Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #160
• Date: Tuesday Sept1st 2010
• Donations to date: $67,031.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 7hr 28min 17sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 73 BPM
• Temperature C: 9C
• Distance covered to date: 6,752.0km (4,192.0ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: Europe 135, Germany
• Total number of runners: 1

After yesterday's "Heart of Darkness" blog, I felt I needed a pick-me-up and, as every man and women knows, there is no better pick-me up than ........a pair of new shoes . Jeremy Deere, who owns Strides Running Store in Calgary, was good enough to sponsor me a pair of runners recently and what a pair. The Etonic Praya NC 3's are gold, yellow and orange and sparkled in the sun as I walked along the Calgary pathways. Life is good. I had decided to walk to give the right leg a rest. I have two recovery days coming up and I want to be in good shape for the Queen City Marathon in Regina on September 12th. After I had finished my marathon I got a call from my Mental Trainer Lisa. She's going to send me some articles on the mental aspects of endurance events and a tube of Smarties.

On September 1st 1980 Terry Fox was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope, just outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He had to stop briefly after he suffered an intense coughing fit and experienced pains in his chest. Unsure of what to do, he resumed running, as the crowds along the highway shouted out their encouragement. A few miles later, short of breath and with continued chest pain, he asked a friend to drive him to a hospital. He feared immediately that he had run his last kilometer. The next day, Terry held a tearful press conference during which he announced that his cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. He was forced to end his run after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 mi), equivalent to 128 marathons.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #30: Rainbow

Quote of the Day

"Everybody seems to have given up hope of trying. I haven't. It isn't easy and it isn't supposed to be, but I'm accomplishing something. How many people give up a lot to do something good. I'm sure we would have found a cure for cancer 20 years ago if we had really tried"

Terry Fox speaking outside of Ottawa

Terry Fox - Marathon of Hope

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #161
• Date: Saturday Sept 4th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,067.19
• Course: Cochrane Town Marathon
• Run time: 7hr 35min 55sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 75 BPM
• Temperature C: 4C
• Distance covered to date: 6,794.2km (4,218.2ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: Jung Frau, Switzerland
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Gothenburg, Sweden
• Total number of runners: 1

After two recovery days, the 5.00am alarm was a rude awaking. I did the only thing that made sense, switched it off and snoozed for another 15mins. However, there was no escaping it, today was a run day. Sue had planned to do a 16km easy run, so we arranged to meet up at Coffee Traders at 10.30am. I left under clear skies, but my buddy, Weatherman Paul, warned "mainly sunny with cloudy periods in the morning, with a chance of thundershowers in the afternoon". Thanks mate. I ran for 1/2 an hour but my right leg started to play up. I decided not to push it and began to walk. I arrived at Coffee Traders at 10.25am and 10mins later Sue arrived. She was not happy. A couple of days a go she had pulled a muscle in her back and it was giving her grief today.

I didn't really have a route planned out so, as I was walking, I decided to head up to Gleneagles and down Retreat Road. It's a bit of a climb to the top of Big Hill, but the view of Cochrane, the Bow River and the mountains was worth it. Along Retreat Road is Mount Francis, a monastic retreat. But before I reached the retreat I had a stop to make. Four years ago (Sept 28th 2006) a friend of mine, Trevor Dickson, passed away while cycling on this road. Trevor was a terrific person. At the time he owned the only bike shop in town and he had helped me prepare for the trip I took across Africa, in early 2005. A group of friends made a memorial for Trevor and placed it along the side of the road. As I stood at the site I felt the urgre to leave my Marathon Quest 250 bracelet. Sue had made it for me and I had worn it for all 161 marathons so far. I must admit I struggled as to whether to leave it or not but leaving it was the right thing to do.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #31: Raspberry Cheesecake

Quote of the Day

"I was unable to walk for a whole week after that, so much did the race take out of me. But it was the most pleasant exhaustion I have ever known."

Emil Zatopek's description of the Olympic Marathon win in Helsinki

A memorial to Trevor along Retreat Road in Cochrane

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #162
• Date: Sunday Sept 5th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,067.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 53min 14sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 85 BPM
• Temperature C: 7C
• Distance covered to date: 6,836.4km (4,244.4ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: Montreal, QC, Canada
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Stockholm, Sweden
• Total number of runners: 1

I woke up this morning and I felt like I was missing something. There was no pain in my right leg. For the past month, ever since I had fallen on my right hip, there's been an ache or pain somewhere in the leg. It moves around and can be either side of the knee, in the hamstrings, quad or in the glute. Last night Dr. Greg (AKA Dr. Pain) gave me the once over and I must say it was the most toturous session yet. However, it may have worked. I headed out to Calgary and, because it was raining, I decided to throw caution to the wind. I parked in the Shouldice Pool parking lot and nipped into the washroom to put on my rain gear. My plan was to run 2 mins and walk 8 mins and see how the leg held out. Well, despite the rain, the leg felt great and I completed a very satisfactory marathon.

