Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Commute with Bulletdog. Now, off to Sweden.

Pouring rain this AM so I finished my packing for Sweden. My pack's only 25 lbs with tent, stove, water filter, tarp etc and clothes for rain in the arctic., but by the time I add food and fuel it's still bigger than I'd hoped, given all the ultralight gear.

I bet the Swedes are running around with a 10kg pack.

C • Those Swedes 2

No risk of being caught crossing Reddington- the weeds are over my head (and soaking wet in the morning too).

RockstAR bike portion- Marked route starting with a sandy/ rocky ATV trail with lots of deep puddles. This is actually ideal 'bent terrain, so I was able to scoot along quickly, enjoying every minute. Bash had a great ride, and we passed all the co-ed teams here, despite Bash eating the swamp twice. I only had to get off once when a rider bailed in front of me up a hill. Once on the road I had some stomach issues for some odd reason and couldn't tow much, so other co-ed teams rolled past us again. Not our best road ride.

RockstAR-multisport rogaine portion- see Bash's log for details and pics.
Bash and I had arrived the night before, so we got maps early as possible, and Bash started her detailed analysis of points per hour, paddle vs trek etc.
We ended up with a route that involved mainly trekking, with some bushwhacking between trails. After the bike we headed out southwest, then did a counter clockwise circle around Bark Lake. The bushwhacking wasn't too bad, but some of the big ATV trails were knee-deep in muddy water. I hooked a foot under a root in one and faceplanted, bashing my knee despite my armoured tights. We kept a good pace though, with Bash keeping up a light jog despite the non-towing terrain.
Our plan had been to get to 80, return via 41 and paddle to some more CPs, but we decided to run the whole thing instead rather than backtracking. We did some decent running/ towing on the better trails around the portage, then raced the clock for the 7PM deadline around the West side of the lake on dicey trail, through swamp, then full-on hammerfest on the last few km of ATV trail to make the deadline.

A quick paddle through the swamp (Finally used the boat for 10 minutes) then back to 3 underwater CPs. I'd tested fins that go over my shoes, and they were great for diving down, but took a bit of time to put on.
The rain had started, so Bash was as wet as me after. We ran for 3 more CPs, then waited to see our favorite nemeses Beowulf come in, with Ms Gally cracking the whip.

We ended up 2nd overall with 1280 points. Beowulf took it with an awesome race, topping us by one massive 120 pointer we definitely didn't have the speed to reach. Gally's back! Mini-MBR was 3rd co-ed, followed by Dogrunner & Bro.

Poor STORM, PhattyJr, Mique and HARK were out looking for a team in the pitch dark and torrential rain until almost 11, but all ended OK when Mique picked them up on the highway.

A well run event, clear CPs, good safety, lots of fun.

C • great result! 3

Mixed intensity while watching the Tour. Easy on the descents and commercials, hammered up the Col du Romme.

Hot run in with Bulletdog.

Easy trot home. I almost need my headlamp at 9PM now.

Watching the Tour before heading to work at 7:30. Good solid ride.

C • I can't wait.. 4

Fast run to work. Bulletdog was lagging on leash for the last 1/2km.

And you thought Fabian Cancellara is fast?
Canadian Sam Wittingham just set the world 1 hour record and the world 100km record, averaging 88.4 kph! How many of us can touch 88kph for a second? I wish they'd let the Tour use 'bents for the time trial.

Sam Wittingham:
Avg speed = 88.358 kph = 54.90332 mph -
Top 1 hour 90.724km
NEW 100 KM WORLD RECORD

Here's a French woman who also clobbered the records:

Barbara Buatois, France
Avg speed = 82.766 kph = - NEW 100 KM WORLD RECORD

Caught up to Bash on the second half of the Hard Core workout.

Short route to work, then a 3-swim return with Bulletdog.

Bash and I got out for a quick paddle at the cottage weekend with her family.

Short swim at the cottage.

