New Blog - The Cardio Canadian

Thanks to everyone who checked out my first attempt at blogging, 'Palms & Pints', over the last 2.5 years. I know it wasn't many, but I am appreciative none the less.

I learned so much about the world of travel blogging, specifically that there are many great bloggers out there that travel constantly and/or bring something unique to the community. I felt by only taking 2 or 3 trips a year I just didn't have consistent enough content nor did I have an interesting enough niche to really develop the blog the way I originally planned.

With that said, I have decided to take a second crack at it with a more focused blog on something that is a part of my daily life... outdoor fitness.

'The Cardio Canadian' will chronicle my running, hiking, cycling, kayaking adventures and more. It will feature discussion & reviews of fitness sites, apps and wearables, it will detail my outdoor exploration and fitness year-round, and of course will include a large travel focus whenever I am abroad.

You can check out the new blog here
My related Instagram can be followed here

Thanks again!
Mike

Running Review: Virginia Beach Boardwalk

A few weeks back I had the chance to visit Virginia Beach with my wife, young daughter Florence and some extended family. As I outlined in my previous posting, the trip was fantastic! A huge part of that trip (and really anywhere I go these days) was the running. Virginia Beach offers a fantastic cardio experience for runners of all abilities.

The VB Boardwalk is 4.5km long (about 3 miles) from end to end stretching from 40th Street at the north end to just below 2nd Street, Rudee Inlet and Grommet Island Park to the south. The west side of the route is flanked by various hotels, condos and restaurants while the east side provides a beautiful view of the beach and mighty Atlantic. Each end of the boardwalk provides a small loop to turn around and head the opposite way.

The boardwalk on a fantastic cloudless day

A nice thing about the boardwalk you will notice right off the bat is the unique paths for pedestrian and cyclist traffic. This is not just a painted line down the middle of the concrete, but two distinct, separated lanes. This assists with congestion, especially during the high season. That being said I would still recommend getting your running in prior to 9am for the benefit of smaller crowds as well as avoiding the worst of the Virginia summer sun.

A view of the separate bike path in front of King Neptune

The boardwalk has a couple of features which help you visualize your location and progress during your run. Every street from 2nd to 40th is marked by a large sign where the boardwalk steps down to the beach, so if you get tired of counting kilometers you can count streets! Secondly, sitting at roughly the 3/4 mark of the boardwalk at 30th street is the mighty statue of King Neptune, the crown jewel in the Virginia Beach experience.

Sign marking 22nd street

The mighty god of the sea

In addition to running on the boardwalk, you also have the option of stepping into the sand and running directly on the beach. I did this for the first time in Punta Cana, and really there is nothing quite like a morning run admiring the waves, enjoying the breeze and having the surf gently (or not so gently) lap against your feet. If you are new to beach running you will surely feel some tightness or moderate discomfort in your shins or ankles the next day as your body adapts to using those additional stabilizing muscles.

The wide open, soft sand beach!

Nothing quite like this feeling

Unlike Punta Cana or Miami, there are no fresh young coconuts available for your post-run electrolytes so be sure to pick up a few cans of coconut water before hand. Coco Joy is a fantastic tasting brand I discovered while in Virginia Beach at the local Target. As is the case with many popular tourist destinations, there are several Strava segments available on the main strip for you to see how you stack up!

Post-run selfie with the waves and fishing pier behind me

Pro Tip: When you switch from boardwalk running to the beach, leave your shoes and socks by one of the tall lifeguard chairs. These are also marked based on street number so they are very easy to find again after your run.

Mike @ Palms & Pints
@palmsandpints

Running Review: Lake Ontario Waterfront

Running in my southwest Mississauga neighbourhood (west of Toronto) is something I have done regularly for 3 years now. I had a couple of suburban routes ranging from 6 -10km which I would rotate through depending on the length of run I was looking for. All of these routes had one thing in common… they were boring! A mix of residential, commercial and industrial roads designed to be endured more than enjoyed.  

This year I have been pushing closer to a half-marathon distance, running lengths of 12, 15 and even 18km when I’m feeling up to it. This extra distance has expanded my running radius from the neighbourhood streets to the banks of Lake Ontario.

As boasted in an earlier post, I have run in some pretty cool coastal locations such as Miami Beach, Punta Cana & Malta. While I’m not about to compare residential Lake Ontario to any of these world class destinations, I will say I have been amazed with the beautiful views and serene atmosphere of the waterfront running offered right in my own neck of the woods.

Our neighbourhood of Clarkson sits smack in the middle of two affluent lakeside communities in the Greater Toronto Area... Oakville & Port Credit. Oakville offers runners over half a dozen beautiful waterfront expanses, from the tiny Arkendo Park to the bustling beach at Coronation Park. Perhaps my favorite location in Oakville is the expertly landscaped Gairloch Gardens, complete with its own palm tree in the summer! To the east there is Port Credit with its action packed harbour, plethora of restaurants and cafes and its pier extending out from the mouth of the Credit River into Lake Ontario.

In between these two locations is Rattray Marsh Conservation Area. A protected wetland with walking/hiking/running trails leading through a forested marsh and ending with a fantastic view of the lake.

It turns out you don’t have to travel to Europe or the Caribbean to experience the zen of running with the calming waves and vastness of open water. Here are a few of my favorite photographs of runs alongside underappreciated Lake Ontario!

It's not quite powdery white beach sand, but it sure beats a busy road.

