Training Log Archive: Bash

Just read the Copenhagen Accord. Even though it's liberally sprinkled with weasel words, the world's governments could only agree to "note" it, not sign onto it as a legally binding agreement??

Speaking of which, 'Bent just found this quote in an opinion column on Copenhagen in the current edition of our local newspaper: "I’m an environmentalist. I’m not on the level of P.F. or Barb Campbell (and God love them for what they do) but I care, and I try." Oh my! My initial reaction was that I should e-mail the nice reporter a list of a couple dozen local citizens who do it better, but on second thought, I'll just smile and accept it as an unexpected (and undeserved) Christmas gift.

'Bent, Bulletdog and I went into Glen Haffy South, then headed into the bush west of the Bruce Trail into steep, hilly terrain where we snowshoed up the ridges and down the valleys, clambering over fallen logs, clinging to steep sidehills and balancing precariously on rocks as we crossed unfrozen streams. It's rare that we get to use the little climbing heels on our MSR snowshoes, but they saw a lot of action today. Fun!

'Bent, BulletDog and I went out in Palgrave with Tino and four women who wanted to try orienteering for the first time. I'm not a great coach of newbies, but I'm trying to improve because I've promised to lead a session for the local Cub Scouts in the spring - yikes! Most of the women showed a good aptitude for navigation, especially one who worked as an architect for many years. Hope we can get them to join the Caledon Navigators! BobTheNavigator, Phatty and Leanimal were out in the woods running around last week's contours-only course, so we caught a few glimpses of them. Brrrr, COLD!

Great run around Highlands Nordic on a perfect day - chilly enough to make it good for classic skiing and nice clear views down to Georgian Bay. Even more fun than my Thursday outing because of the awesome company - 'Bent, Tiny, Tommy Hillflyer and Phatty. BobTheNavigator was there too (the only car in the parking lot with a kayak on the roof!), but he was skate skiing with Sean Ruppel and co. We chatted a bit with Almageddon who was looking speedy as always. We kept up a good pace, and I took 14 minutes off the loop I did two days ago. Must do this again soon!

First skate ski of the season - and as always, it made me feel like a total loser. It's hard to convince myself that I *want* to skate since I feel soooo much more comfortable on my classic gear. But I made it around a hilly loop with only a few wimp-out stops, and it was definitely good for me. Coach LD informed me that I possess a tibialis muscle (who knew?), and that's what was hurting so much. Anyone know how to train up a tibialis?

It'll be easier next time. Really.

Thank you 'Bent for my fast new waxless skis! :-)
Lest anyone worry that I've gone to the dark side, I'm adding these skis to a stable that includes:
- 1 pr classic racing skis, waxable
- 2 prs classic touring skis (rock skis and good skis), both waxable
- 1 pr classic touring skis, waxless (now to become my rock waxless skis)
- 1 pr skate skis (still need rock skis for skating, but if I keep using this one pair for everything, it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy)

The Olympic torch made it to Bolton today!















Goose and Gosling are going to the Olympics!

OK, I hesitate to share this addictive website - addictive if you like navigation, that is. I have friends (you KNOW who you are) who have little interest in video games, but they are glued to the World of O "Route to Christmas" - a new race leg every day. It's great training if you're not able to get outdoors - and even if you are. Enjoy! (But don't say I didn't warn you.)
http://news.worldofo.com/

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! (As Lewis Carroll might say...) All week I'd been measuring my "to do" list vs. the weather forecast, hoping I'd reach a couple of milestones by this morning - and I did! The weather cooperated nicely by dumping lots of snow at Highlands Nordic yesterday, then turning sunny today. I headed north at lunchtime for a quick trip around the trails. Excellent conditions, lots of fun, big smile the whole time. :-)

Hard Core Live with Caron. She brought in the Olympic torch that Barrie carried yesterday, and we each had a chance to see how we would look as a torch bearer. Interesting fact: Immediately after they finish their leg, if the runner is buying his/her torch, it is disabled to prevent it from being lit again.

Mmm, yoga.

Anyone interested in a pair of Olympic round robin hockey tickets for Tues. Feb. 16 @9 p.m.? Section 316, Row 7. Paid $176.

First snowshoe run of the year... Only two months till I have to chase Coach LD for 3 hours in the Salomon Dontgetlost.ca Snowshoe Raid. I'd forgotten what hard work this is! Great to get out - it's been a busy week.

Busy year coming up and for some reason, I've been registering early for everything including:
- Stars Winter Adventure Race with 'Bent in Jan.
- Salomon Dontgetlost.ca Snowshoe Raid with Coach LD in Feb.
- FAC Deerhurst with 'Bent & Shifty in May
- Storm The Trent Trek Elite with 2-Min in May

As soon as we figure out which course to do, the Lowe Alpine Mountain Marathon will be added to the list. We need to find a good 24-hr rogaine too!

Since the topic of books came up in a comment below - and in honour of Christmas - I thought I'd share this link to the National Geographic Adventure Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time. Now that the magazine is defunct, I'm not sure what will happen to this list, so I'm going to print it. I've read a bunch of books they recommend, and the rest of the list is going to take me years to get through - and I look forward to it.

Their #1 choice is The Worst Journey in The World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a member of Scott's Antarctic expedition in 1910. I read this book last year. There is nothing more boring than the dry historical journals of some explorers (at least to me), but I love it when a writer from the past is able to spin a tale of incredible adventure, bringing me flashes of recognition and understanding based on my own experiences in the outdoors. It's cool to see that people back then were people just like us - not heroic caricatures. History comes alive when you can empathize with what someone felt a century ago - chilly toes on a winter trek, a stove that won't light, a tentmate's smelly socks or a damp sleeping bag. This book is very, very long, but it takes you into a frigid, windy world with no Goretex, wicking fabrics or outside communications. In the midst of the Antarctic winter, these very British adventurers gave scientific lectures after dinner for entertainment, cared for their horses and went on longer, tougher treks than most adventure racers would ever dream of doing.

Another well-written historical adventure book is "Scrambles Amongst the Alps" (1871) by Edward Whymper, the first person to climb the Matterhorn.

Coming off his Alberta Cup win last weekend, our Tree Hugger teammate VO2Max had another great weekend of nordic ski racing, this time at the Haywood Noram at Sovereign Lake, B.C. Saturday's15K skate race was a qualifier for the final three (I think) spots on Canada's Olympic team, so competition was stiff. VO2Max was 7th Canadian, racing credibly with - and ahead of - some of the big guns from both Canada and the U.S. (Cheesesteak tweeted from the race, which was almost as exciting as being there!) V-Max was among the top 10 Canadians in yesterday's skate sprint as well. The Olympics weren't his goal for this year, but this should help him get selected for an upcoming World Cup race, and hopefully he can keep up the good work for the national U23 team trials in early January. Yahoo!

While watching an old Daily Show with Al Gore. Jon's best question: "Since when is Truth more important than Convenience?"