6FvoeDEG_a4pHOQm8/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479830057439155058" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpA2X6qJ8GDb59BeIvrmgsy1w3hwYXoEveR-79R7LicfxM_vErPlM0fgxCO03aCLkJy0fO6C5O_QUMhjlpCrnioHalGjjHO0oVjpWb2hjh3Jkv3umZP7WP3MB4HE6FvoeDEG_a4pHOQm8/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />At the small gym of MJ Hobbs School we congregated after the race for the award ceremonies. I was glad to see some oldies, in their 60's and seventies receive awards in their age groups. They inspire us to continue running, and also give us hope that someday, some where, God willing, any one of us could go up to that stage to receive our own.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStrHm2BQKi9BmPm_vMgsiZ2Npuajvrp_wuBDmEqc18Z3huWX_Ll4BDMVWTmgk1nm-4dj3kvotwZSvq_-3TqYWIUPtr4sldvdvQf_QUJFi0ADrLSwY6tPjF9_PlEl9L_DhH2zwjV-kz1r0/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479829666456517570" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStrHm2BQKi9BmPm_vMgsiZ2Npuajvrp_wuBDmEqc18Z3huWX_Ll4BDMVWTmgk1nm-4dj3kvotwZSvq_-3TqYWIUPtr4sldvdvQf_QUJFi0ADrLSwY6tPjF9_PlEl9L_DhH2zwjV-kz1r0/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A couple of runners were wearing 2010 Boston Athletic Club (Boston marathon) jackets. It turned out that both are elite as each won his age group.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI6LET3DOTJzqUjLlg0bOTRU0AH7ntWdXJH1FPQh_7oCvHBteTh75_9xhZodEA-P8oVH_agi7SDr4ILBwQY8BNS5DnXMoJd_E59DqNFm8qScZZTkzYYhYNFCmKiaDXA2C3hDAXG-hXmPO/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479828638719745250" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwI6LET3DOTJzqUjLlg0bOTRU0AH7ntWdXJH1FPQh_7oCvHBteTh75_9xhZodEA-P8oVH_agi7SDr4ILBwQY8BNS5DnXMoJd_E59DqNFm8qScZZTkzYYhYNFCmKiaDXA2C3hDAXG-hXmPO/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />God, please help and guide me to become a stronger and faster runner, so that someday, I may have the privilege of wearing a Boston Marathon jacket similar to what this young man in front of me was wearing.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwYff3IXoPznPvbgnDd_S3zDCR1YE6zxr3xfJlXrNuheDsFIFHOLi6hN9vVB8D4g5uXRY_yj2iLZx-JlOP_DVsGjzaQyzOrnDb-eUlBPK6Za9pGnoGFVelNR3SGReOfQGgMkIgpl8LwTG/s1600/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479828187169477170" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwYff3IXoPznPvbgnDd_S3zDCR1YE6zxr3xfJlXrNuheDsFIFHOLi6hN9vVB8D4g5uXRY_yj2iLZx-JlOP_DVsGjzaQyzOrnDb-eUlBPK6Za9pGnoGFVelNR3SGReOfQGgMkIgpl8LwTG/s400/Alfie+Shrubb+8K+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Truly, I feel blessed being healthy, able to run (in the rain), and receiving this medal today. I thank and praise Him for another wonderful, memorable, and injury free race. </div><div></div><div>Can't wait to run the next one.<br /><br />P.S. </div><div></div><div>The winner of this race posted a time of 25 minutes plus, slower than Alfie Shrubb's 1904 time for the same distance.</div><div></div><div>I was 163rd out of 189 finishers, posting a turtlish (is there such a word?) time of 56 minutes and change. Yehey, I passed and beat 26 other runners! Babaw ng kaligayahan, no :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p></p>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-74841504010362906622010-05-31T21:02:00.015-04:002010-06-03T10:27:08.770-04:00Run for Vaughan 10K on a Manila Like Hot Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1EpXUqDed_kYJGJDM1v5x72GFeiqhLlYNKXAsnPYZjtof1uVOiBhh42txc1jieLbhKA0ms4sS5EItJjIhTlO3lkC3BvDI7TDurAE9_i2w-VWZXlUEcWZtym-uXrseMHomnLZPkEWPMIz/s1600/DSCN4216.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477613187491038914" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1EpXUqDed_kYJGJDM1v5x72GFeiqhLlYNKXAsnPYZjtof1uVOiBhh42txc1jieLbhKA0ms4sS5EItJjIhTlO3lkC3BvDI7TDurAE9_i2w-VWZXlUEcWZtym-uXrseMHomnLZPkEWPMIz/s400/DSCN4216.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I just ran the Vaughan 10K yesterday, the hottest day of the week (reminded me of the same hot weather we have in Manila). The race was to raise funds for Vaughan's future hospital. It's admirable how a small group of simple ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things and make life better for the whole community.The start area was at the Islamic Mosque in Jane Street, Vaughan and the organizers and volunteers appear to come from the very small Moslem community in this town of just over 200,000 people.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqEB9FChTU1PJIewfBgAIvI8CwI4VO_T6UiPBc-Hz0uJGSaFnv3ltWW4I9S5YvU4UURt4FPNrRln2q4N9tXpybteqP0QYslGWysoiO0XwvxDzBp_VAUVnlOwIZiZukdpk-6Dd1PT2upKo/s1600/DSCN4222.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477612532351447922" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqEB9FChTU1PJIewfBgAIvI8CwI4VO_T6UiPBc-Hz0uJGSaFnv3ltWW4I9S5YvU4UURt4FPNrRln2q4N9tXpybteqP0QYslGWysoiO0XwvxDzBp_VAUVnlOwIZiZukdpk-6Dd1PT2upKo/s400/DSCN4222.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The beautiful structure from another angle.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMzU5XiLJ8ZOP6HHHOIQgyEcMSMexhL-77aJR_EhUfH8R_I6sXTHmOcJ3O1sdck-Pwr4AI6DgkKUfyIDddPfmmCXrZ2gdVSM6cZwzy1M5tLEXbxssfyEtDZJhMsm9bNPfingYSBgjB9fO/s1600/DSCN4223.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477612162788590818" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMzU5XiLJ8ZOP6HHHOIQgyEcMSMexhL-77aJR_EhUfH8R_I6sXTHmOcJ3O1sdck-Pwr4AI6DgkKUfyIDddPfmmCXrZ2gdVSM6cZwzy1M5tLEXbxssfyEtDZJhMsm9bNPfingYSBgjB9fO/s400/DSCN4223.