Hey Blog, haven't forgot about you, just been on the road. Stayed an extra day in Ottawa with Em and Heidi. Long drive back yesterday and right into another workout session this morning, first really hot one! 70' of quality tempo with Reid. Here's an interview I did on CTV before Ottawa 10k Turns out legs weren't that tired, guess they shouldn't when 10k race pace is only slightly faster then goal marathon pace. Gotta say I did enjoy racing, turned it into a tactical race twowards the end just wanting to beat Gezahegne Eshetu who was with me second half. We couldn't see anyone in front, each of us tried to drop one another, I was the first. At 7k I put in a surge, plus started swerving back and forth across the road to shake him as he was drafting off me, didn't work. By 9k we slowed it down to a crawl waiting for the other to start his kick. After a weak attempt by him with 900m to go, that I easily covered, I tried my luck with just over 300m to go. He timed this sprint well, he got me just at the line! Great crowd support, made for lots of fun coming down that finishing stretch, thanks everyone!

finished 10th in 30:18

Good tempo workout Tuesday, nice to be back training with Reid. We did 60' total, 30k for the morning (+6k pm)... pace not down to race pace yet, not that it should be, we're on the right track. More positive news, my left leg and hip is coming around. With the help of Brenda Scott-Thomas we're figuring things out.

In Ottawa now, racing 10k Saturday night. I'm keeping up the mileage this week, need to for good marathon base. Looking forward to mixing it up over 10k, not so much focused on time but the effort, run hard on tired legs... what the marathon is all about...

Visited Monsingnor Paul Baxter School today, lots of fun, whole school was wearing red and white. Over 100 of the kids well be competing in the 1.2k children's race this weekend. It's the last bit of a 42.2 marathon training program they've undertaken, good luck girls and boys!

Do'in a little stretching demo... reach for the sky...

41k yesterday - one short run today - long tempo work tomorrow
Check out my new kicks!

Thanks Jean-Francois Fullum! (canuck New Balance shoe designer)

I notice a trend here, no posts when training's not going well, afraid that's been the case last few days. Will try and turn that around with an update... My left SI I mentioned was bothering me last post, turns out to be more of a hamstring (semitendinosus muscle) issue, gets really sore late in runs. Saw Brenda down at Speed River Physiotherapy Wednesday, felt great leaving, and for the first part of run but soreness was back towards end.  I attempted a workout Thursday, supposed to do 10x1200m fast.. stopped after 2, able to get decent mileage still.. did my first three run day ever.. 6kam +8kafternoon (failed workout), had supper then ran 14k later that evening.... Regrouped for Friday, decided to try a lighter workout after working on knot found in semitendinosus muscle belly, relieved some tension. The revamped w/o was more fartleky, 10x4', able to get in 8 before soreness too much, still decent mileage, 30k on day.

Today's 20k morning run was the best I've felt in a while, ave 4:20k. Tried a little something different with hips that seemed to work - would tighten turning them on, running tall + then release relaxing for a second dropping some letting tail bone swing back, all very sublet actions.... time will tell if I'm on to something or just cause something else to get sore... for now we'll say the glass is half full


Piece from Scott Russell's visit last week.... Reid found out he had Bronchitis next day
And story from Lori Ewing from her visit week before that
How Running Was a Saviour for Gillis

yesterday's workout went well despite a little chest cold, hour of tempo, 30k on the day. CBC was down taking in the workout. Had nice chats with Scott Russell from CBC Sports and Teddy Katz from CBC Radio.


got in 27k today tho was aiming for 30k, SI in left hip was giving me trouble so cut second run short.
worked on it a lot since, we'll see tomorrow if that's good enough....

here's a cool clip Craig Casser from get out there magazine shot at the 890v2 shoe launch last week.

easy day... 70'....  picked up a damn cough this weekend, hopin it doesn't turn into one of those 3-4weeks things I sometimes get..... Scott Russell from CBC sports taking in a workout tomorrow, looking forward to chatting with him afterwards.
.... Happy Mothers Day Mom...

Thursday

Workout went well, lots of 3'ers, 30k total... Lori Ewing from Canadian Press was down from Toronto, nice of her to come to town for a story... Later Reid, Dave, Moulton, and I meet up again in Toronto for the 890v2 shoe launch, very cool event. Got to meet Jim Davis, founder of New Balance, also bumped into and chatted with Jordon Croucher, aka singer JRND. He placed b-ball for X when I was there, good team back then, won a CIS title.

Friday

Another double day, 35' + 85' .. tired after long day yesterday, and not much sleep at work last night. I only need to get in two shifts in four months to keep on relief list, don't plan on working anymore overnights this build-up. 

Saturday 

Longish run this morning, 26k with 15' of strides... then off to The Running Works in Guelph here, for a New Balance 'Good Form Running' clinic, and meet & greet. Dave Depiero from NB was there with a treadmill, video, shoes, and his tips for you....probably a $50 value for free. If he comes to a shoes store in your town I strongly advise you to take advantage of this. 

took the rest of yesterday off, expect for bike ride with Heidi :).... while out and about bought a foam roller from Andrew Catton at Running Works, never had one of my own all these years, good investment...

able to get both runs in today, thanks to some Leuko Tape (BST showed me tape job).. holds arch up, keeps foot tracking properly, IT likes that!

busy day tomorrow.. am workout- Canadian Press gonna come to film/chat, physio after lunch, nap, pick-up Heidi, then leave her with another sitter, head to Toronto for NB event - Canadian 890v2 shoe launch, then back to work a overnight shift at group home

rough one this morning, sore IT second half, 16k... Physio Thursday...

goal heading into this build-up was to be done with this, no such luck...

straight tempo... here we go!

one down 25+ workouts to go... for a 50' tempo to be workout #1 I'd say it went quite well, 26k total
Thanks for cheering us on Em and Heidi :)

Day One

On tap, 90' run in the sun + core. Got the sleep thing down already, 9h last night + a 2h nap this afternoon. Was a long week with Heidi not feeling well and Em working days. Heidi gets up very early when sick..... first workout tomorrow 9am Cooks & Carter...