Training Log Archive: Bash

Timato, Mrs. Tiny, Heidi and I met to do the most dreaded challenge in the Coast Mountain Trail Running Winter Scavenger Hunt today: the Nog Jog. Aubrey, Hanna and 'Bent were our amused spectators.

Based on the beer mile, we ran 4 laps on a (slushy) track. Before each lap, we chugged a large glass of non-alcoholic egg nog or equivalent drink. The recommended total quantity was 1.4 Litres, as per the beer mile standard, but I felt that 1 Litre (880 calories!!!!) would be more than enough. I finished and kept it down but this will never, EVER happen again.

I just finished my holiday newsletter this morning so it was the first day I could consider doing the CMTR Holiday Card challenge, which is supposed to involve a physical card. There are several challenges that need to happen before Christmas so I'll have to plan this week carefully.

I left it until late afternoon, assuming it would be a 30-minute run/hike but it turned out to be a 60-minute minimum. Oops! Luckily, 'Bent and the pooches agreed to join me for a night hike in Palgrave Forest while the snow gently fell. I played a few "winter wonderland" songs on my phone. It was the first time that AdventureDog and I had tried our new Noxgear lighted vests and they are great! I didn't need to wear it tonight; it's more useful for roads. It is nice to be able to see A-Dog in the dark even though he is 100% trustworthy - unlike an unnamed dog who also lives in our home.

My gimpy right foot has been doing much better lately but I must have tweaked something in my heel during my run on Thursday, which hobbled me half an hour later. It responded well to icing but it was sore just hiking tonight. Hmm.

What a wild week. A week ago on Wednesday, 'Bent went for his flu vaccine, something he always does as a health care provider. The pharmacy was out of the flu shot but said he was just young enough for the nasal flu vaccine where they spray live attenuated (weakened) flu virus up your nose and challenge your immune system. (I'm a few months too old for that one.)

Not surprisingly, a common side effect of getting live flu virus sprayed up your nose is that you get flu symptoms. Last Friday, two days after the vaccine, 'Bent got a runny nose. By Saturday, he also felt fatigued and had a dry cough. Oh crap. Luckily, 'Bent didn't plan to run or ski with anyone over the weekend.

By Sunday, he felt energetic again but still had the cough and runny nose. We hoped he'd wake up feeling perfect on Monday morning before returning to work on Tuesday. Unfortunately, although he felt good, he still had a slightly gravelly voice and occasional cough. So it was time for a Covid test, knowing the impact it would have on his busy work week. The first appointment he could get was Monday at 8 pm. (If this happens again, we'll go for the test sooner, rather than waiting for symptoms to subside.) Btw the protocol for household members (me) in this case is to continue going to work/school and monitor for symptoms. I stayed symptom-free.

By Tuesday, he felt fine and likely would have passed the Covid questionnaire to get into the office - but of course, he had to self-isolate while waiting for test results. They didn't arrive until the wee hours of Friday, by which time all dental appointments for the week had been cancelled, including some patients who needed emergency care before the holidays. His staff found ways to accommodate everyone and referred some people out but it was a stressful week for 'Bent to be sitting at home just a few kms away, unable to help patients and unable to even leave our property. He spent time thinking up tasks for staff so they wouldn't lose work hours before the holidays, and he took a dental course online. There was no other choice but it showed us how much impact a small event in our lives could have on a large number of people in these crazy times.

Jill and I met up for the CMTR "Dreaming of Summer" challenge. It involves a minimum 35-minute run and whatever else you want to do. We decided to hang out on the newly expanded C3 quarry beach, do a little yoga and go for a paddle.

There's a grass running route above the quarry beside Hwy 10 - not the best for conversation but we got our time in.



Then we headed down to the water's edge.



We spent a while sunbathing and pretend-drinking adult beverages.



Then we headed down to the water for some SUP yoga. Caron was filming and she walked us through a 2-minute "class".



Then we went for a nice paddle. Well, we *would* have, if we'd been able to break the ice.



At the end, we ripped off our masks because we were Dreaming of Summer 2021. Of course, we had to stand *extra* far apart for this one.



Caron made a short film of our Summer Dream.

AdventureDog and I ran to Palgrave East to meet Jill. The trails were fairly icy and she didn't have her spikes so we hiked instead of running. Then A-Dog and I ran home. We had a great chat in nice, crisp weather. We were doing the CMTR Winter Scavenger Hunt Re-Run challenge where you go out for at least 60 minutes and choose 3 items from your house to donate.

Jill's items were really good - winter coat, hat, mittens and boots. Mine followed last week's theme of "Let It Go", and each item had its own theme to help me reduce stuff more in future.

My first item was a short skirt that doesn't suit me. I need to get better at admitting that certain clothes will never get worn even though there's nothing wrong with them.

Second item was a very old copy of "Great Expectations" that I still hadn't read yet. If I ever get the urge, I'm sure I can find another copy. I have tons of books and there are some that I'll probably never find time to read - or re-read - no matter how good they are.

Third, I gave away a long-ago gift from a friend - bone-shaped cookie cutters for homemade dog biscuits. I've never used them. I can't imagine taking time to make dog biscuits although I know some people do. Previously, I'd felt bad about giving them away because they came from a friend but if the situation were reversed, I know I wouldn't care at all. It doesn't reflect on the friendship.

Before Covid hit, I had great plans for clearing out stuff but pandemics are surprisingly busy.