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The race started at 8:30 am with the temperature already around 23 degrees Celsius. We, numbering a few hundred, started running along the streets of residential areas close to the mosque. Water stations were strategically located almost every 1 and a half k, and young volunteers enthusiastically provided the drinks, some of them I noticed wearing bib numbers on their shirts for their 3k run at 10:00 am. It was a gorgeous day other than the heat, and I found myself early on having some breathing difficulty. (I always find an excuse finishing slow in a race, he he)<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q4dYE4jWsspOZ3kyT22J6vXuoM36Fjr7Oo8Fke_fWWPTCAkGzesgVKylB4vNHDdIi26_auGXRFKqhzQ3akQQ7oZnlXLMSOopSC8n5m1mIje0cS8bt2UPRrpiYXNa72NbKkK7igLTjzso/s1600/DSCN4225.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477611434140716194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-q4dYE4jWsspOZ3kyT22J6vXuoM36Fjr7Oo8Fke_fWWPTCAkGzesgVKylB4vNHDdIi26_auGXRFKqhzQ3akQQ7oZnlXLMSOopSC8n5m1mIje0cS8bt2UPRrpiYXNa72NbKkK7igLTjzso/s400/DSCN4225.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />As always, I ended up at the back of the pack, and again took out my camera to take a picture of the faster runners on the right, one of them even pushing his child on a baby stroller.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DiMEVPFJWfjSRz9vij0TrRDDYQhoSZVPt3-Tq8ayXWSFMcYXynVvhsNRA46i1BqDIB4rNU-7u7z4lOWPOoGSLwOUIbIPDqx0yXITqHfz6cDdpzcHZLcaWa4-b1GXNQTGLiMBxVs8J_el/s1600/DSCN4230.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477611000246672242" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DiMEVPFJWfjSRz9vij0TrRDDYQhoSZVPt3-Tq8ayXWSFMcYXynVvhsNRA46i1BqDIB4rNU-7u7z4lOWPOoGSLwOUIbIPDqx0yXITqHfz6cDdpzcHZLcaWa4-b1GXNQTGLiMBxVs8J_el/s400/DSCN4230.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The race route covered parts that are mostly huge farmlands north of the mosque, we had to turn around a loop 5k into the race and retrace the exact same route. At around 3 and a half k, had to take a picture of the runner leading the race who was running all alone, the 2nd placer about 400 meters behind. His form and physique reminded me of myself thirty years ago, that was when I was 60 pounds lighter , he he.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic35J-MwlXQwepb33_hKceDHQtVorlZmzllkvUURfNOwV06w1D3ofvmcbE0v-zhVjKmkpKrgiwWnbIfEi3N5B33ATtPXTwE1eEXJ1g9Uu_Usvj3e7uVMmYKpqbr0WLdENqWPONDQbQvVy4/s1600/DSCN4237.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477609749901550978" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic35J-MwlXQwepb33_hKceDHQtVorlZmzllkvUURfNOwV06w1D3ofvmcbE0v-zhVjKmkpKrgiwWnbIfEi3N5B33ATtPXTwE1eEXJ1g9Uu_Usvj3e7uVMmYKpqbr0WLdENqWPONDQbQvVy4/s400/DSCN4237.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />At the 5k turnaround still smiling and having a fun time, although suffering from the heat of the sun and the absence of any wind or cool breeze, so very like the warm weather in my homeland, the Philippines which I miss so much.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YULYdH8YgR6viWbVvJg6VkPah2j9N98SteEQX-apcYLh090n80s01Naqk1WsAVWEA69KGy-CnAzTTvNke52lSnwP-8q_s9FQ8puPjwWOkFgbWcwwH35JWHas_g2tOe2zze_rddsNYMs7/s1600/DSCN4253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477609332943749090" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YULYdH8YgR6viWbVvJg6VkPah2j9N98SteEQX-apcYLh090n80s01Naqk1WsAVWEA69KGy-CnAzTTvNke52lSnwP-8q_s9FQ8puPjwWOkFgbWcwwH35JWHas_g2tOe2zze_rddsNYMs7/s400/DSCN4253.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A barbecue at the end of the race , no wonder I can't get rid of the extra pounds despite my running.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIpTgQk8wG9B3sael0fY7TcyV5OgZJpX0ydrP8v4L0pIZ8MIIWt9h9dhUq-5Iv1vcItoCsc5RxnDnmdpm6TkfYvuBqGkjyBR5lImns_BieRA_WGqhmepHD01e6D3q1XeaRUYQXTpOQL8N/s1600/DSCN4255.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477608818906073586" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIpTgQk8wG9B3sael0fY7TcyV5OgZJpX0ydrP8v4L0pIZ8MIIWt9h9dhUq-5Iv1vcItoCsc5RxnDnmdpm6TkfYvuBqGkjyBR5lImns_BieRA_WGqhmepHD01e6D3q1XeaRUYQXTpOQL8N/s400/DSCN4255.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />With run club friend Ben who also ran the race. Other than my slow finishing time which is always a given, another blessed day of sunshine, beautiful scenery, smiling people, sweaty runners huffing and puffing all around me , picture taking, food, my kind of day. </div><div></div><div>My next race is the Alfie Shrubb 8k Classic on June 06, 2010 at Bowmanville, Ontario.<br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-57547113954371330142010-05-18T10:14:00.015-04:002010-05-18T11:38:29.404-04:00Mississauga Half Marathon - My Sunday Long Run<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih_ZJmbz5qWmVFXiryb4fqG0cX3WbGOMiQNOcYm0ZjApDusK9iDbuDWXgbyojLzyn8AOBLsk3NmKHyCYRfLFZBFmQtR6HGmpFQkEEGwk5H6pV7htJCXSJ2OiH9EvA_53sdA6c_fF0uNGV/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472618298773512946" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih_ZJmbz5qWmVFXiryb4fqG0cX3WbGOMiQNOcYm0ZjApDusK9iDbuDWXgbyojLzyn8AOBLsk3NmKHyCYRfLFZBFmQtR6HGmpFQkEEGwk5H6pV7htJCXSJ2OiH9EvA_53sdA6c_fF0uNGV/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Friday, May 14, I tried to change my race to 10k instead of a half due to my problematic left knee . Was told the 1ok was closed, so early Sunday morning, I was here (not even sure of completing the race) at the start line with thousands of other runners doing the half and the full marathon waiting anxiously, stretching, warming up before the start.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3EnR5CrSae4-YjilYCCGqF_e22VB_v51GIv9cz-bdEukK7RO46DS0oOrb8GIKV4fpRSOV7SsSeFhqmJgDnoA22E5fI_PdiR0M5wJw40Az8M-FBhV1KswWOc3MN-gcgHVtrg2udrPQ_xt/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472617883096735954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3EnR5CrSae4-YjilYCCGqF_e22VB_v51GIv9cz-bdEukK7RO46DS0oOrb8GIKV4fpRSOV7SsSeFhqmJgDnoA22E5fI_PdiR0M5wJw40Az8M-FBhV1KswWOc3MN-gcgHVtrg2udrPQ_xt/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I ended up waiting just in front of the Runningroom store in Mississauga.