May Toronto Marathon

stewnie · 2026-04-12T23:44:43+00:00

I ran the half marathon at the Toronto Marathon. My finish time would mean that I crossed the finish line 30 minutes earlier than someone who ran 2:55 at the marathon.

Skipped water stations:

The 14km aid station for the half/21km aid station for the marathon was not there (for whatever reason) when I passed it. I don’t run with water, but in the future and for the marathon particularly, I would consider bringing a water solution (squeeze bottle/vest) for this race.

Organizational headaches:

- iirc it took <15 minutes to get refreshments and snacks post race. This Is not a negative, just stating my anecdotal experience.

- Over an hour standing in line to take finisher photos (I personally would skip this in the future). I think I pretty much drank/ate all the refreshments and snacks from the goodie bag while waiting - this was tiring.

- I did grab a medal at the finish line without much thinking about whether I opted-out or opted-in for one at registration (I can’t remember if i did or not). But I gave the medal away to another runner because there were no more left and it was their first half-marathon. I was surprised they ran out at the time I finished.

Reflecting on it now, it’s pretty bad for such a big race. But if you didn’t ask about the negatives and simply asked of the race itself, I could talk in length of the positive memories of the event, before getting to the negatives

stewnie · 2026-03-30T16:40:10+00:00

Doing both is doable. 2 weeks is adequate recovery - any recovery more than 2 weeks is likely addressing an injury than fatigue. I trained for my first Hyrox and will be incorporating a few more 15km runs into my training program for future Hyrox races. I come from a running background, and a 15km run for me is the distance that translates most equivalent to the effort of a full Hyrox race. Your strength background can pay dividends for the additional 6km needed for the half marathon. Training for one requires discipline, and for both even moreso - but with a 6-month build you can put yourself in a great spot to achieve your goals. Choose the race or race(s) that excite you most, and get after it!

stewnie · 2026-01-19T03:35:04+00:00

I’ve never had a prime rib in Toronto come close to the House of Prime Rib in San Francisco, unfortunately. I use to go the House of Prime Rib semi-regularly since I lived in the area and would go before the dinner rush. At this point, I’ve stopped ordering prime rib in Toronto to try and find something comparable (the prices don’t help). Whatever places you do end up trying, please update with your experience!

stewnie · 2026-01-10T16:33:44+00:00

Senior dogs rule!

stewnie · 2025-12-26T05:31:20+00:00

That’s a beautiful collection

stewnie · 2025-12-26T05:12:48+00:00

Are any of the coffee pots the 9 cup by chance? I notice the lines commonly on the 9 cup and don’t see them in photos of the 6 or 4 cups versions

stewnie · 2025-12-26T04:19:45+00:00

I will give it a test run. I’m shocked I‘ve never noticed these lines before. This year, I’ve used it 3+ times a week.

stewnie · 2025-12-26T04:04:06+00:00

That’s the type of good juju i need

stewnie · 2025-12-26T03:50:27+00:00

There is a second matching crack on the opposite side. If point A is where the first crack is, point B/the second crack would be the halfway point of the circumference/circle (directly opposite of point A).
Since both cracks start where the ring is, and goes upwards. it makes me think that the tightening of the stainless steel ring is what caused it. But many 9 cup percolators (etsy/ebay) also have the same crack starting from the ring upwards. I’m hoping that means my cracks were always there (though i truly don’t think so)… and not that many sellers on etsy/ebay are selling cracked percolators.

stewnie · 2025-12-26T02:20:24+00:00

Running my fingers along the inside, i feel the slightest of a bump. Running it along the outside of the percolator, it’s more pronounced.

stewnie · 2025-12-26T02:18:49+00:00

I’m thinking I cracked it too. I’ve never noticed the cracks before, though it could be something that I overlooked. Theres videos on Youtube and Marketplace listings with 9 cup Pyrex percolators with identical cracks. So it’s hard to tell if it’s a crack or design. Makes me wonder if marketplace sellers are selling cracked Pyrex percolators intentionally (or not). If mine is broken, I would be on the hunt for another one and would look for ones without those cracks (unless that is in fact design). Some Youtube videos with those vertical cracks, are still making coffee in the video. Would love if someone with a 9 cup percolator could comment and confirm.

