Training Log Archive: Bash

I was limping noticeably on my injured ankle Friday night but after 24 hours, it had improved a lot. The pain wasn't gone but it wasn't severe and there was no feeling of instability - at least no more than usual. I guess I really did injure it in a different way. Not sure whether I should be pleased about that.

If I weren't in such a beautiful place, I'd rest it longer but both 'Bent and I wanted to get out on a trail one more time before heading home. We parked near the crossroads and ran in to join the Mizzy Lake Loop. It's known for its wildlife but the closest we came today was a couple of other adventure racers. A few kilometers of this run follow the old railway line.



Some of it is a smooth forest path.



There are some long boardwalks.



But mostly it's rocky and rooty - and very muddy in places at the moment.



We went past a few lakes and ponds.





The autumn colours have been getting better every day that we're up here.









We did the last 3.5 km as a tempo run along the old rail line with 'Bent literally running circles around me. I think he is ready for his first 50K this Saturday. The trails in Algonquin are a lot more technical than Run for the Toad. We've been working on a pacing plan so he doesn't go out too hard on his first lap. I've been reading "Chi Running" again while we've been up here so my goal is just to run 25K with decent posture. (I say "just" as if this will be easy. It's not. I'm unlikely to succeed.)

Great weekend up north! :)

Ankle still sore so we took an afternoon excursion to the Algonquin Art Gallery and took a few pics along the route.

'Bent and I went for an easy paddle from Arowhon Pines lodge on Little Joe Lake to Joe Lake and around to Camp Arowhon on Tepee Lake. Arowhon Pines was built in the 1930s and originally provided accommodation for parents visiting their children at the camp.



As always, we paddled past our wedding rock. It's such a great campsite that it's seldom unoccupied, so we rarely get to go ashore. This weekend was no exception.



The weather was chilly and sometimes wet but there were lots of canoe trippers enjoying the autumn leaves.



We poked around little bays and behind islands. Sometimes it's nice to just paddle without any particular purpose.





We found a PFD and pool noodle floating around that belonged to the camp so we returned them to one of the watersports areas.



I got fascinated with all their yellow canoes.






'Bent was more intrigued by the beautiful - but structurally unsound - old boathouse.



The clouds hinted at storms but the weather defied the forecast while we paddled. The afternoon brought rain.





The Arowhon Pines Saturday lunch buffet is one of my favourite pig-outs of the year so we picked up the pace to get back in time. I wouldn't want other guests to finish off the Maple Mousse!







(Time deducted for stops.) (Started with GPS on Auto-pause but it was too annoying and, based on the track, clearly wasn't working!)

Every year 'Bent and I spend a weekend in Algonquin Park at Arowhon Pines, the lodge where we and our guests stayed for our wedding. Given that our normal excursions into the wilderness involve wading through swamps, guzzling mud-covered snacks, and bashing various body parts against rocks, it's nice to have this annual excuse to sleep indoors and enjoy yummy food in a beautiful place.

We ran the Centennial Ridges Trail today; a lot of Ontarians are familiar with this scenic trail near the Algonquin Visitor's Centre. If anyone is looking for a road trip, this trail (and all the park) will have spectacular autumn scenery for the next ten days or so. The colours changed during our time up there but next weekend will be the peak.



The visitor's guide for this trail warns that it will take at least 6 hours to do 10.8 km! No, it's not that tough although you could certainly get distracted taking photos and enjoying your lunch. A lot of it is rocky and rooty, and there are some good climbs and descents to get on and off the ridges. But it's all worth it for the incredible views to the west and the scenic ponds the trail passes enroute.

This is the top of the lower ridge. In the background is Whitefish Lake where 'Bent and I got engaged on skis.



The running was fun until about 60% of the way through when my left foot pushed off from the back side of a small rock that was sloping away from me. A small root arched across the lower part of the rock, and apparently my toes were underneath it as I pushed. There was a loud snapping noise as the root broke, which freaked out both 'Bent and me since it took a moment to determine that it wasn't one of my body parts. My toes ended up bruised, and the forward momentum pulled my ankle up away from the rest of my foot (ouch!). Then, because it was my bad ankle, it turned for good measure. OUCH!

Unfortunately, I'm so experienced at this stoopid ankle business now that I instantly rated it a 6/10, which probably meant no running for the rest of the weekend, possibly skipping Run for the Toad next weekend, and definitely feeling it at the Oil Creek 100K in three weeks. The sudden "lift" of the ankle was different - pain in new places - so I couldn't be sure. At least I'm glad it was my bad ankle since it hasn't got much further to go downhill.

After a few minutes, we returned to running very, very carefully. It's such a beautiful trail that even an injury can't ruin it! After our run, I checked my phone to see how Snowpants was doing at ARWC. Just as we lost cell signal on our way into the lodge, they were 500 m ahead of AXA Adidas near the finish of the race. Suspense! :)

























[Distance recorded is official trail distance since my Garmin won't be as accurate on a trail like this.]

Lots of fun planned in the great outdoors over the next few days in spite of the forecast!

For once 'Bent and the dogs were still sleeping at sunrise, which suits me just fine. But my left forearm suddenly became extremely itchy, which woke me up, and I scratched it even though I knew I shouldn't. It got worse and I stumbled around the house until I found the anti-itch cream that had been mandatory gear for some long-ago adventure race. It didn't help immediately, and it may have just been the passage of time without scratching that calmed it down. But holy crap, that is awful. I've had lots of experience dealing with pain but I've never thought about how incapacitating it must be for people with chronic itchiness. No clues whatsoever from looking at my skin but I spent several hours this weekend running around in really icky vegetation - pollen, burrs, sap - so hopefully it's a delayed reaction.

Ran to Centreville Creek Rd. mostly on the rooty, rolling Bruce Side Trail. It was cool today and I was surprised to experience what 'Bent described earlier this week - a feeling that running on flat ground was like running downhill. I've worked on heat acclimation over the past few months, which has been beneficial but not all that pleasant. My body actually *likes* running in autumn temperatures; I'd almost forgotten this feeling.

When I got to Centreville Creek Rd., I stopped briefly to google "rabies itchy skin" - yes, I have a wee bit of hypochondriac in me. :)

I started out just working on posture, hips forward, short stride and high cadence - all of which blend together. Then when I felt so good, I turned it into a tempo run and included a few pick-ups to 10K trail race pace. Still slow by most people's standards but a fast trail training session for me.

Then because BulletDog is a good girl and deserves it, I took her out for a cooldown run in Palgrave West. We misinterpreted a trail detour 'Bent had explained and ended up surrounded by poison ivy. Sigh... When I got back, I had to wash BulletDog's legs with soap before she could come in the house, and my shoes are awaiting their poison ivy wash next. (I now have 3 pairs of shoes sitting outside for that reason.) But it was fun to run with my pooch anyway!

81-year-old Canadian Ed Whitlock broke the half-marathon world record for 80+ in Milton on Sunday - 1:38:59. How many people ever run a half-marathon that fast at any time of life?

http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/09/18/ed-whitloc...