Training Log Archive: 'BentIn the 31 days ending Aug 31, 2014:
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| Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa | Su | |||||||||||||||||||
Saturday Aug 30, 2014 #
Note
UTMB fail- nutrition wouldn't stay down after 1am. Had to pull the plug after 7 more hours with virtually no food. Full report when we have wifi.
Bash is going strong.
Bash is going strong.
Friday Aug 29, 2014 #
Note
slept:9.0
Ugh, went to bed with a headache and woke up with it. Still there after 2 advils and a nap. Maybe running all night will help? Breathtaking views and mountain air couldn't hurt.
- Head's cleared an hour pre-race.
- Head's cleared an hour pre-race.
11 AM
Running race 12:30:18 59.88 km (12:32 / km) +3538m 9:40 / km
ahr:143 max:174 shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
UTMB - after all the excitement, prep and lead-up!
Bash and I found Ang at the start, just as the threatening clouds found us. In the big starting throng Ang and I lost Bash and never saw Carbon's offset. In the super-humid weather and thick crowds I worked hard to keep the HR sensible, to avoid my legs writing cheques now my gut couldn't cash later. The plan was to dial it back in the early sections, and rest or nap as needed later on to recover from gut issues.
We climbed a grassy ski hill which turned into a gluey mud slough in the pouring rain. Heavy traffic was made much worse by timid runners who couldn't handle the mucky downhills, darkness and fog, blocking the trail. Ang and I were able to shoot past many of these on the more open slopes. At one point I lost Ang, and waited to see if she'd dropped back but it turned out she had taken off ahead. We met up at Les Contamines which had an early cut-off that had Ang worried but we had plenty of time.
On course I was drinking Spiz diluted 50% which had worked well in training , and ate some of my Canadian cheddar which went down very well. I had some Pocketfuel too, which was OK. Soup at the aid station was actually too salty but a sip of coke went down well too.
We headed out together again, but my stomach started getting a bit off and I said Au Revoir to Ang. I had a cold-brew coffee gel which worked great on a test hike but not so much here. As per plan, I tried to sit on rocks beside the trail and take a short power nap, but other runners kept shaking me awake to see if I was still alive. I took several other short catnaps (Bash passed me without noticing). The naps helped briefly, and moved me back down with the slower runners, but I'd feel bad again shortly, and couldn't eat. I took another nap at the top of the Col du Bonhomme, the biggest climb on the course. (Legs were great, the climb was easy except for the nausea). I was able to pick up speed on the descent, and passed Bash part way down, even though I couldn't seem to get any more food down. Lost my water bottle and cup in a small tumble or one of my nap breaks. I definitely started to get nauseated worse near the bottom.
At the aid station in Les Chapieux I got down one bite of a cookie before it heaved back up. The place was so jammed I didn't even make it outside but at least found a garbage bag to stick my head into, repeatedly. I fought my way outside and took a break, eventually managed to get 2 small orange slices and half a dry cracker to stay down with 1 sip of water, and thought about pulling the plug. This time I got sick even earlier than at CCC last year. I decided to get up the next climb so I could see the view from the high point of the course at the very least, now the rain had stopped.
I took 4 more very short naps on the way up, and managed to get one gummy down over about an hour. I tried a piece of candied ginger, a ginger capsule and an s-cap but barely kept them down, and wasn't enjoying things at all. I knew a DNF was coming.
Bash found me dozing sitting on yet another rock, and we hiked up to the col together. The dawn was spectacular at the top. Bash gave me some Pepto-bismol, which barely stayed down too. She tried to convince me to at least go all the way to Courmeyeur, which would complete the course with last year's CCC, but I'd only had about 50 calories and a bit of water in the last 7 hours and felt pretty awful, so I pulled the plug and wished Bash "bon courage" at Lac Combal.
If I had a team counting on me, or was raising money for an important cause I think I could have maybe suffered on, but at that point I wasn't moving fast enough to make the cut-offs later, and wasn't improving. Another 102km of staggering along on fumes didn't sound fun at all or even safe. Even after I officially DQ'd myself, it took hours before I could get a bit of tea and a cracker down.
