Training Log Archive: Funderstormin

Geoff and I decided we needed to get a quick run in before we hit the road today. Our timing was tight because we had to check out of our hotel by 11:00 am. So, we found a county forest nearby and planned to meet back at the car in 30-40 minutes. There was one big loop trail that looked well marked - what could go wrong? Well...somehow I ended off the trail, bushwhacked through a ton of thorns, found another trail, ran it one way, decided it was the wrong way, ran it back the other way, eventually came out to a road, started stopping cars and asking people how to get back to where I'd started and ran about 5-6 miles of roads before I got back to our starting point. Geoff was out looking for me, but arrived back shortly after. He said he wasn't going to panic for another few hours, but I have to admit at one point it was the most scared I'd been on this entire trip! I also couldn't help but think about what would have happened if I'd have been in Mexico when this happened. I would have run into a family who would have invited me into their house for some beans and tortillas before personally escorting me back to the trailhead on their burros. Man, I miss Mexico already!

We are supposed to be leaving today (actually about an hour ago), so I set my alarm early to get one last run in. Ran alongside the river as the sun was rising - it was tempting to cancel the run to take pictures instead - but since I'm looking at the prospect of an 18-24 haul to the border, I figured the run was more important!

Spent the weekend in bed with another bout of something, although this time it might have been fuelled by tequila instead of vegetables. Fortunately, you can buy Cipro in any pharmacy here for dirt cheap ($4 versus the $25 I paid in Canada), so I did another round and spent a couple of days recuperating from camp by getting caught up on all my favorite tv shows. Today was the last day that I'll probably get to do this particular run, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Biking from Jalcomulco to Veracruz with the campers. I was terrified of doing this ride with 4 strong guys but I felt really strong and had no trouble keeping and sometimes setting the pace. Great last day of camp!

Half day of trekking and canyoneering back to Jalcomulco.

Awesome day of whitewater paddling. Think I'm going to have to get a boat when I get home (and then move closer to some whitewater)!

Hike up to base camp at Orizaba to 4200m. Got a little lightheaded and woozy but much better than Toluca a couple of weeks ago. Just had to remind myself that it woudl go away eventually.

My first experience course setting! Set up Geoff's night nav course for tomorrow night. I had been to all the points 4 years ago when we first did it and was amazed at how familiar all the locations looked. I think I made it too easy but I guess we'll see :)

C • Course 2

Down the Pescados section of the river in a duckie. We were the only boat not to swim so my guide felt it appropriate to push me out of the boat once we got back to town. I warned him that he'd go down with me and managed to grab his lifejacket and pull him in with me. Ha ha.

Still not recovered completely from my unfortunate stomach incident, but well enough that I am out of bed and was able to do photos for the camp today. If I continue to take 300 shots a day, I'm going to have a lot of work to do at the end of the week!

Before I left for Mexico, I got a prescription for Cipro, mainly because I thought if I had it, I'd never need it. I've never had food or stomach troubles here before, but nor have I ever prepared all my own food. No one here drinks the water, but we've gotten into the habit of washing our vegetables hastily with it, without usually using the fruit and veggie wash. I believe that the delicious bowl of raw jicama, carrots, and peppers that I noshed on yesterday afternoon has come back to haunt me...I've been bedridden all day and gave it until 4:00 pm until I broke out the Cipro. On the plus side, it's given me lots of time to watch all of the TV shows I've downloaded but never have time for. And, at least (I guess) that $23 for Cipro wasn't such a waste after all...sigh.

C • get better! 9

GPS'ing a point for next week's race at camp.

Geoff and I went hunting for some trails to replace a bushwhack section for trekking during next week's camp. We were foiled during our first attempt...and our second...but our third was successful!

Lots of work to catch up on after being on hiatus for a few days. Left my bike ride until the afternoon when motivation was waning, so a quick ride up and down the mesa before sunset was all I could muster.