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D77RLV_MZiYCjcttNlyyGS0d_K0baI35qO3cF7bREMcHvo2ZRrRVHx_x0xdTpE7aAs3qdWQOCfXDYwiKX5StbQ5ju5SaMIVXdHjEww7PFSxXp4jyWQeDCJpmY2Kp_Nn_QJE-R1KbwuNl/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472617607800292434" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D77RLV_MZiYCjcttNlyyGS0d_K0baI35qO3cF7bREMcHvo2ZRrRVHx_x0xdTpE7aAs3qdWQOCfXDYwiKX5StbQ5ju5SaMIVXdHjEww7PFSxXp4jyWQeDCJpmY2Kp_Nn_QJE-R1KbwuNl/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I was so happy to meet run club friends Grace and Julia who were both running the full marathon waiting in the same spot.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aENNLL-YVaMajhFEZQcF1m7BA11x6X0cZjS51d6ltIlP6UwUWnvv9U44BkV85qmUxLI-hVH-Z9oD91jOVEACTtJIm6oyN-ijjsz3URw2B8QcXtf46O1iCAii3Ctm7fFUdwcBcWz5yGa9/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472617381583699362" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6aENNLL-YVaMajhFEZQcF1m7BA11x6X0cZjS51d6ltIlP6UwUWnvv9U44BkV85qmUxLI-hVH-Z9oD91jOVEACTtJIm6oyN-ijjsz3URw2B8QcXtf46O1iCAii3Ctm7fFUdwcBcWz5yGa9/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+023.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />With Julia, my 5k clinic coach in 2007, who basically taught me how to run.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_Nh_6M5hJJyG2OW4Yu29Fo3NP22GZXe5Mksl2DBCF-a8xWxejbJBmiDR2j1DgHvY2_iH7gwMFIGj28IigaNBv7pKwmzcYNAzfGn09korevimy8AVjaUwz4lPoi4hhSx0GdeJaHb6nXhM/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472617013334055778" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_Nh_6M5hJJyG2OW4Yu29Fo3NP22GZXe5Mksl2DBCF-a8xWxejbJBmiDR2j1DgHvY2_iH7gwMFIGj28IigaNBv7pKwmzcYNAzfGn09korevimy8AVjaUwz4lPoi4hhSx0GdeJaHb6nXhM/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Let the celebration of life, good health, friendship, race begin!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdVoC1FSfTFNdVb4TSBbsWor9_MmsvAIJGQrbJ4nJiZXT8Eag82okf9gsJ3PXKvdJlmug2oUTyndM67jrV-yJtSGSxh2Uwfwms_M23P9tZlqi1FqCDZyHUrDvLTD0wans0EM6xMRSabK6/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472616789327013954" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdVoC1FSfTFNdVb4TSBbsWor9_MmsvAIJGQrbJ4nJiZXT8Eag82okf9gsJ3PXKvdJlmug2oUTyndM67jrV-yJtSGSxh2Uwfwms_M23P9tZlqi1FqCDZyHUrDvLTD0wans0EM6xMRSabK6/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+025.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This sight makes me love running more and more. Although only a small percentage of the adult population are runners, during a race, we (runners)own the roads.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsqMyxYyCYOYwTSBu_LKKmApWVhr_VCFnVM6xgU6sC6U6ho881k9GsrvNoQr2lEAu66fQ-rm7D9dteQIbLkcRa7ZYsbNfLgQIcd_DyX8mk8tm4Yjx-Udp52X9RX2ibnVd1T2fWtFE68-R/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472616121500681970" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsqMyxYyCYOYwTSBu_LKKmApWVhr_VCFnVM6xgU6sC6U6ho881k9GsrvNoQr2lEAu66fQ-rm7D9dteQIbLkcRa7ZYsbNfLgQIcd_DyX8mk8tm4Yjx-Udp52X9RX2ibnVd1T2fWtFE68-R/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Running events bring out the best in people of the community. These young people spent their Sunday helping runners by volunteering in the water stations. There was a hydration station at 2 kilometer intervals in this race and I noticed gels being handed out at the last few ks of the race.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjN-Y4f_fzGueXBP3bWWPojQeYLjeG84dvxkiZjhwkTgHqTpD3ggQGHofUgn1O5fXd3ZADU56ZnQLpQVacqXPkM72mI5sWC4JyK5awsmkKcMmMWp90BtR9x5dRu2wGEPtt5jqKTClgD_g/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472615806967783378" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjN-Y4f_fzGueXBP3bWWPojQeYLjeG84dvxkiZjhwkTgHqTpD3ggQGHofUgn1O5fXd3ZADU56ZnQLpQVacqXPkM72mI5sWC4JyK5awsmkKcMmMWp90BtR9x5dRu2wGEPtt5jqKTClgD_g/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I tried to keep my pace around 7 minutes per k at the first few kilometers and my heart rate at about 80% of my maximum heart rate. The day was just so beautiful though, the temperature perfect at around 14 Celsius and the surroundings so clean and scenic that my supposed race became more of a recreational slow sightseeing run. The funny thing was, I could have run faster if i wanted to because the knee never bothered me.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGqySUR6puPg775ttpPjNllS2sin6SoC2X9uvl7PlYh7FoutyvFpnoWOfpXGhcP0hsfp3ik_vf_1WYX_pRw7TuAhmVZ_m_D8rb9LT41HA_MDjZRCaPTqtDZjS91XEGlxJZejzoI9jr-4/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472615460273432338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyGqySUR6puPg775ttpPjNllS2sin6SoC2X9uvl7PlYh7FoutyvFpnoWOfpXGhcP0hsfp3ik_vf_1WYX_pRw7TuAhmVZ_m_D8rb9LT41HA_MDjZRCaPTqtDZjS91XEGlxJZejzoI9jr-4/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />With 15ks to go, and with no pressure to finish fast, I still looked fresh and happy here.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3FkV8YBtNP6vxNLBCwQ2uieAaHxDeWUprJ2nSB-RsH3_Zv6XCBRMBhe5k_r0EJ8vGU1XBAQ9XsIvlAtC-cyr2QY1pNtCBNiVX3dPXgI3h49D4Ev7nCi8ACAFpg4ErvlWX3nmDSs-YADc/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472615111814212258" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3FkV8YBtNP6vxNLBCwQ2uieAaHxDeWUprJ2nSB-RsH3_Zv6XCBRMBhe5k_r0EJ8vGU1XBAQ9XsIvlAtC-cyr2QY1pNtCBNiVX3dPXgI3h49D4Ev7nCi8ACAFpg4ErvlWX3nmDSs-YADc/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+035.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Our heroes, the young volunteers who unselfishly give their time and energy for free to make life easier for runners and make this race a complete success. Hurray to all volunteers!