World Adventure

Toronto Marathon

Published May 7, 2017

4:45am alarm, crazy tired start to marathon morning. Living B-I-G can have its drawbacks.

comparing FINISHER bling

Didn’t end Super Saturday early, even after a FULL day at Niagara Falls. My Canadian bestie next drove us from her Brampton home to downtown Toronto (45 minutes away). Trip wouldn’t be complete without a ride UP the CN Tower, tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Sarah however had other ideas. No trip would be complete without FINE DINING at the WORLD’s highest & largest revolving restaurant – 1,152ft UP. Yeah, yeah we walked out on a scary glass panel (2 floors BENEATH the restaurant) – but it’s our fancy 3-course meal, I’ll long remember. Thanks friend, GREAT idea!

Home by 11pm – morning came early. 5:15am climbed in Sarah’s car Milo, arrived at Ontario Place by 6am. 45-minute bus ride to Mel Lastman Square (marathon Start), dropped between the North York Civic Centre & Toronto Centre for the Arts.

7:30am Start, Orange Corral. Caught the 4 hour pace group after 2K (no miles today — we’re in Canada, running 42.2K). Cold damp day but unlike yesterday, no rain. After running in shorts the past 2 weeks, risked getting hot & donned a ski jacket…trying to outthink today’s 2^nd Half along wind-happy Lake Ontario.

One steep climb 5K in. 3:50 pacers passed me going up, I caught them on the down. Stayed just ahead thru 25K. HUGE blast off Toronto’s Great Lake pushed me backward. Pacing bunny (that’s what they’re called in O’ Canada) went by on the left…and that was that. No mo’ gas. Flat course ‘round the lake (Martin Goodman Trail) but went out too fast too early. Strong headwind next 7 miles, running 9:40-10/min miles.

Entering Humber Bay Park, passed by the 4 hour pack. Wind at my back, 35K to the Finish. Slow/run combo to the end, no more slog. Either gonna run or walk fast – but no more humped shoulders/slow jog.

Realize I went out too fast today but on the right path – know I got it in me, I WILL PR this year. It will happen.

Back at Ontario Place, marathon FINISH #89. Couple seconds quicker than last weekend, 2^nd fastest run of 2017. Third province completed & a new Canadian PR (almost 30 minutes better).

Convoluted flight path home, Monday morning work day awaits. Sunshine – home, sweet Colorado home 🙂

Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon
2017-05-07 • Marathon

583 K R Haga Louisville 04:17:04.8

: tonite’s glass elevator adventure

: tallest building in the Western Hemisphere

: HIGH ABOVE the City Aquarium

: CN Tower’s revolving 360 Restaurant

: MOOSE!

: ‘La Tour’ at night

: 3rd province, new Canadian PR

Posted in Canada, Marathons/Ultras | Tagged rivers-lakes | 1 Comment

Niagara Falls

Published May 6, 2017

12:30am arrival – even the best of friends say ‘take an Uber’ after midnight. My Canadian bestie? Short cat nap, greeted me just past Customs…then hit the highway. HUGE surprise. Middle-of-the-night trek to Niagara Falls. Hotel slept, woke directly across from North America’s greatest free falling water. Chilly a.m. mist but whatta morning run!

GREAT to wake in Canada! Purchased 2 tickets on Hornblower Cruises. Would be seeing the Falls up close & personal. Donned my plastic ‘Hornblower pink’ rain jacket & boarded the boat (America’s competing ‘Maid of the Mist’ provide jackets o’ blue).

Niagara Falls is actually comprised of three waterfalls: American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls. The first 2 lie in the U.S., the latter straddles both U.S. & Canada borders. Elaborate walkways built on the American side provide ‘a’ view of the Falls. Canada however, positioned directly across from the Falls, claims BEST view…by far.

Cruise first passed by American & Bridal Veil. Lotta opportunity for selfies, water crashing over large boulders below. Seagulls darted in & out of the Falls, diving into the water below fishing for dinner. Provided some of the day’s favourite shots.

When folks think of ‘Niagara’ Falls, it’s Horseshoe Falls we’ve seen. Powerful, thunderous water, tinted green of mineral-eroded limestone. The force of falling water created a wide spray across the entire boat. Whatta memory – SUPER FUN (& wet)! One of the most wondrous, magical, ‘take your breath away’ places on Earth. I was here, May 6^th 2017. Could not stop smiling ❤

Boat disembarked. Slow-walked 2 miles down the boardwalk, past flowering Queen Victoria Park. Watched fast moving water pour over Horseshoe Falls, self-surrounded by a swath of daffodils. Hot chocolate at Tim Horton’s. a WOW kind of day!

Rode the QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way), over Burlington Skyway Bridge, then the 407 – to Sarah’s flat in Brampton. Impromptu pull-off to view an old grounded ship on Lake Ontario. Unplanned excursions, highly recommended. Many thanks Sarah, much LOVED!

