Training Log Archive: Bash

Sore throat started mid-afternoon. Noooo!!

AdventureDog and I went for a midday ski in Palgrave West. I did more trail clearing in new areas but was able to enjoy the benefits of yesterday's work too. We did a little bushwhacking that involved way too much scrambling over fallen trees. We only have about 8 cm of fluffy snow on top of ice, frozen ground or forest debris so I guess it's better to stick to trails for now. Beautiful day. AdventureDog loves skiing although sometimes he gets excited and runs uphill toward me while I'm skiing down. Luckily, I missed him every time.

Sunset/moonrise ski out the back door - the way winter is supposed to be! I wondered if I was being too pessimistic by choosing rock skis but the snow wasn't very deep even though it was fluffy and beautiful. This was only Level 2 because I stopped about 30 times to move sticks and logs off the trail, but that's a good investment for the future. Wonderful.

C3 Boot Camp, which is the real deal - as in, the couple I usually work out beside are both military commanders. I am getting stronger! Except my abductors. They are feeble. Here's the one I was really bad at. Caron made us do a lot of them - "then hold for 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, then lift...."

Event: OOA O Cup
 

OOA O Cup #3

We awoke to grey skies and pouring rain so I wondered what it would mean for O Cup attendance. Impressively, the vast majority of racers showed up - even the ones who signed up late and hadn't paid yet. I'm proud to be part of a community of so many adventurous people!

I like days like this since it forces me to test clothing and gear that I might need if I encounter these conditions in the wilderness or in a race. I couldn't remember the last time I put on rain pants, even though they've often been in my pack just in case. I didn't race in them; it was actually quite warm if you were moving - but chilly when you stopped, especially soaking wet.

Harps, DoubleDownon_11 and Sid had worked hard to put this event together on behalf of Orienteering Ontario with support from DontGetLost. It was loads of fun! We were parked at an arena so we could go indoors to change and get warm but it only took a few minutes of running before we were splashing through creeks and scrambling up mucky slopes on our hands and knees, grasping at saplings so we didn't slip backward. It was such crazy "little kid" fun that I burst out laughing a few times.

It's not a huge area and much of it is flat, but the designers had used it well and created an interesting course with lots of variety. I ran slowly in the sloppy conditions but I mostly ran in the right direction and took advantage of my large handicap so I think I finished in the top 10.

As always, it was great to see friends in real life instead of online. Huge thanks to Mrs. DD11 (Lex) for the delicious chili. Between that, the hot chocolate and a couple of cookies, I was too full to go out for lunch.

Thanks to all the organizers for a morning of slip-sliding fun. I wish mud runners and obstacle racers could try a race like this - the real deal instead of a "canned" adventure challenge.

Year End Review, Part 2
Report Card on 2015 Training Goals

I finished my two major goal races - the Birkebeiner (54K classic ski loppet) and the Eiger Ultra Trail (101K mountain run, shortened to 90K due to a dangerous storm).

Even though it's been on my list for the past few years, I realized partway through 2015 that I didn't really want to run 100 miles. I wanted to run UTMB because it was a cool experience, not because of the distance. So I didn't achieve that goal but that's OK. I might try a 100-miler again some day but not just to go that distance.

I averaged 6.6 hrs of sleep daily - less than my goal of 7 hrs - but I smartened up and averaged 7 hrs of sleep for the last 12 weeks of the year. There's nothing like a good illness to inspire you to take better care of yourself.

I added a little more protein to my diet but not enough. That will be on the list again this year. I need to cook more.

I missed some of my training volume goals - by activity and overall - largely due to a nasty upper respiratory bug that hung around for October and November, turning into bronchitis along the way. When I felt better for a few days, I'd make the mistake of pushing too hard, then I'd get sick again. It's hard to be patient.

The one thing I didn't even try to do was write a couple of missing race reports, both from Aug. 2014 (UTMB and World Rogaining Champs) before a tough autumn. Even though it's long past the time when anyone else would care, I like looking back, checking details and looking at photos. So that still needs to happen.

This year's overall Training Goals Report Card grade is "Meh"+, a bit better than last year.

Slush, ice and mud run from our place to the Caledon East Community Centre to hear the lunchtime speaker at the C3 Mega Day. 'Bent was there for the morning bike trainer session so I carried a backpack with a change of dry clothes and shoes, knowing I could get a ride home. It was a surprise treat to see Bill Trayling and chat for awhile.

We got some detailed info on sports nutrition and hydration from the Canadian distributor of Infinit Nutrition. I asked if he could highlight any new info on sports nutrition that reflected a recent change in thinking. He said that top athletes are able to process more calories than previously thought; Lionel Sanders (Ironman winner) can take in 500 calories per hour, all in liquid form. Someone like me will probably be fine with the 200-ish calories that I usually aim for though.

Seen on Twitter: 'Marriage is texting each other "Do we need anything from the grocery store?" a bunch of times until one of you dies.' ;)

Fun Friday night snowshoe expedition with Funderstorm and Mrs. Tiny. We wandered around the southeast corner of the Hockley Loop where there are several Bruce Trail side trails as well as the main trail. There are some steep hills since there are old ski resorts on either side of 5th Line. We mixed it up with some bushwhacking, trail hiking and mountain climbing - at least, that's what it felt like. We found all kinds of interesting animal tracks and some gorgeous trees. It's a pretty area, even in the dark!

Mrs. Tiny had never been to the Black Birch restaurant so we corrected that problem. Fun evening out - thanks for making the trip, ladies. :)

You can register until midnight for the Orienteering Ontario O Cup #3, happening conveniently (for many of you) in Oakville this Sunday morning.

This is the first-ever Harps-DoubleDown-Sid joint venture. Come on out and show them some love!
http://www.orienteeringontario.ca/wp-content/uploa...

P.S. There are rumours of delicious post-race chili.

Another headlamp run in Palgrave West. If there was any doubt, this confirmed that running on our lumpy, crusty trails without snowshoes is bad for my knee. I'll have to focus on trails that are better used and have a more even surface, like many in Palgrave East. Or maybe winter will come so I can ski!

Caron's core class. Ouch. She said this one might hurt more in class but we should have fewer sore muscles later. We'll see...

First class of our winter session. I had to coddle my knee here and there.