I met Virginia, Mrs. Gally and Brenda for the first part of their Hockley Loop. My role today was to teach Virginia how to use poles on a run since she will use them occasionally in her Bruce Trail through-run next month.
***Interrupting this log entry for a commercial message! Pacers are still needed for Virginia's run. She's leaving Tobermory Sept. 10, arriving in Niagara Sept. 22-25, and will be running 65-80 km daily at 5-6 kph (stops included). That means most days she will need 3-4 pacers since most people can't go the longer distances. It's best to have at least two pacers at a time so that someone's main job can be to watch for trail markers, which aren't always easy to see, especially in September with all the vegetation growth. She is particularly concerned about finding pacers for the hours of darkness - before 7 a.m. and after 7:30 p.m. - when her chance of injury will be higher in her exhausted state. If you may be interested, please comment here and we'll get you into the loop.***
I wasn't up for a full loop today so when we had followed the main Bruce to the north end of the final side trail in Hockley Provincial Park, I turned back and ran on side trails. It was an interesting run with a couple of conversation stops. I met Dave of Dave's Pinnacle (on the Bruce Trail near 5th Line) and a large volunteer crew rebuilding steps. I felt guilty, like I should stop and help, but I'll just remind everyone who runs on the Bruce to maintain a current membership to share in paying for trail and land costs. It's only $50/year, whether you buy an individual or family membership - a bargain for all the entertainment the trail gives us.
http://brucetrail.org/
Then I ran into Norm Nadon of Running Free Orangeville, a Facebook friend who became a real world friend today.
The bad news is that the point pain on top of my left foot from the Killarney loop is still there. It's weird. It feels like a bruise from too-tight shoelaces but it doesn't seem to be getting better. I can see and feel a soft bump but it only hurts if I push on it, which happens when the shoe presses on it when I run downhill. I think it may be some kind of mini-tendinitis. Not a big deal most of the time but it would make a long, hilly run pretty unpleasant.