running week in review Part 19

April 13 - 19, 2008

Distance: 60.00km
Total Time: 5:45:50
Pace: 5:45

Man, what a week! I ran so much, everyday to be exact and I really paid the price. Just like buying a pack of smokes off the rez, I really really paid the price. I know I shouldn't run everyday, I know it's bad for me and it doesn't help. But when I don't run, I feel guilty. For example, I ran what I thought was an easy 5 k but it was the 5 k from hell. I've never been on a hang over before, thanks to the fact that I never drank. But I can image how one would feel after a long night out at a garden party at Freddy's place. It was aweful, I just wanted to crawl into the ditch and call it a day. I couldn't though because those damn ditches are filled with damn water from the damn spring run off.

April 20 - 26, 2008

Distance: 30.00
Total Time: 2:53:20
Pace: 5:46

This week I was smarter, I ran three days this week and a lot less distance keeping my pace fairly low. I felt much better and ran more efficiently.

I'm feeling more and more comfortable as the weeks go on. I don't know about my weight though, but I'm running faster and better.

Running week in review Part 18 & 19

I think we will be all agree, this is either one of the coolest lines in movie history or the start of the worst one liners in history by Ah-nold. One thing for sure, it's great to be back at it.

I thought for sure my reintroduction to running would be hellish and I would end up like this dude. Look at him, he's a mess. After a three month mistake of taking the winter off, I wasn't looking forward to the awful feeling of exhaustion. What do you know, what happened over the last few weeks have really surprised me.

March 30 - April 5, 2008

Total Distance: 31.04 kms

Average Pace: 6.10

Average Speed: 9.7km/h

My first week back was a tremendous success and also tremendously exhausting. Although I ran a very respectful 31.04kms, my body constantly told me that it was tired and needed a break. Thanks to my Steve Miller Band on my Ipod, it drowned out what my body had to say. I did however, stop at least once during every run for a stretch break.

The first 3 runs I had was 7k each then I moved up to 10k, which was alot faster than I was expecting. I thought for sure I would be starting at 5k and stuck there for a while.

April 6 - 12, 2008

Total Distance: 54.00 kms

Average Pace: 6:01

Average Speed: 10:00 km/h

This week was impressive, for one I uped my pace and speed, nothing overly dramatic but gradual works for me. But my mileage was surprising. They say to increase your mileage by 10% each week, but what can I say I'm addicted once again. I just hope I don't get injured like I did when I was training for the Toronto Marathon back in September. That was awful.

My plan is to stay in the 50km a week over the next few weeks with the hopes to improve on my pace and speed. I want to get back to my pre-marathon conditioning. The one thing that will surely help me is to drop some weight. They say for every pound gained, that's an additional 75 pounds of pressure on your knees when you run. So this is a priority right now. My run fat boy run conditioning is working good. I decided not to weigh myself but to use the fit of my clothes as an indication of my fitness level. Also, if Suzanne starts staring at me more, I'll know I'm on the right track.

My plan is to run a few marathons this year, but I have to start short in order to peak for the Toronto International Marathon in October. My goal is to run the Toronto in the best shape of my life in the hopes of running a pre 4 hour marathon this time around.

Although I have not registered yet, I would like to for the Mississauga Half Marathon on the weekend of May 10, 11.

ANYONE WANNA RUN WITH ME? We have 29 days to get ready.

I'll keep you posted.

In the studio

On Thursday April 3rd, 2008

I went into Toronto to voice two characters on the upcoming animated series By the Rapids ( www.bytherapids.ca ), produced by Big Soul Productions ( www.bigsoul.net ) directed by Joseph (Dega) Lazare. 

What an awesome experience!  One of my characters is a rough and tough lacrosse coach, Coach Daniels.  I pitched a voice that was a cross between that Lakota guy (you know that cheesy joint care commercials) and a Moose Factory tough guy wannabe.

Here, Dega is running me through the script in between takes.

I found the work quite challenging at times.  Dega is such a great guy, he completely set me at ease and when we had to do a take after take after take, he was very supportive and most times we would just laugh it off.
My good friends at Big Soul Productions and I have seen each other around many times across the country working at the same events.  And we have always said that it would be cool to work a project together.  This was truly a unique experience and I'm so thankful for it.

Now that the voices are all recorded, he hard work begins, the animation.  They toured me around the animation studio, and man, those guys have their work cut out for them.  They are expecting to have it all done by later on this year and shortly after premiering on APTN.  I'll keep you posted.

Photos taken and courtesy of James Kinistino, Big Soul Productions.

Sagamok has HEART

For all the loyal blog readers, I'm sure there is one or two out there, this is my second time in Sagamok.  The first time I was there, I was working with the youth, now I was working with the parents in a session called "Walking in the shoes our youth."

The HEART initiative is a community based program to create health and wellness for everyone.  While the young people were learning helping skills, the parents and I hung out for the day learning a little bit more about their kids.  In order to build a sense of community, we need to have the willingness to understand and respect one another.

I had the absolute pleasure to be working with Dwayne and Sly from Wiky.  A few years back, they participated in my Training of Trainer Program, and now they are traveling around making a difference.

Here two participants are sharing about how they could support their community youth.

In order to understand young people we first have to look at how things have evolved culturally.  Each group was presented with a decade and they had to create a buddy from that era.  They had to name him, what was his values, interests, hobby's etc.  It was a great activity because it gave people awareness of how things things have changed and that we must respect the young people's interests.  Like adults and elders era, youth are just living in theirs and that must be respected.

Here are the drawings, my favourite has to be the afro.  

Thank you Sagamok for reminding the rest of us that the solutions always lie within the community and we must empower the people in order to achieve a strong community.