Training Log Archive: Bash

Terry Fox Run, Palgrave - Caledon Rail Trail

Fun community event with runners, hikers, dog walkers, cyclists, parents pushing strollers, and toddlers toddling. The kilometer markers were definitely wonky - unless I really did a 3-minute kilometer, which I sincerely doubt. It seemed long for 10K, and one of the C3 runners estimated that it was about 500-600 meters too long. It felt good to be out running after a quiet week. I didn't go all out, and I doubt that I could have after our 24-hour trek last weekend.

Results don't matter in a TF run, but I was happy to be the 4th woman behind some super-fit people. I had Caron Shepley in sight until the 7th kilometer, then she demonstrated the value of actually training properly for running, and disappeared to finish in 3rd. She said she's planning to produce a second Hard Core Conditioning DVD, so we'll be able to alternate our forms of torture every week starting next year.

BulletDog placed 3rd overall, and Bent (holding her leash) was 4th. BulletDog raised around $640 for cancer research and may have been the highest-sponsored runner. Over the years, 'Bent has learned that he can get a lot more sponsorship for a dog than for himself!

Fun to chat to lots of different people, and managed to drum up some enthusiasm for our C3-Caledon Navigators orienteering event on Oct. 22.

Training at Hilton Falls West. From conversations at the national team training camp in January, I know that top orienteers enjoyed this terrain and didn't find it overly difficult, so it'll be great for a North American Championship. As for me, well... I just can't seem to master it after several practice sessions in this area. I feel that just by stepping on the map, half my IQ gets sucked out of my brain. It seems that whatever unconscious techniques I usually use to simplify the map are totally wrong for this terrain. Perhaps I'm being too defeatist - there were only a couple of controls that gave me problems, but the errors were time-consuming and frustrating because of my poor ability to relocate on this map. Unless there are multiple 2.5 m contour lines or big cliffs, I have a heck of a time seeing the lay of the land, especially with the leaves on the trees, so I tried to use some of the many rock features instead. However, they weren't all mapped on the older part of the map we were using, and even when they were mapped, I have a hard time distinguishing between different rock features. I'm sure there is a lot of judgement required when mapping something like this, and my boulder might be someone else's cliff.

Speaking of rock features, it was my first time back at Hilton Falls since twisting my ankle so badly there in mid-May, and it is a scary place for someone with a gimpy ankle! I didn't go too hard today, which was good for my heavily bandaged, blistered feet. After tomorrow morning's Terry Fox Run, I should be able to take the bandages off and stick to bare feet or backless sandals until Tuesday night - yahoo.

Most times when I drive home from Hilton Falls West, I contemplate taking up a new, easier sport like lawn darts, and today was one of those days.

Around Palgrave West with 'Bent, BulletDog and ThunderDog. It was my first time putting on real shoes since the rogaine five days ago. With considerable blister taping beforehand and some soft-backed running shoes, things went fine. I'm sure that it'll be more painful orienteering tomorrow on uneven ground in stiffer shoes, but I'm going to give it a shot. I forgot my ankle brace, but managed to avoid hitting any rocks or tree roots at the wrong angle. It's actually good to do some exercise without it to help regain my proprioception, but I'm not supposed to be running on trails without it just yet!

Leg strength routine while watching the Daily Show.

I haven't worn regular shoes since the rogaine - only backless sandals. The worst blister is still pretty bad, but the others are looking manageable with a bit of taping. I'd better try putting on some shoes tomorrow, since I've signed up to go orienteering at Hilton Falls on Saturday, and there is no sense driving all that way to find out that I can't do it.

Other than the feet, I had a 2-day headache this week, which was another reason not to feel like training - and I totally haven't felt like it! I think my body is telling me that it wasn't pleased that I did a 24-hr endurance event when I was just recovering from an upper respiratory infection.

I was supposed to do leg strength exercises yesterday, but the best I could do for my legs was an epsom salts bath and some stretching. The muscles are much less stiff today, but the blisters on my feet are still pretty bad. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with all the roads we travelled on.

I did my exercises while watching the Daily Show. Best George Bush quote from today's show: "I can't imagine Osama Bin Laden understanding the joys of Hanukkah."

Uh no, me either.

I did part of the Hard Core Conditioning DVD with 'Bent, knowing that I didn't have it in me to do it all today. 'Bent made it almost to the end, but was saved by yet another long power failure.