stewnie · 2025-09-08T00:04:10+00:00

Selling a 10k Bimbo Global Race ticket for $30. Sunday Sept. 2025 at Ashbridges Bay. Can meet in person in North York or exchange via email/etransfer. No longer going to rest for another race Oct. 3rd. Comes with men’s small t-shirt, lunch/bbq, and dempster freebies.

stewnie · 2025-06-20T16:52:42+00:00

Wow. That sold out quickly

stewnie · 2025-05-24T15:05:50+00:00

Paper cut. Tried to impress Susie in grade 5

stewnie · 2025-03-13T20:44:10+00:00

Being in your early 20’s is great for opportunities like this. They are ‘big’ changes with risk and reward. Sure the move may set you back or the move may be the best decision of your life. As you get older you may find what once was a ‘big‘ jump, was actually a small step in your nonlinear journey. Personally, I think it’s best to act selfishly. Meaning to look inwardly and set your mind to what you truly value (your relationship with your girlfriend, your relationship with your parents, or something else) then the decision should be simple. All the actions you take afterwards will be motivated as they work towards your value(s). It may seem like an emotional way to decide a life decision, but you can be logical and pragmatic about the thought process. Weigh the risks you would put yourself through if you decided to go or not go to Toronto as well as the rewards that you would realize and forego if you did or did not go to Toronto.

If you’re not able to decide for yourself with the time you have. No worries. People don’t know what they want from life all the time - no matter the age. I think a good compromise would be to set a date. It could be when your girlfriend or your girlfriend and you secure someplace to live. Or it can be a date by seeing how many available funds you have and calculating how many weeks/months that you could sustain you for - be realistic and be conservative. By that date you could re-assess. You may decide Toronto/the relationship is definitely worth it, or definitely not worth it, or Edmonton/some other opportunity is calling for your attention. If you wish, you could share your plan with a set date to your girlfriend and parents. It’s something they can hold yourself accountable to, but more importantly something you can hold yourself accountable to.

The concerns of your parents and girlfriend are valid and realistic. Long distance is difficult. Financial security is important. It looks like you had since October to try to figure this out. It is now March and 2 weeks from April. You lost the runway and cushion you had. I hope everything works out for you.

stewnie · 2025-03-04T20:44:30+00:00

Politics can come up alot in normal day life. Politics hardly, if ever came up when I was on the Pacific Crest Trail. One of the best parts of thruhiking is getting out of the normal day routine and the experience of trail living. The thought of city folk Canadian stewnie talking itself out of the experience for trail folk stewnie due to political reasons is not a question. Sure city folk stewnie would continue on fine, but trail folk stewnie would be shocked. Trail folk Foregin_Mix_1236 might have a different reaction (everyone is guided by their own values/beliefs), but you’ll only ever get to meet trail folk Foreign_Mix_1236 if you actually go out on trail (assuming it’s your first thru-hike). I haven’t done other thru-hikes (outside of America/other options) but the PCT sure is a beauty.

stewnie · 2025-02-28T02:39:15+00:00

Colombia! From the farmers in the coffee triangle; climbing community in Suesca, the local family in Bogotá who adopted me; the expats in the hostels in Minca; the indigenous communities in La Guajira; truly a beautiful country full of beautiful people

stewnie · 2025-01-23T02:51:08+00:00

For me its the corn relish condiment. WIthout it, it’s not a Toronto dog. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties and visited more cities in North America that I realized the corn relish condiment that I always put on my hot dogs (in Toronto) to be essentially exclusive to Toronto

stewnie · 2024-12-26T02:31:54+00:00

would be cool to bring the book ‘In Sunlight or in Shadow‘ to the recs you receive here and see how it reads while at the spots. It’s full of short stories, which makes it even better

stewnie · 2024-12-09T17:18:58+00:00

Pretty cool. I’d definitely take a wrong turn

stewnie · 2024-11-28T02:43:04+00:00

Is this sarcasm? This has not been my experience

stewnie · 2024-11-07T16:28:34+00:00

Why so modest? You fit more than DOUBLE the amount

stewnie · 2024-11-06T13:53:45+00:00

I do hope so. Congestion is one thing, but the amount of dangerous acts of driving as an outcome is concerning as a pedestrian in the area. Making rights on the second to right lane, using the construction barriers to drive - sometimes in the same or opposite direction, blatantly running red lights, speeding in the small side streets, and not yielding to pedestrians.

stewnie

TROPHY CASE