Okay. I’m back. I haven’t been blogging – but I have been
running. And it’s getting close to the end of the year, so I figured I’d take a
look at where my yearly mileage has me in my virtual cross-Canada run. Last
time, I was really close to the Manitoba border after an endless time in
Ontario. So have I finally made it out of the big O and into the first prairie
province?
Well, my total after today’s recovery run along the
Dartmouth waterfront was 4110.5km. Yes, I’ve broken 4000km! I’m over 2500
miles. That’s a fair bit of distance – but is it enough?
Yes! Not only am I in Manitoba – I’ve almost run clear
across it already!
My total has brought me to Griswold, Manitoba. Here’s how
the village’s website describes the place: “The village of Griswold is located in Southwestern Manitoba,
approximately 25 miles west of Brandon at the junction of highways #1 and #21. Griswold
has approximately 30 people. The village has a post office, garage, curling
rink and the school is now used as a community center.”
With a population of
only 30 – my condo building has more! – it’s easy to forgive the fact that
nothing much is going on there. Apparently, there were five grain elevators
back in the early 1900s, but they’re all gone. There is, however, a mini one to
show the tourists – as they zoom through on their way to Brandon or Regina.
I did find this pic
of a Sioux encampment in the area back in the day. The Sioux sought refuge here
following the Minnesota Massacres of 1861 and the Indian War of 1876. Griswold
was a temporary sanctuary.
I must admit,
though, grain elevators and tepees weren’t my first thoughts when I saw
the name Griswold. All I could think was, how appropriate to end up in a place
named Griswold just before Christmas. I’m sure Clark and family won’t mind
another guest!
Happy running – and happy
holidays!!
Hi Doug,
ReplyDeleteBeen really enjoying reading through your blog over the past few days. I'm a random visitor - a Brit living in Sweden - who stumbled across your site when I was googling about 3:20/km intervals...
Your passion for running is infectious, and I can really identify with sometimes questioning how much time one spends on a 'hobby', and the trials and tribulations of months of training to try and squeeze a few more seconds out of those PBs.
You've got the edge on me with most of your times - 17.17 for 5km, 36.15 for 10km, 1:20:09 for the half marathon - but I managed to get the marathon right last year and got round Stockholm in 2:48:49. Hopefully you will put that anaomaly right when you go under 2:45 in Toronto later in the year!
Anyway, thanks again for a great blog, keep up the good work and of course, the training. It's -3oC here, but dry and still amazingly no snow on the ground, so it's time to head out for a run....
Cheers, Deri
Hi Deri,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your comment! I really need to start posting regularly again. I love writing the blog -- thanks for the boost! I really needed it.
Sounds like we're pretty much identical in terms of times. I can only imagine how hungry you must be to break 17, 36, and 90 -- a meaningless string of numbers to some, but not to folks like us!! Congratulations on the 2:48 -- it's so hard to put everything together like that -- a huge accomplishment. I do hope to join you in the sub 2:50 club -- my marathon PB haunts me a bit.
Best of luck with your training. Here's hoping the roads and trails stay open all the way to spring. I'll post soon, so I hope you keep reading -- if there's anything more meaningless than running, it's writing to nobody! :)