Training Log Archive: Bash

Storm the 'Scarpment
Kelso

New format this year with traditional, sequential AR course. The race had a "lap" feel but with a different route each time we passed through an area. We had a nice mix of running, trekking, canoeing, SUP paddling and mountain biking with navigation throughout.

I teamed up with Jill Bishop in her first adventure race. She mostly races triathlon so this was a little different for her. She is an aerospace engineer and air force commander, which meant she brought some great skills to our team even without an AR background. As the race progressed, her technical biking skills improved to the point that I stopped looking over my shoulder; she was riding almost everything. She had a few falls but they looked surprisingly graceful and controlled. It wasn't until afterward that I learned she also has a black belt in karate. :)

Between the two of us, we had three bike mechanicals in the first lap. There was a team that had been riding and chatting with us earlier; they followed the directions I called out to Jill at each trail junction, joking that I sounded like I knew what I was doing. I was OK with it; they were friendly folks.

Karma paid me back later when one of them stopped when my chain got jammed and twisted tight against my bike frame. It took quite awhile to work free and we urged the guy several times to carry on with his race and let us struggle with it, but he refused to leave until my chain was working again. Then as a bonus, he fixed Jill's front brake. He can follow our team any time!

Jill is in my SUP yoga class so the 700 m SUP section was fun and almost relaxing. I did a 1-legged downward dog on our way to TA3, just for fun.

We decided to hike the foot navigation section since Jill hasn't been training endurance recently and we'd been out almost 5 hours by then. It was a good hike with no nav issues but we were hit by a torrential downpour partway through. We agreed that we wouldn't bother getting out our rain jackets since it was warm but it got breezy around the Farmer's Field and I started reconsidering the idea. That's when I remembered that I had left my rain jacket in my drop bag. Oops! We were fine - although not cozy warm - as long as we kept moving.

We missed the cut-off for the final bike section, which was fine by us, so we headed for the finish line. 'Bent and 3PinJim cheered us in; they had a great time racing together but unfortunately, 3Pin returned my husband broken (rib - we think).

Thanks to Storm, Browner and all the team for another fun day in the woods!



(Forgot to turn off the GPS so adjusted the data.)

Being trail captain for Virginia vs. Bruce for the past 48 hours was as exhausting as almost any AR I've done. When my fingers are less tired, I will type more.

If anyone is able to join the Virginia vs. Bruce run tomorrow (Wed.) late afternoon / early evening, probably in the Devil's Glen area, I'm looking for a pacer to help, as we just have one pacer for that section, and he has flu symptoms!

We prefer two pacers anyway - especially in the dark - to watch for trail markers. Unfortunately, the runners went more than half an hour out of their way this morning when they missed a tricky turn, which isn't much fun when you're running 890 km!

It's a slow jogging pace with a headlamp needed for a short while. We have water, etc. Virginia normally finishes running around 8 p.m. Please email or text me if you might be able to help. Thanks!

Btw she is doing really well but it's every bit as difficult as one might expect. By the end of today, she will probably have completed about 420 km, which means she will stop just before Kolapore, heading toward Blue Mountain. At the moment, she is still on pace for the female FKT although her main goal is just to finish and raise awareness and funds for Positive Mental Health for Youth.
http://virginiavsbruce.com

SUP paddling with our yoga class around the C3 Quarry. Three of us are doing Storm The 'Scarpment so Caron had us all do a 5-minute race around a triangular course marked by buoys. I was doing pretty well, leading the women and not far behind Commander Tim, who always leads the pack. Then I bungled my turn around the second buoy, losing my balance and falling backwards. By some miracle, I stayed on the SUP and didn't go swimming in the cold water. By the time I'd scrambled to my feet, the wily Lisa had snuck around the buoy and it was a sprint to the finish where she won by half a board. Fun! :)

Final SUP yoga class of the year - the first one where I wore thermal clothing instead of shorts and T-shirt. Caron made us live dangerously by focusing on balance poses. There were some splats onto the board but nobody went in the water. I'm going to miss my relaxing Monday nights at the quarry!