Training Log Archive: Bash

Hard Core Live with Caron.

I felt strong and flexible - which is something positive at least, given that I'm feeling the loss of cardio fitness.

I've switched from the 50 miler to the 50K race in two weeks. Funny how that seems like takin' it easy. We'll see - I may switch to a lower distance.

I'm slowly "unsicking" myself.

Antibiotics don't seem to be the solution - no big surprise. But we tried.

Good News: 'Bent is home!

Possibly other good news: I've started on antibiotics, which may help although bronchitis is usually viral. No running for now. :(

Planned a strength workout on this beautiful day but I've got a sore throat again and the best training is probably no training - ugh. It's now been 3 weeks although the cold only became bronchitis after running 50K. On the bright side, it felt easy to run 22 km yesterday so my body hasn't forgotten how.

Gary's 11th Annual Trail Run near Milton

Gary Black puts on this fun, informal get-together for Ontario trail runners on the 2nd Saturday of November. I've never been able to attend before, usually because Raid The Hammer has fallen on the 2nd Sunday of November, so I was excited that the schedule finally worked out. We would start in Speyside and run over to the Hilton Falls Side Trail, heading into the park, then joining the main Bruce to return along the escarpment, making it a 25 km outing.

I looked forward to being committed to a loop run and meeting more of my fellow trail runners. My lungs aren't ready for something as intense as the Hockley Loop but this area isn't hilly at all. At this time of year, it's a sea of wet leaves concealing slick, mossy rocks and roots so I knew the pace would be slow in the midpack. You people who live in Milton must develop awesome proprioception! I half-turned both my ankles, even the good right ankle, which rarely wavers.

I was behind about 20 runners, and Gary had warned everyone to be careful at the start to catch both of the required turns onto side trails. I assumed that the runners who led the way knew the area or were watching their maps extra carefully. Damn, I really ought to know better! :) At the crucial turn-off, a gentleman went into the woods for a nature break on our right; the rest of us averted our eyes, which prevented us from seeing the small single track turn-off we should have taken. We were all watching our feet carefully and chatting as we ran past our junction without noticing it.

When we arrived at the white Bruce Trail markers, Steve Hunter and I stopped because that definitely was wrong. I looked at the map and realized our error. We turned back, which added close to 5 km to our run. Steve texted BGY who checked his Bruce Trail app and turned around; apparently, he couldn't convince the rest of the group who were heading straight back to their cars. Apparently, there were other wrong turns by other parts of the group, and only Steve, BGY and I ended up doing anything close to the original plan! I assumed that I was at the very back so I took the suggested shortcut along 6th Line rather than hold the rest of the group up. As it turns out, everyone invented their own run and I was alone for half of it so I may as well have gone into Hilton Falls and enjoyed it!

I did meet some friends near the end and it was a lovely group run on a November day, even though a lot of it was solo. Now to see how I will feel tomorrow...