Avatar Marathon Martin loves water parks and yesterday he hit the jackpot. On his virtual tour of North America he arrived in Black River Falls (pop. 3,618), Wisconsin at 10.00am, and the temperature had already hit 35C. At the tourist information center he was directed to the Hoffman Aquatic Center and 20mins later he was whizzing around the 200m body slide. He had lunch at the Waterfall Cafe in the park and, while he was eating, he was approached by reporters from the two local papers, the Banner Journal and Jackson County Chronicle. Avatar Marathon Martin is an avid entomologist and during the afternoon he spent several blissful hours observing the very rare Karner Blue butterfly. Next year he hopes to come back to Black River Falls in the 2nd Saturday in July to enjoy the Karner Blue Butterfly Festival.

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. What is the difference between a flea and a wolf ?
A. One prowls on the hairy and the other howls on the prairie!

Quote of the Day

"Great grub! There's nothing to beat fish and chips."

Alf Tupper, UK track star

Avatar Marathon Martin at the Hoffman Aquatic Center

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #163
• Date: Monday Sept 6th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,067.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 38min 59sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 83 BPM
• Temperature C: 3C
• Distance covered to date: 6,878.6km (4,270.6ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: Turtle Marathon, NM, USA
• Total number of runners: 1

After yesterday's marathon, I was feeling pretty good about my right leg. There were no new pains in the morning so I thought I'd stick to the 2 min run / 8 min walk and see how it went. It was a beautiful morning and my run from the Shouldice Pool to the Eau Claire Market passed without incident. At the entrance to Eau Claire Market, I was stopped by Reporter Christine from 660News. She was doing a piece on people at work and she wanted to know what I did for a living. I told her I ran marathons. No, she said, what job did I do? I told her that my job was to run five marathons a week for all of 2010. She then asked me why I did that and I told her all about Marathon Quest 250 and Right To Play.

I said goodbye to Christine and, as I was walking to the Good Earth Cafe for my morning coffee, I thought about the working world. In many businesses, if I had worked on a public holiday I would have been paid double time and a half. Did that mean that if I ran 16.8km today it would be equivalent to 42.2 km? I guess not. I finished off my run in Calgary and then headed back to Cochrane for my Ice Cream loop. I'm making good progress in my Ice Cream Quest 47 and at Mackay's Ice Cream store I chatted with Christina Mackay. She had been in the Labour Day parade and had followed the Mounted Police. I only had 4km to go when I made a big mistake. Some kids were playing soccer when the ball came my way. It was just instinct. I gave it a good boot and I felt a twinge in my knee. What a twit!!!!! I went home and took two Advil.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #32: Rocky Road

Quote of the Day

"A marathon is like life with its ups and downs, but once you've done it you feel that you can do anything."

Anon

Bottom's Up!!!!!

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #164
• Date: Tuesday Sept 8th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,942.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 20min 13sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 95 BPM
• Temperature C: 8C
• Distance covered to date: 6,920.8km (4,296.8ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: London, England
• Total number of runners: 1

Summer finished yesterday. Today, the Southern Alberta monsoon season started. I headed out to the Shouldice Pool and hid my car amongst a bunch of other cars. I dashed through the rain to the pool wash room and changed into my full rain gear. Then it was West along the Bow to Bowness park. The showers were relentless and the scheming little rain drops soaked though every layer I had on, until I was drenched. After 3 1/2 hours of this I had had enough. I hopped back into the car, put the seat warmer on, turned the heater to full and drove home. There I chucked every thing in the dryer and started again.

People have been asking me what I plan to do next year. Up to this point I really haven't had anything planned. However, over the last couple of days I've booked in two events for 2011. The first is The Comrades Marathon on Sunday, May 29th in South Africa. My Running Buddy Ken has signed up and it'll be fun running with someone I know. The marathon is actually 89km and is the largest ultra in the world with 18,000 participants. The first race was run on May 24th, 1921 and it was started by Vic Clapham a World War I veteran. He did it to commerate the South Africian soldiers killed during the war. The second event is my yearly appointment, on Sept 14th, with my Urologist, Dr Baverstock. I'm looking forward to the Comrades Marathon more.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #33: Root Beer

Quote of the Day

"Don't feel defeated because you have a dream and you don't think you can accomplish it. Try it......at least try it."

Dorothy Nelson, 93 year old 10-pin bowling champion

The Comrades Marathon: 18,000 runners tackle the 89km race.