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnukTDB4tfHD0-_UEcJtlSMdRkBXvORbNIp2bf9iiKAluMg_XssOhG6yTwDpC5hRVm-6wVF94zbmi1UiWmcNdinmV4BhlgjS2h0AtYK9HnEwFYYx4Xeyk7jxPffg7Og0ITSxiMNJLeev/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472614616342911842" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnXnukTDB4tfHD0-_UEcJtlSMdRkBXvORbNIp2bf9iiKAluMg_XssOhG6yTwDpC5hRVm-6wVF94zbmi1UiWmcNdinmV4BhlgjS2h0AtYK9HnEwFYYx4Xeyk7jxPffg7Og0ITSxiMNJLeev/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />In the middle of the race I decided to stick with the 2:45 race bunny to make sure I beat the 3 hour barrier. I tried to run just slightly ahead of the group just to make sure I was always close and i was successfull until the last kilometer and a half, when I had to take walk breaks because of recurring cramps on my right leg muscle.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFNg1t7JnAPdpVQoltbnmp5hz8s6oFIMA3CZ9YQVdwovB4oocLFWXtojjIMogjJqZJg3XJeDVk5ZBAEt74tWB_1wLxjaaFcbgBUsDT3bHzt-LcPFkkNQJUoLXes4JDk2igcz7-5txFAno/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+040.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472614312224829330" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFNg1t7JnAPdpVQoltbnmp5hz8s6oFIMA3CZ9YQVdwovB4oocLFWXtojjIMogjJqZJg3XJeDVk5ZBAEt74tWB_1wLxjaaFcbgBUsDT3bHzt-LcPFkkNQJUoLXes4JDk2igcz7-5txFAno/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I had a good time running with this group, the pacer was encouraging, cheerful, consistent pace wise, and would tell people to slow down when the pace was getting too fast. The group finished a couple of minutes ahead of me.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkiPK7HkX17xLG8A1_xjNEz-Bn_1FjoorNxEtWOsyp1rQYgAMpbHQWuL7eM72QWTYkD7hDMocLtzx5VjbrLZts9P6uOX0dMBLsgMvGdy8u_7jyedbHWSpXfHHMcso1i5Y64RSOcbjWHSn/s1600/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+059.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472613864208596274" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkiPK7HkX17xLG8A1_xjNEz-Bn_1FjoorNxEtWOsyp1rQYgAMpbHQWuL7eM72QWTYkD7hDMocLtzx5VjbrLZts9P6uOX0dMBLsgMvGdy8u_7jyedbHWSpXfHHMcso1i5Y64RSOcbjWHSn/s400/Mississauga+half+Marathon+2010+059.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I finished the race smiling, upright, raising both hands in the air (in thanksgiving and praise of God) in 2:45 and change beating more than 500 other runners. Don't ask me how many runners did the half marathon, he he. </div><div> </div><div>My next race is the Vaughn 10k on May 30, 2010.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-26157906505318782712010-05-02T13:12:00.032-04:002010-05-03T16:31:44.443-04:002010 Sporting Life 10k in Pictures - a Yellow Story<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ9fu5HOdDDoLD5XWe5tNlyENmFkkD9M23JQtrnHcnc6j56QBIw1wa0wngyLRW294WCg40OPAm7RQ63GMbtgZGcHGWLKN4QD82gBmApuAzMEmJU5YkeVtVIVTAuap7LgATwTDpSdZFaSA/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467139755659301618" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJ9fu5HOdDDoLD5XWe5tNlyENmFkkD9M23JQtrnHcnc6j56QBIw1wa0wngyLRW294WCg40OPAm7RQ63GMbtgZGcHGWLKN4QD82gBmApuAzMEmJU5YkeVtVIVTAuap7LgATwTDpSdZFaSA/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do, yeah they were all yellow - Coldplay must have foreseen this yellow revolution.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGIyvk1jujbUqGPxQ_JLne08OoMH6k-vXq4CecwjoniRzau5ThnMdCF77wQQA50kuU6SexfLME0zdLwkvu9RHutnQGrUPRpRK2JNIiebcPkr8XcOZCbl42F-Q-1npKQVdzxaj6p0Lw0PB/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+090.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466767817503007074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGIyvk1jujbUqGPxQ_JLne08OoMH6k-vXq4CecwjoniRzau5ThnMdCF77wQQA50kuU6SexfLME0zdLwkvu9RHutnQGrUPRpRK2JNIiebcPkr8XcOZCbl42F-Q-1npKQVdzxaj6p0Lw0PB/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+090.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Today, I just ran the Toronto Sporting Life 10K, the biggest race in Ontario, with close to 12 thousand other runners. In the background is the Toronto skyline with the famous CN Tower, once the tallest standing structure in the world.<br /><br /><br />A day before the race, I was just relaxing at home, resting my feet in preparation for tomorrow's race, when Yuki tapped me on the leg. She wanted a walk.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CRc7ehfZLRThq_-xgi8oue518AtO1FZ9LQegzDmEwbupKPvtGxTQ0yg9MfOvww1XJWG_aqPJUrWZZqv3HS9nTCdgjHjKZgeDP7Ny-P_BjCzsCCm7D3bciQtoJZqKIYmbBGd02FjN0jst/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466739018424658210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CRc7ehfZLRThq_-xgi8oue518AtO1FZ9LQegzDmEwbupKPvtGxTQ0yg9MfOvww1XJWG_aqPJUrWZZqv3HS9nTCdgjHjKZgeDP7Ny-P_BjCzsCCm7D3bciQtoJZqKIYmbBGd02FjN0jst/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Put on my sandals and off we went out in this gorgeous, warm afternoon.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjVswQUhVAmPLHNbFYiDCqsqCrBJZT0A0OUAHZEvTrDUVdTZrm9bjbfrusuRbonBzMA9R38NNelroNCaZxPubGeKLgCCb6vBW9n8v_34_TEM-jigYopq4rlksk_p2P81cSuxYuNUXraMG/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466738802969625410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjVswQUhVAmPLHNbFYiDCqsqCrBJZT0A0OUAHZEvTrDUVdTZrm9bjbfrusuRbonBzMA9R38NNelroNCaZxPubGeKLgCCb6vBW9n8v_34_TEM-jigYopq4rlksk_p2P81cSuxYuNUXraMG/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yuki seemed to get attracted/distracted by what is happening in our neighborhood, just like what's happening in the home country.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNAfBvPxUSoX_TtRlM0IwEy4bwev3KbG-KyToYmQJEByOELWuRh9vAQ7wcoobH0kdDOHBIxwV6OPk0LJU6hh9LjPIntNxg-qXIT7hfzwVZs4PKaZqCJsd7XZNpEfEa5vVQSN2N4ypMtfO/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+015.