Running the Gambia

Here’s a huge shout out to fellow Cliff’s Antiques runner Erin Poirier who is, as we speak, running across the Gambia to raise awareness about HIV-AIDS and money for projects such as bringing useful technology to remote and underdeveloped areas. Check out her amazing blog: http://love4gambia.com/

Unfortunately, I don’t know Erin because she trains with Cliff on different nights than I do, but her running project is inspiring – and she’s doing amazing. She’s cranking out 25km days in crazy heat and pretty much having a transcendent experience along the way.


In the past, I’ve been a little critical of pairing adventure sports with charitable causes – sometimes they seem like stunts or excuses to get the money to do something cool. But this is not a stunt. Erin is doing good work – the run gives people an excuse to donate to a cause they might not otherwise consider. And this is no fly-by-night association with the Gambia. She has volunteered there as a nurse, and she sits on the board of the Nova Scotia-Gambia Association. She puts in the time – her commitment is long-lived and genuine.

There is a nice article about her and her run in the latest issue of Canadian Running. And I’d just like to quote something from it: “An avid distance runner, Erin trains with Cliff’s Antiques, one of the top marathon and half-marathon groups in Nova Scotia.” I believe this is the first reference in print to Cliff’s Antiques!! I can still remember when Rayleen, Nick, Alex, and I were doing a cool-down run in Point Pleasant park and trying to come up with a name and logo for the group. Rayleen suggested the name, and the rest of us agreed immediately. Now that wee name has made it into Canadian running lore. I’m so happy about it that I’ll forgive the author the otherwise unforgivable slight on our 5k and 10k runners – we have some of the best of those in the province too!!

Anyway… the point is that one of our own is doing great work. Go check out her blog and cheer her on as she reaches Banjul and the shores of the Atlantic. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to donate a buck or two – or at least a little love for the Gambia.

1 Pound = 2 Seconds/Mile

I stepped on the scale for the first time in a couple of weeks today. I was pleasantly surprised. I’ve lost a few – I’m back under 155lbs. I like to be between 150-155 for races.

I really shouldn’t worry about weight, but I kinda do. Not because I think I’m overweight or unhealthy – I don’t think I am... although I certainly used to be. No. It’s because the less useless weight my body is carrying, the faster I’ll go.

Now, I should qualify this. Notice how I said “useless weight” – there does come a point when you just can’t lose any more weight and keep muscle mass and stay healthy. However, each pound of excess fat (yes, you do need some) is, in fact, slowing me down. I guess the trick is to find out how much useless fat is hanging on and then try to lose it.

The gains to be made in race times are significant. I found this link to a blog that referenced a Runner’s World article that claimed, on average, runners shave 2 seconds/mile off their race paces for every pound dropped. Apparently, this is based on research. And it makes sense to me. Pretty basic physics.

What this means is that, for the approximately 5 pounds I’ve dropped over the past month, I stand to run my half marathon 2:11 faster, all other things being equal. That’s a lot of time – to me, the difference between, say, a 1:18 and a 1:16 is more than worth the inconvenience of laying off chips and beer for a month.

And the whole thing has got me thinking – how much do I need to lose to become world class? Well, let’s say I run 1:18 for the half at 155lbs. Now, let’s say a world-class half time is around 1:05 – I’m being generous to myself here. So I have to drop 13 minutes or 780 seconds. That’s pretty much a minute per mile over a half marathon. This means I’d have to lose 30lbs. Hmm. 125lbs? For a six footer? Not sure that’s healthy.

But, hey, now I know I’m only 30lbs from world-class running. I wonder how much of me I could cut off to get 30lbs and still be functional? How much does my head weigh? It’s pretty much dead weight.

Seriously, though, the weight loss game is dangerously seductive for obsessive runners. The thing is, you put so much time into training and invest so much meaning in running a PB, why would you want to hold yourself back over a few pounds? But when is it enough? When do you cross that line from shaping yourself into the fittest you can be to harming yourself?

Really, I think I’m a long way from self harm, but I am seduced by the logic and the numbers.

For now, though, the cupcakes that J-A made for me stay in the freezer until after the race. I was allowed three, but the rest will be portioned out... I’m not so good when it comes to self-denial.

Mill Cove Shore Road

I’ve never been one to complain too much about running the same routes day after day. After all, it’s a gift to be able to run (etc. etc.). The thing is that, without a car, I don’t have too much choice in the matter. There are very limited options when you’re leaving from the same spot each time. No big deal – no route is ever really the same twice.

However, this morning on my long run out the Aspotogan highway, I got a rare chance to explore new ground on my run. There are a number of side roads that lead off the highway, but I’ve never explored any of them because I assumed they were all simply dead ends to private properties. There has always been one road, though, that has made me curious – the Mill Cove Shore Road. Every time I’ve passed it I’ve wondered if it connected with another unmarked road a couple of k further along. But each time I’ve gone past the dirt-packed road, I’ve chosen against exploring it because I’ve been concerned about my pace and all that stuff.

Well, because I’m tapering and not so worried about pace, I decided to explore it this morning. And, boy, was I glad that I did.

After 3 days of rain and unseasonably cold temperatures, we finally got a good one today. The morning was warm and sunny and clear – and the ocean was calm and sparkling. Anyway... the turn off to the road is exactly 7k from my place on Shore Club Road. While the highway dodged inland and climbed a hill, Mill Cove Shore Road went down and towards the shore. It wasn’t long before the road turned a corner and an ocean vista opened up. True to its name, the Shore road followed the shore for 2.7k – and then rejoined the highway – a perfect side route! I can hardly believe that I’ve been running here for years and I’ve been missing those views each time! It was just so calm and sunny and beautiful, and you could look out across the Bay, past Peggy’s cove on the other side and out to the big ocean beyond. And the little fishing boats were all out there doing their thing – it was a perfect Nova Scotia Sunday summer morning.

Anyway... enough of my gushing... but it’s funny how just trying out a new route can open something like that up.

On an interesting but gross side note: while I was running, a bug got sucked up my nose. Incredibly, this has never happened to me before – bugs in mouth, in ears, in eyes, yes – but nose, no. And he got up there pretty good. I couldn’t get him out with a few snorts, so I just shrugged my shoulders and kept running. After awhile, the poor thing worked its way down the back of my throat and I was able to hork it forward and spit it out – like post-nasal drip or something. Strange, eh?

Gotta love running!!