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #165
• Date: Thursday Sept 9th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,942.19
• Course: West Dalhousie School
• Run time: 5hr 58min 58sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 103 BPM
• Temperature C: 7C
• Distance covered to date: 6,963.0km (4,323.0ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Total number of runners: 227

Back to School: new books, pencils, erasers, ink wells, blotters and the smell of chalk on the chalk board. How things have changed. Now it's Smart Boards hooked up to the internet. But it's all good and I was just pleased to be back at my first school of the new school year. I arrived at West Dalhousie at 7.45am and met Principal Gord. He had arranged for an assembly at 11.00am so I had time to knock off a few klicks before I chatted with the kids. Weatherman Paul had promised me " cloudy and overcast skies" and I was a little apprehensive as I drove in the pouring rain to the school. However as I started to run the rain stopped and never returned. Nice one Weatherman Paul.

At 10.55am I entered the gym and waited as all the kids settled down. The school goes from Kindergarten to Grade 6 and has 365 students. While I was waiting I talked to two grade 6er's Riley and Cyli. They told me that they had been trained as road crossing monitors and it was their job to make sure that all the kids crossed the road safely. They had to talk about road safety to the whole school and they were a little nervous. Twenty minutes later I was back out on the field and plowing around the 500m loop. All through the afternoon kids joined for a loop or two. I was even given a chocolate chip cookie. Excellent!

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. What did the clean dog say to the insect ?
A. Long time no flea!

Quote of the Day

"There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life.  But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint.  So, too, are you.  Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be."

George Sheehan

Back to School: The kids at West Dalhousie

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #166
• Date: Friday Sept 10th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,942.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 13min 31sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 90 BPM
• Temperature C: 9C
• Distance covered to date: 7,005.2km (4,349.2ml)
• Total number of runners: 1

Today, was Sue's birthday. I bought her a bouquet of flowers, tickets to a Motown review at Stage West in Calgary and a 12 month subscription to Setanta Sports Channel. What else could a woman want? Let me defend my third gift. Sue is a huge supporter of Man.United and she'll now be able to watch her beloved Red Devils every weekend for the next 8 months. I, on the other hand will watch every game and cheer for any other other team (except Chelsea).

I was very excited about today's route. I planned to go to Calgary Zoo and run the pathways. I arrived at the Zoo gates at 10.30am after completing 13km from the Shouldice Pool. I was a bit concerned when I saw the doors locked and the parking lot attendant told me that the Zoo was closed today, as they prepared for a big fundraiser tonight. I asked her how often was the Zoo closed. She said twice a year, today and Christmas Day. Timing is everything.

Plan B: Go to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. What a dead loss, I only saw two ducks and I got yelled at by a Twitcher (the bird watching type not the internet type) for jogging on the paths. I was a bit taken a back by this verbal abuse so I checked the sign at the front of the centre (see below). There was no sign saying I couldn't jog on the paths. There's also no sign to say you can't go duck hunting, but that's another story.

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. How do you find where a flea has bitten you?
A. Start from scratch!

Quote of the Day

"Only think of two things - the gun and the tape.  When you hear the one, just run like hell until you break the other."

Sam Mussabini

Sign of the Time

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #167
• Date: Sunday Sept 12th 2010
• Donations to date: $67,942.19
• Course: Queen City Marathon
• Run time: 5hr 48min 47sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 116 BPM
• Temperature C: 8C
• Distance covered to date: 7,047.4km (4,375.4ml)
• Total number of runners: 600

Sue and I arrived in Regina, Saskatchewan at 1.12pm on Saturday and headed to the Holiday Inn Express. Little did I know that I had picked the wrong Holiday Inn Express. Really what city has two Holiday Inn Expresses? Regina has three!!!! After unpacking, we decided to walk to the race expo. Forty five minutes later we were still looking for the place. Finally, there was a sign for the Conexus Arts Centre. We crossed a water soaked field and went in. We picked up our packages and then headed up stairs for the pasta dinner. During the evening John Stanton, founder of the Running Room, mentioned Marathon Quest 250 and the fact that it was Sue's first marathon. Infact he called her a "Marathon Virgin", cheeky devil.

Sunday morning was sunny and cool. I met Scott Russell, CBC Sports, at the start line and had a chat. CBC are doing a program on "Sports day in Canada" to be shown on Saturday September 18th. It was 7.50am and Sue was a little nervous but at 8.00am the gun went off. Things went well for the first 24km and we kept up an 8km/hour pace. At 31km the wheels came off. Sue's calves were seizing up and we sat on a bench for 15 minutes.. A "Rolling Aid" lady came by on a mountain bike and asked Sue if she wanted a ride. There was no way she was going to get on the back of the bike so she said no. We started walking and, to my suprise, Sue started running. We came in at just over 5 1/2 hours. Brilliant. I'm so proud of her.

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. What do you call an elephant in a phone box?
A. Stuck!

Quote of the Day

"There is an itch in runners."