I eventually got out to Courmeyeur where I met Matt supporting Ang, and we stayed to see Bash breeze through with some time before the cut-off.
We headed up to Champex and saw Carbon's Offset coming through, but sadly Ang had to be bussed up from la Fouly after her leg seized up. We got info that Bash had left La Fouly an hour before (wrong in this case), so headed back to Chamonix. Bash arrived back home in the middle of the night, found herself locked out when her key didn't work and had a bit of job waking me up. I felt worse for her DNF than mine.
The next day watching the finish line was bitter sweet, but awesome to see Carbon's offset bring it home in style after a solid suffer-fest.
24 hrs after quitting I was feeling perfectly fine physically and could have easily gone for a long run, (but piggybacked Weeanimal around town instead which was also fun) Not a single blister or chafe either. Equipment, lights, prep were perfect. However, I get the feeling my Ultra /overnight racing career is done- I have been sick and miserable after about 9-12 hours every single one in the last couple of years.
I think maybe I need to look into Stage racing or shorter faster events, even though I love so much about ultras and they suit Bash well.
Bash and I found Ang at the start, just as the threatening clouds found us. In the big starting throng Ang and I lost Bash and never saw Carbon's offset. In the super-humid weather and thick crowds I worked hard to keep the HR sensible, to avoid my legs writing cheques now my gut couldn't cash later. The plan was to dial it back in the early sections, and rest or nap as needed later on to recover from gut issues.
We climbed a grassy ski hill which turned into a gluey mud slough in the pouring rain. Heavy traffic was made much worse by timid runners who couldn't handle the mucky downhills, darkness and fog, blocking the trail. Ang and I were able to shoot past many of these on the more open slopes. At one point I lost Ang, and waited to see if she'd dropped back but it turned out she had taken off ahead. We met up at Les Contamines which had an early cut-off that had Ang worried but we had plenty of time.
On course I was drinking Spiz diluted 50% which had worked well in training , and ate some of my Canadian cheddar which went down very well. I had some Pocketfuel too, which was OK. Soup at the aid station was actually too salty but a sip of coke went down well too.
We headed out together again, but my stomach started getting a bit off and I said Au Revoir to Ang. I had a cold-brew coffee gel which worked great on a test hike but not so much here. As per plan, I tried to sit on rocks beside the trail and take a short power nap, but other runners kept shaking me awake to see if I was still alive. I took several other short catnaps (Bash passed me without noticing). The naps helped briefly, and moved me back down with the slower runners, but I'd feel bad again shortly, and couldn't eat. I took another nap at the top of the Col du Bonhomme, the biggest climb on the course. (Legs were great, the climb was easy except for the nausea). I was able to pick up speed on the descent, and passed Bash part way down, even though I couldn't seem to get any more food down. Lost my water bottle and cup in a small tumble or one of my nap breaks. I definitely started to get nauseated worse near the bottom.
At the aid station in Les Chapieux I got down one bite of a cookie before it heaved back up. The place was so jammed I didn't even make it outside but at least found a garbage bag to stick my head into, repeatedly. I fought my way outside and took a break, eventually managed to get 2 small orange slices and half a dry cracker to stay down with 1 sip of water, and thought about pulling the plug. This time I got sick even earlier than at CCC last year. I decided to get up the next climb so I could see the view from the high point of the course at the very least, now the rain had stopped.
I took 4 more very short naps on the way up, and managed to get one gummy down over about an hour. I tried a piece of candied ginger, a ginger capsule and an s-cap but barely kept them down, and wasn't enjoying things at all. I knew a DNF was coming.
Bash found me dozing sitting on yet another rock, and we hiked up to the col together. The dawn was spectacular at the top. Bash gave me some Pepto-bismol, which barely stayed down too. She tried to convince me to at least go all the way to Courmeyeur, which would complete the course with last year's CCC, but I'd only had about 50 calories and a bit of water in the last 7 hours and felt pretty awful, so I pulled the plug and wished Bash "bon courage" at Lac Combal.
If I had a team counting on me, or was raising money for an important cause I think I could have maybe suffered on, but at that point I wasn't moving fast enough to make the cut-offs later, and wasn't improving. Another 102km of staggering along on fumes didn't sound fun at all or even safe. Even after I officially DQ'd myself, it took hours before I could get a bit of tea and a cracker down.
I eventually got out to Courmeyeur where I met Matt supporting Ang, and we stayed to see Bash breeze through with some time before the cut-off.
We headed up to Champex and saw Carbon's Offset coming through, but sadly Ang had to be bussed up from la Fouly after her leg seized up. We got info that Bash had left La Fouly an hour before (wrong in this case), so headed back to Chamonix. Bash arrived back home in the middle of the night, found herself locked out when her key didn't work and had a bit of job waking me up. I felt worse for her DNF than mine.
The next day watching the finish line was bitter sweet, but awesome to see Carbon's offset bring it home in style after a solid suffer-fest.
24 hrs after quitting I was feeling perfectly fine physically and could have easily gone for a long run, (but piggybacked Weeanimal around town instead which was also fun) Not a single blister or chafe either. Equipment, lights, prep were perfect. However, I get the feeling my Ultra /overnight racing career is done- I have been sick and miserable after about 9-12 hours every single one in the last couple of years.
I think maybe I need to look into Stage racing or shorter faster events, even though I love so much about ultras and they suit Bash well.
Thursday Aug 28, 2014 #
Note
Tomorrow- UTMB.
From Bash's log:
We'll start at 11:30 a.m. Ontario time on Friday and - if all goes well - finish Sunday morning Ont. time. It's 6 hours later in France.
Our progress will be shown at http://utmb.livetrail.net/coureur.php
I am Bib 980 and Bash is Bib #972, or you can just look up our names. Ang and Carbon's Offset are racing too.
The weather looks like it will start rainy but improve gradually. We're trained up (as well as injuries and family issues allowed) tapered, well fed and rested. Bearing in mind only about 1/2 -2/3 of the qualified runners actually finish in a given year, we'll give it a good shot. The maximum time allowed is 46 hours, and half the runners take 42 or more.
From Bash's log:
We'll start at 11:30 a.m. Ontario time on Friday and - if all goes well - finish Sunday morning Ont. time. It's 6 hours later in France.
Our progress will be shown at http://utmb.livetrail.net/coureur.php
I am Bib 980 and Bash is Bib #972, or you can just look up our names. Ang and Carbon's Offset are racing too.
The weather looks like it will start rainy but improve gradually. We're trained up (as well as injuries and family issues allowed) tapered, well fed and rested. Bearing in mind only about 1/2 -2/3 of the qualified runners actually finish in a given year, we'll give it a good shot. The maximum time allowed is 46 hours, and half the runners take 42 or more.
Wednesday Aug 27, 2014 #
Running 20:00 [2]
Final easy stretch of the legs before UTMB. Great news- Bash could use poles!
Totally fogged in but I noticed that it was clear up top so we rushed over to the Telecabin up the Aguille de Midi, where it was a total bluebird day! Spectacular views everywhere.
Back down we did race check-in, and had a nice dinner with Ang and Matt. Gonna be a fun race if we end up together some sections!
No internet yesterday so Bash's pics will be delayed.
Totally fogged in but I noticed that it was clear up top so we rushed over to the Telecabin up the Aguille de Midi, where it was a total bluebird day! Spectacular views everywhere.
Back down we did race check-in, and had a nice dinner with Ang and Matt. Gonna be a fun race if we end up together some sections!
No internet yesterday so Bash's pics will be delayed.
Tuesday Aug 26, 2014 #
Note
Dumping rain and heavy low cloud- the poor PTL runners went all night in this. They had to reroute already due to nasty conditions. It's supposed to improve...
Monday Aug 25, 2014 #
Note
Sitting on our balcony in Chamonix sipping coffee and eating Pain-au-chocolate while watching the morning parade of compression-clad runners pass by up the road. Maybe they don't need to taper.
