Training Log Archive: Timato

This was Aubrey's first orienteering event. She did pretty well, but when the rain started she princessed out and decided to head back early.

Fun to be out in the woods and a great day organized by GHO.

C • Adorable 2

This was the ultra that I wanted to run. My plan going into this was to make sure I controlled my pace from the start, walk all uphills and try to get to 75 km without feeling like I could barely walk another step. In other words correct everything that I did wrong last year in Virgina.

For the first 25km I tried to make sure I kept the pace in check. I ended up leading a small group of about 4 guys through most of this section. As we came to the first aid station one guy took off on us (fine by me) and another pulled over for bio break. I guess this guy had decided to use me as his pacer because he worked hard up the switch back after the aid station to catch back up to me, but then just settled in to run with me, rather than pass me.

On Wednesday morning I'd woken with my right groin muscle feeling very tight. As the week progresses it started to loosen up, but I was still worried about it going into the race. During this 25 km section it was definitely a problem and started to actually hurt around 15 km. As I came into the aid station I wasn't sure I could keep going given how it felt. Of course having Dee there was what I needed as she just pointed out I should focus on the small goals. Take some vitamin I and just see how it feels for the next 25 km. Fair enough and off I went. I ended up running most of this section by myself although I did catch up to a couple who'd been running just ahead of me for the first part and then taken off. We ran together in the AS 4.

By now the groin was still bothering me and both hip flexors were now tight as I was compensating for the groin. Regardless, I figured I could get through it since I'd already covered half of the course (try not to think about the fact that half the course remaining was 50 km). As I left the aid station I caught and passed the couple from the previous section and never saw them again. I'd read enough reports online from different ultras to know that the last 25% of a race is almost always as tough as the first 75%. So now my goal was to make it to 75 km with something left in my legs for the push home. About halfway through the leg I was passed by another 100 km runner who was really looking strong. Turns out she was also from Pickering and running her first 100 km. We chatted very briefly, but then she took off as she was moving much faster than me.

Into 75 km and legs were feeling pretty good. I ran into Mrs. Gally at the aid station which was also a plesant surprise. Knowing that I only had to run 25 km to the finish felt great so I grabbed some noodles and started the trek up the hill out of the aid station. At about 1/3 of the way through the leg I ran into runner who passed me on the previous section. We chatted for a bit which was a nice pleasant break from listening to my own voice in my head for the first 10 hours.

As I hit the last water drop I was feeling great from the adrenalin of being this close to the finish. Down the hill and I only had 2.2 flat miles left into the finish. When I left AS 2 (at the 75 km) mark I had figured the last 25 km would take me roughly 4 hours, now I realized it was much closer to 3 hours and I was going to come in under 13 hours (almost the same time as my 50 miler from last year). Hit the bike path.. ok just worry about hitting the road you're almost there... turn on the road... just run down the road to the bridge and you're down.... cross the bridge... there's the finish.... Hell Yeah this babies in the bag. Crossing the finish line felt so great and made the whole thing worth it.

13th overall and got my first belt buckle.

A big speacial thanks to Dee for helping to support during this race, and of course Mrs. Tiny who lets me get away with a lot more than other new fathers to do these types of events.

C • Tiny in name, but a giant in talent 2

Light run around the park.

C • Have an espresso first? 3

A nice early morning run in the park. The sun was out and it felt so nice and warm compared to Saturday.

Various times during the day running around in the woods helping Nick to set controls. Including a session in the evening out at Hilton Falls.