The Toronto Tourist Run (13.7km)

If you’re looking for a good run across Toronto, here’s one I did last Sunday that should function as our “Welcome to Toronto” invitation for the fit and visiting. It’s a loop run but start it wherever you want, I put pedal to pavement beginning at the foot of Queen and Roncesvalles.

In running across the nearly 14km, I count upwards to  17  different attractions/districts of Toronto west of Yonge mentioned blow and pictured above and even though I’ve lived here my whole life felt enriched by the amount of new stuff I noticed:

- starting over the Pedestrian bridge over the Gardiner, stop for a few brief seconds and peer at the cityscape and the speeding cars coming toward you below

- manage to get over the bridge, and you’ll see the famous Palais Royale - a refurbished dance hall and music house since 1932

- continue past the Boulevard Club and Argonaut Rowing Club on the somewhat improved Martin Goodman portion of the Waterfront Trail

- keep following past Ontario Place, the Molson Amphitheatre, The Exhibition and Windshare’s 91 metre high windmill

- continue to Battery Park past the 50 tonne granite Inukshuk dedicated by Pope John Paul II

- watch the slumbering ducks and boats in summer around Coronation Park and HMCS York

- sniff out for signs of civilization as you see some Porter airplanes take off from the controversial Island airport and the houses bordering Little Norway Park

- now you’re on Queen’s Quay - a beehive of activity in Summer (not so much in winter)  - peer out onto Lake Ontario sihouetted by Toronto’s Music Garden, HTO park, Power Plant, Harbourfront Centre and Queen Quay terminal - we’re finally getting this part of the city developed, beautified and people living down here

- make a sharp left turn at the foot of Bay St. at the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle and where the ferries shuttle passengers and tourists over to Ward Island, Centre Island and Hanlon’s Point

- continue up Bay under the Gardiner past the Air Canada Centre - home to professional sports teams - the Maple Leafs, Raptors and Rock  since 1999, a building framed by our previous post office art deco facades

- up Bay, you will find more money per square foot than anywhere else in Canada, for the narcissist like myself - watch your jogging stride in the gold plated windows of the Royal Bank plaza, take in the history of Union Station and continue up Wellington

- make a left and lumber down Wellington Street and stroll past our glassed in music hall - The Roy Thomson Centre and the back of CBC’s massive building

- glimpse a quick left down John St. and peek at the Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome) then veer right and head up John St. to spot the centre of Toronto’s night life and music culture at Queen - personified by the CityTV building at Queen St.

- make a left and feel like you’re doing an aerobic shopping trip through the chains and occasional independents of Queen West - as well as my favourite musci venue The Horseshoe and The Rivoli

- keep moving along Queen to the gentrifying artsy part Queen West West and stride past the magnificently renovated Drake and Gladstone hotels as well as fitness outposts Downward Dog Yoga, fresh for Life, the CAMH sprawling grounds and Trinity Bellwoods park

- keep pushing it under the Queen and Dufferin bridge to a more earthy crustier Parkdale - and spot the occasional new gallery, household/art studio and antique place that dots itself along the improving strip

- finish up at what once the southern outpost of the heartland of Polish and Ukrainian Toronto at Queen & Roncesvalles - take your choice of brunch/coffee meccas of the west end - Mitzi’s, Easy or Cherry Bomb and relax in the small parkette Beaty park overlooking Sunnyside Beach and across from the TTC stockyards…you deserve it.

Here’s  a mapped out description of the run - best to complete over the weekend and off peak season (summer days) - given the fight with pedestrians for space across half the run, enjoy:

The Generation Go High Park Scamper 7.14km

A misty Christmas day and suffering from some cabin fever between two Christmas parties - what better time for a run.

Thank goodness for John Howard, Toronto’s first city planner, who protected High Park, Toronto’s 400 acre urban green oasis from the developer’s crane rising up around the city’s west end- it’s full of scenic and undiscovered spots. And it’s also one of my fave runs. Even on a damp miserable Christmas day, I was accompanied by more than a few, cheery joggers, itinerant walkers, adventuresome dog walkers, shinny players and families sneaking out for a fresh air break.