Atlantic Ocean-like waves on a windy day!

The entrance to beautiful Gairloch Gardens in Oakville.

Ahh the majestic palm tree... first time I have seen one in Ontario!

A ship and the Toronto skyline in the distance.

Port Credit - the end of the pier

Mike @ Palms & Pints
@palmsandpints

Why I Love Running the South Beach Boardwalk

Earlier this summer I was in South Florida to attend the 2015 NHL Draft. Being the beach lover that I am, I spent a large chunk of my time at world famous South Beach.

For those who like to stay active while on vacation, the South Beach boardwalk is a fantastic place to work some cardio into your routine away from home.

A great shot of the wooden portion of the boardwalk - Source: http://goo.gl/tFx1YE

The path runs for miles, switching between pavement and a traditional wooden boardwalk. It weaves through the palm-studded parkland separating the SoBe businesses on Ocean Drive from the sand and surf. It passes all of the ritzy mega-resorts that most of us would not be able to afford to stay at (but hey, it’s nice to take a peek!). You will find the boardwalk is very runner (and cyclist) friendly as running is one of the most popular things to do for the health-conscious locals and visitors alike. With the sun shining and the ocean scent in the air, there is really no better setting for burning those extra mojito calories.

Coming home from a great day at the beach

With all that said - Florida is hot, especially in the summer. So make sure you listen to your body and do not push yourself too hard when the humidity is stifling. Running in the (relatively) cooler fall and winter months is safer, but if you can handle the heat you always have the beautiful and refreshing Atlantic ocean waiting to cool your sweat-soaked skin when you finish. My other favorite post-run tradition on the beach is to grab a fresh young coconut from a street vendor by the boardwalk and re-hydrate on those natural electrolytes.

Regardless of where you are, running is awesome when traveling – here’s why:

-A solid run shortly after arriving overseas can help you sleep well at night and thus more quickly beat the dreaded jetlag.  

-Running in a new city gives you an instant lay of the land and can help you identify areas you would like to explore later in your trip.

-Traveling typically involves a much less healthy diet than at home. There is no better way to counteract these extra calories and lessen the guilt at that night’s meal.

-Often the combination of a long flight/drive, changes in diet & new schedule can cause a bit of a “back up” if you know what I’m getting at. Running is a great way to help keep the system flowing.   

-For those who track runs with tools such as Strava, it’s fun to see how your time stacks up against others in famous locations such as New York’s Central Park or the Las Vegas Strip.

-If you are a regular runner, it’s great to come back home without feeling as if you've abandoned your training schedule and set yourself back. 

--

If this post interests you, check out my earlier article about a running tour I took in Barcelona, Spain.

Mike @ Palms & Pints

@palmsandpints

Go! Running Tours Barcelona

After arranging my flight into Barcelona to join my wife who had earlier gone over on business, I knew I would have one solo morning to kill while she was still in company meetings. I was looking for something active that would help me beat the jet lag but at the same time give me a quick introduction to the sights Barcelona has to offer. Initially I was thinking about a bike tour, but I noticed that Go! Running Tours Barcelona was one of the top rated activities in the city according to TripAdvisor. As I am an avid runner at home, this seemed like a fantastic option for Day 2 (my first full day) in Europe.

Go! Running Tours Barcelona offers several different options which vary in length, route, private vs group etc. I chose the 10K Old Town private run. I initially found the cost a little steep at 60 euro, but when you consider that it is essentially a private tour guide as well as a private photographer the price-point ends up being very fair for the service offered. I booked my run for 8am which was a little early, but provided some open space as well as the exciting backdrop of a city just coming to life for the day. 

My guide Robin was awesome! We met at the convenient Plaça de Catalunya (they offer to meet at your hotel, but mine was a little too far out of the way for the tour so this central location was chosen). After a quick meet and greet we were off, with Robin allowing me to set the pace while he ran alongside with his pole-mounted GoPro camera in hand. For the next 2.5 hours we would explore much of Barcelona’s historic Old Town. Main stops included Plaça Reial, El Raval, Las Ramblas, Palau Güell, Parc de la Ciutadella, Santa Maria del Mar and many more. 

Our total time on the move was about half of the 2.5 hour excursion and the rest of the time was spent standing in/around the aforementioned sights while Robin provided both factual historic information as well as humorous personal commentary. Of particular interest to me was the history behind the Estelada flag that I saw all over the city. In all we ended up covering just under 12.5K, so even more than the 10K that was paid for. In my remaining days in Barcelona I was able to use this base knowledge of the city to further explore with my wife.

The day after the run Robin emailed me over 70 excellent photos as well as a map of our route. He also offered for me to further contact him by email at any time later in the trip or even down the road if I had any questions about Barcelona.

I would highly recommend Go! Running Tours Barcelona for both casual and serious runners who want to keep up their cardio abroad while receiving an excellent jumpstart on their city sightseeing. Robin is a real pro and a great ambassador for his city. Here are some of my favorite shots from the run:

Meeting up with Robin for the run!

El Raval Cat

Picking up speed through the old hospital

Las Ramblas in the morning, before the crowds

Heading for the docks

Santa Maria del Mar - The "People's Church"

Fountain in Parc de la Ciutadella

Pretending we are running the Barcelona Marathon through the Arch

Here is the Go! Running Tours Barcelona website.

Mike & Palms & Pints
@palmsandpints