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466738527531017106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNAfBvPxUSoX_TtRlM0IwEy4bwev3KbG-KyToYmQJEByOELWuRh9vAQ7wcoobH0kdDOHBIxwV6OPk0LJU6hh9LjPIntNxg-qXIT7hfzwVZs4PKaZqCJsd7XZNpEfEa5vVQSN2N4ypMtfO/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+015.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Yuki's seemed to enjoy the sprouting yellow wild flowers everywhere. A yellow revolution in the offing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCkTGO0vVAoCfD-OFBgeLSPlyKyo40_yM1E1KJ7OCO12I4U_uFr89xwHOFKmcssQBiwswe9mS7Ks9RfWaMv_vbGpVFX3Fv5_jjSihhNKb9ff_-BXpb8lZTJ9YXHWgzNIjeji4gW37Rpnf/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466738311869901026" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCkTGO0vVAoCfD-OFBgeLSPlyKyo40_yM1E1KJ7OCO12I4U_uFr89xwHOFKmcssQBiwswe9mS7Ks9RfWaMv_vbGpVFX3Fv5_jjSihhNKb9ff_-BXpb8lZTJ9YXHWgzNIjeji4gW37Rpnf/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Passed by my neighbor's yellow tulips and couldn't help snapping a picture.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks98ZtsWIhYUk984t6yQ0lcabSxhz840tADMUgfPtCNmobTt1YswTnt4D95S2ouhEGmKZNeAOuhJdZjqGoMFhkYjsvbsIWP-ImeX2qYcQeB92b4ocpciZKS-lqL-4WPEhXkEEWUXhHti6/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466737958298293602" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks98ZtsWIhYUk984t6yQ0lcabSxhz840tADMUgfPtCNmobTt1YswTnt4D95S2ouhEGmKZNeAOuhJdZjqGoMFhkYjsvbsIWP-ImeX2qYcQeB92b4ocpciZKS-lqL-4WPEhXkEEWUXhHti6/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I've been obsessed with yellow for a long time now, since the passing of our beloved President and hero, Cory. I think yellow will be good for the home country, a necessary and welcome change. The pink flower represents my favorite senatorial candidate, who in my opinion, not only is the hardest working member of the Senate, but also an accomplished runner, triathlete, mother and advocate of the rights of women and underprivileged.<br /><br /><div>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5ls9qbtALZLTWwvpf-zXHHSdOV894RGFZ2aNgYwPhnzhZQPZBnbUPhj3JVdMm3Y27tBwNj5EKzmy-ro9mNllVs3zQA7dADJI3XWQnIYyMIWKznncyW7Vh5eKL043TtrelDuo2zGob5F3/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466737782891330386" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn5ls9qbtALZLTWwvpf-zXHHSdOV894RGFZ2aNgYwPhnzhZQPZBnbUPhj3JVdMm3Y27tBwNj5EKzmy-ro9mNllVs3zQA7dADJI3XWQnIYyMIWKznncyW7Vh5eKL043TtrelDuo2zGob5F3/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Fresh, pure, untainted, honest, a gift from God - that is who our next leader should be.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHC1anUDjDgthmLq8AYpSdxuAwFNy_l80sM4IDgi2rEQr1KfIsaBQMXEYFaFAu6PY8EE5876iQ8OuKwauh-NtyGlpWWnpQSwIZnX0Jpu8PKS9MzVJsQrUc_xvGDe3heH2Msrc2_LrSyh9O/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466737188310642114" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHC1anUDjDgthmLq8AYpSdxuAwFNy_l80sM4IDgi2rEQr1KfIsaBQMXEYFaFAu6PY8EE5876iQ8OuKwauh-NtyGlpWWnpQSwIZnX0Jpu8PKS9MzVJsQrUc_xvGDe3heH2Msrc2_LrSyh9O/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />How can I not think yellow, when these flowers are sprouting all over our place.<br /></div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWzADzd05ZpQm7DNcNQTuatzrUqYEW7vFKAtGUXmOAMgtQujVW5AYptnD-77AroRn1o7BtrctnHZeMGk5rDXalvcLYmxFwZFnyupbdpsLwHhicA5rsF3n3beD7RrutLgFdakh8xkoF4rA/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466733674472545106" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWzADzd05ZpQm7DNcNQTuatzrUqYEW7vFKAtGUXmOAMgtQujVW5AYptnD-77AroRn1o7BtrctnHZeMGk5rDXalvcLYmxFwZFnyupbdpsLwHhicA5rsF3n3beD7RrutLgFdakh8xkoF4rA/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />It's not a bad idea to include a pink flower with all our fresh, beautiful, bouquet of yellow flowers.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpSsveACBvzG4uTtQRp0ZPcXqRj4rfMSSHA2eNAds-IONj7t3OaODGXWrp1p_CvhN4Jxv6xIP_CeUrFLcF3BkPsYxKr8sW6pjRfRunSWOQE-Oih1eIxYtarrlV4ICI6TKW7bKete92RGb/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466733126254783250" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpSsveACBvzG4uTtQRp0ZPcXqRj4rfMSSHA2eNAds-IONj7t3OaODGXWrp1p_CvhN4Jxv6xIP_CeUrFLcF3BkPsYxKr8sW6pjRfRunSWOQE-Oih1eIxYtarrlV4ICI6TKW7bKete92RGb/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On the day of the race, the shuttle bus that took us to the start site was slowed down by traffic. Since there was a long line up to the portalets, and I had to go badly, I ended up joining mostly latecomers way back at the end of the pack.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wuiewd7Hec-fiFv3LKXwk_LSCxb1uML3qocPyVA1hjLKxd295M1YMNV9R_aMPXJIY0P2pc2FnD89nuLUlb0SCVll64Q29WNNw4nwwHe4vbctIR4qOQwnQeGWm0qgi7N1wpPsopsT3eQJ/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466732523026790194" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wuiewd7Hec-fiFv3LKXwk_LSCxb1uML3qocPyVA1hjLKxd295M1YMNV9R_aMPXJIY0P2pc2FnD89nuLUlb0SCVll64Q29WNNw4nwwHe4vbctIR4qOQwnQeGWm0qgi7N1wpPsopsT3eQJ/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+070.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Was hypnotically mesmerized by the yellow color again, passing by the yellow corral at the race start area, shortly before our time to start. This race had five different start times depending on your estimated time of finish, around five minutes interval for each corral.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDQcVhGO_J5PBX6BkBoff_giqWSCUSkAUufv5t7UQV4t4ZOEd5Mvov8GW_8LXDL0G3uQrgdxdI7XDMiZ-6yZc01xGZQlro5Urd3hEPKwfVvt2_JOHc7JdcwSEzRUvt15HifXkKSc9LYp0/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466731922558615266" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDQcVhGO_J5PBX6BkBoff_giqWSCUSkAUufv5t7UQV4t4ZOEd5Mvov8GW_8LXDL0G3uQrgdxdI7XDMiZ-6yZc01xGZQlro5Urd3hEPKwfVvt2_JOHc7JdcwSEzRUvt15HifXkKSc9LYp0/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+075.