Training Log Archive: Bash

Dontgetlost Peak-2-Peak adventure run training on the CUMIS lands in Burlington. Thanks for putting together a fun course, Pat-hectic! :)

My foot was unhappy this morning after yesterday's unexpectedly long trail run so I did the Half Enduro at a leisurely walking pace, even though I'd signed up for the longer course. I thought I was going to have to pack it in on the way to the first control, then something in my heel shifted or warmed up, and the pain was manageable after that. I took some circuitous routes to avoid climbing and descending steep slopes since that is what hurts the most.

The woods were pretty with a few colourful leaves on the trees and lots on the ground. It was a nice day to hike and cheer on kids in the ARK race. Because I had an excess of energy, I gave several impromptu navigation lessons along the way since I was travelling in a part of the pack where advice seemed to be welcomed. If I couldn't do the event for real, it was nice to have some other purpose out there.

Excellent to see Minister Jr. and his soon-to-be Mrs. They have learned so much in only a few sessions on a map, and now they're getting ready for Salomon Raid The Hammer - the full Raid!

Great lunch afterward with 'Bent, Funderstorm, Reeder, Myka and Amik. Mick and Mrs. Mick had hoped to join us but got sucked into the Ikea Vortex.

Salomon Leaves R' Down Trail Run organized by Brian Culbert, starting from the Salomon Toronto store. When my alarm went off, wet snow was blowing in a gusty wind, and it was tempting to pull the duvet up to my chin and close my eyes. After all, I needed 2 more hours of sleep! :)

But... I knew it would become fun eventually so I headed to Toronto. Great podcasts in both directions btw: Endurance Planet with Dr. Phil Maffetone on the way down, and Distance Obsessed with Ray Zahab on the return trip.

Such a nice treat to see friends on this blustery day! Simpy and Bugsinteeth had done Lap #1, which ran overtime so unfortunately they couldn't join WandAR, FunRun and me for Lap #2. You can see how tired Simpy was. ;)



Here's the full group for Lap #2.



We ran in the Don Valley and out near Pottery Road in steady rain and wind, splashing through big puddles, skidding down leaf-covered hills, sliding sideways on clay trails on hillsides, and tentatively crossing slick, rickety wooden bridges. So much fun! Great test for our layers too.

It was supposed to be a 12 km lap but it ended up being 17 km - and it would have been even longer if Sharlene and I hadn't missed a turn while chatting! We headed back to the store on a different trail and brought a little mud inside with us.



I've been limiting my running lately to humour my Achilles. This was a conscious step outside my comfort zone to see where I'm at. (A much bigger step than I'd expected!) My heel is sore but I'm not sure whether this 2-hour gnarly trail run made it feel any worse than a 30 minute gravel road run. That doesn't mean it's necessarily good for me - just an observation. Apparently the true test will be the way it feels after 24-48 hours.

As a bonus, Dee was out shopping so we caught up over a big latte after I'd changed to dry clothes. Great way to spend a rainy day! :)

The Realistic Guide to Learning How to Run
http://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2013/10/the-realistic-gui...

#4 isn't the whole truth but the rest of them aren't far off.

Sunday is the Dontgetlost Peak-2-Peak Enduro adventure run training event - this year on the CUMIS lands in Burlington. Good practice for Salomon Raid The Hammer! Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. tonight. There will be limited first-come, first-serve race day entries at a higher price.
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content...

Note: Weight field is going to contain the number of pounds I have left to lose. Not kilograms because it is easier - and therefore more rewarding - to lose a higher number of pounds.

Hard Core Live with Caron. 'Bent joined me tonight and I could hear him groan when she asked us to lie on our backs with legs straight up in the air. Core exercises starting from that position are 'Bent's nemesis.

I didn't have to protect my sore foot as much this week. Baby steps (literally!)

