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

We had a GREAT first night at the 10k clinic that I am leading at my local Running Room store. There are 34 registrants which is the largest number that the Fredericton store has ever had for any of their clinics.

Last night I gave them an overview of the 10 week program and then we went for a 3k run using the 10:1 walk/run system. Everyone finished the full distance and some of the keeners even did a 4k route.

I've set up a blog for my clinic that you may want to visit too -

www.freddybeach10kclinic.blogspot.com

Oh and a special note to my brother Bill who recently left a comment here - BITE ME !!

Saturday was another opportunity to do a long training walk in preparation for the Marathon By The Sea half marathon. I covered 18 km with an average pace of 8:15 per kilometer. That translates into a sub 3-hour HalfM time so I starting to gain confidence that I am going to be able to keep up with Myra!

Today (Sunday) Jill and I met up with a small group at the Running Room and did a nice route, approximately 5-6 km along the riverside trail. Afterwards the 5 of us went out for a coffee together which was nice. I think that they are all going to join my 10k clinic starting next week which would be fantastic. The group is going to be quite large which will be a challenge for me as a first-time instructor. On the upside, it'll mean that everyone will have lots of support available to them from fellow participants.

Starting on August 28th I am going to be instructing a 10k clinic group at our local Running Room store. I am really looking forward to meeting my group for the first time and to working with them towards our goal event - the Legs For Literacy 10k. So far there are 10 registrants but I expect there will be a few more between now and when we get started in two weeks' time.

I am starting to like this power walking stuff! This morning I left home just before 6 a.m. and did a 10k route ending at my office. My total time was 84 minutes which means I was just slightly faster than Myra's target 3-hour half marathon (21.1km) pace.

I know that for various reasons there are people who aren't capable of (or interested in) running. Give walking a try. I don't mean stolling though. I mean one foot in front of the other pushing yourself along at a good clip. Believe me, it'll get your heart rate up and you'll be burning calories like nobody's business.

Although I have almost 1500 digital pictures from my trip to Europe with Chris some of which I posted earlier in the form of a slide show) I thought I would try and distill things down into a few that I really feel capture the essence of our trip.

Chris' first taste of real Black Forest Cake in, where else, the Black Forest.



A professional whitewater kayak race near Interlaken, Switzerland.



Chris and newfound friends at the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Switzerland.



Peter hiking in the Swiss Alps.



The collesium



Gelato, food of the Gods




Museums and art galleries



Churches




Bastille Day in Paris




Biking in Amsterdam



Vimy Ridge



Belgian treats



London's Tower Bridge



Stonehenge



Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace



Love's Labour's Lost at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

It's Sunday night and as I look back over the last two days I realize that it was a busy one for training. Saturday morning I did a 12k walking route, covering the distance in roughly 1hr:45min. That is right on pace for a 3:05 Half Marathon walk, which is the pace that Myra is aiming for, if not a little faster. I took our neighbor's husky with me and she was a great partner. This morning I went to the Running Room and joined a group that was doing an 8k route. It was absolutely gorgeous both days.

I recently came upon the blog of a runner from PEI, Alex, who is "Running For Autism, Not Against It". Hope you'll check it out:

irunman.blogspot.com

A link to Alex's main running blog appears in the sidebar

Today is my mom's birthday. Since I can't be there to celebrate with her, here's a "virtual" birthday cake to enjoy. Much love MURFFF from Jill, Stephanie, Christopher and me.

Given that I have not done much "power walking" and that this is what I will be doing for "Myra's Marathon" I figured that I better start doing some training to be sure that I am ready to go for our first event, the Marathon By The Sea in September. So, instead of riding my bike to work today I walked. Not as in a casual stroll - more like the pace of an angry mother. It took me 48 minutes door-to-door and of course I'll get the same workout on the way home this afternoon.

Here is a slide show with just some of the 1500 digital pics that I took in Europe.

Since we got back to Fredericton the weather has been VERY hot and humid. Today the thermometer is expected to go into the mid-30's and there is a severe thuderstorm watch announced. No use complainin'. Instead, here's something to think about:

Back in November 2006 when I wrote my New York City race report, I mentioned that I had met a lady who invited me to be her guide/partner if she came to New Brunswick to do a half marathon. I told her straight away that I would love to do it. Great news everyone - it's going to happen!!!!!

Myra Rodriguez is quite a lady. She has set out the following challenge - to complete a Half Marathon in every province and every territory (that's 10+3 for those not up on their Grade 3 Canadian social studies)over the next year. Why (part 1)? To celebrate her 65th birthday. Why (part 2)? To raise funds for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind Library. Why (part 3)? Because notwithstanding her blindness, Myra is an avid powerwalker who has completed numerous marathons, half marathons and other distance events.

Check out Myra's website for loads of information:

www.cnib.ca/myrasmarathon

Hopefully some of you, my faithful readers, will be interested to make a donation to Myra's fundraising. I will certainly be doing so.

Not only will I be Myra's partner for her New Brunswick event, the Marathon By the Sea in Saint John on September 23rd, I am also going to be her partner for the PEI Marathon in Charlottetown on October 14th (which is, coincidentally, my 47th birthday).

Given that I've done hardly any running in the past month and that I've never done powerwalking or guiding, I guess I better get my butt in gear asap. I would sure hate for Myra to have to drag me to the finish line !!