Training Log Archive: Bash

Cool! I just noticed that I logged my 5,000th training session on Attackpoint last week. Thank you, Ken!

'Bent and I could do more with our C3 Triathlon Club membership, and one of the benefits is legal use of a nearby quarry lake during the triathletes' swim training sessions. We were invited to bring our kayaks. It's not huge - a tour of the lakeshore is about 3.3 km - but the water is clean. When we paddle close to home, we usually go to Island Lake but it gets weedier as the summer goes on, and the beach is usually closed by mid-season due to bacterial contamination. So this will be a good alternative.

Unlike the last time we switched boats partway, I was faster in the Eclipse kayak (after 3.2 km) than the surfski. I await 'Bent's download to see what happened with his speed.

I apologized to Sean Bechtel for Dee and Mrs. Gally trying to scare him off the rail trail this week. ;)

My first attempt at a double Hockley Loop ended in a DNF. :(

Things got off to a great start with Myka agreeing to join me for Loop 1 at a slow pace in anticipation of a long day. We were walking most of the uphills unless the slope was really gentle, like one would do in a long race. We had a nice conversation for the whole run. Although the clouds looked threatening, the rain never came, and we even had some sun. We passed by a tiny fawn waiting for his mother (we hope!) in the long grass. We ran into other runners - my Facebook friend Scott Garrett and his friend Aaron.



And then after 9 km, I turned my stupid ankle again while pointing out poison ivy instead of watching where my feet were going. It's always something dumb like that. It's been a long time since the last crunch - some time in 2012, I think. This was probably only a 5 out of 10 but it wasn't one of those ankle sprains that goes away after a few minutes.

We went a bit further, then I stopped to tape it up. For the rest of the run, I was going back and forth about whether to do the 2nd loop. I really wanted to. I'd planned the day around it, my car was stocked up to be an aid station between loops, 'Bent had gone to visit his Mom for the day, and I really felt like I was at the halfway point as I approached the end of Loop 1. But I got occasional stabbing pains beneath my medial ankle bone, and I started thinking through the rationale for doing two Hockleys. It wasn't about fitness; it was about letting my body get used to pounding the trail for 6-7 hours. Given that my gait was affected by the pain, I wasn't going to get the proper benefit from the training session. I've also got some big stuff coming up - course testing for Wilderness Traverse on Monday and Tuesday, ESAR next weekend, and a longer training run on the 22nd.

So Myka and I went for a nice lunch at the Black Birch, then I came home to an ice bath for my lower legs. Luckily, I'm not running for the next couple of days so I'm hoping that's all it needs... :(

One of the cool things about UTMB will be standing at the start with so many of the world's top ultrarunners - people I've read about in articles or seen in videos.

But guess where Kilian Jornet is going to be that weekend? In *Canada*, of all places! He'll be running the Salomon Meet Your Maker 50-miler in Whistler on Sept. 1.

This race also accepts relay teams, and Salomon is encouraging people to put together teams of up to 7 people with the goal of beating Kilian. Team Dontgetlost, are you out there? This sounds like fun!

Today I went to the local government office to report my missing health card and get a temporary one. When I learned there wasn't even a fee to get a new photo card made up and mailed, I mentioned that I've been feeling like a bad Canadian for not taking better card of my health card. The guy behind the desk rolled his eyes and said, "We could learn a thing or two from the States." "Um, about health care?" "Well, we *are* the lesser country."

So there you go.

Now I feel like a bad Canadian because my taxes are funding his secure government job.

If you're thinking of getting a Suunto Ambit2S, there's an incentive to run the Salomon 5 Peaks trail race at Rattlesnake this Saturday. If you visit the Salomon/Suunto tent, they will be handing out coupons for a free pair of men's or women's Salomon XR Missions (trail/road hybrid shoes) with the purchase of an Ambit2S before Sept. 1. I'm not sure if the promotion is only available at certain retailers but if you're going to Rattlesnake, you'll be close to a retailer where you can use it.

It is too late to register online but you can register onsite on race day until an hour before the race starts (8:45 deadline for a 9:45 start). There is a kids' race before the adult race, which may give you another reason to go early.

Here is the DC Rainmaker review of the Ambit2 and Ambit2S. The lighter Ambit2S is considered to be the one that most runners would want. It is very similar but lacks barometric altimeter and temperature measurement, and its battery life is less - 8 hours in standard 1s recording mode and 25 hours in 60s mode. Ultrarunners would want the Ambit2, not the Ambit2S.

