Training Log Archive: Bash

Before the next storm arrived, I did the Trash Talk badge for the Summer Scavenger Hunt. This is a run of 35+ minutes where you pick up at least 5 pieces of garbage. I'll admit this wasn't my favourite challenge to do in a pandemic. You can tell the RDs are in B.C. where the situation has improved a lot!

But it was easy enough to take precautions. I saved the trash collection for the last 1.5 km of my run (Lap 2 on my GPS track). I tied a grocery bag to my waist belt and kept my hand and forearm covered with a newspaper bag while picking up trash. (I didn't want to waste a real glove.) Everything I picked up was food packaging and drink containers.

To be honest, I had to go out of my way to find litter. When most parks were closed, visitors flooded into Palgrave Forest and left coffee cups behind but those people are mostly gone now. Mountain bikers are too busy staying upright while bumping over roots to mess up the forest. So after 5.5 km of trash-free trail running, I went out to the Finnerty Sideroad parking lot and found garbage, as expected. I ran home along the gravel road and found a few more pieces for my collection. I left an empty cardboard Coors box in the middle of the road since it was too big for my little garbage bag.

My foot may have been a little less sore today. Or maybe my standards are just getting lower.

So here's what the kids do these days: submit a resume on the weekend, book a Zoom interview less than 24 hours ahead of time, then don't show up (or phone or email). We'd been warned about this phenomenon by other dentists. I guess there's still a chance that she had a family emergency or a serious car accident but it's entirely possible that she won't get the job.

On a happier note, 'Bent tested negative for Covid-19. He only got tested because he works in health care; he had no symptoms. Anyone want a hug?

Day 3 of the "We're Going Streaking" challenge - a run around Palgrave East. Given the weather on the days I chose, this could have been called the "Hot and Bothered" challenge. The past few days should help with heat acclimation.

As for the bothered part, I had a brief, unexpected meltdown on my own while putting on my shoes. I'm tired of the pandemic, tired of work stress every day of the week, tired of my heel injury, tired of grocery shopping feeling like going to war, tired of learning employment law, tired of CERB rules that discourage part-timers from returning to work, tired of the house being messy, tired of not seeing friends, tired of no vacations, tired of delayed cancer screening and injury diagnosis, tired of worrying about 'Bent being in one of the most high risk professions for infection, tired of gypsy moth caterpillars chomping our trees and pooping on our patio, tired of AdventureDog barking in my ear when I put on my shoes, tired of a toddler "leading" the U.S., tired of everything being cancelled, tired of poison ivy and ticks, tired of our fridge freezing vegetables on hot days... You name it, I'd had enough of it at that moment, lol! I know everyone is challenged right now, many people much more so than I am. This was really unusual for me. Luckily, the first kilometre of running mostly dried my tears.

In the off-season, I bought two SUPs. Because we stayed at home all spring, I hadn't picked up the 2nd SUP or the two paddles from the former White Squall Paddling Centre in Nobel. It finally seemed reasonable to make a quick day trip to get them.

While we were in the neighbourhood, we hoped to take the SUPs for a test paddle and say a distanced hello to the Wadd Squad. It worked out perfectly since they were going paddling on Nine Mile Lake around noon. Hammer, Etoile and AdventureGirl! had just expanded their bubble to include GHOSlow and Sue, which was wonderful news.

Here's Hammer starting to paddle from Nine Mile Lake Beach in his beautiful wooden kayak.



It was fantastic to be on the water, surrounded by rugged Canadian Shield scenery.

'Bent and I had to get used to the new SUPs, which are a bit tippier than the SUPs we've used in yoga class. Compared to our fast canoes and kayaks, they feel a bit like pigs because I got ones that would be stable enough for yoga as well as paddling. But they're fine and nobody fell into the lake although 'Bent had a close call.



By the way, they are both *my* SUPs since 'Bent made it clear last fall that he didn't want one. I got two SUPs and paddles anyway so I can set up a guest to paddle with me. Today 'Bent was lucky to be my +1. :)



We headed into a beautiful bay to the west and paddled around a bit.





Then we all stopped for a distanced conversation break on shore (time deducted). It's still a wonderful novelty to talk to friends in person!



Here's what a group selfie looks like in the time of Covid.



And here's the Wadd Squad's new album cover.



We headed back first because we had to get home to the pooches. Thanks to Etoile for a rare photo of the two of us.

When I chose the "We're Going Streaking" challenge for yesterday's run, I'd forgotten that our trip up north today would make it tempting to have Saturday night Happy Hour as soon as we got home. But I needed a 45+ minute run to keep the streak going. I re-read the challenge description to see if I could hop on the air-conditioned treadmill but the wording was, "Head out your door, fully clothed, for at least 3 straight days." So I ran around the trails of Palgrave West and sweated up a storm.

I planned to choose a challenge for today's run from the CMTR Summer Scavenger Hunt list, and I realized that rural Palgrave is not the ideal place for some of these challenges. Two of them involve making a purchase during the run. One challenge is to be a cheerleader to the other runners you see. Another challenge involves running up 2,000 steps and another involves running on a track. (What track could I run on? Anyone?) And there's a challenge to dress in 80s neon colours - or as close as you can - to make a spectacle of yourself. I can do that one here but nobody will notice.

I picked an easy-ish one: the "We're Going Streaking!" challenge. It requires 3+ days in a row of 45+ minutes of (fully clothed) running. I can do that around here. In the unlikely event that I saw another runner, I decided that I would cheer them on and switch to the Cheerleader Challenge partway through. You can't use the same run for two different challenges, and you can't do two challenges on the same day. If not for those two rules, it would be fun to see how many challenges I could complete in a day - but those are good rules.

Some of the challenges are better suited to the Collingwood area so I'll have to plan ahead.

Oh, right - the run. I ran to Palgrave East and came back through Palgrave West, finishing on the Pandemic Gumby Trail. So hot. The weather - not me, obviously.

Got a minute? Check out this fun quarantine Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim run.
https://trailrunnermag.com/video/watch-rim-2-rim-2...

Encouraging news in Ontario over the past couple of weeks - higher levels of Covid-19 testing, a drop in daily new cases and a steady decrease in the number of active cases, hospitalizations and people on ventilators. Here in Caledon, there are 12 known active cases in a population of 72,000. (We're still in Stage 1 of the reopening though. Boo, Brampton and Mississauga!)

Ontario has been reopening gradually over the past month. So far, it seems like the new normal is working reasonably well. It won't be life as we knew it for a long time but this makes me optimistic that life can include more of the things that are important and enjoyable without putting vulnerable people at risk.

Zoom Boot Camp for athletes with Mrs. Gally. There's limited room available if a few more victims would like to join us on Wednesdays at 5 pm - or even just *one* Wednesday at 5 pm. $10. You need a mat, a resistance band or towel, and one or two sets of dumbbells for full body exercises - not too heavy unless you're into that sort of thing. You can make it as hard or as easy as you like. Mrs. G. is great at checking our form and offering modifications or alternative exercises if anyone has an injury. It's nice to have a weekly virtual date with new and old friends.



The Summer Scavenger Hunt includes one badge for a strength/stretching activity so I claimed it today.