Tuesday, September 16, 2026 – Gift yourself a dose of sport
Hi Everyone!
No races that I know of this past weekend – lots of people are right in the thick of training and doing so well! This is the crescendo of hard work for many – it’s ok if you’re feeling tired and looking forward to the end at this stage – that is normal. You are almost there; just keep putting one foot in front of the other and the pep will come back for race day. Remember: It’s SUPPOSED to feel like this! You’re all doing awesome.
This week, my mind has been swirling with thoughts, and absorbing news, and worrying about the present and the future. This is not a great place for my mind to hang out. So I’ve been super grateful that the World Track and Field Championships have been on. It is in times like these that I find the simplicity and purity of sport so refreshing. There have been some great stories so far of effort and determination and grace. And also the necessary counterparts to those – defeat, disappointment and tears. Many of the victories and medals so far have been surprises to spectators and athletes alike. The bronze medal winner of the women’s marathon didn’t realize she was a medal winner until she was told after she finished! And some of the best in the world have been knocked out of contention in the rounds. It makes for some very good distraction and entertainment for tired brains.
One of the things I love the most about watching sports is the deep respect the athletes have for one another. They represent over 200 countries, and a wide array of religious beliefs. They come from different economic backgrounds and hold many different political beliefs. But the thing that unites them is so much more powerful than all that. Despite probably as many statistical differences as you could list, they are all still more similar than different. And the respect they have for each other comes through. I just watched the men’s steeple chase final (spoiler alert) where the reigning champ was just unsuspectingly nipped at the line. He crumpled to the ground in tears, banging his head with his fists, but was still able to rise and hug the athlete who beat him. This spread of emotions plays out at almost every finish line. There is heartbreak and high high emotions, but there is nothing but love and respect shown for fellow athletes. They go and do battle and then come together and hug. Every single time. They know this is sport, there are rules, and if they’re not happy with the outcome they either have to learn to live with it, or go home, train harder, and try again. There are no good guys or bad guys. No us and them. They are all ‘good’ and they are all ‘us’. At least while in the arenas. I can’t tell you how refreshing this has been for me. So if you find you could use some feelings of unity, goodwill and pure entertainment, tune into the World Track Champs. Thank-you athletes – for allowing the optimism back in!
On to tomorrow’s workout: We’ll be dividing into two groups: Fall Marathoners and Everyone else. Everyone else is on hills. I just don’t think the marathoners who are running mostly flat courses need hills at this point in their training.
Hills People – let’s do Riverdale Hills! (that’s the 200m hill for beach ppl, although I think Riverdale is closer to 150). Let’s do 3 sets of 4 x hill followed by 5 min tempo. 4 sets if you’re feeling strong. This gives us a little more hill volume than the one full, one half, which some trail runners could use.
October Marathoners:
6-8 x 1K @ HM to 10K w 3 min – group up and decide where you want to do it. Lakeshore may not be the best bet for 1K.
I will meet at the top of the Riverdale hill at 6:15-ish.
That is all – see you in the a.m.!
Seanna