Training Log Archive: Bash

Travel home to Winter Wonderland.

Foot feeling pretty good after 90 minutes of run-walking on soggy, uneven terrain yesterday. Yay.

Lookout Mountain 10K near Chattanooga, Tennessee (but actually in Georgia).

I'd originally planned to do the 50-miler at this event but I ended up with doctor's permission to do a 10K run/walk with more emphasis on the "walk".

First we had to get the 50-milers to the starting line for 7:30 a.m. I was travelling with Tiny and 'Bent. Mrs. Gally and WandAR were in the crowd somewhere with Dee, who was also running the 10K. Here is the "Before" photo of the boys.



The weather was *nasty* for the first few hours of the 50-miler (and the 10K) - torrential rain at times, fog and low single digit temperatures.



In order to remind myself to slow down and walk a lot, I kept my camera in hand. Unfortunately, with the rain and fog, the photos aren't the best but they convey what it was like to be out there.



Here's a close-up of the runner in front of me. Yes, the weather was that bad.



In addition to single and double track through hilly forest, there was an ATV trail running along a hilly hydro corridor. This section had some of the most impressive mud.





After crossing a creek at the low point on our course, there was a big climb to the finish line. I passed half a dozen people here in spite of myself because I could walk up the centre of the steep, muddy trail in Speedcross while some others came up through the vegetation to avoid slipping.





Doing a run/walk in a competitive event is not terribly satisfying but it was nice to experience a little of the race course. I was excited to be running at all and thrilled that my injured foot felt fine (and still does, more than 36 hours later). With all the slop, tree roots, holes and rocks, this wasn't a gentle re-introduction to the sport. I didn't come last - yay. In fact, I finished about 2/3 of the way down the list of women, which came as a bit of a shock on a day when I was only aiming not to finish last of almost 200 runners.

For the rest of the day, Dee (who just missed winning her age group in the 10K) and I hung out and supported the 50-mile runners.



Fortunately, the rain mostly stopped after a few hours but at this point, we had just returned from an emergency Starbucks mission to warm ourselves up with hot drinks.

The runners passed through the start/finish at the 22.5 mile mark, and that was the first time we saw them. They were all doing well. 'Bent was a few minutes ahead of Tiny who was a few minutes ahead of Mrs. Gally. WandAR was a little further back but doing well.

We met them at a road crossing around the 27.5 mile mark, then saw them twice at the start and finish of a loop at 34 and 38.2 miles. With the dim light and foggy weather, I didn't get any photos that do them justice. Tim went blurry whenever I aimed a camera at him.







Dee joined Mrs. Gally as a safety runner from 34 to 42 miles, then she ran back toward WandAR so they could finish the rest of the course together. Dee ran over 25 miles today, mostly in support of friends!



I waited at a later road crossing to give 'Bent Advil since his knee was hurting, and his pills had fallen out of his pack. Then I waited awhile longer in hopes of seeing Mrs. Gally but finally bailed since I knew Tiny had passed 'Bent but had no other details, and it was only 5.5 miles to the finish. Unfortunately, I blew it and missed his strong finish but Tiny was smiling anyway after running a personal best 9:22!



Of course he wasn't dressed that well nor smiling quite that big when I first arrived since he was standing by the fire in wet running clothes waiting for me to show up. Oops! :(

'Bent came in at 9:49 so alas, I no longer hold the 50-mile record in our family! His knee was quite sore but his stomach - while a little unhappy - hadn't gotten as bad as it sometimes does. He was 2nd in his age group.



Mrs. Gally arrived awhile later and explained the mystery of why I hadn't seen her at the road crossing where I'd waited too long. She'd taken a wrong turn and gone exploring. Fortunately, she met some nice guys who brought her back to civilization. :)



Here's the boys' "After" picture.



WandAR and Dee arrived a little later with WandAR setting a new personal best for 50 miles. I think all 4 runners set PBs.

Fun day - especially going out for a huge post-race dinner without any of the sore muscles normally associated with a 50-mile race. :)

Travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Just discovered proof that my foothab and chiro treatments are making a difference. The running shoes I'd packed for this weekend no longer fit my feet. Good thing I decided to test which socks I wanted to wear! Not sure if this makes me a better runner - or even able to run - but it was interesting to see that the shape of my foot is changing.

