Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

15.5

Trail Culture run
I got put in charge of the Caffeinated group. Only one person joined me. We were well matched. I was breathing hard to provide a good fast-group pace, and could hear him breathing the same; we were both good with it.
Ran Soft Yogurt, Devonian Drop, Orchid, EKG, Artistic Merit (staying high and traversing rather than dropping down Long Road to Ruin), down Blue Coal Chutes, up and across Long Road to Ruin, then jumped over to Baby Beluga back toward the daylodge where we picked up Dipped Cone to get to the parking lot in a total time of 57:30, perfectly avoiding any time penalties (the goal was one hour), unlike the other group leaders ;)
Then over to Tom and Heather's for a social and beer and snacks on their back deck and got to catch up with two Calgary folks I know who ran Western States, and heard their tales and struggles.

avg cadence 83 spm

C • Fun run! 2

Lake Minnewanka trail to the warden cabin and back, with Jenna, Caeli and Simon Lee.
Zero hikers past the bridge, probably because of the campground closures and all of the bear warnings. Only 3 pairs of bikers returning as we were heading in, and no one on the trail on the way back until we got to the bridge again.
Pushed a fast hard pace on the way to the cabin because this trail is fun to rip fast. Bike felt noodle-y/flexy. Took a nice long break on the beach by the cabin and didn't feel quite as strong on the way back. So nice to not encounter anyone on the return trip. Tried a different line down the rock after the bridge, looking for more challenge and succeeded in unintentionally dropping my front wheel into the worst tire trap there was. The front suspension did a big vertical pogo and I just managed to come out of it alive. At least I now know that I can ride any line off that rock including the very worst one, and still survive.
Probably my least busy ride on that trail. I think "bear scare" is now my favourite trail condition...
A hot day... jumped into Lake Minnewanka off the dock and it felt great.
Nice to get a ride in on this trail just before it closes to bikes for the summer.

Headed to the Nordic Centre with Carbon and Jenn but met up and tagged along with Greg and his buddy Andrew who were pre-riding the course for XCO Nationals. Got worked for the next couple of hours trying to keep up with these two xc racers but was matching the one guy later on the second lap as he faded. A couple of the harder technical drops are not the kind of thing I would want to be rushed through with other racers on my tail. I have ridden Eye Dropper before and bottomed out my suspension with a hard clunk; decided not to do it again. I haven't ridden Organ Donor and don't think I want to go off the 1-foot step in the middle of such a steep slope. These sections have been in previous races and even had to be removed after two bone-breaking crashes. That said, only the pros/elite will have to do the A-lines I think. The new B-lines looked fine. Thanks to hosting this race, they have built a couple new sections of trail (including a cool pump track where I expect some of the pros will show off some big air) and an over/under feature that will be permanent.

Stanley Glacier trail with our own Group of Seven. Looked awesome in all of our Canada gear.
Hiked past the end of the maintained trail, up to the glacier, then had some good boot ski glisading on the way down.

15.3

Beer Mile with Bow Valley Dirtbags
Brought non-alcoholic beer because I didn't want 4 beers in me. I soon realized that the carbonization and the volume of liquid in the belly are the real challenge, so I should do it again with real beers just to prove I can. Had decent drinking times and decent running, finished third in 9 minutes 19 seconds. Batgirl Slice was top female and second overall at about 9 minutes, and also won best costume.

Group ride with Rebound Cycle. Out on Lowline and back on Midline. Near the end of the ride we got caught by the rain and got soaked. Rode down a wet log unexpectedly but it seemed like no big deal now that I have West Coast skills :)