Without Computer.

Hello!!!!

It hard to be without a computer.
I sneak my blogging time when I should be practicing my french.

No Pictures for this blog.

The weeks are passing by. Since my long run just gone on a bike ride and a handle full of shorter runs around campus.

Finally my shoes broke the boundary of the universite Laval and made their way to the neighborhood. Down to the St. Laurent. Along the brick houses. I ran for 5 minutes up hill and the my right foot landed flat and it was over. I walk 4 minutes up the rest of the hill. I did take photos and will post them later. A very good route to add on even with the hill. It was only about 8 or 9K.

This week is a little bit more relaxed. Catching up on all the things I love that have been forgotten. Writing postcards, speaking french. The usual.

Hope all is well.

Right now!!!

I just got in from my late night run and watched TV on a friends computer. Opted out on eating cookie dough to just eat an orange. Doing great. Last Friday I ran my longest difference yet 18K.

These are the pictures from my journey around Montreal.

The angel is one of the most beautiful statues I have ever seen. She is my first hope for making it up the mountain.

I might be wrong but this is beaver lake on the mountain. Not quite Lake Louise. it's only 500M around. Add distance anywhere I can.

Another view of the city. When I got to the top I knew this was possible. I turned around at the cross came to the chalet. Filled my water bought some blue powerade took a deep breath. It took me just over an hour to run to the mountain and up it.

This is a map of the paths. Plans to utilise nose hill park on my return.

This is where I finished in La Parc de Fountaine. Another peaceful zone in the city. In the summer it is full of picnicker with their wine just enjoying life. Last summer it was my morning run to the park and around the fountain and home. All in all it took me 2 hours and 20 minutes. The longest time I have ever ran. YAHOO!!!!

This is my little 5K trail around the campus of Laval. Love running in the trees.

off to sleep,

It is 10:35 here and I have to be up for hills bright and early.

(If only I had my partners.)

Mathew

Not the City.

Bonjour,

I have been doing alot of running and very little blogging.

Just figuring out how to use the computers. I will post pictures on a later time.

I arrived in Quebec city on Saturday night. Up early on Sunday and took off from my residence. The rain became a down pour. After 10 minutes i turned around soaked.
Monday, first day of school and I was up and out before 7 for my run. Running the perimeter of Laval. Through the trees and by the church. A lovely run.
Today up again and off to the track for sprints. Countdown. 5 minutes run-walk 1- run 4-walk 1-run 3-walk 1-run 2-walk 1-run 1.

If any of you know great track training it would be a great help.
also soon I will have to run to vieux Quebec. Soon.

Working hard,

Mathew John

French Hills

Here's the worst stairs ever!!! Even when you think it is the top, nope there another 2 flights.
My Montreal hill buddies. Ali, Beautiful blond and perfect. Legs that just go on forever. Unfair to my little muscular legs. Sophie is the whole reason why I started running. She just goes and I'm always 2 steps behind her.
Come on Ali, them skinny legs make stairs hard.
Me. after going up them 3 times. Not once did I run the whole way but hey it's all about improvement.
On the walk back to Sophie's, this Magnolia tree hiding in an alley way. Perfection.

YES!!!!

Mathew John

Great Things.

This is a long time coming blog. Finishing up a school year is strenuous April. This is my other half Tracy. We have run together all season. Amazing runner. She is running her first half Marathon in Vancouver this Sunday. Sending her the great vibes. It will be hard to train without her.
This is from last Saturday. An EASY 10K. Actually not a single step of it was easy. I complained the whole way. If this goal wasn't as important as it is I would have turned around. (Then went for a big breakfast) I had to go to an exam at 3:30 after my run. I had a headache the whole day. Most likely from getting a whole hours of sunshine. As it turns out it got my brain working right. On the Exam I got an A-, this is an A- in programming. (Yes!)

Everything was over and then the craziness of leaving set in. Of course I had to throw a party the night before. Off on the plane. Didn't know what to do. Arrived and talked about dreams and great thing in bed with Sophie.

There it is my run. Notice the cross.

I got up headed out for a much due run. I trained on the mountain last summer. It was a big deal when I ran up it the first time. Training for months makes that first run easy.
After about 40 minutes from the apartment I ROCKY'd it. Arms up and all. Not hard when at the end is this view.
Went to another lookout across the mountain.
Hello Cross. Your not so small. All in all I was running for 80 minutes. Not sure the distance but lets say 12.
I came home and had to make myself something healthy. Spinach, tofu and Almonds.

Now I'm just sitting and catching up on everything in my inbox and blogging away.
Happy to have time to train, enjoy life.
Only 1100 left to fundraise!!!

Mathew John

For Tracy!

I got up yesterday morning feeling low and tired.
It was the half marathoners first 20K run. I was still in recovery from my birthday debacle on Wednesday night.
I hadn't been to a GTS is two weeks. I also lost my training while school picked up in the amount of work. Worried I told my run coach. "I think I'm only going to do 10." She replied "You have done 10 a few times why not do 12." My pal and inspiration Dan hurt his T-band and was setting out to do the short run with me. So I set out to start my loop around the reservoir. The run goes well. Dan can do it and turns around at 3. He has a Full Marathon in 2 weeks and his to be recovered for it. It's just Patti and Myself. Tracy, our third musketeer, finished her run beautifully on Friday since she was away for the weekend. Informed that I have reached the 6.5 mark and I can turn around. Well the rest of the loop is only another 8.5. So I either run be myself or stick it out. Running with company on long runs is necessary. Patti say I push her but she pushes me.


This is the 15K loop around the Glenmore reservoir.

Patti! The reason why I could go out and complete my runs. She ended up going and doing her first 20.

You would not think we were in Calgary. (Until the power lines ruined this amazing view.) Not hard to run far and smile big.

This is about at the 10K point. 6 more to go!!!

These are my new blisters. That's part of experience. blisters and cold showers. The cold showers hurt more than any blister.

First time running 16K I didn't think it was possible. For my half marathon goal it's only another 5. I have been running 5 for years.

This is for Tracy who went out and ran 20 by herself. An inspiration.

Training hard,
Mathew John

A week off.

I was sick all week with the flu.
This weekend I had to jet home to Saskatoon to see my ailing Grandfather.

One Week off but still many weeks to train.

At the beginning of May, I am moving to Quebec city for 5 weeks to practice my french.
This will be harder to train without my group but also great to change my running courses and cross training. Quebec city is closer to Sea level and more humid so it will be good to condition my body for Anchorage.

Out and about this week,

Mathew John