Brock Skywalker

Marathon des Deux Rives · 4 September 08

So I did it. I ran 42.2km (in French) and cut 15 minutes off my best (and only) full marathon time. 4:35:53 is what I did in Québec on Aug 24, 2008. 4:50:51 is what I did in Victoria on Oct 7, 2007. So, that is a pretty great improvement, if I do say so myself! WOO!

It was something like 33 degrees and VERY humid and people were dropping like flies. The next morning the newspaper said 50 people were treated for heat related health issues and one 51 year-old, experienced marathoner, actually died 3kms from the finish line. Yikes! I watched no less than 5 of my fellow runners stumble and collapse in front of me. Which, I can’t lie, did worry me.

Myself, well… I was seeing double when I crossed the finish line and couldn’t really speak. But after I sat down in the massage tent for about 15 minutes, with a bag of ice on my head and put a litre of water in my belly, I was more or less fine.

The next day I was up and walking around Québec like a real tourist and 3 days later Ellie and I went on a 25km bike ride around Montréal. A successful marathon AND a successful vacation. Just what I always wanted.

Below is a Google map (generated by my awesome Garmin Forerunner 305) of the route. We started in Levis and ended right smack dab in the middle of Veux Québec. It was pretty picturesque running along the St.Laurence, I must say. Crossing the bridge was very cool too. Though once we were on the Québec side of the river there was no shade and it was getting close to noon and the hottest and sunniest part of the day.

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Been there, ran that, got the shirt · 8 July 08

Well I did it. I ran the Alberta Jeep Dealers Half Marathon in Calgary on Sunday, and man was it fun! I placed exactly in the middle of my division (77th out of 144) with a time of 1:55:02.

I was really hoping to shave off more time from my Dashin’ for Compassion race (1:55:36) but, although it was a flat and “fast” course, us middle-of-the-packers got very bottlenecked a couple times (once on the way through the Stampede Grounds and one more time through the Calgary Zoo). I figure I lost about 5 minutes when my pace was forced down to 6:50-ish rather than 5:00 for a few Kilometres.

But, oh well, it was very fun and I felt really good at the end AND made it back to Kris’ house in time to catch the tie-breaks and rain-delays during the Federer and Nadal battle for the Wimbledon title. What a game! What a day!

Here’s a google map of the course, if you are interested in where we ran.

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21097.5 meters in Calgary · 4 July 08

Tomorrow Ellie and I pile into the car to drive 3 hours south. Not so we can go to the rodeo and take in the rest of The Stampede but rather so I can carbo-load and try to beat my Personal Best (1:55:36) in the Calgary Marathon.

I am doing the (not “just a”) Half-Marathon on Sunday – I am saving the big event for Quebec City where I will run the length of the St.Laurence… TWICE!

The Calgary Marathon is not quite as picturesque, though it does promise to be a rather flat and therefore “fast” course. We’ll see. I am trying not to think about it too much, though over-thinking things has never really been my strong suit. Heh… anyway, wish me speed and good hydration! WOO!

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Dash'd and Compash'd · 12 May 08

I did it! I made a personal best. 1:55:36 for 21.1 km (8/14 in my division, 26/60 in my gender, and 49th overall). I had an awesome run and felt really good and strong at the end. I then ate my body weight in free brunch and went home for an afternoon of relaxing on the patio (and maybe a beer or two).

Thanks to all of you for your donations. I personally raised $800 for Compassion House and together I think I heard someone say that the run raised $16 000.00… so Woohoo! Those of you who didn’t get a chance to donate, I will be involving some sort of charity in every race that I can from now on, so just stay tuned – there will be other chances!

If you are interested in seeing more data about my run you can go to my Motionbased webpage. Or you can go to the Results Canada website to see all the runner’s times.

My next marathon is the Calgary Stampede Marathon on July 6th… and this time it is a full 42.2 km!

