From 0 to 60 in ... one week

Some cars can go from 0 to 60 in four seconds. It took me a week.

But I'm talking about running a total of 60 miles rather than reaching 60 mph. My top joggling speed is about 14 mph. Some day I'll find out my 0 to 14 performance rating. Until then, I'm pleased with my first full week of quality marathon training, which I just wrapped up with an early-morning 19-miler (the family's still asleep).

A couple of night's ago, we watched the movie 'Wordplay,' a surprisingly gripping film about crossword puzzles. Benjamin from Chump Change Productions said he's making his documentary about record breakers based on a similar formula. 'Wordplay' has no voice-over narrative, the story is told in the words of the crossword maniacs themselves.

I haven't done a crossword in several years, but Dianne and I recently subscribed to the Sunday New York Times, so we're going to tackle Will Shortz's puzzle today. Let's see if we can do it in the time it takes me to joggle a marathon.

Note to Merriam-Webster: Where's "joggling"?

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary has added nearly 100 new words to its 11th edition. Below is a partial list ... but where's "joggling"? They have "joggle" listed in their online dictionary, but it's only defined as "to shake slightly." It's time they joggled their definitions to include the greatest sport in the world.



1. agnolotti
2. Bollywood
3. chaebol
4. crunk
5. DVR
6. flex-cuff
7. ginormous
8. gray literature
9. hardscape
10. IED
11. microgreen
12. nocebo
13. perfect storm
14. RPG
15. smackdown
16. snowboardcross
17. speed dating
18. sudoku
19. telenovela
20. viewshed

How much joggling should a joggler joggle?

For the next joggling marathon world record bid, I've decided to mix things up a bit. In my preparation for Salt Lake City, I juggled for about 95% of my training runs.

For the Scotiabank Marathon, I'm going to start out doing most of my running without juggling, then gradually phase in more and more joggling, with the idea that this will boost my running speed base. If I'm a faster runner and my jjoggling technique is properly honed on race day, chances are that I'll post a faster joggling time.

Last night I went out for a fantastic speed session along the Toronto Beach boardwalk. It was an 8-mile run and I did four 1-mile intervals, plus a big sprint up a 400m hill near the end. Less than a week into my training, I'm already starting to feel fit.

A marathoner with balls

The Joggler is in Explore magazine. I haven't seen the article yet, but here's the promo from the website:

Explorata: Our top female kayaker makes a splash; mountain caribou in peril; the latest Canadian hero on Everest; a marathoner with balls; the Fly Gurlz turn 10; finding your real maximum heart rate; train with star coaches.

The ultimate 10-week marathon training program

I have a little more than 10 weeks before the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. I'm coming off an injury, but since it wasn't a running-related overuse injury, I don't need to be tentative in my training. It's full speed ahead.

My mileage goals are as follows:

Week 10: 60 miles
Week 9: 65 miles
Week 8: 70 miles
Week 7: 70 miles
Week 6: 75 miles
Week 5: 80 miles
Week 4: 75 miles
Week 3: 50 miles
Week 2: 35 miles
Week 1: 10 miles, plus MARATHON

I'll be running six days per week, with two speed sessions and a long run that builds up to 27 miles of joggling.

Toggling into joggling mode

Training has begun. I joggled home from work yesterday. It was oppressively hot and humid, but I made it in good time. I got a few cheers along the way and heard one woman tell her friend that I'm trying to break a world record. Maybe she read my blog?

More 5-ball juggling and joggling

Here I am juggling 5 balls:


Now, here's some 5-ball joggling with a diving finale: