Training Log Archive: O9Man

Event: Eco-Endurance Challenge
 

First half of the E2C.

Warming up for a stretching session.

Strength I guess? Stretched out, trying to stay loose for the weekend.

Staying loose and working the dog... and breaking the shoes in.

Tried out the new Crossmax. Initial impression was good!

Tried out the new Wings too... also good.

Diving for buoys again. Actually got out of breath a few times... did all the diving at once this time and I was lugging up a lot of heavy stuff, it was not easy!

Lifting 850 lbs of scrap steel for recycling... $66 baby!

And fuck you Troy, this is a benchmark for me to reference when I can't move later in the week!

Nice ride through Shubie and then Spider Lake.

I think I missed some entries last week. Meh.

Event: Pre-E2C
 

First draft of race report...


Team Trail Shop Takes Second at the Pre-E2C

Mother nature supplied some serious 'tough guy' and 'tough girl' points on Sunday by means of torrential rain and crippling wind. Shawn Taylor and Andrew Lowery of Team Trail Shop combine for over twenty years and in excess of 100 races worth of experience, yet neither paid heed to weather forecasts and were grossly unprepared for the annual four hour Pre-E2C. Shivering on the start line they were glad to start fast heading for the northern half of the course. Though strategic planning led to a slight detour to collect CP8 before heading north. Lowery commented "It was only about 100 m extra distance, and the topography looked challenging for CP8, we felt it was better to get it early." Taylor continued on the strategic element "plus it gave us a hidden advantage over any teams we'd be in sight of on the northern portion of the course, they wouldn't know we've got the first control on the southern half."

CPs 8, 5, 6 and 4 were collected with only a few minutes worth of fussing for CP6 at a false intersection. The dense network of trails at CP1 led to about 10 minutes lost time. No doubt with great frustration the duo found that they were within 100 m of the control on their first approach, but had overestimated their distance travelled.

Heading east to CPs 2, 3 and 7 was when the cold began to have it's way with Team Trail Shop. At each crest the exposure was brutal, and as luck would have it the rain hit it's hardest once they made it to the main road. Taylor had to keep moving to keep the cold away, but the effort was fast approaching uselessness. CPs were collected 7, 3 and then 2 without any trouble, and the three teams whom were caught at CPs 4 and 1 were caught again. Now all the boys had to do was run ~3.0 km south to the southern half of the course. ~3.0 km felt more like 30 km. Lowery had been ready to donate his rain coat the the freezing Taylor, but now he too was suffering from the early effects of hypothermia. Blood flow to the extremities had been reduced, and the legs were lethargic and stiff. Neither men had much use of their fingers.

CP9 was collected easily enough, but even at reduced speed they passed CP10, but they could get it on the way back. There was some concern about finding the right 'indistinct trail' for CP14, but it was found right away and the control was collected in no time. That left only CPs 12 and 13. With some quick math it was determined that they had the time to collect them, but just barely. Back on the main road, Lowery started cramping. It's no secret that Lowery and Taylor are much better suited team-mates on longer races since Shawn is a considerably faster runner even after a winter off his feet with a high ankle sprain. As always, Taylor showed his experience by pushing just enough to bring Lowery to the brink of agony before allowing some reprieve. Lowery pushed (all be it slowly) through and the two collected CP12 with no trouble. Just prior to CP 12 they met the eventual winners Mark and Dave who had about a 10 minute lead. The wind and rain picked up again, fortunately propelling them up the hill to CP13, but unfortunately the wind was so strong that running back downhill was much more difficult that going up! Bad cramps became worst cramps for Lowery, but the duo continued north and collected CP10 as planned and rolled into the finish barely functional on account of the cold with four minutes to spare missing only CP11, a low value control that wouldn't have changed their placing.

Well done Team Trail Shop on their first podium of 2011!

C • ` 3

Ankle is fine, but the Lowery home cold finally settled in on old dad. Was out of bed for only 4 hours yesterday to attend my sister's birthday. Had to go to work for an important meeting today.

Need lots of sleep, but I'm thinking of trying to get a short run or spin in tonight anyway.

Worked some new problems. Success with a couple older ones. Sprained ankle on a fall. Awesome. Hoping it's not worthy of a red training time highlight...

Didn't do shit today. Not sure why, but I'm covered in bruises.

Another day bouldering with the new competition problems... had a great day! When we first started climbing again we were lucky to get one of the 30 some problems, now were probably close to half!

My fingers hurt though.

Won game three to take the Ice Men Cup! Awwwwwwwwwwwww-Yeaaaaa!

Great session bouldering! Nabbed some difficult problems.

Sick day... for Bo. Hung out with the little guy all day.