Standing on the sidelines, bum hip to keep me company

I have to admit, it was tough to stand on the sidelines Saturday and watch Steve take off down Louisiana Avenue in Buffalo with about 4,000 people in the Shamrock Run while I stayed put. And it wasn't just because of the wind gusts nearly causing lift-off as I struggled to hang on to the mammoth golf umbrella Steve provided me to stay dry.

I was so looking forward to this event, to running in a race with that many people. Wow! Though the Old First Ward Shamrock Run wasn't in the nicest part of town, there was such a good a vibe to event. But instead, I had to join the few brave spectators standing in the rain and gale force winds and wait for Steve to cross the finish line without me. It was agony, weather aside.

I so wanted to run. Never is the urge to run as great as when I'm injured. And I am still injured. I can feel that I'm on the mend but it will be a few weeks yet before I start pounding the pavement again.

To make up for missing this run, I will run two races in April. In the meantime, I'm renewing the gym membership and starting swimming and cycling to keep up (or build up) my endurance in a low-impact way.

I tried jogging on the spot today, feeling a bit cocky now that the limp is subsiding, but my leg nearly gave out. So I still need a time out.

But please, keep the donations coming. It's a sure way to keep my spirits and motivation elevated.

Blown away in Buffalo

Steve getting ready at the start line.

Running for the Cats — and Dogs — took a detour this weekend after Tiffany enlisted me, her loyal husband, to run for her in the five-mile (eight-kilometre) Shamrook Run in Buffalo because she is still recovering from an injury. The run supports a community centre in the Queen City's Old First Ward ... so not only were we helping the felines, but we were also aiding a much-needed centre in a city that Tiffany and I both love. The run was typical Buffalo — windy, rainy (thankfully no snow) and a tonne of community spirit. Decked out in a Buffalo Bills touque, I managed to complete the run — thanks to the tailwinds and in spite of the headwinds — in just over 45 minutes. Not bad for a guy who hasn't run much in the past four months. And the best part (aside for helping to raise money for Tiffany's effort) was the giant corned beef sandwich I ate afterward at the community centre. Even my wife, the vegetarian, could appreciated that it was a good-looking sandwich.