Interesting news from the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run. [Edit: And I see now that several of us deemed it AP log-worthy! :) ] Starting with the 2015 race, 50-milers will no longer be accepted as qualifiers, and a lot of 100-mile races have been removed from the qualifier list, including Sulphur Springs and Haliburton. I qualified for the 2013 and 2014 lotteries but have decided not to apply for next year due to my heat princess-ish-ness. Looks like it might be hard to qualify again in future if I change my mind.
http://www.wser.org/qualifying-races/

Another foot-friendly run on the gravel roads around home. There were some heel twinges but no big flare-up. More snow flurries this morning so I've moved toques and gloves to the front hall closet. :) It looks skiable an hour north of here. Many thanks to Hermes for sending me proof!

Useful Advice: How to Be a Mountain Biker

25 Things Non-Runners Don't Get About Runners
http://www.buzzfeed.com/melaniepoloff/25-things-no...

As the song kept running through my head, "There's no bad weather, there is just bad gear". So on a breezy day with low single digit temperatures, there was no excuse to stay home - especially when the forecast rainy day turned out to be a sunny one.

I had letters to mail so I rode to the Caledon East post office. Other than occasional polite slowdowns to avoid scaring dog walkers, I put in an honest effort. I'd planned on a latte at the Trailside Cafe but they had a sign asking cyclists to put their bikes on a rack far from the front door where I wouldn't be able to watch it. So... homeward bound.

Right before this ride, I'd bought our season's pass to Highlands Nordic. Fittingly, snow started to fall on my return ride. (Sorry Harps - it was my fault.) I was practically bouncing on my bike seat, as giddy as a little kid, and decided to do a few kms of single track in Albion Hills since there was still some light. I met Caron and twin sister Jill on Duffy's Lane, then headed home through Palgrave West.

Better than the gym.

(Bike computer distance)

Wishing happy trails to Simon Whitfield, the inspirational and classy Canadian who announced his retirement from international triathlon today. I like his "quick video for the gentleman he raced against for 20 years". :)
http://simonwhitfield.com

He gave me a prize at a bike race once. I was starstruck.

It's taken more than a year to get everything changed over but I've finally closed down my old e-mail ID barbrich@ca.inter.net. If you need my current e-mail ID, it's on my AP profile. Most people made the switch in 2012 but it's easy to miss someone.

Warning: This trailer contains some "mature language" and fake violence. But it's refreshing to see people in a horror movie making smart decisions for a change.

I combined an errand in town with a visit to the Caledon Wellness Centre to try different machines to see what might work for my overly sensitive Achilles. As recommended by several people, the stair mill was a good workout, especially for someone hoping to do more mountain ultras, and it didn't aggravate my injury. I wasn't sure about gym etiquette so I stopped after 30 minutes since there is only one stair mill. I tried a few other machines afterward - elliptical, stepper, NUstep, etc. - but none appealed to me.

I'll probably use the stair mill again while my Achilles continues to bug me but I really don't like the gym experience - like being a hamster in a cage. The Wellness Centre has a lovely view of the Humber Valley, which doesn't help!

First try of our friend Caron Shepley's "10 Minutes to Zen" workouts on Youtube. Today I did Sun Salutations, Stability and Core. Nice to have a flexible workout format that fits any time window.
http://personalbest.ca/index.php?option=com_youtub...

Received an important e-mail from the Bank of Africa this morning:
"Are you Dead or Alive? If you are, then write back immediately."

Hard Core Mondays are baaaack! Except I can't find THE DVD so I'll just have to make stuff up. BazingaDog was tremendously helpful, especially during the Supermans on the exercise ball. When I lowered my head, he stepped over it so I was locked down under his tummy with two doggie feet on either side of my head. It made for a great workout when I lifted my head again! (Even though he didn't like it much.)

Toronto runner Ed Whitlock has done it again - this time while fighting a cold and "just surviving" for the last 10 km of the Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon. The new age 82 marathon world record is 3:41.
http://www.runnersworld.com/elite-runners/ed-whitl...

Time to start tracking this so that chronic sleep deprivation doesn't ever again become a major factor in a race. Also, I have 6 lbs to lose.