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And off we went( all 12 thousand more or less runners), running southward along Yonge Street (the longest street in North America) in downtown Toronto. Tried to get my rhythm and was on pace the 1st 3k (less than 6min. per k) for my goal to finish close to 1 hour.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOHLa_5NKue3H60I96e65OlCbiTljMsHTQUdTidu6Ybin631Pb2ATJAwv7HIdPjXqiUCBV-8zlqjBcyaHirXW23gpkwKVaOEwG5fsanMIc2Kpv0HlFwqFcMHL9Ky45brUTZAk0ZXSbP6c/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+076.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466731145799581394" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglOHLa_5NKue3H60I96e65OlCbiTljMsHTQUdTidu6Ybin631Pb2ATJAwv7HIdPjXqiUCBV-8zlqjBcyaHirXW23gpkwKVaOEwG5fsanMIc2Kpv0HlFwqFcMHL9Ky45brUTZAk0ZXSbP6c/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+076.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Who looks like a turltle, runs like a turltle?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFSMESGPssnO7B-jzKMydB4goQCPxjICeUtlLzeA4bwp-ojcu2uWBACSHuCo1_PaygDjjceAfuEYMWpKXLICSnkFdmLTlB31irB7hV1Vk7se0O2tqDoqj0FbTTP7pVyFgTeWttTqdkGqP/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466730399786334322" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFSMESGPssnO7B-jzKMydB4goQCPxjICeUtlLzeA4bwp-ojcu2uWBACSHuCo1_PaygDjjceAfuEYMWpKXLICSnkFdmLTlB31irB7hV1Vk7se0O2tqDoqj0FbTTP7pVyFgTeWttTqdkGqP/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div>By the 5th k, checked my time at 31:38. Breaking the 1 hour barrier or even being close to it, I thought was no longer attainable when I started to have heavy legs. I was gradually running slower and was stopping to do recovery walks more often than I needed. Lessons learned, can't eat like there's no tomorrow on your holidays and not train properly and expect to do a PR relying solely on muscle memory. Rogers Centre, in the picture, is where the Raptors play their home games.<br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYEAlVKPbvQZwPlT6m6jAjt0Rq7nfb_RyHspPNulEoyY764cu2zacFJL-DW3M90Tvv8rtj-3nZwSBFoL65WbnjnaVVJZmxVvYWMKSGAWoW01AfOc5V3C4y-yfEZDCS_fl0WftQ8AqcZ6T/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466729388622482578" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYEAlVKPbvQZwPlT6m6jAjt0Rq7nfb_RyHspPNulEoyY764cu2zacFJL-DW3M90Tvv8rtj-3nZwSBFoL65WbnjnaVVJZmxVvYWMKSGAWoW01AfOc5V3C4y-yfEZDCS_fl0WftQ8AqcZ6T/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+094.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Knowing that my goals were all out of reach ( due mainly and only thru my own fault, that is, not training enough, and not dieting as I should have), I just ran the rest of the second half of the race leisurely, taking pictures here and there. This picture says it all, this was about 500 meters from the finish line. While slower runners like me were trying to make a dash to the finish line on the left) faster runners (on the right)who already finished and got their finisher medals were walking on the other side of the road.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpM3zQmRiVV2mKBh4TiYuxhQ3SI-c0dH4L0seZKS4RgdTLg0LvEJhXTx0pmeaRIw7_YW-gR2e8jNZlSd09wvfcK-_vxhBxZrcedXHx9oQj4DtRHzEcFY4aS9BjWXyymHsV7dmqrRlQw8F/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466728881628383442" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpM3zQmRiVV2mKBh4TiYuxhQ3SI-c0dH4L0seZKS4RgdTLg0LvEJhXTx0pmeaRIw7_YW-gR2e8jNZlSd09wvfcK-_vxhBxZrcedXHx9oQj4DtRHzEcFY4aS9BjWXyymHsV7dmqrRlQw8F/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+096.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />If there is any consolation, slow as I was, I looked back, and there were a lot more runners behind me. Out of almost 12 thousand runners, my time was better than more than 1500! Yehey!<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkfnNBCfk-bhQHlCl44QEEjukEBzSR-i6LUmqhxw8ztw5JoyzbEQ3Qqc7-f7_OyOtedvP5JekT2z6Khe9xPt7ZP24MkkIOnwtyPvjm8wCN69wjNKi1T41UwS6yuoO2IITgHK0CkdYkqDj/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466728389528637074" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkfnNBCfk-bhQHlCl44QEEjukEBzSR-i6LUmqhxw8ztw5JoyzbEQ3Qqc7-f7_OyOtedvP5JekT2z6Khe9xPt7ZP24MkkIOnwtyPvjm8wCN69wjNKi1T41UwS6yuoO2IITgHK0CkdYkqDj/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+111.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I thank the good Lord for this beautiful day, a race well run, free of any injury, and just sharing and celebrating all the good things that life offers with my fellow runners. To the food station I went for my bagel, banana and fruit juice. Hey man, this yellow color madness and obsession of mine keeps popping up in my head every now and then. Look at this man on the right in yellow t-shirt, he he.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSInCF4PYxf_LUks8R1GyqLst-WkEm-BRiUTU22iKHN9c_KUYsDN5j-iD4mgmbxEtEZxa7rFP18hR29OPbXM6X-vt5Dw1CsKoTd86u1wRSLnM45gUwHyfRGkmTd1OP1-PSxaQ7KM59S5tA/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+124.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466727819796302546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSInCF4PYxf_LUks8R1GyqLst-WkEm-BRiUTU22iKHN9c_KUYsDN5j-iD4mgmbxEtEZxa7rFP18hR29OPbXM6X-vt5Dw1CsKoTd86u1wRSLnM45gUwHyfRGkmTd1OP1-PSxaQ7KM59S5tA/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+124.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Click! click! Had to get a hit, took a picture of this yellow plant.