Another quick run in with Bulletdog.

On my way home I got stopped by a fellow who told me I'm trespassing. I mentioned that I got written permission from the resident's association. He then told me that's irrelevant, he's Mr. Reddington of Reddington Estates and permission's denied. After chatting a bit, promising not to ride through again without permission and introducing myself, he gave me his phone # and asked me to call and discuss it further. Hope it goes well, or my commute route will be in jeopardy.

C • Hopefully you charmed him e... 4

Core while watching the Tour.

It's been a while since I used my gym or weights. Forearms are getting better but my arms are becoming the size of a TDF climber's massive pipes. (or is that pipe cleaners?)

Good solid ride with the mighty Coach LD and Bash around Albion.

Bash did a lovely backflip into a pit and scared the cr*p out of me, but she's OK.

Trot home at dusk. Missed the rain!

Very fast run to work, and a detour for dog swimming on the way home.

Regular commute route with Bulletdog

Some more heavy-duty weed clearing on my commute home- they're taller than my head on my trail.

I wonder if this is what's bugging my forearm tendons?

Bash, Phatty and I rode to the Shed from Palgrave at a fair clip. Phats gets the polka dot jersey today. Perfect day for a mix of rail trail, steep climbs, rocky trail, mud and iced Mochas. We vegged in front of the Tour afterwards.

Run around the hills of Glen Haffy with Bash. Attacked the uphills.

We'd planned a much longer run but thunderstorms interfered.

Been a while since we threw on packs and boots, so a quick dog-walk loaded down with water bottles and dumbells- probably more than we'll carry in Sweden.

Island lake loop with Bash. Nice to have paddling so close. More fun than the erg!
Vietnamese noodles after. Yum!

Core and other misc strength stuff.

Short way in but long way home. 3 swims for Bulletdog on a warm day. Boardwalk on the blue trail is about 1/3 done, and there are 2 bypasses of mucky sections on the red trail now.

Workout 2 while watching the Tour. Still some forearm problems so I kept those exercises light.

Bike with Bulletdog via pond and red-dog backwards.
Derailleur issues- I may change this bike to SRAM too.

C • SRAM 2

Easy ride home in a really nice evening, despite the dusk-time bugs.

Legs much faster today, and no dog.

Here's a new one- our tenant from upstairs went into full-on labour when she came in to pay the rent. Took the husband a while to get here so we set her up in one of the dental chairs, but luckily the ambulance got here before we had to deliver- I don't do that type of extraction!

C • What a lot of excitement! 4

Easy run to work, and back along the singletrack. Legs still a little slow.

A bit of core work while watching the Tour.

Tour D'Albion:
After yesterday's grueling Haute-Category mountain stage at Creemore, Bash launched attack after attack on the hills, stamping her authority on the pedals and definitely winning the polka-dot jersey today, while I did an easy recovery ride and ate Bash's dust.

Creemore Vertical Challenge

Bash and I decided to do this on Thursday.

I kept the HR in the low 180s on the climbs, and high 170s for the rest.
I expected long climbs and enjoyed them, moving up in the pack, but I lost time on a long steep downhill.

Felt good overall though, and finished up with the similar time and placing as the Sulphur Spring run -13th overall, 7th over 40.

Note- I really liked the way this event was run. No chip timing but still accurate results, great venue on the race director's farm by the river, really scenic views, Creemore coffee as swag, pizza and Creemore beer after the race, maple syrup, coffee and home-made ceramics as podium prizes, tons of draw prizes.

Easy commute with Bulletdog.

Bulletdog and I took a bit of a detour to the pond and around the old green trail. Ankle-deep water on the trails and thigh-deep soaking weeds left us drenched.

A drier route home.

Part of workout #1- just the "pushing" exercises.

Watched "the cyclist" with Bash as it rained outside.

Around the local woods with Bash. Trying XT wings with an extra insole to reduce the arch support a bit.