Arnold Hano

Start of the Queen City Marathon

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #168
• Date: Tuesday Sept 14th 2010
• Donations to date: $68,022.19
• Course: Calgary Zoo Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 40min 15sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 93 BPM
• Temperature C: 6C
• Distance covered to date: 7,089.6km (4,401.6ml)
• Total number of runners: 1

Last night I went to see Dr. Hanlon. He reviewed my blood work for the last two months and everything looked good. I then told him about the pains in my right leg, since I had had the fall 1 1/2 months ago. He diagnosed that I had a muscle tear deep in my glute. He commented that, with the activity level I had planned to the end of the year, it would not heal. However there was a good chance that it wouldn't get any worse as long as I managed it on a day to day basis. Stay tuned.

Today was wet and misty. I parked at the Shouldice Pool and headed towards Eau Claire Market. I had decided that I needed a change of scenery so I paid my $19.95 and entered into Calgary Zoo. With my zoo map in hand I toured around the "Canadian Wilds", "Destination Africa", "Eurasia", "South America", "Australia", "Prehistoric Park" and "Dorothy Harvie Gardens". The zoo really isn't my cup of tea and to be honest the animals looked wet and a bit pathetic. I managed to do four loops when I felt I had to get out. The rest of the day was spent running along the banks of the Bow which felt a lot more liberating.

Tonight I went to see Dr. Greg. He worked the muscles in my back and right leg. He wants me to go for an x-ray to check out the "Subacute right hip area injury". Stay tuned.

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. What do you get when you cross a porcupine with a balloon?
A. POP!

Quote of the Day

"Running is a lot like life. Only 10 percent of it is exciting. 90 percent of it is slog and drudge."

Dave Bedford, English distance runner who occasionally put in 200 miles a week in training

Calgary Zoo: The very rare Wild Black Canadian Squirrel.

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #169
• Date: Wednesday Sept 15th 2010
• Donations to date: $68,072.19
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 6hr 46min 57sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 87 BPM
• Temperature C: 7C
• Distance covered to date: 7,131.8km (4,427.8ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: Merc-Benz, AL, USA
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Hamburg, Germany
• Total number of runners: 1

This morning, I had to make plans based on what I was going to do after the marathon. Sherri Dutton, Director, Calgary Association Professional Coaches had asked me to talk to her group at their first monthly meeting. The presentation was to take place at the Bow Valley Club in downtown Calgary so I decided to park at the Eau Claire Market. The up side was that after the marathon I could walk to the club. The down side was parking cost $31.40. What a rip-off. My adrenalin was pumping as I left Eau Claire Market but I had settled down by the time I reached Fish Creek Park, 21.25km from my start point. After the run, the presentation to the group went well and I had some great questions about the Quest.

Avatar Marathon Martin has a wide range in musical tastes from Verdi to Nickelback but his favourate performer is Prince. On his virtual tour of North America, he recently spent a day in Minniapolis, the birth place of Prince Rogers Nelson. Back in 1986 Avatar Marathon Martin attended every concert Prince did on his "Hit N Run" tour in Europe. In 1993 when Prince changed his name to "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince (TAFKAP)" Avatar Marathon Martin considered changing his name to "The Runner Formerly Known As Avatar Marathon Martin (TRFKAAMM)". It never happened. The night before he was to leave Minniapolis, Avatar Marathon Martin got a ticket to see Prince at the Dakota Jazz Club. He couldn't believe his luck when he was asked to come up and sing "If I could walk 500 miles" with his hero.

Dr Randolph Randolphs book of animal jokes

Q. Where do hamsters come from?
A. Hamsterdam.

Quote of the Day

"In a country where only men are encouraged, one must be one's own inspiration."

Tegla Loroupe, Kenya, 1994 New York City Marathon champion

Prince and Avatar Marathon Martin do a duet

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #170
• Date: Thursday Sept 16th 2010
• Donations to date: $68,072.19
• Course: St Timothy School
• Run time: 7hr 04min 04sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 92 BPM
• Temperature C: 4C
• Distance covered to date: 7,174.0km (4,454.0ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Brussels, Belgium
• Total number of runners: 24

School day today, excellent. Rain pounding against the bedroom window, not excellent. I arrived at St Timothy School in Cochrane at 7.55am and donned my rain gear. As I was about to start, I spotted a group coming out of the main school entrance. It was Phys Ed Teacher Travis with the cross-country team. I was invited to join them for a run, so off we went. I soon realised that I was out of practice hurtling down trails and over rocks and tree roots. After 2km  I said good bye. They were about to start a set of Fartleks and that was not for me. I went back to the sport field and established a 600m loop. It took me most of the morning to complete 18km.

