Training Log Archive: Bash

Congratulations to Crash on her graduation today! :-)

(21.8 km according to Bruce Trail folks, but I'll use the Garmin distance.) Met up with Dee, Aud, KBomb and their friend Paul at Hockley Valley to do the infamous, hilly Hockley loop. (The serious runners were doing it twice!) Aud and Paul were in the lead group, and I tried to surreptitiously join the back group where Dee (with injured hammy) was running with KBomb. Aud was having none of that, so the three of us ran together for 5 km, catching up on news. She and Paul are both preparing for races and running really well. I knew my sluggish pace wouldn't do their training any good, so even though they were being very accommodating, I asked them to go ahead. (Paul is aiming to break 60 minutes at a 10-miler next weekend, fergawd's sake!)

I wasn't 100% sure that the others were coming from behind, since Dee had brought her bike in case she was hurting too much, and KBomb had mentioned doing some of the nice loops in Hockley Valley Provincial Park. So I just kept going and looked back on the open stretches in case they were approaching.

What a perfect day for running! Overcast and cool, but warm enough for short sleeves and capris. In 3 hrs, I saw about a dozen other people on the trail, and the forest was beautiful with all the leaves down. This loop includes a number of steep climbs and descents, and I walked a lot of the uphills. I had the option of bailing back to the car at Hockley Road, but I felt good and decided to run the trail on the south side of the valley as well. It's funny - even though I was alone, I felt the presence of the other runners on different parts of the loop, and I was in good spirits. I never would have done this long run today if they hadn't got me out there! Every once in awhile, I'd see a running shoe print on the trail, and that was a relief. The trail has been rerouted more than I knew since the last BT book was printed, and I was hoping that the others would recognize the new location of the Hockley Heights Side Trail turn-off, which used to be the junction of two roads, but is now on a new forest trail.

Toward the end, I tried to break 3 hrs, but missed by 31 seconds. Since that includes 200 m each way between the new Hockley Road parking lot and the Bruce Trail, I'll call it a success anyway! I was happy to see Dee's bike still in her car. Hope that means her leg felt fine for the run. Can't wait to hear how everyone else's run went!

Huge congratulations to Team ATP/Salomon - Leanimal, PhattyJR, STORM and Scott - for completing the very challenging Adventure Racing World Championship race. They were tough competitors to the end, going out for a final bonus point near the finish after almost a week of racing. It's been a confusing event to follow, and it sounds like it was almost as confusing to race it. Can't wait to hear their stories and see some pics!

At age 13, ThunderDog's exploration range is limited if she always starts from home. To keep things interesting for her, 'Bent and I drove the pooches to the north entrance of Palgrave East and hiked around there for half an hour. 'Bent is on the injured list with a swollen knee, so he hobbled along with ski poles. It was probably at the edge of what both 'Bent and ThunderDog can do.

After dropping them off at the car, BulletDog and I set off for a light run home on trails. We met Crash and Skyerocket in the middle of the conservation area and hiked back to their place with them before running a final loop in Palgrave West. What a spectacular day! Dogs are now stretched out and snoring, lying bum-to-bum on the loveseat and waiting for someone to light the fireplace.

I'm scheduled to run the tough 21-km Hockley Bruce Trail loop with Dee and Aud tomorrow. Not sure I'll be able to keep up with two serious ultrarunners even on a long slow run, but it'll be fun trying. (I hope!!!) They'll be going out to do a 2nd 21-km loop after our "warm-up".

Rodney - Yoga for Flexibility
Didn't feel very flexible after 9 days without yoga - and a 30 km cross-country race.

Coach LD and I did a pole run around Cold Creek Conservation Area. Not sure how I've lived in Caledon - and before that King Township - for almost 20 years without ever going there. It used to be known for its shooting range, then it was officially closed for awhile. Now it is looking well maintained again. Nice hilly trails, beautiful forest and bogs, very cool long boardwalk. Great company and a yummy dinner afterward!

Donated blood today and, as often happens, came close to being rejected due to low iron level. Sigh... it's not fair that I have to race against people with hemoglobin!