Thursday, September 30, 2010

Three Things Thursday

1. With yesterday's MWMLR of ten miles and this morning's 5-miler (we have an out-of-town guest this evening so I have to skip the usual group run), I've run a total of 339.2 KM (210.8 mi) for September. It's not a record (though it is my second highest month), which I knew it wouldn't be with a recovery week and the beginning of taper. Highlights of the month were our 5-year anniversary, a fantastic 23-miler and of course, a sub-1:45 half marathon.

You know what this means? Tomorrow is October! Marathon month! (and Birthday month...)

2. Unfortunately there has been some backlash toward runners and marathons in the City of Toronto since Sunday's race. One mayoral candidate seems to think it would be a brilliant idea to move the race(s) to city parks (?!?!). It's aggravating and saddening that the people of Toronto will not embrace its races like most big cities do.

Yumke wrote an excellent post on the topic if you're interested in reading more.

3. On a more positive note, 79-year-old local man Ed Whitlock, famous for his daily runs in a cemetery, ran an incredible single-age world record of 1:34:27 at the Waterfront Races. (Story Here) If I'm still able to put one foot in front of the other at that age, I'll consider myself fortunate!


Happy Thursday (almost Friday)!

38 comments:

J said...

FIRST?!

J said...

YAY! I can't wait for October! I love that month! Hopefully the race wont move and things will get figured out! Happy Thursday!

Shannon said...

Yay for Thursday!!!!! Dang it, I forgot it was 3 Things Thursday when I posted! Booo! :)

Laura said...

Happy marathon and birtday month for Oct.
339km....I was super stoked I did 207km this month. I loved Kenny's article and Ford makes me angry....

Denise said...

love old men!! that made me smile and believe me, that wasn't easy for me today. i'm crabtacular.

i'm an october baby, too!!!

Lisa said...

what an inspiration Ed is!! I feel the same way you do about running at that age. I'm not familiar with what's going on in Toronto, so I'll definitely check out your links. It's sad to think that people are discouraging runners.

congrats on the amazing mileage for the month!

Unknown said...

Good for Ed! Very cool.

I spent a little bit of time talking to a gentleman who is 70 and was at my 5K last weekend. He told me that he tries to run local events twice a month. how cool is that?!? very inspiring...

ShutUpandRun said...

Oh please let me be 79 and still wanting/able to run races!! And I hope my hair looks that good.

Anonymous said...

1. good job in september!! ur stats are remarkable, as always.

2. rob ford sucks.

3. that is incredible! good for that guy!

misszippy said...

I love stories about people like Ed! That totally stinks about the push against the marathon.

Anonymous said...

I love Ed Whitlock! What an inspiration.

Nice month Marlene!!

TNTcoach Ken said...

I hate Ed Whitlock, every time I want to stop running he does something like this! My knees hurt too but he keeps going. Damn you Ed!!!! ha

Unknown said...

I love the fact that you put the "marathon" ahead of the birthday. :)

Lindsay said...

Setember is a better month for birthdays.

What is up with that dude? "myself and other constituents didn't know the race was going on". Umm. Read a traffic sign? 99.9% of races put up some sort of "event this weekend" signage. You need to rally and make sure people don't vote for his fat a$$!! OMG end of the world, a road is closed for a few hours on a weekend! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Emz said...

Love that guy. Read about him.
He's my new hero.

What day is the BIG day!!??

Big plans!?

No Longer Using said...

happy thursday!!!

WOW. go Ed!!!!!!!!!!!

and great month!!!!

Jen said...

Ed is amazing!! People like that are so inspirational - definitely reminds us of why we need to work so hard NOW, while we can!

Unknown said...

Gah, I read the articles on the backlash towards the Toronto marathons. That totally stinks, but from the comments, it looks like most people do support the marathons.

Here in Baltimore, there tends to be some backlash as well. It's sad, but as more and more people run, it will make it easier and easier to hold these events. That's my hope anyway.