At 11.00am it was school assembley and I was happy to come in. I chatted to the kids about Right To Play and Marathon Quest 250. One question was "Who is your competiton?" I really didn't have an anwser for that. Back outside, I was paying the price for the run with the cross-country team. The glute muscle started to ache and I decided to walk the rest of the way. Runner Haley joined me, which was great. Even greater was the fact that she brought me lasagna for lunch. The marathon was taking me so long that the kids had finished school and were heading home. With 2km to go a lady came over and asked me why I was going in circles. She lives in a house across from the school and had watched me all day. Was I pracising for something? had I been bad? I explained what I was going and she just chuckled and walked away.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. What kind of snake is good at math?
A. An adder.

Quote of the Day

"The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy...It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed."

Jacqueline Gareau, 1980 Boston Marathon champ

My camera broke today so here is a general picture of some leaves

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #171
• Date: Friday Sept 17th 2010
• Donations to date: $68,122.19
• Course: Cochrane Town Marathon
• Run time: 7hr 46min 19sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 77 BPM
• Temperature C: 0C
• Distance covered to date: 7,216.2km (4,480.2ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Paris, France
• Total number of runners: 2

I read in yesterday's Calgary Herald that the latest trend to sweep across Southern Alberta is Naked Yoga. This is all well and good but it is important to remember the following safety tips:

• 1. Do not practice on a slate tile floor.
• 2. If you are using candles cover the open flame.
• 3. Beware of pinch points.

Carry on.

Fall lasted three days. Today the thermometer read 0C and felt like -5C. So we're back to the good old days. I decided to try one of my old routes along the 1A towards Ghost Station. I tried to run but the pain in my right glute was back and some thing was going on with my left leg. Ever since I had the repetitive strain to the muscle in the left shin, the left leg had been performing at 100%. It was a bit of a concern when I started to feel something at the top of the leg. That was it, I decided not to push things and walked the rest of the way. Sue joined me for the final 14kms. She's recovered well from the Queen City Marathon on Sunday and other than a couple of blisters she's feeling pretty good. Our route, fortunately, took us past Mackay's ice cream store and I tried flavour #34 for the year. Only 13 more to go.

We had several donations recently and they include:

• Dr. Antosz Dental Clinic $1,221.41
• Calgary Association of Professional Coaches $590.00
• YMCA Day Camp $80.00

Many thanks to everyone who has donated so far. Much appreciated.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #34: Saskatoon Berry

Quote of the Day

"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves...The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, 'You must not run faster than this, or hump higher than that.' The human spirit is indomitable."

Sir Roger Bannister

Camera still down: Picture from the files, a Snowy Owl

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #172
• Date: Saturday Sept 18th 2010
• Donations to date: $69,122.19
• Course: Silerado Marathon
• Run time: 5hr 08min 22sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 96 BPM
• Temperature C: -3C
• Distance covered to date: 7,258.4km (4,506.4ml)
• Another Marathon in the World today: USAF, OH, USA
• Total number of runners: 13

Yesterday's blog item on Naked Yoga has generated a number of comments. People have asked me "Martin, do you have anything against Naked Yoga?". My answer is: Absolutly not. However let's not forget what happened when Naked Darts and Naked Curling swept the Nation. We certainly do not want a repeat of that! All I'm saying is, safety first. For the sake of the children let's practice safe Naked Yoga. Nuff said.

The last month and a half I've been in a bit of a funk. After two falls in early August, my right leg has been playing me up. My marathon times seem to have been getting slower and slower and I was beginning to wonder where this was all leading. Today was the United Communities marathon at Silverado, in Calgary's SW. I started off slowly and fully expected the pain in the right leg to return. After 30mins I felt good, so I pushed things along. I started to get in a rhythm and before I knew it I had completed the marathon in 5hr 08min 22sec. This is the fastest marathon I've done since #108 on June 17th, exactly 3 months ago. It was certainly a confidence booster. I also had the thrill of meeting relatives of Fauja Singh. Fauja is 99 years young and plans to run his next marathon at the age of 100.

Finally I want to say thank you to United Communities and the sponsors they have brought on board. The sponsors include:

• Ronmor Developers Inc.
• Sterling Homes
• Homes by Avi
• Kool 101.5
• Blueprint Corp.
• Global Signs
• Starbucks
• Tri Yoga (not naked)

United Communities were the overall sponsors, donating $2,500 to Right To Play. Fantastic.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. What do you give an elephant with big feet?
A. Plenty of room!

Quote of the Day

"A lot of people don't realize that about 98 percent of the running I put in is anything but glamorous: 2 percent joyful participation, 98 percent dedication! It's a tough formula. Getting out in the forest in the biting cold and the flattening heat, and putting in kilometer after kilometer."

Rob de Castella

Hanging out with relatives of Fauja Singh, marathoner extraodinaire!

