Strength training and WAW testing

I've requested a test drive of the WAW velomobile (photo above, courtesy of www,bluevelo.com). Ray Mickevicius at Bluevelo tells me things are busy (maybe some requests flooding in since the Globe and Mail article by Peter Cheney?), but he'll try to fit me in sometime this weekend.

After doing some research, I think the WAW may be the velomobile of choice for me. I want to go fast, be fully protected from the elements and have a good space on the side to get an advertising sponsor. Who would like to sponsor a velomobiling bloggling joggler?

Since this blog is ostensibly about joggling, I will say that I'm starting to feel good about my pre-training phase for the September marathon. I'm doing some high-quality core work and strength training, running speedwork and plyometrics and generally trying to eat well.

Now if only my allergies would go away...

Scattered thoughts on record-breaking

Since I'm not officially training for anything right now, I've been experimenting with a mixed-bag of running- and juggling-related activities.

Five-ball joggling: I'm getting better at this, but am still unable to imagine running an entire marathon while juggling five beanbags. After experimenting with various techniques, the best strategy so far is to keep the pattern fairly low and heavily angled forward. This way I can run really fast to get the most distance out of my limited ability to keep the five-ball cascade going. Plus, the forward tilt of the pattern allows me to look forward at the road ahead, rather than up at the sky.

Backwards running: My backwards running is getting better and better, but doesn't get any less embarrassing. World-record retro-marathon pace (sub 3 hours and 42 minutes) still feels quad-wrenchingly difficult, though. This one will take at least another year's worth of training.

Stroller-pushing: Now that the weather's good, I've been taking both kids out in the Twinner Baby Jogger quite a bit. It's a great workout going up the big hills. I have no plans to reclaim my stroller-pushing marathon record, despite some generous offers from people willing to loan me their babies.

Non-joggling: Most of my running lately has been non-joggling. I'm working on getting some good speed in my legs before I resume joggling training for my final attempt to win back the record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon in September.

Eccentric and fun modes of transportation

Earlier this week I mentioned that Bluevelo, a Toronto-based distributor of velomobiles (human-powered cars), was selling some incredible-looking machines for about $10,000 and up. Well, their site is now listing the Dutch-designed Alligt Alleweder kit (pictured above) for a bargain $3,495 for a limited time.

Since I've decided to bike to and from work rather than take the subway there and joggle home, I could almost justify this cost. My subway pass costs about $1,000 per year (kindly donated by my generous mom), so this vehicle would pay for itself in under four years. And think of the fun I'd have!

I've always had a fascination with the human-powered commute. When I was a kid, I ran ran, walked, skateboarded or biked everywhere. When I was training competitively for the marathon, I ran to and from work every day for a daily total of 16-20 miles, depending on my route. In my recent training for the Salt Lake City Marathon, I've been joggling home from work and doing tricks the whole way. I've become addicted to having fun and exercising on my commute. I could never, ever drive a car to work, and taking the subway both ways every day would be pretty miserable too. I need me-power.

So maybe I'll do my little part to save the planet, make a statement, turn some heads (I'm now used to that), stay fit and have fun and get myself a nice, shiny velomobile!

Up and running

The training has begun. As I prepare for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 30, it's time to start thinking about how to fit in all the running, juggling and joggling that I'll need to get into world-record shape.

Here's the plan:

1) Run mostly at 4:30 a.m. or 10:30 p.m. My summer running schedule will avoid the heat, the smog and the traffic.
2) Strength training, core work and plyometrics three times per week after work.
3) Juggling every night with the kids. I juggle, the kids dance around to music and get tired so they sleep well.
4) Saturday morning run at 5 a.m. down to the St. Lawrence farmers' market. Fill backpack with fruit and vegetables and run home.
4) Long joggle on Sunday at 5 a.m. Back in time for breakfast with the family.
5) Tuesday evening runs with the whole family (kids in the Twinner Baby Jogger).
6) Speed work on Wednesdays and Fridays.
7) Ride bike to and from work.
8) Do some of my running backwards to prepare for 2008.
9) Keep working on the 5-ball joggling.
10) Keep bloggling almost every day.
11) Visit www.runningmania.com almost every day.
12) Don't watch TV, except for finale of Top Chef.
13) And as Metallica once said: "Those people who tell you not to take chances / They are all missing on what life's about / You only live once so take hold of this chance / Don't end up like others / Same song and dance."

Jogglers on Breitbart TV

Breitbart, the online news site often linked to by the wildly popular Drudge Report , posted a link to the CBC News: Sunday joggling video ... right here. I find this very cool because, as a news junkie, I visit both of these sites regularly.

Speaking of joggling news coverage, there will be an article about me in an upcoming issue of Explore magazine. The interview I did with the reporter was really funny so I'm looking forward to reading this one.

Cruising out of retirement

I'm going to give this thing one more shot. That's right, I'm joining the likes of Magic Johnson, Bjorn Borg and Muhammad Ali by coming out of retirement. Of course, all three of these sports heroes failed quite spectacularly in their comeback efforts.

Why will I be any different? Well, for one thing, I'm not Magic Johnson, Bjorn Borg or Muhammad Ali. I'm a joggler, which means the heights of my sports-stardom were about as lofty as the world champion of Tiddly Winks. I didn't rise high enough to fall. Secondly, my retirement lasted only 1.5 months, so I'm not too stale yet.

Yesterday, I told the good people at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon that I will be back in September to try and break Zach's 2:52:15 marathon joggling record. I don't plan to do any publicity this time around. I think the news media are getting a bit tired of joggling anyway - it's not a novelty anymore.

So here goes nothing...

Today, I got stuck on a hot, crowded subway and that convinced me that it's time I started riding my bike to work. This means I'll no longer be able to joggle home as part of my training, so I'll have to run late at night or very early in the morning.

The photo at the top of this post is the vehicle I'm drooling over right now. It's a pedal-powered velomobile available in Toronto through http://www.bluevelo.com/. The catch is that these things cost about $10,000. The $20 I've made so far through joggling won't go very far to cover this cost, but who knows what joggling endorsements await me around the corner now that I'm back in the game.

In The Long Run

A couple of weeks ago at the Toronto Reebok Run Easy event, I met Lee Hewitt, a web editor at the Toronto Sun. Lee, who recently qualified for the Boston Marathon, writes a great running blog on - you guessed it - the Toronto Sun website.

The blog also has a great name: In The Long Run. I'm not sure if Lee intended this, but this is a line from the excellent Rush song, Marathon:

It's a test of ultimate will
The heartbreak climb uphill
Got to pick up the pace
If you want to stay in the race
More than blind ambition
More than simple greed
More than a finish line
Must feed this burning need
In the long run...

Lee published a nice photo of my custom Sport Juggling
Co. joggling beanbags in his latest entry, and will soon be running an interview
(I hope I didn't say anything stupid).