The Grounded Ship was a replica of the Grand Hermie used by Jacques Cartier in 1535-1536 and 1541-1542 to explore Canada. This ship was built in 1967 for Expo 67 [in Montreal] as part of the nautical theme as Expo 67 which was on islands in the St. Lawrence Seaway. The ship was taken to Quebec City and abandoned in 2001.

Marathon in early a.m. – but not before dining fancy in North America’s tallest building, the CN Tower. No regret, B-I-G life 🙂

: Welcome to Canada!

: comprised of three waterfalls: American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls

: Cruisin’ Niagara

: selfies in ‘Hornblower pink’

: American Falls

: seagulls darted in & out of the Falls

: thunderous Horseshoe Falls

: LOVE this SMILE!

: American side of Niagara

: FAVE pic of the day!

: one of the most wondrous, magical, ‘take your breath away’ places on Earth

: impromptu QEW pull-off

: replica of the Grand Hermie used by Jacques Cartier in 1535-1536

: an AMAZING O’ Canada day

Niagara Falls

Posted in Canada | Tagged rivers-lakes, watercraft, waterfalls | 2 Comments

Kirikiriroa Marathon

Published March 18, 2017

My South Pacific marathon, Kirikiriroa. Bib pickup yesterday. Scoped out exactly where I needed to be, when I needed to be there…PLUS spent an afternoon in Hamilton Gardens — 2^nd fave thing in Hamilton, after Hobbiton of course 🙂

Kirikiriroa (Hamilton, in Māori)

Poor night sleep, less than 3 hours. Too many days abroad – super fun vacation, but missing Colorado. Auckland, Rotorua, then a week drive ’round South Island before returning 2 days ago to the Kiwi North. Noticeable weather difference on NZ’s two island nation. Unfortunately, marathoning on the hotter, humid twin. But it’s only weather…remembering today how crazy lucky I am in life, marathoning in the South Pacific two short months after Doc declared me ‘cancer-free’.

Travel buddy dropped me at 6:15am – still dark, no sun for 30 minutes into today’s 42k run. Followed a throng of local runners to the Start near an illuminated tent across the park. Last minute race details – luckily I wouldn’t be leading, absolutely no clue what was said. 2 weeks in, still struggling at pulling together full sentences [no good at the Kiwi accent].

8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 & we’re off. No starting gun, air horn, national anthem. 5K loop around & through Hamilton Gardens – mostly uphill before entering the River Road, along Hamilton’s Waikato River. Ran a short portion of this trek yesterday – rolling hills, like most of New Zealand…an island nation built on tectonic plates. Running hills for 2 weeks now, NZ-acclimated – bring it on!

Went out fast, pushed past runners walking the early hills. Tried to stay near the 2^nd pack, following their artificial light ‘til sunrise. Running downhill on the cobblestone path, caught an upraised brick in the dark. Took most impact to my left shoulder. Hit hard. Blood ran, pooled in my sock. Stung, but only road-rash abrasions. Walked a couple minutes, slow jog to the first aid station (first of only 3). Threw cups of water at my knee – ok, good to go.

First marathon body spill…the positive? Slowed pace, ran a steady 9:20/minute ‘til the 20K mark. Wairere Bridge, Horotiu Bridge, large horse farm off Pukete. Lost all tree cover, baked in morning sun, dehydrated fast. Took more water at 21K. Next international trek, wearing my hydration pack. Limited fluids/same situation last September in Russia – [guessing] we Americans are super spoiled with multiple water/sports drink stops in our marathons. No judgment, different culture – live & learn.

Bloodied knee stiffened. Last water station at 30K, 7 more miles to go. UP Cobham Bridge, entered Hamilton Gardens. Victorian Flower Garden backside, ran aside the park’s expansive Rhododendron Lawn…last half-mile. Came in HOT. Crossed the Finish, received my medal, then lawn-laid for 10 minutes. 84^th marathon, my 3^rd continent. YES!

Australia is also referred to as Oceania and in conjunction with Zealandia. Experts are heavily studying this area of the world and the definitions on the countries and areas that define it are changing rapidly. Currently, there are 3 confirmed countries that divide the continent of Australia. It consists of the country of Australia by the same name, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

Begged a late check-out & post-marathon shower from my fancy last-day NZ hotel. Late lunch, easy-going 2 hour drive to Auckland (haggled for ice cream with US dollars). Air New Zealand return flight not ‘til 11pm (yep, marathoning/flying home same day).

WOW whatta journey – furthest I’ve ever been from Colorado. Ran EVERY day – Auckland, Rotorua, Christchurch, Franz Josef Village, Queenstown, Dunedin, Oamaru, marathon finish’d in Hamilton. Palm trees, glaciers, geysers, glow worms, whole lotta sheep ❤, Fiordland Nat’l Park, Hobbiton & penguins too! Nothing left undone, no regret life.