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #173
• Date: Tuesday Sept 21st 2010
• Donations to date: $71,122.19
• Course: Hawkwood School
• Run time: 5hr 26min 51sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 108 BPM
• Temperature C: 1C
• Distance covered to date: 7,300.6km (4,532.6ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Berlin, Germany
• Total number of runners: 167

Last night I went to see Physio Darra. I've been having trouble with what felt like a pinched nerve in my left glute. He pushed and pulled it, then applied ultrasound. After that I hit the floor and was bent into a pretzel shape. I went home feeling pretty sore and hit the sack. I tossed and turned all night. In the morning I hobbled around the kitchen, had breakfast and headed off to Hawkwood School. This was not a great way to start the day. I had had the same thing happen on Saturday but once I got running the pain eased off. At the School I met Phys Ed. Teacher Mike. He told me assembly was at 9.00am so I had time for a few laps. Sure enough the pain started to disapper after 3km. Crazy.

I get to meet many great kids on these school visits and hear some incredible stories. Today I talked to grade 3er Adam about his pets. He has a hamster called "Pipsqueak" and apparently Pipsqueak can run 8hrs on his tread wheel continuous with no food or water....and he does this at night. He had another hamster, "Yoda" who's not much of a runner..... no kidding. I also had a grade 2 girl tell me that I didn't look as young as my poster. Who would after 173 marathons!!!!!!

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. How do you get an elephant down from a tree?
A. Put him on a leaf and wait until autumn!

Quote of the Day

"I tell runners to divide a race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart."

Mike Fanelli, club coach

Pipsqueak the wonder Hamster

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #174
• Date: Wednesday Sept 22nd 2010
• Donations to date: $71,172.09
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 5hr 54min 49sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 117 BPM
• Temperature C: 2C
• Distance covered to date: 7,342.8km (4,558.8ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Frankfurt, Germany
• Total number of runners: 2

I'd like to thank everyone who sent me an email regarding my deliberate mistake in yesterday's blog. Pipsqueak the wonder hamster was actually Pipsqueak the wonder guinea pig. Quite frankly these people had too much time on their hands. I suggest they do something constructive with their time like make a model tractor out of matchsticks.

Last night Canadian Wealth Management put on a fundraiser for Marathon Quest 250 / Right To Play. I had the oppertunity to chat with a number of people and this morning Runner Donna, who was at the event, joined me for the marathon. We finally got some decent weather and the run along the Bow, through the fallen leaves, was very enjoyable.

Avatar Marathon Martin has headed North West since leaving Minneapolis, on his virtual tour across North America. Two days ago, he arrived at Alexandria, Minnesota. His timing was perfect as he joined in the "Grape Stomp Festival" hosted by the Carlos Creek Winery. The squishy grapes felt good on his calloused feet. In the afternoon, he visited the town museum and saw the controversial "Kensington Runestone". The stone indicates that Vikings came to this area back in the 14th century. Finally he headed over to see Big Ole the Viking, 25' of solid concrete.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #35: Rum and Raisin

Quote of the Day

"Easy to get to......Hard to leave"

Alexandria, Minnesota town motto

Big Ole the Viking

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #175
• Date: Thursday Sept 23rd 2010
• Donations to date: $71,672.09
• Course: Colonel Macleod School
• Run time: 6hr 04min 10sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 110 BPM
• Temperature C: -1C
• Distance covered to date: 7,385.0km (4,585.0ml)
• Total number of runners: 272

Yesterday, I recieved a lovely email from Adam's mum Lori. If you remember Adam is from Hawkwood School and he has a hamster called Pipsqueak, who can run for 8 hours non-stop with out food or water. At the time of my blog I didn't have a picture of Pip so I found one on the internet and put it in. Unfortunately, as 157 of you point out, I mistakenly put in a picture of a guinea pig. But now everything is as it should be. Lori sent me a picture of Pipsqueak and it is at the bottom of this blog. All's well that ends well.

Today it was off to Colonel Macleod School. Phys Ed Teacher Darren and Principal Carol met me at the door. They told me that they had arranged for the grade 5 to 9 students to come and join me during the day. Excellent. The first group was the grade 5's. Things were going well until Hannah stepped into a drainage hole and went down. I was right behind her and trod on her leg. She was a real trooper and continued. I felt terrible so I gave her my MQ 250 bracelet. Little did I know this was a harbinger of things to come.

Kids have lots of good ideas. Grade 6er Troy mentioned that, in a race, instead of a hydration pack he had used a hat with two coke cans and straws coming down. Brilliant. At the 38km mark two large classes came out so I swung around a group of kids. My left foot went into one of the drainage holes and I dropped like a sack of potatoes. A student ran off and got me some ice and I took an Advil. Lots of icing tonight.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. What's grey and squirts jam at you?
A. A mouse eating a doughnut!

