Peter's Team Diabetes Triathlon (and formerly Marathon) Blog

Couldn't let the year end without adding a post. Jill and I finished 2006 by participating in the Kelowna edition of the Resolution Run. It was a 5K event, sponsored by the Running Room. It was run on a snowy path in the Mission Creek Greenway.

Lots of fun and even had the chance to meet fellow Team D'er and blogger, Derek (see link posted in the left margin of my site).



Looking forward to 2007 and another year of adventure because I am ...

Peter, the Blogger Jogger

Hit the street at 6 a.m. today to get my run in before work. Did 3 miles at an average pace of 10:12/mile. Another luncheon today: the not-to-be-missed HR department potluck. It's my last day at the office for this calendar year. I need to take some time to reflect on 2006 and the many blessings that my family and I have received. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Up at 5 a.m and on the road at 5:30 to get my run in before work. It was a "mite chilly" at that hour but after 5 minutes or so I was warmed up to a reasonable level. The temp was -8c but windchill made it feel like -14c. Better get used to it.

Did a 3 mile loop in exactly 30 minutes - a little faster than target pace.

Did the first workout of my new training plan and all went well. I was supposed to do 30 minutes at 11:00/mile but was a little quicker (10:15/mile). Then I did 6 x 400m repeats. Couldn't get to a track so estimated the distance on a straight sidewalk. Turned out it was a little short when I measured it off later in the car. Not to worry, I at least ran the right tempo.

Tomorrow I have to find a way to squeeze in a run other than at lunch because it's the annual UNB employee Christmas luncheon - turkey with all the trimmings. Yabba dabba doo.

One of my generous donors, both when I did Dublin in 2002 and when I did NYC in 2006, Ron Gathercole, is retiring from Medavie Blue Cross this month. All the best my friend!

I was in email contact with Coach Mike on the weekend and he is going to be helping me get ready for Boston. His first question was whether I could find somewhere to run that has a sustained (3-4 mile) downhill grade since the course in Boston is famous for being downhill or flat to the 16 mile mark and then uphill for the next 5 miles (including the legendary Heartbreak Hill) before a 5 mile downhill finish.

Did what I will consider as my first training run in preparation for Boston. I did a LSD today but had a bit of a brain spasm dealing with my watch so not sure how long the run was - somewhere between 90 minutes and 110 minutes I would estimate. It was a lovely warm day albeit quite windy. Tomorrow I will do a 30 minute "recovery run" and then Monday will be the start of Week 17 as I count down to April 16th.

That's right dear readers ... I am being entered to run in the granddaddy of all marathons, the Boston marathon, on April 16, 2007.

Earlier this week I was offered a guaranteed entry to the marathon. In the golf/tennis worlds they refer to such things as "sponsor's exemptions". In my case it is through the title sponsor of the race, John Hancock insurance.

I was a little conflicted about accepting the offer because one must normally run a qualifying time to gain entry to Boston. Runners refer to it as "BQ-ing". For my age/gender that time is 3:30 and I am a 4:45 (now aiming for 4:15 - 4:30) marathoner. In the end though I rationalize that my taking part in the event as a "particpant" in no way diminishes the accomplishments of those who ran qualifying times. I have never and won't hold myself out as anything other than a slow runner who substitutes stubbornness for talent.

This has all happened so fast that my head is spinning. I now have 17 1/2 weeks to get ready. Thanks goodness I am starting from a solid base having just finished NYC a little over a month ago.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day so out I went to do a long-ish run. Intended to do an hour or so but by the time I got home turned out to have been 1:20. Today will be a rest day and then I'll do some short mid-day runs over the remainder of the week.

Managed to fit in runs on both days at lunch. Monday it was snowing pretty hard and I neglected to wear glasses so it was pretty hard to see, what with the wind blowing the flakes into my eyes and the footing was pretty slick. Nevertheless, I did a 30 minute session.

Tuesday was colder but much more pleasant for running. I neglected to start my watch timer when I set out so I simply ran "for a whie". I'm pretty sure I did 5 or 6k and it was kind of liberating not to be worrying about watching the clock.

If there is anyone out there still reading this blog I would wlecome your comments on this idea - running the 10k (Saturday) and the Half Marathon (Sunday) at the National Capital Race Weekend in Ottawa next May.

Today was the annual Santa Shufle 5k fun run in support of the Salvation Army. Had lots of fun and finished in a PR (assuming the course was accurately measured) of 26:08. Weather was a balmy 1c but last night's freezing rain/snow made for sloppy conditions. Thanks to my cheerleader and personal photographer Jill for catching my blindingly fast finish !!