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52CQ_3RcwbbkAzF-_emP18ngcfEmxBf8ua1HiGQsvRZSXIkthF43mLY8HGdKKAr2bFeALJJ9W8p439tOAz8r841kzegdEM3K0bK91KahiP31RPGNcaZ9IoB0eTJb2tYx6Ki3HY19PObgp/s1600/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466727181663368578" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52CQ_3RcwbbkAzF-_emP18ngcfEmxBf8ua1HiGQsvRZSXIkthF43mLY8HGdKKAr2bFeALJJ9W8p439tOAz8r841kzegdEM3K0bK91KahiP31RPGNcaZ9IoB0eTJb2tYx6Ki3HY19PObgp/s400/2010+Sporting+Life+10k+107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Overall, a fulfilling weekend. Had a fix for my addiction to the color yellow - which I got more than enough of these 2 days and the other addiction, running - which, slow as I am, I know I could never be cured of.</div><br /><div>My next race is the Mississauga half marathon on May 16, 2010<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-478466611267544216.post-18417411227116171632010-03-01T15:44:00.021-05:002010-03-01T18:38:41.318-05:00My 14K Winter Run Route in Pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYp9dUUl5W8SrziC4p84iDcH56StkRandLMeR_yq5NkAhfPtipkbDFNDPD4D0YIi7QX67Rl3djDihwA3pPHVf_wtCqyK34QWFumZaFFtJU7GtQCnXRMkM2-blXLHPm0ZB05VMWHZuTslr/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+049.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443793434101196066" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYp9dUUl5W8SrziC4p84iDcH56StkRandLMeR_yq5NkAhfPtipkbDFNDPD4D0YIi7QX67Rl3djDihwA3pPHVf_wtCqyK34QWFumZaFFtJU7GtQCnXRMkM2-blXLHPm0ZB05VMWHZuTslr/s400/Feb+28+Run+049.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Kilometer 0, what a difference a day makes, in front of my house, the street and pedestrian walkway were clear of snow and ice when the temperature went up to 3 degrees above zero.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9Kv3kvFJpOjb90dAieZYv7pseL80Zk5KpHtvEzeojxnK9-APL9EARZOIRbbUN4a-UbgJGytsiCCLpRfy2dOGJw9Qv9AaDZ1hD2giBl1ZSz9XCciFKSaOgdOJBWEhBD1fHKR8TA9y1jO0/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443792298667693282" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9Kv3kvFJpOjb90dAieZYv7pseL80Zk5KpHtvEzeojxnK9-APL9EARZOIRbbUN4a-UbgJGytsiCCLpRfy2dOGJw9Qv9AaDZ1hD2giBl1ZSz9XCciFKSaOgdOJBWEhBD1fHKR8TA9y1jO0/s400/Feb+28+Run+060.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Had to slow down at 8oo m</em>, <em>obviously</em> <em>not too many have traversed this pathway.</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBu-xFrBu-BMOJhai0lHdLDNB3EU65GQGC9mkLvUow0IZv6WsXQc2D0S4QhJnJUDeXXbNqn4O3hdGgpSSRb7HUAdGlFHXWHS-HzEJ2iZLMgr-RcDp3xXdk3627jP5txSDr2K2eHnlkJ3J/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443790985635964914" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBu-xFrBu-BMOJhai0lHdLDNB3EU65GQGC9mkLvUow0IZv6WsXQc2D0S4QhJnJUDeXXbNqn4O3hdGgpSSRb7HUAdGlFHXWHS-HzEJ2iZLMgr-RcDp3xXdk3627jP5txSDr2K2eHnlkJ3J/s400/Feb+28+Run+079.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>At the 3k mark</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7P4ERHjACY8V7qF7MGuclH5tf0dRs3JLwmgd38cB7ah4llZMvlayUQBqxvPtw2MhtTkdd3ALEGyahrKN2HSkiFa_q-IM-ol9v9-zRFTsZCpxY86-fyoJJwBs2r-SdvGxeoQ5JvUin3it/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+080.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443790495288364642" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7P4ERHjACY8V7qF7MGuclH5tf0dRs3JLwmgd38cB7ah4llZMvlayUQBqxvPtw2MhtTkdd3ALEGyahrKN2HSkiFa_q-IM-ol9v9-zRFTsZCpxY86-fyoJJwBs2r-SdvGxeoQ5JvUin3it/s400/Feb+28+Run+080.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Corner Main Street and Bullock, 3.5 k</em><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HaSQyTeU8Zj61C-uzPgxrMqOV73S_ie7VL9CIju5-3cpFHztZzEbQSS7Gy9oCAcqNz9o5edbAxwlFZnTLKxID9fN4MRqWAmSLv9l522rYsmPHVzYS2J_0qQ8T39tjreUUwMXX3PZIvpt/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+082.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443789908957496242" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HaSQyTeU8Zj61C-uzPgxrMqOV73S_ie7VL9CIju5-3cpFHztZzEbQSS7Gy9oCAcqNz9o5edbAxwlFZnTLKxID9fN4MRqWAmSLv9l522rYsmPHVzYS2J_0qQ8T39tjreUUwMXX3PZIvpt/s400/Feb+28+Run+082.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>It's been more than 20 years since I last attended a meeting of the Katarungan Lions of Q.C., 4k</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbKL5ASDjpgUmNNzeB_RnjSjnRJv0pmywKhF6FT-4j0Nsf8NZsJuY4edZFdJiyaJuDlUyet897YETB5OlCXmUm5zL6OwmihZqgDO3QNSuDT_UnhMbUwjBIWBss8gpu5DqColgj5VmezCI/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443789283307493682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbKL5ASDjpgUmNNzeB_RnjSjnRJv0pmywKhF6FT-4j0Nsf8NZsJuY4edZFdJiyaJuDlUyet897YETB5OlCXmUm5zL6OwmihZqgDO3QNSuDT_UnhMbUwjBIWBss8gpu5DqColgj5VmezCI/s400/Feb+28+Run+086.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><em>Music to my ears, the sound of water flowing down a stream or brook, 4.7 k</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lnR7xfKaXbV_xDrKyXj8xyp205XpbyrvaZ61ZTJuyQkyvR0TTsvCh9k1ajYJxJMUc_nUOVD3X3ekV79SH_0lh6XFUy-vg3nVNIgruJlFACkPJj7pEYihjkh7I3jO9qyV3iKAkR0G5xKT/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+093.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443787929789917410" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0lnR7xfKaXbV_xDrKyXj8xyp205XpbyrvaZ61ZTJuyQkyvR0TTsvCh9k1ajYJxJMUc_nUOVD3X3ekV79SH_0lh6XFUy-vg3nVNIgruJlFACkPJj7pEYihjkh7I3jO9qyV3iKAkR0G5xKT/s400/Feb+28+Run+093.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Around 6k into my run</em><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxL9msBu1XeOlmLzLDw-cMj8Rg5ZwxIFu2ucdDtYfpF9Mo8IUo5_6lWK6Q4mhxx5WkpypNyCgvfV2j6gt9rmFSJe7zh4TeYgVmCNAj0c7L-C8OCn6sLjyQbKS2sfXlQGMi7UKNbmM6eb9/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443787352139147986" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxL9msBu1XeOlmLzLDw-cMj8Rg5ZwxIFu2ucdDtYfpF9Mo8IUo5_6lWK6Q4mhxx5WkpypNyCgvfV2j6gt9rmFSJe7zh4TeYgVmCNAj0c7L-C8OCn6sLjyQbKS2sfXlQGMi7UKNbmM6eb9/s400/Feb+28+Run+099.