The Sporting Life 10K is a race I try to do every year – the money raised goes to a wonderful charity Camp Ooch, which sends kids with cancer to camp. The race itself is a lot of fun as it goes through downtown Toronto making it a fast 10K. Even though the race took place a week after the Toronto Goodlife Half Marathon, I was still looking forward to running it. Continue reading “Race Report – Sporting Life 10K 2016”
As training for my half marathon continued, I needed a 10K race to run; a tune-up race of sorts. The Toronto Waterfront Flyer, the second in MEC’s race series was a perfect fit with my schedule. What’s a tune-up race you might ask? It’s a test run (pun intended) of what might happen on race day. The Waterfront Flyer would let me sort out any nutrition/hydration issues and allow me to see how I felt running at race pace.
Leading up to the 10K, I was more than ready to go and excited to see what I could do. But the week right before the race, I tweaked my back. I’m not sure how or why it happened but I was in a lot of pain and barely able to stand up straight. The timing could not have been worse.
Last Thursday, I was invited to attend an event hosted by Vega called a Community Influencer event. It was described as a night filled with ideas, insights and community connection. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was intrigued and excited for the invitation! The group that evening was small but filled with interesting individuals. There were yoga instructors, a triathlon coach, nutritionists and then me – a runner and blogger. It was an impressive group to be a part of! Continue reading “Vega Community Influencer event”
“Want to go for brunch on Sunday??” I get or send that text message every week, typically sometime between Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. Usually it’s to and from my friends Matt and Dawn. Brunch is one of those meals where you recap the week and make plans for the next so you have to be in good company either because you need someone to laugh with (hopefully not at) and occasionally a shoulder to cry on. Knowing I was in good company, it was time to send the all-important follow up, “Where do you want to eat?” That’s not a tricky question normally, except when one goes out for brunch every weekend and then where do you go avoid gastro-boredom?
Then I remembered the Against the Grain Urban Tavern, a restaurant in Leaside I had watched being built over the winter months. I suppose being stuck in traffic caused by the road construction on Laird Avenue could be looked at as a bad thing by local businesses, but on the other hand it’s free advertising because what else do people do when they’re stopped in their car, but look around. So why not? Let’s give this place a shot and see what they’ve got for brunch. Continue reading “Review: Against the Grain Urban Tavern”
Well I didn’t get a chance to participate in the Foodie Pen Pals program in August. There was too much going on and I decided I wouldn’t have enough time to go shopping and get a package in the mail. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone because I always look forward to get my package every month. I was pretty much resigned to getting the usual bills, bills and more bills, maybe with the occasional flyer thrown in. And then I came home the other day and found a box from The Spice Trader addressed to me with my name on it. Continue reading “Surprises in the mail – The Spice Trader”
On Saturday August 18, 2012, I took part in the Midsummer Night’s Run 30K. The Midsummer Night’s Run is one of my favourite races to run because it’s generally well organized and on the smaller side. Plus I love running in the evening and a lot of runners get dressed up in costume. No, I don’t get dressed up but I like looking at all the fun costumes! Continue reading “Race Report: A Midsummer Night’s Run – 30K”
Sandwich shops are a dime a dozen in the city but it’s rare to find a place that sells tasty sandwiches at a reasonable price. It’s even more rare to find a decent BBQ place in Toronto. What if you were able to find a sandwich shop that sold awesome BBQ sandwiches at reasonable prices? But a sandwich shop with awesome BBQ at reasonable prices? I was surprised when I stumbled upon just this at The Black Camel. Located across the street from the Rosedale subway station, The Black Camel is easy to miss if you don’t know where to look. I decided to check them out upon the recommendation of a friend who lives in the area. Continue reading “Review – The Black Camel”
It’s the Canada Day long weekend, which can mean a number of things – an extra day off work, a trip to the cottage, fireworks, or… Ribfest. Held every year in Centennial Park over the Canada Day weekend, Toronto’s Ribfest is a chance for you to stuff your face full of ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken, blooming onions, and whatever else you happen to find.
Continue reading “Review: Toronto Ribfest 2012”
Another weekend and another race! This weekend, it was the Sporting Life 10K (May 13, 2012). Now, I don’t normally do back to back races but this was one race that I thought was worth running because 100% of the race registration fees were being donated to Camp Oochigeas, a camp for kids with cancer. Continue reading “Race report: 2012 Sporting Life 10K”
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