Training Log Archive: Bash

It's surprising how hard it is to make plans with only one car at Tree Hugger ABC. At home, there are many days when 'Bent and I leave our cars parked. We're realizing that when we do drive, we often go different places at the same time. I'd always assumed we'd downsize to one vehicle in retirement but I'm not so sure now.

Since 'Bent, Mrs. Gally and Tarno had planned a long run at 8:30 a.m., I could either stay home or run home from their starting point, Mrs. Gally's place. I chose the latter. I did two escarpment climbs, including "Straight Up" at Blue Mountain, which became slapstick with the steep slope and slippery mud that didn't provide any grip in places unless I grasped at tufts of grass. I got mud up to my wrists and down the front of my body from falling - typical adventure racer look. Other than a few ups and downs around Blue, I mostly followed the Bruce Trail. The wind was insane so I ran quickly past the oldest trees.

After coming down The Grind, I decided to try Mountain Road to the George Christie trail network at Eleventh Line. I'd thought there might be an off-road bike trail parallel to Mountain Road but there wasn't, and it was super busy and unpleasant. I guess the boring rail trail is the best option for running home from Blue Mountain.

My body seems to be dealing well with this sudden burst of training. No significant aches and pains. I'm not fast but the hills are feeling OK.

Georgian Peaks hill repeats with Mrs. Gally. Dee and Aud ran over and joined us for the final climb. We ran into WandAR too. 'Bent and Mr. Gally decided to ride bikes through mud instead.

I haven't ridden my own mountain bike yet this year so I wanted to go for a ride with 'Bent to make sure it's working OK and remind myself of the things I was planning to do before my next race - Storm the Trent next Saturday. I need a new battery in my bike computer, and I need to re-install my tool bag and test the map holder. Otherwise, it seems fine. In a normal spring, I would have had it tuned but this is not a normal spring.

We went for a flat ride to Sunset Point and Hens & Chickens on the Collingwood bike trails. It absolutely poured on us at the far end of our ride and I got soooo cold! Later, after we got back, it became weirdly hot and we had thunderstorms with high winds.

Tarno and 'Bent went for their usual Saturday morning run with dogs at Pretty River. I ran home from Pretty River Rd. again but took a variation on the route from last time. The part of the Bruce Trail east of Castle Glen is probably full of poison ivy by now so I don't think I'll be using that again until winter. To make that work, I explored a little farther west. The trilliums were out so it was a great day in the woods even though there wasn't much sunshine.

I felt pretty good physically. My brain is all over the place lately but that's to be expected. I've heard running gurus say that as long as you get in your long run, the details of the rest of your training program aren't as important. I sure hope that's true because lately I'm *only* doing long runs. Six weeks until my 50 miler.

Up and down The Grind at Blue Mountain to negate some of the calories I was planning to eat at dinner.