Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Quebec Mega Trail 50k.

2019 Quebec Mega Trail from Richard Ehrlich on Vimeo.

This race was unusually well organized. They warned us that the first half is much more difficult than it appears from the profile as it is very technical.
It was heavy fog when we got in the busses, but cleared up a bit. Very humid, and the trails were full of mud. Poles were banned until the 23km mark, but would have been excellent. Lots of traffic, but moving fast.
I had GoPro problems, which meant a break where I had to re-pass some less confident runners.
The dreaded Mestachibo section is basically in and out of the canyon Ste. Anne, with lots of scrambling on slippery rocks and a ton of stairs. Some nice scenery though, with the roaring river. I was glad to have great traction, as a lot of folks were having issues and taking mud baths.

I got to the aid station at the base of Mt. St Anne, fixed a blister and refilled liquids.
I was so glad to get my poles, as next stop was the summit. We climbed through fog into steamy heat, then full sun near the summit on ski slopes. I was feeling good but trying to protect my stomach on the climbs and my knee on the descents. We dropped back down, then re-climbed all they way back up a twisty trail with a surprising number of black flies. At the summit aid station there were hints of queasiness but I got some fruit and coke down.

From this point it was a long descent, then a long easy climb up the xc ski trails, and generally steady down on some road and some slippery singletrack beside another raging river. Normally I’d bomb this kind of running, but my gut shut down around the 45k mark, and I had to ultra-shuffle, walk off every sip of water and walk every uphill, even with booming thunder as incentive.

I finished mid pack, and got a finisher beer, but I had to go lie down and it took me an hour to sip the beer and some water. I was still too nauseated all afternoon and evening to eat anything much. I saw lots of 108km runners come in looking a lot better than I did! On the bright side, my knee was a non-factor.

Bash’s phone had died, but a woman she ran with was able to contact her partner who updated me. Bruno and I waited at the finish, and Bash came in looking strong after 80km+. Her friend Genevieve was the last finisher in the 50miler, but there were lots of drnfs.

C • Congrats! 12

Easy spin to work. No dogs.

Note- knee is feeling improved. Still a bit sore, but hopefully close to 100% for the Quebec Mega Trail ultra this weekend. I certainly took the taper seriously.

C • Good luck this weekend! 3

Lumberjack- shot-putted about half a ton of wood, split a couple of loads, hauled and stacked one. Also some rehab and core.

Knee friendly hike/jog to work sans pooch.

Easy trot in with the big boy. Knee is a bit better.

Knee was sore again yesterday evening, despite an easy weekend.
Spun very light gears to work with the big boy.

Biked Charlevoix trails for a lap with the big boy, then a second lap by myself of Palgrave singletrack. Had the place to myself, because everyone’s at the 24 hour at Albion. Perfect conditions, absolutely perfect.

C • erg?! 2

Nice brisk run around the ‘hood with VO2Maxx. Well, brisk for me, he chatted easily. Good to catch up with the lad. (Forgot to restart my Garmin a couple of times.)

Note- Traded vintage bike parts for organic flax seeds- glad he can keep his old bike on the trails.

My knee felt better after 2 days of rest.

Took Schlep and AD out for a tour of the bigger hills in the area. I ran the flats and downs, and pole-hiked the ups. Schlep turns hills into mountains.

Hauled, split and stacked 1 load of wood.

Easy run in with BZdog. Warm- soaked the big boy down.

Easy run home at dusk. Ran into a group of ladies and a girl walking in the near dark, accompanied by 4 Cane Corso Mastiffs. Not often that Bazingadog seems petite. They said that 2 of them are not good with other dogs, so we walked behind them for a bit until we turned off.

Note- feeling my knee a bit after the schlepping.

Easy ride with the big boy.

Hike up and trot down the Grind.

Paddle down the Beaver with Bash, Tarno and Milla. At first Adventuredog was in the tub with me and Tarno while the ladies paddled the fast boat, but he was awful- restless, whining, going from side to side constantly- until we switched Bash in and Tarno out, then he was just fine. Very nice paddle, and Kimberly Store sandwiches too.

Workout at ABC gym. My buddy Spider was just finishing up.

Pretty River with Tarno and Bazingadog. Logan had to sit this one out to rest his shoulder. Rainy at first, and lots of mud but it cleared up. Forest is amazing!

Just some speed intervals on the trails and rail trail from ABC.

Commute in heavy rain with the big boy. Dodged storms coming home.

Mixed run around Palgrave West. Some fast trail runs, some hard trail hill intervals, some bushwhack pole-hikes up steep hills.

Easy ride in with Bazingadog, and a fast blast through the singletrack on the way home sans pooch.

Soggy run with the big guy. AD needs to rest his sore shoulder.

Fast 2-dog run to the wheelie pond and back.

Doubletrack and singletrack via the North loops to the office to pick up the van.

Hockleycrest to the Pinnacles, then repeats on all the biggest hills from the different directions. I’d hoped to get more time and distance in, but last time I started further South for my long hill run it seems.
Bash ran too, and we kept passing on the trails. Magnificent spring day.

Commute with the big guy.

Hauled and split a big load of wood from the bush, then did most of workout #1 plus rehab.

Too nasty to run in to work.

Easy run in with BzDog. We scouted out a new Poison Ivy bypass for a small but nasty section where I had formerly laid carpets over the grass, but they got removed.

Easy ride in with AD- legs are feeling the weekend.
Saw 3 deer, and an entire herd of very free range cattle on the trail- the farm cows got out! They were back home when I returned.

4.5 repeats up Georgian Peaks on tired legs. Solid workout, if a bit boring.

Circumnavigation of Beaver Valley with Goose.
Gorgeous forest for the most part, with acres of trilliums, lots of Jacks in the Pulpit and wild leeks, spring birds, impressive waterfalls etc.

I was feeling my knee a bit from last week, but otherwise ok. Goose was sporting a brace on his sprained ankle and we both used poles.