Running 45:00 [2]
shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
Easy trot around town. Tested a new front Raidlight bottle (good) and new knee warmers to make my shorts + calf sleeves = tights (not good, won't stay up).
Still feeling effects of the stomach thing I had after the flight, but it's better.
Still feeling effects of the stomach thing I had after the flight, but it's better.
Saturday Aug 23, 2014 #
Running 1:30:00 [2]
shoes: Brooks True Grit Red
Nice brisk hike up to the Veryier with the Carbons and Phats. As much as CO and I wanted to carry on and run with the others, Coach's orders were to only do an easy hike back via the Talabar. Gorgeous!
Friday Aug 22, 2014 #
Running 1:15:00 [2] 7.0 km (10:43 / km) +310m 8:46 / km
Easy shakeout of the legs at the Col de Forclaz, with lunch at the farm chalet d'Aulp. There was a laminated card on the cheese tray with a picture of Goose and a red circle with a slash through it. They still haven't recovered from his visit.
Picture-perfect day (See Bash's log) and a wonderful Salmon dinner at Chez Cameron Mueller. Mari has apparently selected me as her new best friend.
Picture-perfect day (See Bash's log) and a wonderful Salmon dinner at Chez Cameron Mueller. Mari has apparently selected me as her new best friend.
Tuesday Aug 19, 2014 #
Running 1:00:00 [2]
shoes: Altra Olympus
Easy commute with the big guy.
Sunday Aug 17, 2014 #
10 AM
Running 2:10:03 [2] 14.6 km (8:55 / km) +55m 8:45 / km
shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
Final 2 hr run before UTMB. Bazingadog and I ran all over Palgrave East and West except for the poison ivy hotspots. 3 nice clean swims for the big guy.
He had his pinch collar on, and other than a lot of sniff-and-pee time, didn't cause mayhem even when a turkey erupted from right in front of us.
Note- One problem with the Ambit. I love the features and battery length, but can't read anything but the big number while running with contacts. :(
Will need to use Garmin for first 70K for sure due to the clearer display and larger digits, then switch over.
This run was done with the Ambit on ultra-length so not too accurate.
He had his pinch collar on, and other than a lot of sniff-and-pee time, didn't cause mayhem even when a turkey erupted from right in front of us.
Note- One problem with the Ambit. I love the features and battery length, but can't read anything but the big number while running with contacts. :(
Will need to use Garmin for first 70K for sure due to the clearer display and larger digits, then switch over.
This run was done with the Ambit on ultra-length so not too accurate.
Saturday Aug 16, 2014 #
Running 3:00:00 [3]
shoes: Hoka Mafate 3
Final Hockley loop with BGY. It took us about 2:50 to do the full long loop, and some flat cool-down. Running felt good, with poles and full UTMB pack.
Thursday Aug 14, 2014 #
Running 30:00 [2]
shoes: Brooks CP6 Green
Easy pre-work run with an apologetic BZdog.
Wednesday Aug 13, 2014 #
Strength 30:00 [1]
Easy peasy workout #1- first time since the rib issue. Worried that I have no core strength left for running, and everything else is becoming feeble too.
Ribs felt OK, but a launch by BZdog after a heron later didn't help.
Ribs felt OK, but a launch by BZdog after a heron later didn't help.
Running 1:00:00 [2]
shoes: Altra Olympus
Easy run with Bazingadog. First lap around Charlevoix to test a waterbottle config. and a borrowed Ambit, second was a commute.
Close encounter with a Great Blue Heron at the Palgrave pond and BZdog did a full-on launch. I felt it a bit in my ribs, but not too bad.
Close encounter with a Great Blue Heron at the Palgrave pond and BZdog did a full-on launch. I felt it a bit in my ribs, but not too bad.
Running 30:00 [2]
shoes: Altra Olympus
Night run home was going well until Bazingadog spotted a coon 200M from home and launched full-on before I could lock the leash down. One good faceplant later...
