Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Winter camping trip with Coach LD, Goose, Storm and Browner.
Hard to get motivated for winter here in Caledon, but it was pounding down snow in the Torrance barrens. We did a first loop before Goose arrived with his magical sleigh containing the full Shangri-la camp. Next we humped and hauled an embarrasement of goodies up to camp. I think my pack was 40kg, and Goose's sled even more. We got the fantastic Snowtrekker tent set up, chopped wood for the stove and set up our tents.
Our MEC tent decided to biodegrade- a pole snapped, I repaired it, then the fly split as a window came unglued. Thank goodness for space blankets.
We had time for another great snowshoe jaunt in winter wonderland before having a great, warm, dry evening celebrating New Year in the Shangrila camp Goose efficiently deployed.

C • What tent model and size do... 2

C • New Years 2016- The Movie 8

I managed to seal up the bigger holes in my Snowcross, so a less character-building run today. Less slush out there too, more breakable crust.

Knee is a bit sore.

C • shoulda come skiing 3

C • Arm warmers 3

Slush-run in the dark and drizzle with AD. It looks like snow, but conceals ankle-deep icy sludge.

My snowcross are sieves now-I guess it builds character.

Nice ride around Wheelies and Palgrave West with the big guy. -7 and a touch of snow. Hands were a bit cold in mitts- need to deploy the pogies below -8.

Nice brisk run on the HVT with Goose and visitors Phatty and VO2max.
The mountain boys were barely breathing hard.

C • Not that you could hear fro... 3

Workout 3, some core, foot/kneehab etc.
Watched carefully by our boys and visitor Quinn.

Run around Palgrave West with Bash, AD and Quinn. The big guy is too much with other dogs and people, but these 2 boys were perfect, other than Quinn being a tripping hazard.

Short but fun scoot around Palgrave East and West after we got home, before the trails turn to muck tomorrow.
Met Crash, Skyerocket and the new pooch. Returned by headlamp.

Christmas day paddle at Deerhurst, in dry suits.
We had Peninsula and Fairy lakes completely to ourselves. When El Nino gives you a lump of coal in your ski sock....

C • and no real wind today 2

Another foggy gloomy run. BZdog got to do back-to-back work days as AD has a sore front leg.

Light Geek Alert- if you have a Gemini, Yinding, Nitefighter or other 7.4v light, there's a great deal on an uber-powerful and waterproofed battery pack. It has the standard Magicshine type connector. This has two 3rd generation batteries that are a real 3500mah- nearly as strong as the earlier 4-battery packs.

http://kaidomain.com/product/details.S024751

C • Good deal 2

Another dreary run in fog.

Dark drizzly and dreary run in with AD.

Best yoga class of the year- live music with Patrick Dilkie, easy relaxing class with friends, and money raised for a very good cause in memory of a friend.

Some light strenght, foot and kneehab. Partial Workout 3

Ear problem from Belize returned, and was bothering me so much I went to the walk-in clinic to get it flushed and get some antibiotic/steroid drops. I went in basically deaf in one ear, and better after.

Down to Palgrave East to meet the Toronto Trail Runners. We did a full tour of all the trails there, then ran back home. Nice to give a tour to folks who haven't seen it before. Some good runners in the group.
Ran on no calories, but felt fine, still strong on the way home.

Download to follow.

Well, if it's unseasonable out-
Rode Palgrave West and East- all the singletrack since trails are perfectly dry and free of leaves. Put up a chain star on the rogue tree too,

Workout 2. Less kneehab as I can feel boot camp from yesterday in my hamstrings.

Commute + with the big guy. Followed a big deer for a bit near home.

Viva Italia- Got in to the Cortina Trail Ultra, so I can join all the cool kids doing the Lavaredo Ultra. albeit only for 47k.

C • Less than 50k 5

Solid run with AD.Finally feeling strong on the hills again.

Caron's boot camp.

Groggy, soggy, foggy doggy joggy.

C • with Bill Loggy? 3

Workout 1+ lumberjack, foot/kneehab and some core.

Not- Elbow is sore- usually doesn't happen until mid ski seaason.

Short drizzly outing with the dogs.

Hockely loop with the BARFs. Deducted 25 min for stops.
Adventuredog was a true athlete, but I used poles and walked the hills, especially towards the end. Legs and knee still feel last week's race a bit.

Run in with the little guy.
We take a longer route to avoid some of the sidewalk next to Hwy 50.

Easy ride with the big guy.
I didn't get much of a workout as I was disassembling the Kodiak to ship back for some revisions. Riding the BBW felt weird- I've gotten used to the new bike.

Easy run with AD. Felt the knee a bit, but it's improving.

Caron's boot camp. Easier than last time- no tabatas.

Mellow ride in knee-friendly low gears. The big guy was laid back too.

McDowell Mtn 50k- GPS to follow.
Bash and I did this one, while STORM did the 50 miler and Dee and Browner did 25.
Nice cool morning at the start, and easy cruising on flowy singletrack and very gradual climbs had me alone in 5th- 6th place until the 20k drop bag. I picked up my poles there and refilled water. Feeling really good so far, on track for sub- 5 hrs. I was passed by a handful of runners who were holding back until this point I think. Next stretch had some tougher climbs and seemed to go on longer than expected- the cp distances were over, and I was getting low on Tailwind, but had lots of water left. It was much hotter in some of the bowls.

Around 30 K I could feel both my stomach and knee get dicey, so I dialed it back for about 90 min and pole walked the hills. I couldn't bomb the downhills as it would make me feel sicker. The poles saved my knee. I saw Storm heading out for his big climb- glad to not be doing it. At the 38k aid station I was pretty nauseated and took a little break, tossed in some more Tailwind in my bottle and managed to get an Advil for my knee down, along with 1 sip of ginger ale and 1 potato chip. I got passed by another handful of runners there.

The rest of the race was mainly a nice long downhill, and as my Advil kicked in I started to pass runners again. Katka the second place female and I reeled in 4 of them. There were some short kicker climbs before the finish where my poles were great.

I ended up 10th overall. Winner was 4:30 or so, and I would have had to do 5:05 to be the fastest old man.

Once again I ran on almost nothing- 300 calories of Tailwind powder, and 3L water+ 3 S-caps. I didn't feel hungry or bonky on course.

Dee and Browner plied me with ice and cold drinks at the finish, and I was able to face a nice wood fired pizza after an hour or so. Beer tent and real pizza!

We saw Storm come through the turn-around in good placing but suffering, and Bash finished looking strong.
This is a well organized, fun event. The course isn't all that hilly except for a bit in the middle, but the desert vegetation was interesting and there were some nice views.

C • Stomach management 12

Ride in with the big guy. Once again, a slow trip in and he flew the last few km home.

Workout 3, foot/kneehab + lumberjack work.

Commute with the little guy.