Build Phase 2 | Week 3 | Run 3 — My Road to TOWaterfront 42K Introduction Today’s Build Phase 2 | Week 3 | Run 3 had a bit of everything: cool morning air, an alternating 2-min-on / 1-min-off speed set, and just enough spice in the legs for a final push. Coming in with […]
Spicy Intervals in the Cool Morning Air – August 15, 2025 Read Post »
Marathon Training, Speed Workouts, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42KBuild Phase 2 | Week 3 | Run 1 — My Road to TOWaterfront 42K Introduction Coach calls these volume cutback weeks “Active Recovery.” I call them the weeks when you can almost feel the gains happening – like those timelapse videos of seedlings bursting through the soil and flowering skywards. This morning’s short Zone
Shiny Zone 2 Shorty – August 12, 2025 Read Post »
Marathon Training, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42KBuild Phase 2 | Week 2 | Run 5 — My Road to TOWaterfront 42K I went into today’s long Zone 2 run expecting “easy.” That was the plan. Instead, it turned into a grind with plenty of walking – more than I’d like to admit. By the halfway mark, I knew I’d fall short
Supposedly Easy Zone 2 Run – August 10, 2025 Read Post »
Marathon Build, Marathon Training, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42KBuild Phase 2 / Week 2 / Run 4 – My Road to TOWaterfront 42K I woke up to another heat warning, so I kept this Zone 2 easy run strictly aerobic and started early. Pre‑run was simple: 500 ml Nuun, 2 SaltStick tabs, a tablespoon of Brain Octane MCT – no bottle on the run.
Zone 2 Easy Run – August 9, 2025 Read Post »
Marathon Training, Masters Running, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42K
Build Phase 2 / Week 2 / Run 1 – My Road to TOWaterfront 42K 🏃♂️ Run Debrief Nothing fancy! My pre-run nibbles consisted of… nothing. Just a tablespoon of Brain Octane MCT oil, a few sips of Nuun, and 2 SaltStick Fastchew tabs. That was enough to kickstart me into a brisk but comfortable
Zone 2 Easy Run – August 5, 2025 Read Post »
Build Phase, Daily Run Logs, Marathon Training, Running Journey, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42K
Build Phase 2 / Week 1 / Run 3 – Road to TOWaterfront 42K Today’s threshold run was one of those deceptive workouts: it looks simple on paper but finds a way to squeeze every drop out of you. While I hit my targets, I felt absolutely drained by the end. I got a much
Threshold Run – August 1, 2025 Read Post »
Build Phase, Daily Run Log, Marathon Training, TCS Toronto Waterfront 42K, TOWaterfront42K, Train for your first MaratonCutback weeks always boost my ego. Finally, a week where the plan feels manageable instead of maniacal. Today’s run calls for 2 × 7 minutes at tempo/threshold pace (low Z4), and honestly, I’m here for it. After last week’s effort with more reps, longer duration, and oppressive heat, this one feels like a confidence booster.
Thought of the Day – July 2, 2025 Read Post »
Endurance Running, Fueling & Hydration, Marathon Training, Tempo RunsEver wonder if those heart rate zone calculators are really telling the whole story — especially as we get older? I did. So, as a runner in my 60s, I decided to stop guessing and booked a lactate threshold test at Body Insight Canada. This wasn’t some specialized test for older runners — just a
Lactate Threshold Test for Runners Over 50: My Experience at Body Insight Canada Read Post »
Heart Rate Training, Marathon Training, Masters Running, Performance Optimization, Running & Endurance, Testing & Data, Training InsightsToday’s Plan: Long Run. 75-90 Minutes: Long run in Zone 2 heart rate (under 136 bpm) Pre-Workout: Low-carb meal prior to workout, but not fasted. I opted for a balanced approach, aiming to avoid the dreaded energy crash mid-run. My tasty brekkie of 2 eggs scrambled, 3 strips of bacon-style turkey and some avocado fit
02/23/2025 Training Log: Sunday Long Run – Finding My (Heart) Beat Read Post »
Marathon Training, P50F Training Log, Running After 50, Winter RunningWhat I Felt: There have been times, especially during hot summer runs (but occasionally even in winter), where I’ve felt light-headed. At first, I couldn’t figure out why. Eventually, I realized it often boiled down to hydration—or sometimes a lack of fuel. What I Did: Now, I make sure to hydrate properly before, during, and
Light-Headedness: When My Body Says ‘Slow Down’ Read Post »
Aches & Pains, Injury Recovery, Lessons Learned, Marathon Training