In an attempt to retrace the Harry’s Spring Run (scheduled for Saturday, April 3rd, 2010) , we trailblazed our own quick jaunt into High Park that we’ll now break up into 9 parts for your convenience:

The Downhill Start - start at the top of Spring Road hill near the main north entrance to High Park - enjoy the road that snakes through the east side of the park, plenty of dog lovers here just don’t jog alone here late at night

The Deerpen Climb - thighs aching, breath getting short…this is one of two big climbs you’ll be making today - admire the yaks, bison,llamas, goats and sheep as they watch with idle amusement - it smells like a farm too - weird I know, but I love that hay-tinged dung smell

The Loop East Side - catch a breath and travel along High Park’s main artery road and wonder about the hordes of people that descend on the park’s theatre, baseball diamonds, swimming pool, concessions stands and tennis courts and chuckle as parents take their kids out for their very first skate

The Loop West Side - this one is a quickie downhill, just watch for cars who zoom into the park not realizing the 20km per hour speed limit, in summer, be prepared to be gawked at as the park tram guides tourists, families and more sedentary people

Grenadier Pond - easily the most scenic part of the park - admire the biggest floral Maple Leaf this side of Ottawa, the grizzled fishers casting lines from the outcropping deck and romantic strollers, oblivious to the history and the nature conservancy of this beautiful area

The Southern Queensway Bend - listen to the din of cars from the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard to the south as Canada Geese fly overhead, dutifully obey or astutely ignore your only traffic light on this entire run and proceed back onto a path that brings you back into the bucolic charm of the park

The Playground Garden Trail - travel along the winding path as its enveloped on both sides by big trees, spot the ducks in the reclaimed pools to the right and ponder the usually busy Adventure Playground and it’s gothic turrets, swings, slides and apparati. Note, in a pinch - grab a water from the hot dog vendor that usually birddogs outside of the playground entrance

The Sprng Road Climb - a gradually undulating climb followed by a mean hill to finish off. This is usually the ending of most organized runs in the park and usually espouses cheers. This time, only chriping dogs greet me. Oh well, I know I accompished somethingf.

The Sprint Bloor West Finale - you may be breathless from the hill or surrounding, but civilization and Bloor West awaits only a couple of hundred metres ahead, say hi to the police cars that usually perch at the front entrance of the park , usually waiting their next emergency call and feel guilt-free about the fresh air and scenery you’ve just stolen from the Toronto’s top park.

And for the Apres Run - here are our top 5 choices for after-run fun…

- two Starbucks situate just 5-10 minute walk or a 1-2 minute drive west of the park. Latte it up! or this time of year, a hot chocolate or cider might do!

- Bloor West is filled with great neighbourhood bars, grab a pint at the Swan and Firkin, a burger and ale at the English Griffin or a lager and chat at Mackenzies. Sure it’s two steps forwards, 1 step back fitness wise - but you have to have fun sometime.

- Shoes are down to a threadbare sole? Need a gear pick me up? Both Running Room and New Balance are along Bloor West as well..thankfully, Running Room also has outlined 38 runs that their club treks through year round

- Cross training is your thing - stroll past Wheels of Bloor for the sick looking Cervelos in the window, or RPM Spinning and Gravity Studio for a boutique gym and community of Bloor West activities.

- The refurbished Grenadier Cafe offers up good breakfast, lunch and snack fare situated right in the middle of the park (on the southern loop of the main road), to the west of the park - Sunset Grill offers up a hearty breakfast, Cobb’s Bread and Bread and Roses have great pastries and Dr. Generosity and Villa have a great dinner menu for the showered up and redressed - grab a book from the theatre-now-turned local Chapters and settle back for the rest of the day west end style.

From time-to-time, we’ll be documenting our runs, rides, paddles, hikes and urban adventures, let us know if you’d be interested in submitted your own traipses through the city at chiefsherpa@gengo.ca

Generation Go: Gear And Things- REI

Courtesy of alpe-rjavina.si

Marmot Frontside 3-in-1 Jacket: This is a great waterproof and breathable snowboard coat.  Its insulating, removable fleece liner jacket provides extra warmth on cold days. Price is $275.00.

North Face Nuptse: The warm Nuptse jacket from the North Face can be worn on its own in cold, dry conditions or as a layer of warmth under a waterproof shell in wet weather. This down jacket retails for $199.00.