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Dash'n for Compassion · 5 May 08

Hey Folks,

I am running in the “Second Cups’ – Dash’n For Compassion Half Marathon, 2008” on Saturday (May 10th) and I would love it if you took a minute to read up on this charity and, if you like what they do, say and offer, go ahead and sponsor me for this run. Whether I finish or not (I will finish) – they get the money so… absolutely no risk AND you get a tax receipt for your donation! WOO!

Go here to learn about the Compassion House.

Go here to sponsor me online (on the Running Room website).

My goal is to raise $1000 and finish in 1:50. WOO!

Thanks everybody!

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A perfect season · 1 April 08

Well, we ended the season last sunday with a perfect record… yeah, you guessed it: we lost every game.

We had a very good time, played at least 4 games penalty-free, and I think we all made some new, good friends. I know that all sounds nice and fun and rosy but I have to say that I do have some sour grapes to throw in there. I really wanted to win a game. I REALLY did. It would have felt so good. We did come close-ish too. 8-5 is close right?

I guess there is always next season. Sigh… I think we need a couple of ringers next year. Anyone know any great players who want the ego boost of being the best player on the team? If so, give him/her my number.

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Marathon toe · 12 October 07

Haven’t lost the toenail… yet.

With any luck it will just grow out.

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What else can I say? Ouch? · 9 October 07

Well, I did it. I ran my first marathon! 42.195 Kilometres in 4hrs 50mins 51secs.

It was raining, cold and a little windy for most of the second half of the race. I had a head cold and didn’t really sleep the night before the race. I was a week behind in my training and the nail of my second toe on my right foot is black and peeling off. I felt like I was going to puke when I crossed the finish line and could barely walk until later the next morning… but it was AWESOME!

If the race had been 27kms I would have had a great time of it (that is about where this photo is from). At 27kms I was still smiling, had a bounce in my step, and I even talked to my cousin as I ran by him. Around 33kms I was not quite as spry. Around 38kms I decided to finish with a “strong walk”. Around 40kms I was running again and didn’t stop until I found the food table!

They say that the third day after the race is the most painful one (having to “go down the stairs backwards” kind of thing) but so far I am barely stiff/sore at all. My black/missing toenail is the worst part of it. But to be honest, if I didn’t have some sort of injury to show for all this, I would be a little disappointed.

Below is the google map generated from my Garmin GPS machine. You can also read all the technical details if you are interested. Oh yeah! According to the machine I burnt 3627 Calories during the run! That’s a lot of turkey and stuffing.

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Summer Hockey is done · 15 August 07

So, we (the somewhat lamentably named “Kings”) made it through the season with only three losses, a GFA of 5.14 and a GAA of 3.71. I managed to score one goal and had about 6 or 7 assists. But, last night we lost the final game of the playoffs. Sigh…

Second place is pretty great, don’t get me wrong. I am tickled pink. After a 20 year hiatus from hockey I am just happy to be playing again… but somehow there is still a part of me that is disappointed to not have had that photo on the ice after the game, smiling like mad, and hoisting a crappy looking trophy aloft.

In any case, I now have a couple months off hockey before the GPHL season starts. The Yellow Pencil team is still looking for a couple female players and a goalie, so if you know anyone interested PLEASE contact me. It is going to be a hoot and a half. I promise!

Now it is back to tennis and training for the RVM for me. Woohoo!

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42.195 kilometres! · 2 August 07

Well, it is a reality now. I have purchased my plane tickets and paid my registration fee. I am officially doing the Royal Victoria Marathon! I have been training for it since about April, but up until now it was possible to back out, forget, or be too “busy”. I guess I technically could still back out… but that would be an expensive chicken!

Anyway, I guess it is time to get serious about my training and my eating and all that other health related stuff. So, if you see me looking too relaxed, eating something overly fatty and low in carbs or just generally not looking like I am “in training”, please remind me that in just over 2 months I will be running 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards) in hopefully around 4 hours and 20 minutes. YIKES!

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