Training Log Archive: Bash

The soccer association of Midlake, Ontario has addressed their concern over youth competition by removing the ball from soccer games and practice.

"We want our children to grow up learning that sport is not about competition, rather it's about using your imagination. If you imagine you're good at soccer, then, you are."

Cool, I am busy imagining that I am an awesome runner. I can't wait to see the results.

http://www.cbc.ca/thisisthat/blog/2013/09/03/to-en...

And on the flight home, guess who was featured in Enroute Magazine? This guy, whose profession is "Ultra-Endurance Athlete and TV Personality". I guess "Ph.D. in Geology" isn't even worth a mention anymore! :)

They interviewed him about travel-related things, e.g. items that are always in his carry-on, travel tips, #1 travel essential (Krazy Glue), and favourite place to unwind (Houston?? Seriously?!)

Tragic news from Tor Des Geants, the 330 km ultra that begins in Courmayeur, Italy (where CCC/UTMB runners were) the week after UTMB. The race started today, and a Chinese runner died of head injuries while descending from a pass in darkness. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined.

Kilian Jornet and Emilie Forsberg had to be rescued when weather deteriorated while they were climbing the Aiguille du Midi over the weekend. They had made it to within 50 m of the summit when they called for rescue. They had lost time on an incorrect route so they didn't finish before the bad weather, which had been forecast for several days. They had climbing gear but only light trail running clothing, and rescue officials were not pleased.

We took the cable car up there, and it was snowy and cold. If it was related to the storm that hit Geneva an hour away on Saturday night, I can vouch for how severe it was.
http://iancorless.org/2013/09/08/kilian-jornet-eme...

We drove from La Grave in the high Alps to Geneva today, and celebrated our 17th anniversary by taking a detour up Alpe d'Huez.



Each curve is numbered with the numbers decreasing as you climb, and each sign includes the name of a winner from a Tour de France Alpe d'Huez stage.





Originally, I'd thought about renting bikes to do this ride but it would be a lot easier if we had our own helmets, shoes, pedals, bike shorts, gloves, a recumbent bike for 'Bent, and a local hotel room so we wouldn't have to leave a car full of luggage, computers, etc. sitting on the street. We will make it happen on our next visit.



It was a lot of fun cheering in cyclists as they crossed the "finish". I took a few photos for groups.





Only a couple of lunch places are open there in the summer but they are packed full of happy cyclists.



One of the bike shops at the top maintains the daily chrono list.



There were lots of souvenirs that we obviously couldn't buy. I ended up getting a water bottle, figuring it's a symbol that I'd like to *try* to ride Alpe d'Huez. A jersey would be undeserved, however.



Speaking of which, I can't imagine wearing a yellow jersey either - except maybe as a joke. But they're quite popular, apparently.



One more thing to do on our next trip! :)

Today's entry is for Tour de France fans; others may get bored!

'Bent and I wanted to do a little exploring with our last couple of days in France but hadn't planned anything and wanted to stick with recovery-style activities. I reviewed some maps last night and decided it would be fun to do a road trip to see a couple of famous TdF passes, the Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez.



On the way, we stopped for lunch in La Chambre, which we learned is the starting point for Col de la Madeleine.



Here's a close-up of those flags hanging across the road. :)



We did a big climb up Col de Telegraphe (where our views were blocked by wires - go figure), then went on to Valloire, the official start of the Col du Galibier. These famous climbs are marked with detailed kilometer and altitude info. You can rent a chip from the tourist office to record your time and get added to the official "results".

http://www.savoie-mont-blanc.com/Magazine/Activite...



Here's a kilometer marker along the way.



This is the view near the top of Galibier on the north side. One camper van was parked there but we could imagine what it must be like with hundreds more parked along the route.





The top. Happy cyclists were posing by this sign.





And then down the south side toward Parc des Écrins, where the 2012 ARWC started...



Road biking has something in common with obstacle racing - obstacles.



Partway down the hill, we stopped in La Grave for the night. Here was the view from our rickety-looking balcony.



Beautiful little village.

(GPS track to follow)

Hiked from Phatty and Leanimal's place up the Veyrier to the Talabar, then up to Col de Pré Vernet for amazing views over Lake Annecy, then back down again. Cool that they can just run up a mountain if they have half an hour free for a run! Leanimal led us up as far as the Talabar, then she had to run down to get Weeanimal out of day care so Mr. and Mrs. Tiny, Teeny Tiny, 'Bent and I carried on from there. Teeny Tiny accepted a backpack ride downhill with 'Bent. Since she tends to hide from my camera, I'm starting off with a rare portrait of her from this trip (yoghurt-inspired).

Finished off the day - and our trip to Annecy - with a sunset picnic on the peak of the Semnoz, the summit where the penultimate stage of the Tour de France finished this year. Magical. When we get home, we're going to miss hanging out with so many good friends every day!

Another day in Annecy. Mr. and Mrs. Tiny and Teeny Tiny arrived. No training today!

With my legs still feeling the long run, today's 4+ hours on foot around Annecy - including some hills - counts as training. (Although I'm only logging 90 minutes.) Great to spend time with Phatty, Leanimal and Weeanimal.

(GPS track to follow.)
'Bent went running with STORM so I walked up the valley to La Praz and took the téléphérique up to La Flegère, then one level further up to L'Index. Then I hiked across to Lac Blanc since I'd been impressed by the photos Leanimal posted on the weekend. It was every bit as beautiful as I'd hoped, and lunch with hot wine was a nice treat. The trails were more rugged than I'd expected, and I dropped about 500 m on the way down to La Flegère for the ride back to La Praz. Let's hear it for trekking poles since my quads wouldn't have been ready for that otherwise!











Last full day in Chamonix. What a fantastic adventure, and so nice to share it with friends. Nice to have STORM and Browner staying with us on the eve of their departure. Tiny and I realized tonight that in the last 6 months, we've had dinner together in 3 countries, none of which is Canada.