Great news for Boundless fans... The show has just been renewed for Season 2! :)

Mrs. Gally, Dee and I met at Albion Hills for a Tree Huggers team bike training session in preparation for ESAR next weekend. We would like to beat some boys. We did single track in the near-deserted conservation area, then we came out onto the rail trail and rode some hilly country roads for variety. We practised whizzing past one boy so fast it probably made his head spin. Not to brag but it was Sean Bechtel, one of Canada's top triathletes. But to be fair, he was on foot. With his dog. Coming toward us.

Mrs. Gally and I gently broke the news to Dee about our traditional team hairstyles for ESAR, designed each year by Mrs. G. Last time, in addition to our fluorescent fake braids, we had tiaras zip-tied to our bike helmets. Truly inspired. From Dee's facial expression, it was clear that we should have mentioned our little tradition before she agreed to race with us. But it's too late now.

It was perfect weather for riding - cloudy and mid-teens. We rode through our property as part of the loop and picked up 'Bent's old Garmin 305 for Mrs. Gally. Look out, world - she has a new toy, and she is excited!

Always lots of fun chasing the Fast Ladies. :)

Used bike computer distance. (32.7k on Ambit. With all the single track, that's about what I would have expected from the Garmin too.)

Missed my 2nd workout because I spent all evening looking for my health card, which mysteriously disappeared from my wallet. No success. I feel like a bad Canadian! :(

So I'll just share a thought for the day...

In addition to the usual routine, I added some bent and straight-legged calf stretches to keep my shin happy. (Not that it has been hurting at all since Sulphur weekend but I haven't gone for any 10 hour runs either.)

I also tried some running-specific strength exercises from the Adventure Science website. There are different levels and I contemplated skipping Level 1 but was glad I didn't. In the simplest-looking exercise, you stand with good posture touching the wall with back and lower legs. Then you raise one knee at a time, focusing on using the glutes of the stance leg, like a slow, controlled marching motion. I won't get anything from Level 1, I thought - except I noticed that my left glute engaged automatically when I lifted my right knee. My right glute didn't respond as well when I lifted the left knee, and I had to focus to use the correct muscles. Interesting! That's the hip that sometimes gets sore in ultras.

A little trail runner porn. ;)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329112/Sp...

BazingaDog and I went for a run around Palgrave East and West. With the nice, light feel of my Sense Ultras, I can fool myself into thinking I'm a real runner - until I see the post-run data.

A certain dog made a lot of stops to mark territory - and then for his grand finale, he rolled in coyote poop - bleaaghh! That's even worse to clean up than poison ivy. :(

I ran the Bruce Side Trail to the Glen Haffy stile, went around the hilly loop to the south, then returned on the same trail. Great day to be out - cool and sunny.

I listened to podcasts and the time flew by. "This American Life" was about why things aren't getting anywhere with climate change. They talked with a climatologist who works with farmers and hates to make waves, and a Republican politician who was elected 6 times, then got booted out because he believes the science of climate change. He has started an organization that is trying to convince conservatives to come around on the issue, using their language and priorities. He says that about 40% of Republican voters are also convinced and worried about climate change but it is still the kiss of death for a conservative politician to say such a thing in public so the votes tend to be 100% in the other direction. Frustrating - like the gun issue. The other podcast was Endurance Planet where they always talk a lot about Maffetone, and now that I'm reading the book, it makes more sense.

In both directions on the side trail, I passed the same man who made me nervous - the only person I saw on the trail at all. I was probably being paranoid but he didn't fit the mould of the usual Bruce Trail hiker. I'm quite familiar with the orienteering map in Glen Haffy so I was plotting my cross-country escape run - fortunately, completely unnecessary.

The Ambit continues to measure forested trail distances a little shorter than the Garmin or the bike computer. So although I may be getting slower, it's not happening as quickly as the statistics would indicate!

Congratulations to my parents on being honoured this evening on a donor wall at the University of Guelph for their support of sustainable food production research as part of The Better Planet Project. Mom and Dad met at a U of G frosh week dance in 1951 and have remained involved in the university ever since. Both of their classes of 1955 still have annual reunions with impressive attendance, considering that their classmates spread out across North America, and most of them have celebrated their 80th birthday.