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Generation Go Neighbourhoods: The Junction

Courtesy of IT Ceremony on Flickr

The Junction is one of Toronto’s best hidden gems.  In past years it has had a reputation for being dirty and under developed.  But Generation Go dug deep and we noticed this area has tons of stuff to see and do and is quite developed.  Here are our top picks for the best of The Junction.

Boulderz Climbing Centre: Located at 1444 Dupont Street, Boulberz is the place to be if you like rock climbing.  They have a really decent selection of high wall options as well as some good boulder runs.  The facility is clean and well maintained. They offer classes to beginners and professionals.

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Generation Go: Skating Rink Hunt

Courtesy of www.city.whitehorse.yk

With the snowfall we just had last night, it’s only a matter of time before we are all skating on our favourite outdoor rinks.  Here are Generation Go’s top 10 picks this week focusing on Toronto East.  Keep Active!

Christie Pits Park:                          779 Crawford Street

Dieppe Park:                                   455 Cosburn Avenue

Dufferin Grove:                                875 Dufferin Street

Greenwood:                                    150 Greenwood Avenue

Harry Gairey:                                   707 Dundas West

Kew Gardens:                                 2075 Queen Street East

Nathan Phillips Square:               100 Queen Street West

Ramsden Park:                              1020 Yonge Street

Riverdale Park East:                      550 Broadview Avenue

Trinity Bellwoods:                           790 Queen West

Generation Go This Week: Dec 7th - Dec 13th, 2009

Courtesy of thedctraveler.com

DJ SK8 Nights at Harbourfront Centre: Bring your whole family down to the Natrel rink for a free family skate.  The event runs Saturday’s beginning at 8pm.  The location of the event is at 235 Queens Quay West.

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Generation Go: Skating Rink Hunt

Courtesy of Kevin Moloney/Getty Images

Generation Go is back with our top 10 skating rink picks for different areas in Toronto.  This week’s neighbourhood pick is Etobicoke/York District.  Although it has not snowed yet, we know outdoor skating is just around the corner!

Buttonwood:                 30 Mulham Place

Giovanni Caboto:          1369 St. Clair Avenue West

High Park:                    1873 Bloor Street West

Humber Valley:             50 Angelsey Boulevard

Lambton-Kingsway:     37 Marquis Avenue

Martingrove:                 400 Martin Grove Avenue

Prince of Wales:           1 Third Street

Queensway:                  8 Avon Park Drive

Rennie Park:                 1 Rennie Terrace

Rivercrest:                    30 Harefield Drive

Generation Go This Week: Nov 30th - Dec 6th, 2009

Courtesy of Mark Goldhaber

Street Dance Academy Performance:  This Saturday between noon and 3pm you can catch a great stage performed dance off.  This family event is free for all who wish to watch The Street Dance Academy in action, and maybe learn a few moves themselves. A 30 minute presentation is held on stage, followed by several free dance workshops for kids. Participants will be shown a number of easy street-dance moves, from hip-hop to pop and lock and more. Come by the Harbourfront Centre and enjoy.

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Generation Go: Gear And Things- Just Hockey Toronto

Reebok Talon Pump Skate: This skate provides players with a nice light-weight skate with the added stability of the pump throughout the ankle area. The Talon also comes with an anatomically designed felt tongue for that comfort fit with a microfibre wicking liner.  The Price is $279.99

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Generation Go: Skating Rink Hunt

Courtesy of Ndesh on Flickr

To ensure you stay active this winter, Generation Go is starting our outdoor skating rink hunt. Each week until Christmas we will be posting the top 10 outdoor skating rinks in various Toronto areas. This week’s area is North York.  Keep Active!

Broadlands Rink: 19 Castlegrove Boulevard

Eglinton Park: 200 Eglinton Avenue West

Fountainhead Rink: 445 Sentinel Road

Glen Long Rink: 35 Glen Long Avenue

Irving W. Chapley Rink: 205 Wilmington Avenue

Ledbury Rink: 146 Ledbury Street

Memorial Park: 340 Chaplin Crescent

Mel Lastman Square Rink: 5100 Yonge Street

North Toronto Memorial CC: 200 Eglinton Avenue West

Otter Creek: 140 Cheritan Avenue