Quote of the Day

"You have to go through cycles of extreme poverty and suffering for a while; they are used to that...They get up early, run hard, rest drink tea, get out and run hard again. Wehn Simon Dirorie gets up at 4 a.m. - I'm dedicated, but I'm not that dedicated."

Keith Brantly, on why the Kenyan runners are so good, 1993

The Real Pipsqueak the Wonder Hamster

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #176
• Date: Friday Sept 24th 2010
• Donations to date: $72,922.09
• Course: Rosedale School
• Run time: 5hr 49min 59sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 158 BPM (?)
• Temperature C: 10C
• Distance covered to date: 7,427.2km (4,611.2ml)
• Total number of runners: 187

Over the last 9 months of blogging, I have written about famous people, places, events and burning issues of the day. However, the most emails I have received was when I made the mistake of publishing a picture of a guinea pig and calling it a hamster. I'm sorry. It will never happen again. Yesterday, I published a picture of the real Pipsqueak the hamster. Let's move on folks.

Today is sister Sally's birthday. Sally, Happy Birthday. Sally lives in Devon, England and recently climbed Kilimanjaro. I was chatting to her a week ago and she said that she liked the blog but that the jokes were pathetic. I took this a little hard. So, on my runs at the three schools this week, I've been asking the grade 2,3 and 4's what they thought of Dr. Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes. The overwhelming consensus is fantastic. So Sally I'm sorry if the humour isn't sophisticated enough for you. Maybe you should stick to The Office or Fawlty Towers.

This morning, on the advice of Dr Greg (AKA Dr Pain), I taped my left ankle and headed to Rosedale school. This is a Kindergarten to grade 9 school with 300 students. During the day, I was running with a group of grade 2 and 3's and we were comparing scars, as you do. One grade 3 boy, Johnny, told us about an accident his dad had. Apparently he was on his bike waiting at a stop sign when an ambulance hit him. As Johnny said "It was sad that he was hit but lucky that it was an ambulance!" I guess.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. Why aren't elephants allowed on beaches?
A. They can't keep their trunks up!

Quote of the Day

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible."

Doug Larson

Bison or Buffalo / Hamster or Guinea Pig?

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #177
• Date: Saturday Sept 25th 2010
• Donations to date: $73,422.09
• Course: United Communities : Sage Hill
• Run time: 6hr 24min 00sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 131 BPM (?)
• Temperature C: 8C
• Distance covered to date: 7,469.4km (4,637.4ml)
• Total number of runners: 19

Last Saturday, United Communities sponsored a marathon for Right To Play at Siverado for $2,500. Today they were doing the same thing at Sage Hill, in Calgary. Sue and I arrived at the community at 8.00am and I started my run around a duck pond. Events Coordinator and Kick Box Champion Misty had helped United Communities organise a family day. This included face painting, balloon art and lots of free food.  There was another item that caught my eye and I knew I had to try it.

Like many of us, I have a bucket list. These are things I want to do before I kick the bucket. Right after #65. Run 250 marathons in one year, is #66. Bouncy Castle. I chatted with Matt, owner of Bouncy Castle Inc, and asked him if I could have a go. He said sure but there were two rules I had to follow 1. No shoes and 2. No stepping on the kids. With my recent history I thought No.2 may be an issue. Still I didn't hesitate and had soon completed a good 5 minute warm up for the marathon.

The weather today was brilliant, warm with a cool breeze. A number of kids and some adults joined me on the marathon and we had a blast, doing loops around the pond. At the end of the day, on top of the $2,500 donated by United Communities, the locals had donated $374.00 to Right To Play. Great job everyone.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. What has six eyes but cannot see?
A. Three blind mice!

Quote of the Day

"When the going gets tough, the tough go bouncing"

Motto of Bouncy Castle Inc.

Captain Jack Sparrow's Bouncy Castle

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #178
• Date: Tuesday Sept 28th 2010
• Donations to date: $84,603.50
• Course: Springbank Community High School
• Run time: 5hr 39min 38sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 145 BPM (?)
• Temperature C: 11C
• Distance covered to date: 7,511.6km (4,663.6ml)
• Total number of runners: 457

Yesterday, I went to see Physio Serge and he said I was a tight ass! I said excuse me and he apologised. What he meant to say was that the muscles in my glute were very tight and were pinching the piriformis nerve. He decided to needle me and use acupuncture. The results on the left butt were excellent. I'm going back for more next week.

Today it was off to Springbank Community High School. I was met by Runner Janice and Triathlete Katie. Members of the cross country team were waiting by the front door and we headed off it the glorious, morning sunshine. The bell rang at 8.00am and I was on my own going around a 700m loop of the school's baseball and football fields. Janice had told me that Assembly would be at 11.15am and the theme for the day was the Global Village. She also mentioned that I would be presented a cheque which was great.

