5K Joggling Race Splits

I'm too busy to write a proper report right now, but here are my splits from the 5K Joggle-off, according to my friend George:

Lap Time Cumulative
1 80.42
2 80.54
3 80.27
4 79.57
5 80.89 6:41.69
6 80.43
7 80.86
8 83.08 10:46.06
9 84.64
10 86.67 13:37.39
11 89.29
12 83.56 16:30.24
12½ 35.76**

** All of your splits were accurate except the last ½ lap (estimated, because it was on the opposite side of the track)

Pictures to follow soon.

I had a bit of a lapse in laps 10 and 11. I'm kicking myself now for slowing down. Now I'm all fired up to try again. Simon had a couple of friends pace us for 80-second laps, which was a huge help. The guys staying right on pace through 4000m, then pulled aside as planned for us to finish it up on our own.

Simon dropped five times, and surely would have broken the record with a drop-free race. I didn't drop, but didn't run fast enough. Thanks to everyone who showed up to spectate, and to Canadian Running Magazine for sponsoring the event. It was so much fun to joggle on the Varsity track.

Next up: Running the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on the Tom Longboat team. The race is celebrating 100 years of the marathon distance with teams of runners dressed as Tom Longboat, the Toronto runner who was favoured to win the 1908 Olympic marathon in London, Dorando Pietri, who crossed the line first but was disqualified for being helped across the line, and Johnny Hayes, who won the gold after Pietri's disqualification.

Canadian Running Magazine 5K Joggle-Off

Prelim. results:
Simon Hodge, Toronto: 17:04
Michal Kapral, Toronto: 17:05

The Quaffer: Captivate Wine Blog

Many of you know that after a good joggle, I often enjoy a glass of wine. In my job as senior editor at Captivate Network, I now have a wine blog called The Quaffer. I'll be doing some wine reviews, but most of the entries will be about interesting developments in the world of wine. My latest post is about the cork vs. screw cap debate.

Gearing Up for the 5000m

I went to the track on the weekend for a time trial to see what kind of joggling shape I'm in for the 5000m world record attempt. It turns out that I have a lot of work to do in the next few weeks. I joggled 2 x 1600m in 5:20 each and then joggled an 800 in 2:40. It was much harder than I expected, which could have something to do with the fact that I haven't been training very much lately. Let's see if I can get fit in time for the big race on August 29.

Juggling Clubs

After a few years of working hard at juggling beanbags, I've finally become addicted to juggling clubs. It's much harder to practise indoors and there's a near-constant risk of seriously injuring one of my children. Now that I'm dropping less and learning some tricks, I'm really starting to like the clubs thing. And the kids are learning that my immediate vicinity is "the danger zone."

One day, I will learn to do this (or maybe not):



It's funny to watch Anthony Gatto do this in practice after seeing Cirque to Soleil, where a drumroll leads into a short run of maybe 14 catches of seven clubs like it's a huge deal for him.

IJA Juggling Festival Joggling Championships

Here's some footage from the 2008 Joggling Championships in Lexington, Kentucky. Some great results from Perry and Anders. No one ever told me that joggling was an Olympic event in 1932. I need to go look that up.

Velomobile Advertising

Here it is: my first velomobile advertiser. I park the Mango in high-traffic areas of downtown Toronto, which makes it the perfect billboard. Thanks to home-business company, Yellow Brick Road Inc., for signing on as my first sponsor. I already have two other potential advertisers lined up, and more in the works.