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><em>I have the whole park and tennis courts to myself.</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTQfk8WMfqMZNetnLwDmcR3nL0mZqVSdzoudi1ihRIq-PwdEPVFKVT7DkCh_SifiZmdxmi-2J2LiKWPuBFp375wpCAmTS7ZaQ4S4swhNRUBEVSLBp_OGnE3c2HutCNzmHqzbmw2svqtRo/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+101.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443786773575788082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTQfk8WMfqMZNetnLwDmcR3nL0mZqVSdzoudi1ihRIq-PwdEPVFKVT7DkCh_SifiZmdxmi-2J2LiKWPuBFp375wpCAmTS7ZaQ4S4swhNRUBEVSLBp_OGnE3c2HutCNzmHqzbmw2svqtRo/s400/Feb+28+Run+101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Summertime, this was always filled with young children playing and running around, 6.8 k.</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqVesY0MQva3icTVzDX7DdscZNikwOvd_M13WJFeLP09RSIkpaL4ND7NiZP6Z67W_wLbiph9mXuRRCM8BNB2W746PuQ9jSKWKdDsdkjVkR2Stpfi45OZC1rbvQthhPOE4Y_bmXgkpEGSx/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443786300120939298" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqVesY0MQva3icTVzDX7DdscZNikwOvd_M13WJFeLP09RSIkpaL4ND7NiZP6Z67W_wLbiph9mXuRRCM8BNB2W746PuQ9jSKWKdDsdkjVkR2Stpfi45OZC1rbvQthhPOE4Y_bmXgkpEGSx/s400/Feb+28+Run+108.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Passed by this Heritage area of Markham around 8k into the run.</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe8VOQyzbYRCSByKZP5qLkcL6byPAjqMmLEly3X4oOPAsTDvatsy50JwCqHLSkhXLZISCEL29M8OPo78qcAVLDlh_oQsRnkjaX7V5ynhoDdPxtnM4bI2f3WJCY0w_OEKmkU4pLsF_iBIw/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443785567832272018" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe8VOQyzbYRCSByKZP5qLkcL6byPAjqMmLEly3X4oOPAsTDvatsy50JwCqHLSkhXLZISCEL29M8OPo78qcAVLDlh_oQsRnkjaX7V5ynhoDdPxtnM4bI2f3WJCY0w_OEKmkU4pLsF_iBIw/s400/Feb+28+Run+110.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><em>I took some pictures of old houses, this one looks at least century old.</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOKCqqAdQq0vZL_CsR43O_rvPetOke_IUJ3nNvOz6sCcrxUNLeNl4poJ5MPX-9wVicJGQ1YoqDA0outBG9hC-h95_-1IJsAb8LYo3cDmDt2s0JmcICO_fQpLaRiTiwKbanf7sq36LNgC_/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443784442526869602" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOKCqqAdQq0vZL_CsR43O_rvPetOke_IUJ3nNvOz6sCcrxUNLeNl4poJ5MPX-9wVicJGQ1YoqDA0outBG9hC-h95_-1IJsAb8LYo3cDmDt2s0JmcICO_fQpLaRiTiwKbanf7sq36LNgC_/s400/Feb+28+Run+113.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><em>While most new homes in Markham are built with bricks, houses here are made of wood, I like the the white painted wooden railings on the patio.</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE2-U1xJQRu3Y9sEFTrKSzL1vUznKBabsXLm-Na3cPcSUjcAHfFJG-bRBWY1UZ57qSgSRawfom-1E54b4WT1pAXO2-BmX2031Oe0LDCC6U7GKUb_qBTwpUXExR0JKPZdsVwGRQp1wm6Q6/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443783565021160882" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE2-U1xJQRu3Y9sEFTrKSzL1vUznKBabsXLm-Na3cPcSUjcAHfFJG-bRBWY1UZ57qSgSRawfom-1E54b4WT1pAXO2-BmX2031Oe0LDCC6U7GKUb_qBTwpUXExR0JKPZdsVwGRQp1wm6Q6/s400/Feb+28+Run+116.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Another nice looking old house</em><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyDOhojASJGyrNJLFxGBEdETCtA-uZVXxeDLGwXFKLHA7YuA67jReIKTx9GdtO0nP4cKcS4xlgbIfqODhtki0Brwu_qmf2IOllfiQ6xWvRMH3q0WO1-LXc_33JXO0hM5CLO_x99Q1uUH0/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+120.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443782849304687298" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyDOhojASJGyrNJLFxGBEdETCtA-uZVXxeDLGwXFKLHA7YuA67jReIKTx9GdtO0nP4cKcS4xlgbIfqODhtki0Brwu_qmf2IOllfiQ6xWvRMH3q0WO1-LXc_33JXO0hM5CLO_x99Q1uUH0/s400/Feb+28+Run+120.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Passed by this church around the 10k mark, took this picture, said my prayer and continued on.</em><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jp-Wvgrfs2HIi7zo6i8R8h94MUgV3BXw_p1oVlxuQe96i5EN7f_Itg6HyjWE6xrQussHIdlyPA5OeOBNRojIGwzqDGhbvUCB2UbGpi4KAwmK8XdRmhLJdVRZMtl7TXcDnPRgVRvl2Kgz/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443779394504132210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jp-Wvgrfs2HIi7zo6i8R8h94MUgV3BXw_p1oVlxuQe96i5EN7f_Itg6HyjWE6xrQussHIdlyPA5OeOBNRojIGwzqDGhbvUCB2UbGpi4KAwmK8XdRmhLJdVRZMtl7TXcDnPRgVRvl2Kgz/s400/Feb+28+Run+129.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><em>By the 12th k, I knew that Canada won the Olympics men's ice hockey finals against the U.S. when people in cars honked their horns and shouted at the top of their lungs while waving at me, it was a coincidence I was wearing a red jacket.</em><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRA5Yt0v7aRy_ikAeIrghee28ERogQ4rNeC09uT2qsqogOUPPEpep5-rPlRx0lG5GbN7yC8Kax59kpJTsuEK0uzx0cDvEkkF7SbRP1n8ps-HcWSaBrNaEarTbjSljs-l6F-1uin-sut6Q/s1600-h/Feb+28+Run+133.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443778620979930546" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggRA5Yt0v7aRy_ikAeIrghee28ERogQ4rNeC09uT2qsqogOUPPEpep5-rPlRx0lG5GbN7yC8Kax59kpJTsuEK0uzx0cDvEkkF7SbRP1n8ps-HcWSaBrNaEarTbjSljs-l6F-1uin-sut6Q/s400/Feb+28+Run+133.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><em>Almost home at close to 13k, legs were feeling heavy, would have stopped if not for the temperature going down to about freezing at this time.</em></div><em></em></div><div> </div><div><em>Did 14.25 ks in 2:03:44. My next long run - 16k next Sunday.</em> <div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div>Bonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09477811765307738983noreply@blogger.com6