The school goes from grade 9 to 12 and has 780 students. It seemed like they were all in the gym when I gave my talk, after which, they had a bunch of questions. Before I left the podium, I was presented with an envelope and asked to open it. Inside was a cheque to Marathon Quest 250 / Right To Play for $10,000. I was speechless, which is pretty unusual for me. Unbelieveable.

Apparently, the kids had held a Gala, an auction and carried out extensive volunteer work to raise the funds. I'm still speechless.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Joey: I lost my dog.
Lauren:Why don't you put an ad in the newspaper?
Joey: Don't be silly! He can't read

Quote of the Day

"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."

Thomas Edison

The students at Springback Community High School present Martin with a cheque for $10,000 to Marathon Quest 250 / Right To Play

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #179
• Date: Wednesday Sept 29th 2010
• Donations to date: $84,603.50
• Course: Calgary Pathways Marathon
• Run time: 5hr 40min 46sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 107 BPM
• Temperature C: 3C
• Distance covered to date: 7,553.8km (4,689.8ml)
• Total number of runners: 2

Yesterday, I forgot a very important thank you to someone. Student Kaycee is with the Springbank Community High School cross-country team and, at the end of the day, she gave me an envelope. It contained a cheque for $50 to Right To Play. Now $50 pays for a Right To Play program for a child for one year. So Kaycee's donation will change the life of a child and that's pretty amazing.

Today it was back in the saddle and off to the Calgary pathways. Runner Donna joined me at Shouldice Pool and we made good time to Eau Claire Market. This time, instead of the Good Earth cafe, we tried the YMCA cafe. Excellent pineapple and almond muffin.

Avatar Marathon Martin is a huge movie buff and over the last 20 years he has been an extra in a number of films. His credits include "Run, FatBoy, Run", "Run, Lola, Run" and more recently "The Runaways". On his virtual tour of North America he spent a day in Fargo, North Dakota. Back in 1996 Avatar Marathon Martin was hitch hiking across the USA when he saw an ad in a local paper for extras for a movie called "Fargo". It was directed by the Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan and starred Francis McDormand. Avatar Marathon Martin was to play "The Stig", a criminal, working with two hoods Carl and Gaear. The movie went on to win two academy awards, with Francis McDormand winning Best Actress. Avatar Marathon Martin didn't.

Ice Cream Quest 47

The challenge is to try all 47 flavours at Mackay's ice cream store before midnight December 31st.

Today's flavour #36: Skor

Quote of the Day

"Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens."

Carl Jung

In a tense deleted scene, from the movie Fargo, Police Chief Marge Olmstead-Gunderson (Francis McDormand) tries to arrest hardend criminal "The Stig" (Avatar Marathon Martin).

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Below are the Latest Marathon stats:

• Marathon: #180
• Date: Thursday Sept 30th 2010
• Donations to date: $84,603.50
• Course: Thorncliffe School
• Run time: 5hr 19min 31sec (See Garmin Connect)
  
• Aver. Heart Rate: 108 BPM
• Temperature C: 8C
• Distance covered to date: 7,596.0km (4,716.0ml)
• Equivalent Flight distance, Calgary to: Bern, Switzerland
• Total number of runners: 259

Another beautiful day in the Rockies. Clear skies and plus 8C, my kind of running weather. Since I had started stretching the glutes, the pain caused by the pinching of the piriformus had disappeared. Why has nobody told me about stretching before? Maybe they had but I was to lazy to do it. I arrived at Thorncliffe School and met Principal Wendy. I had originally met Principal Wendy at Cambrian Heights School in January, when she was a Vice-Principal.

She had run with me on my 100th marathon and I had run at her husband's School, The Good Shepherd in Airdrie. In the school I was blown away by a 40 foot long poster showing the kids fundrasing efforts. It showed a road and the dollars going up to their target of $750. There were cut-outs of me and along the edge of the road were the heads of all the kids, with paper bodies. Great stuff.

All through the day, kids joined me to run the 500m loop of the sports field. The School goes from Kindergarten to grade 6. Kindergarten Nathan age 5 was a real trooper. He knocked off 7 loops before he was called in to classes. Grade 1er Damon came up to me and gave me 25c "For the Children". Nice one buddy. At the end of the day all the kids came out, formed a line and cheered as I finished the marathon. What a great day.

Dr Randolph Randolph's book of animal jokes

Q. How does a hedgehog play leap-frog?
A. Very carefully!

Quote of the Day

"I knew I had a chance for the win, so with a kilometre to go, I decided to push hard for home"

Ross Proudfoot, 1st year Guelph track team, wins the prestigious Western International Cross-Country race.

Marathon Martin on the fundraising road at Thorncliffe School

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