Catch me here

Sorry folks, busy providing daily content for this website.

http://triathlonmagazine.ca/

And soon, a bunch of articles for Ironman.com as the build up to the Ironman World Championships begins in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned.

RH

I can ride like this........in my dreams

The same course but dry and a lot slower. Although the guy riding it rode it quite well.

Getting a Tattoo

I am speechless

Doggie Dancer

RIP Jack Layton

I can't recall voting for the NDP but I almost did because of Jack Layton. I had a few brief run-ins with him and he was always classy. He lost his battle with cancer today and he wrote this just a few days ago. I really love his last paragraph.

RIP Jack.

August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Finally some race reports

I've been super busy so I combined 4 race reports into one.

Here you go:

http://www.teamrunningfree.com/blog/2011/08/20/4-reports-in-1/

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Mid-August Update

For those that follow me I just have one thing to say....Sorry!

Controlled chaos is the best way to describe life right now.

Since coming back from racing in Germany at the start of July it has been non-stop action.

Racing at Gravenhurst; working for Ironman at Lake Placid; back for more racing at Bracebridge, and Cobourg; lots of writing; and coaching of course.

Oh yeah, and I try to get in some sort of training.

The last few races have been not up to my standards thanks to that lack of training. I gained 10 lbs in one month and that does not serve me well for those hilly courses of Bracebridge and Cobourg. But that has sparked me to get back on track, even though I do not have another Ironman race scheduled for the rest of this year.

Typically, that second late season one keeps me going but not this year since life will change big time very soon with the arrival of my first kid. I am more excited about that than anything else. But I still better get in some bikes and runs to make sure I don't approach Marshmallow Man status.




I try to get some race report done soon.
Till next time.
H

Robbie Alomar's Journey to Cooperstown

Part 1




Part 2



Part 3

Roberto Alomar Hall of Fame Day

My favourite Blue Jay, and the first pro athlete that I interviewed.

Friday Laughs

These are a few of a whole collection of videos. Enjoy!

Running Free's July Sale Ends Sunday

Lots of deals to take advantage of at Running Free.

The July Sale ends this Sunday July 31st.

Check it out here.

Blazeman

Support the War on ALS.
http://www.waronals.com/index.php

No race for me at the 13th Ironman Lake Placid

For the first time in 13 years, I was not signed up to do Ironman Lake Placid.

I've raced there every year (except 2008 when my achilles was ruptured), but I knew I'd be needed to do some reporting work this year so no race for me. Plus, my continuous streak was over anyway.

Not to mention that course doesn't suit my skillset. But I always raced faster if I had another Ironman scheduled weeks or months after it (unless a mechanical of course) so I liked doing it as a long catered training day with lots of people cheering for you. Lake Placid on race day is like nothing else.

Anyway, here is a small portion of what I did on race day.

My Ironman Lake Placid Write Up for Ironman.com

Great Places to get Sports Therapy

As athletes, we get injuries from time to time.
Let me save you some time searching around for places to get help.
If you have a great health plan, then you've got total physio coverage, partial massage, chiro, etc.

Depending on what is ailing me, I've made use of any of the establishments below and strongly recommend them. All great people too.

Here we go - mainly in the Markham and Toronto area:

Absolute Endurance (115 Merton St., Toronto. 416-483-AETT (2388) )
- the total package. Chiro, massage, physio, tri coaching, you name it, they've got it.
- Cindy, Alan and the rest of the crew are the best.

Physiobility (1-227 Main Street, Markham. 905-471-6422)
- Tony and his crew got me back to 100% after my Achilles rupture.

Running Free (708 Denison St. Markham)
- Massage with Angela Lloyd. Simply great. Just leave me some bookings.

Balanced Living (2673 Bur Oak Ave., Unit 1, Markham. 905-209-1005)
- Brian can do massage and ART. He's saved me a bunch of times.

Markham Pain Clinic (8312 McCowan Road, Suite #12, Markham. 905-470-2626)
- I've known Dr. John for 20 years and sought out treatment on and off during that time.

SEMI (Sheppard Centre, 2 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 601, Toronto. 416-223-SEMI)
- Dr. Stoddard and his team can handle anything. When something really serious strikes, this is where I go to find out what is wrong because he deals with sports injuries specifically. Lots of different therapies too.

One place I'd never go in Markham.

Rhymes with "Apple Creep". I'll let you figure it out.

I can elaborate if you inquire during a face to face conversation. I rarely speak badly of anyone or anything so you know this has got to be good/bad. But if you trust my opinion don't go there. We have other options in Markham.

Welland Swim/Bike Race Report

I did my first Swim/Bike race at Welland.

Check it out the report here:

http://www.teamrunningfree.com/blog/2011/07/01/welland-half-iron-swimbike/

Binbrook Race Report

On June 18 & 19th I raced two races in two days.
I biked well in both.

You can read my Binbrook Race Report here.

Blind runner to complete 100 Miler

Simon Wheatcroft and his 100 Mile Ultramarathon.
What's so special, if running that crazy distance isn't enough?
He's blind.

Check out more here.

Clean Water & Surfing

Season Opening Race at Woodstock

Had a great opening race at Woodstock last week. The race report is here if you are interested.

I also had a fun couple of races this past weekend at Binbrook. Report to come.