Standing outside the Nike Runner’s Lounge in Toronto just before the start of the noon wave of Run Where You Are runners, I ticked off the items on my pre-race checklist.

Air Pegasus sneakers laced tight? Check.

Water bottle? Check.

Camera to record event? Check.

Camera battery for camera…umm…I should have checked the outlet in my kitchen before I left the house. And taken the battery out of the charger and put it in the camera.

But hey, it all turned out ok! That’s the nice thing about the Human Race’s Run Where You Are option – *you’re free from the tyranny of the hard-and-fast start time*!

I cycled home (a 6K distance from the Lounge), collected the rogue camera battery, and returned. Foolish mistake of the day corrected? Check!

And it was worth the extra kilometers to be at Toronto Nike Runner's Lounge today - they really did it up right. There were massages, pre- and post-race snacks, and great tunes on the speakers (although I admit I’m sliiiiightly jealous of those who ran in LA – Kanye West show? Sh’mon!).

But still. What a perfect, sunny day. And what a great route the Nike Runner’s Lounge people put together! It started with a good kilometre or so straight up Yonge street (uphill!), then west across the city on the Beltline Trail, south on through to Cedarvale Park, and back through Rosedale to the start/finish, where high fives and cupcakes awaited.

Can’t wait for the next one! And yes, yes, I’m already writing myself a note so I’ll be prepared: CHECK CAMERA FOR BATTERY.

Hangin' at the finish line


Volunteers ready to go


Everyone's a winner when there's cupcakes!


Make a hard right!


A pretty piece of the trail