Sigh- now his night running and biking days are numbered too,
Sigh- now his night running and biking days are numbered too,
C • Oh boy! 10
Sunday Aug 10, 2014 #
Running 2:00:00 [2]
Ran all the trails in the DV to the NW, where we used to hike as kids. Also explored some new trails in Ross Lord. 90% trail run.
Running flat trails felt effortless, but I have to do something about the glute/hamstring thing.
Running flat trails felt effortless, but I have to do something about the glute/hamstring thing.
Friday Aug 8, 2014 #
Running hills 1:00:00 [3]
shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
I got a window in the kid-sitting so went to the Don Valley and Earl Bales to run repeats of the ski hill and the steep ridge trail. Stinsons feel fine running downhill so far.
Wednesday Aug 6, 2014 #
Running 1:40:00 [3]
shoes: Altra Olympus
Run around Palgrave West, then a second Charlevoix lap to test some pack configuration. Nice to have a fast runnable trail for a change.
Paddlng 1:00:00 [2]
Nice paddle around Island lake. Goose and I paddled the cedarstrip (with Goosepower I was basically ornamental) and Bash and LD took the kayaks.
Great to be out paddling again- I missed it.
Rib was finally OK, so I'm taking off the "injured" status.
Great to be out paddling again- I missed it.
Rib was finally OK, so I'm taking off the "injured" status.
C • Rib 5
Monday Aug 4, 2014 #
Running 3:15:00 [2] 20.1 km (9:42 / km) +1035m 7:43 / km
shoes: Hoka Mafate 3
Tied up with van issues in the AM, but borrowed the mechanic's truck.
Solid hike up the Caps trail, waited out a potential storm at the summit cafe, then ran the road down to the base, hiked back up half way and ran back down.
We caught a bit of the MTUnicycle XC race too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEnfOoPy1ac
Then we discovered that I left the dome light on (need to turn it on to start the truck) and almost nobody carries booster cables in summer (or want to boost a big truck with smelly runners).
Luckily the 20th group or so had cables. Van's fine now.
Solid hike up the Caps trail, waited out a potential storm at the summit cafe, then ran the road down to the base, hiked back up half way and ran back down.
We caught a bit of the MTUnicycle XC race too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEnfOoPy1ac
Then we discovered that I left the dome light on (need to turn it on to start the truck) and almost nobody carries booster cables in summer (or want to boost a big truck with smelly runners).
Luckily the 20th group or so had cables. Van's fine now.
Sunday Aug 3, 2014 #
Running 30:00 [3]
Tire-out-the-dog run around our cottage. He got 3 swims too.
Hiking 5:32:00 [2] 21.0 km (15:49 / km) +1100m 12:32 / km
shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
Back at Tremblant, up the Grand Brule to the ski summit then across to the higher Pic Johansen, over the top and back up (mucky and rocky) then back down to the village. Not all that runnable for the most part.
See Bash's log for pics. Some very cool unicycles in town for the World champs, including Fat unis with disk brakes and handlebars.
See Bash's log for pics. Some very cool unicycles in town for the World champs, including Fat unis with disk brakes and handlebars.
Saturday Aug 2, 2014 #
Hiking 3:04:00 [3] 13.2 km (13:56 / km) +1382m 9:09 / km
shoes: Hoka Stinson ATR
Mt Tremblant repeats- Bash and I hiked up to the top of Tremblant via Cap trail, then took the cable car down and did it again via Vertigo and Sasquach. Nice forest hiking, often by streams. Hot and very humid but didn't start dumping rain until the evening.
New Hokas worked well, no pressure on the heels like the old Mafates.
We had some excitement when the beautiful and composed young Asian lady facing us in our little cable car started shrieking and leaping around- a 3cm Pine Sawyer beetle had crawled up her arm. She didn't complain when I grabbed it and tossed it nonchalantly out the window but it was a good icebreaker.
New Hokas worked well, no pressure on the heels like the old Mafates.
We had some excitement when the beautiful and composed young Asian lady facing us in our little cable car started shrieking and leaping around- a 3cm Pine Sawyer beetle had crawled up her arm. She didn't complain when I grabbed it and tossed it nonchalantly out the window but it was a good icebreaker.