Injury and holidays

What is happening when you are injured? You not training. You trying to rest as much as can and try to recover. All good and sounds easy enough. But what if you injured and same time on holiday? Then you can be sure that your weight will go dramatically up. And that what just has happened to me during our recent holiers in Canada… Could run and train… but had always food in front of me. I know that I should be able to resist but food was so good that… I just gain couple of kilos. Now need to work on loosing these and getting back to proper fitness levels…

One need holidays time to time. Especially when living in Ireland you need some sun during the Summer. Me and Bozena were missing that warm glow on our skin. So… took a flight to Toronto to visit our family. We knew that Toronto will be warmer during last days of July but wasn’t expecting temperatures around 26 – 27 degrees in the shade. When I was running at 7 in the morning thermometer on near by market was showing already 32 degrees in the sun. We wanted warm but not that warm. For the first time I was glad that there was a treadmill. Usually prefer running outside than in gym (even if on treadmill you can keep pace easier) but in Toronto temperature was ridicules… That about conditions there. Ohhh, almost forgot. On the last day, before flight back we had big storm which has delayed our plane by more than 3 hours…

Definitely break from work was highly needed. Was waiting for that couple of days for a long, long time. But looking at our Canada’s schedule it was anything but rest. In plans: Canadian Open (golf), closing ceremony of Pa-nam Games, Wonderland, Zoo, cliffs with beach… We had actually asked if we can have a day off to relax on the patio 😉 Besides that we had to visit so many shops where prices are so low compared to Irish shops. So, busy, busy all the time. But we have enjoyed every minute spent with Maggie and her Parents. Especially considering that cause of distance we are not in position to visit each other too often…

Will try to describe in couple of words each day… First day after arrival was almost a rest day. Woke up at 5AM to catch our 9AM flight. Landed 11:30 AM local time (-5 hours from Dublin time).  Unpacked, went to shop, came back home, met with whole family. Busy already but we went with Maggie to her friend bday party. Actually to club downtown Toronto, where we fall asleep on the couch. Anyway our Friday lasted longer than 25 hours. Second day was family visit to Glen Abbey Golf Club grounds to see Canadian Open. It was nice day, sun was shining, we had nice walk… but must say that live golf is even more boring than watching same game in TV. Nice thing was all that commercial and marketing addition there. Me and Maggie were anchors for couple of minutes –> Global Toronto interview. We have ended day with walk in Oakville village. Third day – Pa-nam Games closing ceremony. Great experience to see small Olympics ceremony, to see all these athletes who fought for medals, volunteers who helped during whole event. To see them live on the scene was incredible even if after them on the same stage stepped in The Clown himself – Kanye West. Didn’t like him and after that performance I know why. Such a self-centred person. Wanted all lights to be on to show him all the time in ‘whole glory’ and at the end of 13 minutes act thrown mic up in the air to has it smashed into pieces. Pitbull performing before West was much more entertaining and more ‘open’ to people besides the stage. For me Pitbull was the highlight of the ceremony. Next day suppose to be easy. Besides me nobody woke up before 10AM. I was after my morning run (still felt my injury, had to run less and take one day off every third day) and breakfast when girls decided to come to kitchen to discuss Monday’s options. Decision was made, we should go and see sandy beach and cliff near Toronto. Little bit walk, some would say hike. Add up all together to almost 9 km but just because we have parked our car quite a distance from place we wanted to visit. Flip-flops didn’t help in the walk. Was really hot, ice creams cooled you for couple of minutes just. Sand on the beach was so warm that most of people there were in their shoes or flip-flops. Too hot, we went back for a longer walk to our car and back home. Next day and the ZOO were waiting for us. ZOO with famous pandas. What to say about that day? Hot, so hot that most of the animals in ZOO hid from sun (us). Very enjoyable walk through park ZOO, saw pandas, saw polar bear pretending to be rug. Bought even Toronto ZOO t-shirt… not that I like such a souvenirs, me t-shirt was so sweat-wet that I just have to changed it. So, now I’m proud owner of t-shirt which is basically saying I’m lame, I’m bought myself that t-shirt… Injury was still a problem. Had to take day off running every three days and was able to do just one speed session during whole visit. When I could I was trying to get on the treadmill to do couple of miles. When it wasn’t too warm (read less than 32 degrees in sun at 7AM) I hit the road with my new Fresh Foam NB shoes. Even injured I was still got in back of my head that Connemara 100 was around the corner and would need to be prepared for it. But next day I run. Felt ok, which was great. Still have busy day in front of us. We have decided to visit Aquarium near CN Tower. Big crowd in there, which actually made that nice visit a really not nice experience. Even that me and Bozena think that Monaco aquarium is better in here they have more bigger fishes like sharks or stingrays. This time bigger haven’t been better. But was ok, right (smile, if you are Canadian). After that we suppose to meet Maggie and Elias for a Japanese dinner. We had still some time to spare so we decided to see the peer. Lasted there just couple of minutes. Too hot. And on the way down to restaurant we wanted to cool down. And how to do that in the middle of the city? Hmmm… get to the nearest mall, a big one, with good AC. Spent couple of minutes there, bought books and running magazines. Ok, was time to show up in Guu Izakaya restaurant at Church Street. We were amazed when staff welcomed us with shouting something at us… No clue what they were shouting but as we have quick realized that was usual way of communication there. Especially when greetings guest or saying good bye and cause people were going in and out it was quite loud all the time. Portions kind of tapas size but food really great. Tasty, expensive but still place to visit when in Toronto. Finished day with a pint (my case water) in Portuguese district. Thursday was a fun day with roller-coaster rides on the cards. Even when you afraid of hight you should go at least to one of the famous rides: Leviathan or Behemoth. And have to say it. I did it. Conquer Behemoth but my fear of heigh kicked in during that ride. Wonderland was very busy, full of people, massive queues to rides. Some waiting lines were over one hour. Whole day spent there but not many rides taken. But the one taken where worth a wait, including water slides. Day spent there was nice, too short for all rides but enjoyable. This evening we have asked for ‘day off’. Friday we were resting whole afternoon. Plans for evening – girls going to cinema to see ‘Magic Mike XXL’ and me walk to hokey, running shops. So, it was quiet. Silence before storm next day. Was glad that I had run that morning cause we had huge feast that Saturday. All you can eat restaurant – Mandarin. Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian… just any cuisine you want. And unfortunately you want to try all is there. On some stage I just went out for couple of minutes just to have a break from eating. And in the evening needed walk around neighbourhood. Last day was a relaxing one again. Walk in Oakville at the lake front for the last time during that trip. After that back to house looking at the weather forecast. It just started to rain. And heavy thunders on the way. As was mentioning on beginning flight was delayed by over three hours. Three hours waiting on the airport in the middle of the night. Torture…

Summary: great holidays with family, enjoyable, hot, food feast, little bit over shadowed injury… Next time YOU will have to visit us…

Photos from holiday…