Runners Fuel said...

That's not cool he wants to move the race! How awesome that guy is stil setting recors. Good for him!

Jamie said...

awesome September! and yea for Birthday/Marathon month starting tomorrow :)

Seriously love old men - too cute. Hope I'm still moving at that age!

I've read about what's going on in Toronto. That candidate seems like an idiot! Hopefully the people who support marathons speak the loudest and nothing changes.

Unknown said...

Wow girl you had an awesome September. Congrats on the anniversary. We had our 5 year a few months ago as well. Nice mileage!!

lish said...

Great job on milage this month!!! So inspiring!!! Love Ed...man his hair is fabulous and he just keeps running...I hope I still can do that!

Yay for October being birthday month!! (Me and the Hubby both have October birthdays...they pretty much Rock!). Kenny's article was great...and it is so frustrating that Rob Ford would comment on it....Look at all the marathon MAJORS...they are all run on city streets and they produce a lot of income for these cities as well...Really he is lady and doesn't know anything...it also makes me frustrated that he is on the Heart and Stroke foundation and TERRY FOX (hello our GRATEST ROAD RUNNER!!!!)....

Amy said...

79?! Now that's impressive!

The whole Ford thing just reminded me of a reason I'm happy to have left Toronto - the usual selection of craptacular mayoral candidates!

Jill said...

Bring on October!! Can't wait for marathon and birthday month (It's my 1/2 birthday month - hehe).

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

Thanks for the reminder.. I better get my package together :)

Hugs to HIGH mileage, you are CRAZY woman!!

Wow look at that guy, we have a lady named Judy who is 60++ and speedy, I hope I am still mobile at that age,,

Jess said...

That old dude is rad. I'm certain I'll still be running when I'm that old, especially because technology will have enable me to be bionic by then. I'll probably be doubly awesome as a runner then!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on another rockin month Marlene! :) And yes people like the old guy are truly inspiring. They give me hope that we can truly do anything!

dawn @ running the dawn said...

i can't believe that its that big of a deal to shut off the roads for a weekend race. that actually upsets me a lot!! with the money that it brings in and the enthusiasm that it brings to a city, you'd think that people would be ok with it...

teacherwoman said...

September was a good month for you! Any fun ideas for your birthday month?! Any cool challenges/races?!

ajh said...

Ed Whitlock is amazing!

Boris T said...

Ford is a simpleton... Sadly this city lacks a lot of common sense and is filled with too many selfish people.

Sad really.

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

okay. When I first read this I thought you ran 339 MILES! I can not get used to kms! I was going to pass out!

I love the experinced runner! He is awesome.

I like running in the parks BUT I know that is not your point. Since I usually run races in rural areas and rarely through towns (never a big town) I don't know all the problems they create. I would think that they also create a boat load of revenue opportunities so the city should want them, right?

Teamarcia said...

ed is amazing!
And how totally sad Toronto does not suport racing! Boo!

Heidi said...

WOW, that is fantastic about that man. That is definitely one of my goals ... to be running as strong as I can in my senior years. We have an older man around here too that is still running strong. Very inspiring.

That is sad that the city isn't supporting the races. I've run a bouple races downtown Vancouver and while the parks there are out of this world ... there is just something incredibly special about running downtown. I understand that it's a huge adjustment for traffic and local businesses, but these massive runs bring in SO many people. I just think the cities should be supportive.

210 miles for the month - phewf! You rock girl!~

Heidi said...

I just went and read those articles and based just upon what I've read hear that mayoral candidate is a moron and I hope he does not get elected. Very tunnel vision thinking. You wonder if he's ever attended one of these events. Perhaps you should go offer to train him to run one - haha.

Anonymous said...

Huge month over here!! :) Here's to October being even better - with a few celebrations to come, no doubt...

Nicole said...

October is my favorite month!!!! :) :) :) yayayayayayay!!!!

Unknown said...

Ed is simply amazing. Yeah for local world record holders!