Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Run over to the race and cool-down after. Hiked back so didn't log.

O cup Palgrave.
Navigation was nice and clean but I had no gas in the tank, especially uphill.
I chose routes to minimize climb, but guys like AL who run at my pace were dropping me like an anvil.

Despite plodding along, it was a great day to be out, and a good course. I ran alone for a fair bit, but it was a pity not to be the one setting the tracks on my home turf with a handicap. Great run by Bash! I ended up 6th.

Figured a rest day would be good as I was feeling a little drained -har har.
Shovelled out the fire pit for the icebreaker.

Not sure how long after giving blood you should wait before a hard run. Oh well, we'll see tomorrow.

Pretty solid run in and back with Bazingadog. He helped haul a bit, but still slow going on lumpy crust on the way in, and softening snow on the return.

Was going in for core class, but I saw there was a blood donor clinic upstairs.
It seems I'm always training for something, have a race, or getting over a cold when they have a clinic but not right now. Good thing to do for Valentine's day, give from the heart. I hear the core class I skipped was a lot more bloodsucking than the IV.

Despite admonishments from the nurses I snuck down after for the last half of yoga and a recovery chocolate from Caron.

Foot/kneehab with a couple of new exercises from Coach SP, and workout 1. No KBs.

Beautiful sunny winter day with 2 hounds. Might have been better with snowshoes, but I took my new Snow Cross.

Mini review:
+ They're light, have great grip on icy snow and a nice built-in gaiter
- Feel like high heels so it's hard to midfoot strike, and somehow the instep feels odd. I'm told that will wear in.

C • What about the high top 6

My Dental School buddy Feds lives in BC. He did a vid of his 6 year old twins and 9 year old daughter skiing the double black diamond runs at Whistler, corny "Dad" dialogue and all.

Wish I could ski like them!

Easy night jog home with a somewhat tired Mocha. Snowcross were great on the crusty lumpy trails.

Yesterday's wet snow has frozen, but the tracks are too narrow for my skis, so slow going. Some good tracks, some places where they've been trampled to craters (even one spot with *two* good snowshoe lanes for hikers beside the trampled ski tracks, but better than I expected)

Bazingadog was scared of the noise and ice I think, and was more hindrance than help. Maybe he's finally had enough of hauling me around.

Challenging ski in- I had to de-ski and walk a couple of spots.

The big guy seemed to get back on mission in places. Fast conditions, especially when Bazingadog spotted some deer. Pretty sketchy out- probably no more Skijoring unless we get more snow or it softens up.

Ugh- raining on deep snow so back on the snowshoes with really tired legs.
Tried to break trail for a snowshoe track next to the ski tracks, which are looking pretty good right now.

Easy plod home in heavy wet snow over slush. Still tried to break some trail beside the ski tracks before the slush freezes.

Easy ski to the remote race start. I think Nick figured out how long he wanted to give classic skiers an advantage over skate skiers, and it was only part of the bush trail.

C • Easy? 5

Stars WAR (Winter adventure race) ski-o portion.

Bash and I raced together. We were both none too fresh from the previous days' outings, but conditions were fantastic- perfect bluebird day with fresh snow.

This time there were several boxes, and we could take a 3 handicap. We decided to go with waxable classic skis. The first part of the ski was ungroomed, and better on classic, but most of it was well groomed and track set. We caught Frankenjack and G-Stix skate skiing on a short section where we had to break trail, but they took off once we hit groomed trail. The skate-skiing Tarnos passed us too, with JT bravely towing behind Tarno. With the handicap system we kept running into eachother often. Bash and I didn't tow at all on skis, and Bash skied like a champ. For once, the bladder system, map board, wrist compass, layers and all the other stuff worked perfectly.
Back to HQ for a quick transition to snowshoes. G-Stix and FJ had just left, and Tarnos were still there.

Good solid run, once we got the tow system sorted (must remember Bash's skin pack has no waistband). The handicap system was complex but well planned- We kept seeing FJ/G-Stix who eventually dropped us, but saw the Tarnos on and off all race. Beautiful woods for snowshoeing, but hard work breaking trail. Bash's nav was solid and she worked super-hard. We finally passed the Tarnos after a tough battle as they had to go for one last control, so we were 2nd overall.

Kudos to Nick, Funrun and all the others who made this complex event run so smoothly.
Could not have been better conditions or weather.

C • Awesome! 9

Short jaunt to tire the hounds. Bulletdog was flying! She flew past Bazingadog just as I had him taking it easy on a tight curve, and he tossed me into a small tree, triggering the emergency release on his rope. Shockingly, he went ahead a short bit then stopped and looked over his shoulder to see why I was lagging so. He sniffed around a bit, but came back when I yelled at him. Somehow I think he didn't get that he could escape, or he'd rather ski with me.

C • Yikes! 2