I had a little balance beam accident last night. I realize that sounds like another one of those things I shouldn't be doing while recovering from injury but it's actually part of my physio - and 'Bent's too. The beam sits right on the floor, and you go back and forth on it using different types of movements without looking at your feet.

While sidestepping - the hardest level I've reached so far - my gimpy foot hit the beam at the wrong angle and I tweaked my heel the wrong way. Argghh. It's nothing serious and it's mostly better tonight but I'd been enjoying the feeling of not feeling my heel. I'd say, "Two steps forward, one step back", except that's just another way to fall off a balance beam. ;)

In case anyone is missing Rob Ford lately (!!!)... here is a fun Tumblr.
http://rob-ford-fiesta.tumblr.com

Since it's the holiday season, might as well post a little more fun stuff - a great song parody by Harvard Medical students, "What Does The Spleen Do?" (courtesy of LosDobos)
http://mashable.com/2013/12/09/what-does-the-splee...

Every year 'Bent and I look forward to one Christmas card in particular - from an older woman we haven't seen since we paddled the Nahanni River with her 20 years ago. One year her card didn't come, and we were heartbroken. I googled but couldn't find any information. Then the next year, her letter arrived and briefly mentioned some time in hospital. I cried.

Some excerpts from this year's incredible handwritten letter:

-- So you are in your prime, and I will be 90 in July! Not in my prime for sure but I still hike three times a week for up to four hours. So that should help as I slide down the slippery slope. :) Now I ask the leader if I can come because I'm about 20 paces behind going up steep places. So things are still OK. Mostly, I go.

-- I love reading about everything you both do. You make me proud to be Canadian. (blush)

-- I spent all my money travelling this year so now I'll have to try the drug trade - or rob a bank. But I'm a coward! I dug a vegetable patch for next spring and will save that way.

She went on a cruise in the Canadian Arctic to 80 degrees north between Ellesmere Island and Greenland. "FABULOUS. BEST TRIP EVER." Then she travelled around with a boat that delivers things to remote Arctic communities.

Then she went on a hiking trip in the Bugaboos. "When I win the lottery, I'd go again."

Then she went to Indonesia with a family friend. "27 hours in the air!!!!! Wonderful but next time I'll go by canoe."

I say this every year but when I grow up, I want to be Joy. :)

Another run/walk session, this time attempting different 1:1 combinations, e.g. 4 minutes run, 4 minutes walk. In total, it was 20 minutes of running at 6.8 kph and 20 minutes of walking at 5.3 kph.

I'll admit it, I'm pushing a little beyond the boundaries of what I'm supposed to do in my return to running but I've got a 10K trail race in Tennessee on Saturday that I entered a long time ago - the one that was supposed to be a 50-miler. The doc has given me permission to do it as a run/walk. I wanted to test my foot a little more on the treadmill before running on a trail, and there isn't much time left. I know that 75 minutes of hiking up and down hills off-trail was no problem at Sunday's orienteering event, which was a good sign.

That's right, I said RUNNING, baby! Dr. Bell has given me permission to test run-walking. Today I alternated 1 minute of slow running with 2 minutes of brisk walking on the treadmill. No pain yet but I think if there is going to be pain, it will happen later. I was probably as happy as this when I finished my first 50K. :)

Another trip to Orillia. Only one more week left in the 7-visit program where I get treated by Dr. Bell and work with a kinesiologist. I wish this place were local since I'd love to keep going but it's a little crazy to drive 2.5 hours return for an appointment every week. My feet are getting stronger, and my body is getting more mobile. I'll keep doing the physio exercises, maybe not daily though.

Looking forward to getting some good post-race sleep - unless a major holiday is coming up or something...

Most amazing Adventure Race World Championship *ever*. The Attackpoint discussion thread is over 2,000 posts - more than triple the previous record.

HUGE congrats to Tecnu and Adidas Terrex Prunesco on their tie for 3rd place in the WORLD. I've been watching Bob race for over a decade and am just so proud and excited for my friend tonight.

Hope I didn't lose *all* my fitness over the past week. :)