Baby...it's hot outside!

My oh my! It has been a long time since this blog was updated. So much has happened that it is difficult to know where to begin. I suppose I will begin by telling you why I am choosing now to update the blog. It's hot outside. Very hot. To quote Matthew Broderick in Biloxi Blues, "it's Africa hot".



I don't like the heat. So I am hunkered down in my partially air-conditioned apartment. I've played multiple computer games and even worked (!). Since there is no chance that I will go outside, I've decided that now is a good time to update this blog. Besides, it's long overdue.

First, let me briefly explain why I have not been updating the blog. I've been very busy with work. But more significantly, I developed post-concussion syndrome. (Actually, I had this syndrome the last time I updated the blog in December.) As a result of this syndrome, I had to limit my time on the computer. I found it difficult to focus on the computer screen in any case. I had to limit most forms of stimulation. My brain was injured and needed recovery time. A lot of recovery time. I was going to write a post about being injured. Ultimately, however, I think I will likely give such a post a miss. I will say that being a runner and having both post concussion syndrome and a broken and battered tailbone was a terrible combination which involved an extended recovery period. Truth be told, I am still recovering from these injuries. I am now able to run, but I spent many weeks over the winter and spring watching the backs of my friends as they ran off into the distance. This recovery period was one of the loneliest and most frustrating periods I have experienced in recent memory. (Then again, my memory is pretty short and often punctuated with gaps, given my recent head injury.) I am glad to be back running. I do not want to relive that injury period and so I have decided not to write a post about being injured. My advice about how to manage injuries? Prevention is the best cure. Don't get injured.

Now, onto more important matters: what have we been doing for the past six months? The answer is quite simply being awesome and awesomely modest, as usual.

Let me start with by telling you about JaJa's accomplishments. JaJa set out to run her first marathon this year. Her training included running Around the Bay. The ATB (as we runners in the "know" call Around the Bay) is North America's oldest road race. Yes, it is older than the Boston marathon. The ATB is a 30K race around "the Bay", which includes a run up the Niagara Escarpment. I'm not sure anyone told JaJa about the "up the Escarpment" part of the run. But nevertheless, she flew through the race and represented the Go Girls well, as per the usual. She finished in a blazing 3:05:35.

In early May, JaJa ran the Mississauga Marathon. This was her first marathon and she completed it in 4:06:36! She finished third in her age category and she qualified for Boston! And she did it all while looking like she was merely going for a walk in the park. Congratulations, JaJa!

Isn't she lovely?

JaJa tells us that the end of the marathon included a few hills (unexpected!) and rain. JaJa's hard work and dedicated training clearly paid off. We are looking forward to watching JaJa set and exceed her goals going forward.

When we weren't running, we were studying and/or writing papers. Or at least Joanna and Mariana were. We are very proud to announce that Joanna was accepted into the Harvard LLM program and that Mariana received tenure this spring! They truly are a Dynamic Duo.

J and M...they're most than just runners! They're scholars, too! Neato!

Now, truthfully, the Go Girls are a pretty intellectual bunch. (One might occasionally say that they are too intellectual for their own good, but I digress.) One ongoing topic of debate this spring has been our policy on aliens and zombies. (Yes, we have policies on things like aliens and zombies. Don't all running groups?) We seemed to have reached consensus that it is appropriate to shoot to kill when dealing with zombies, but the question of how to deal with aliens has not been resolved. Aliens: shoot first and ask questions later? Or is that too extreme an approach? We'll be publishing our official policies on these matters soon. And you thought we were just about hydration.

Karen, our bad-ass girly-girl, also had some major accomplishments this winter and spring. First, she ran her first half-marathon! Karen and her sister-in-law, AnneMarie, completed the Burlington Chilly Half on a frosty day in early March. Karen finished in 2:06:08, notwithstanding the cold and one bathroom break.

Karen, evidently glad to be done her first 21.1! Happy First Half-Marathon, K-Mac!

A friend, Danielle, and I (T.) went to cheer Karen on and to offer support. We added a touch of dignity to the event. Or at least I think we did.

A dignified event deserves a dignified celebration.

Karen also completed the Ride to Conquer Cancer in June. She cycled a total of 200 miles over two days. She rode from Toronto to Ancaster and then (after spending a night in a tent with a total stranger at the Ride's camp) she cycled from Ancaster to Niagara Falls.

I (T.) also participated in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, but my ride was considerably more comfortable than Karen's: once again, I drove a big ol' Penske truck as a crew member. I was part of the Gear Crew. We moved approximately 10,000 pieces of luggage -- twice -- over the course of the weekend. I may not have cycled, but believe me, I worked hard!

In case you are wondering, this is how T "works" hard...

In other news, Carol's daughter was married in July in Scotland. Some of us had the great pleasure of meeting Carol's daughter and celebrating with her and with Carol here in Toronto. We are delighted to extend our congratulations!

Meanwhile, Joanne became a true Upper Canadian by purchasing a cottage. We are happy for her, but only because she promised that we could come over for a weekend at the cottage. Remember that, Joanne?!

Finally, the Go Girls as a group have attended a number of races, including the Markham Women's 5K and the GTAA Runway Run. Boy did we have fun! (Okay, I did not have so much fun at the Markham race because I had had dental surgery two days prior to the race, but I did enjoy watching the Girls do their warm ups!!!) I promise to post some photos soon as evidence of our presence at these events.

In the meantime, folks, this is all the news that is fit to print...and then some!