Tuesday, September 16, 2024 – Hope

Hey Gang!

Congrats to all our racers this past weekend. In the Barrelman Half Ironman we had Mike Greenberg who came 1^st in his age group and 11^th overall, Carolyn Steele Gray who came 1^st in her age group and 9^th overall, Carol McFarlane who came 5^th in her age group and 30^th overall! Also, Anna D ran a 200 mile race!!! My brain doesn’t compute. Flippin phenomenal.

Another event that happened across the country this weekend, and which I know many of us participated in either by running, volunteering or donating, was the Terry Fox Run. I’ve been thinking about this run and its significance to Canadians. In particular I’ve been thinking about the name: Marathon of Hope. It’s not the Marathon of “Muscle Through” or the Marathon of “I know I can”. There is something about hope that keeps us striving and pushing and engaged in the effort.

I was listening to a podcast discussing this effect in distance running. The phenomenon when athletes are trying to come top 3 in a race to make a team, and in the key race, when it seems obvious to them that it won’t happen, it’s like a bear jumps on their back. The effort becomes way harder when hope vanishes. It’s not a case of giving up – it’s the deep algorithm in the brain that says “this is too hard if it’s hopeless”. When there is no hope the effort is untenable. The athletes who can convince themselves that it’s still possible, and don’t let go of that last shred of hope, are the ones who can push to the end and sometimes make miraculous comebacks. Because despite all odds and current evidence, you just really never know what will happen, and it could turn around. That is the power of hope.

Hope is not grit, and hope is not confidence. It is the belief that your efforts might make a difference. And it is so powerful. I got emotional running by all the Terry Fox runners and volunteers on Sunday. People do still have hope that we can have an impact on fighting cancer, and many of us are still trying. That’s what Terry set in motion 44 years ago. Hope is extremely powerful, but very ephemeral. It is hard to hold onto and is easily dashed. Luckily I think it is contagious. We can try to share it with each other to keep each other energized and engaged and trying our best. That’s what I saw out there on Sunday. Let’s try to keep it alive. For cancer research, for homelessness, for mental illness, for the climate, for social harmony, for individuals we know who are struggling, and for ourselves – even if it’s “just” a race outcome. It might all work out, or it might not. But only hope will keep us going.

On to tomorrow’s workout!

I think this is the last one we can do as a fartlek on the spit because of diminishing light. We may even need to start with a light, so bring one if you have one. Meet at Lakeshore and Leslie – 6:05 drills, 6:15 GO.

1. 6 min tempo, 2 min easy, 3 x 2 min faster w 90 sec easy. 3 min easy. Repeat. Then, option of one more 6 min section at either MP or a lil faster. I would suggest MP if you have a marathon coming up (Berlin, Chicago) and you want to practice nailing the pace. Toronto and CIM runners can choose.

2. If on a recovery week, if batteries need recharging, don’t do the last 6 min.

Remember, this is a longer workout. If coming from 4K or more away, you can consider driving down and warming up down there.

That is all – see you in the a.m.!

xo

Seanna