Training Log Archive: phatty

From Cham, Carbon and I headed off to a dam to the east of us. However, the Swiss border came before the turn off and given that we didn't have our passports, we opted for the out and back. Great to see Mike at the run up the the finish. Wee ran along beside him and I had to grab her before she fired up the finish chute after him. Can't blame her for getting caught up in the moment.

C • She'll be doing it herself in no time 7

Big ride out of Chamonix with Carbon while our friends suffered away happily on the UTMB racecourse. Col de la Colombiere and Col des Aravis were en route and we got very lucky with perfect riding weather. The views of Mont Blanc on the way back were particularly clear - makes me want to climb it! Now I'm pretty wrecked and ready for a long sleep...

C • Epic 1

Great new route during a lunchtime run that I'll have to do again but find a way to stay on trail more.

Run home after work.

Up Col de Leschaux and back after work.

Tried to put a flat ride together so as not to tax Carbon's Offset too much. Somehow, the ride still ended up being over a km in elevation...perhaps the pleasure of riding up the Quintal climb onto the Semnoz helped.

Sunny run on the Veyrier with Carbon, Carbon's Offset, and Bent. Great to have such good company.

Sweet new ride home with a very quite hill added.

C • you got your new bike?! 2

Another lunch time session of discovery near my work via VTT.

C • Lunch ride 1

Lunch time road ride. There really are so many nice and quiet places to ride around here...a far cry from the nightmare that was Markham's business district!

Twisted my bloody ankle this morning leaving the house...after months of technical running with no issue! And again on this light trail run...ugh. I'll stick to the bike and boat for now I guess.

C • Oh no! 3

I gave it a strong effort to get up Col des Sauts from the Veyrier side and managed it in ~50 min; bumped into Jean Luc Diard on the way up (Hoka founder and former CEO of Salomon) and of course checked out his shoes. The downhill was good fun and I tried to let it fly on the technical bits. Glorious day and it felt good to be in the sun again.

C • Hoka / Salomon 2

While we were out for quite a bit longer, it was more of a trek for Weeanimal. She hiked up the first 230m vertical and was quite pleased with herself. Of course, breaks had to be taken along the way as "I just need a little rest" and we were chased by a protective mamma sheep, but we made it to a high ground lake. No swimming today as it was bloody cold. More breathtaking views and a proud Mom and Dad at Wee's trekking prowess and climbing abilities.

Norway's landscape is nothing short of epic. After leaving the main road I saw no one all day and had vista after vista that was incredible...straight out of a movie. It's bloody expensive here so I'm sure this explains the absence of hordes of tourists.

I can't figure out, however, why Norwegians haven't taken the AR world by storm. They've got money, their homeland is an outdoor playground, they've got a sizable group of high VO2 max athletes (e.g. XC skiers), and they orienteer. Go figure...

Lee and Wee dropped me off about 9k east of where we're staying along the south shore of Jolstravatnet ('vatnet' is lake). I headed south and immediately started climbing. The gravel road ended after about 2.5k and while the rest of my planned route was on trail according to the topo, I never saw a proper trail (eg. One that was made by man that is) for the rest of the day. So, it was a day of route finding practise sans compass.

My planned route involved a series of climbs and descents with the final one being to our farm house along the lake. In short, this was an AR trek. I ran what I could, which wasn't as much as I originally intended, and speed hiked the rest. Some of the areas I found myself in were the "stop and soak it all in" type - knife edged ridged, glacier views, steep drops, cirque surrounded lakes, and the highest boulder fields I can remember seeing. It was really fun to pick my way across the landscape just going by features. My legs felt pretty strong for most of the day but my knees were aching near the end with all of the descending.

I was treated to a brilliant rainbow, just after I got hailed on for a time, as I crested the last mountain of the day. I certainly recommend this place for anyone who loves trekking off-trail!

C • The Norway 6

We legged it up 1,000m to get a better look at what we are told is the largest glacier in western Europe, the 60k long Jostedalsbreen. It was a steep climb and Wee did the last 100m vert. on her own, grunting away as she scrambled over boulders the size of her. The views up top were once again stunning. As the valley walls are so steep, it makes the scenes so much more dramatic.

C • So she can run up 1

We made it to our VRBO rental place just east of Forde in Norway and headed out for a family trek today. Wee made it about 200m, got attacked by a band of local goats and opted for the backpack. Then we climbed. The owner of our rental place is building two cabins up high on the mountain behind us and so we used the trail that goes up to them. Once up there, you see quintessential Norway...steep, flat-topped mountains, waterways, a big a$$ glacier to the east, spongy grasses, and so much rock. We climbed higher still and topped out at around 1,100m. There were a few sketchy sections along the way but no lasting injuries. Wee ran the last 450m of vertical descent on her own two feet...although was made much more confident and speedy while holding Daddy's hand.

C • Sounds Fantastic! 9

A rare lunch time ride...usually too busy creating value (right Coach?).

Perfect riding weather this evening so up to Col de Leschaux via St. Jorioz and the TdF route from last year. Back and knee still sore so couldn't push it like I was hoping to. My physio worked me over at lunch...I think he earned his $ as he's a little dude and had to wrestle a bit to get my back and limbs to cooperate.

C • Little dude 5

What should you do when you see a snake on the trail? Jump up in surprise and almost land on its head? Yes! Because that's what I did. I'm sure it was 1/2 as venomous as Ontario's fierce garter snake and 1/4 as mean...but it was twice as long!

C • Good thing Leanimal didn't see it 3

I had designs on doing a lake to La Tournette aller-retour this AM but the forecast wasn't looking so hot; even calling for lightning. Given what happened to Adam Campbell recently atop a peak in Colorado, I opted to stay low...and went paddling in the lake instead. What could be safer? And of course, it never even so much as rained and now it's sunny. No worries, I need time in the boat anyway.

C • Did you get a surfski yet? 2

24 hours of traveling home from Asia wrecked my body as those bloody airplane seats are killer for us taller guys. However, with a great weather day outside and all the time in the world, how could I pass up a ride in the mountains. In fact, why not give Col de Croix Fry from the Manigod side a go; it was on stage 19 of the TdF last year. In the end, it wasn't as tough as climbs like Semnoz but my back and left knee started to give me a bit of trouble. Add in a pending t-banger storm and I played it safe and kept the ride short and even paced. What to do tomorrow?!?