Training Log Archive: Bash

The report is coming in stages. I've written up our Tierra Viva pre-race adventures. Not surprisingly, I have more photos of this part of the trip than I do of the race itself!

For some reason, I was keen to get back to this so I was a little surprised at how tired my paddling muscles felt. We didn't do *that* much paddling at Tierra Viva but I guess our upper bodies got rattled pretty hard when we biked downhill on the washboard roads.

Hingo dropped by afterward looking awesome after losing 10 lb at TV. I lost 1 lb but it's not going to last if I keep scarfing down food at my current rate. Twice this weekend we've been at a restaurant where the server has put my meal (the "boy meal") in front of 'Bent by mistake. "No, he's having the healthy grilled pickerel filet with steamed vegetables and rice. I'm having the huge slab of prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and creamy scalloped potatoes, thank you. And please set aside a slice of that flourless chocolate cake with whipped cream."

Current trail conditions are great for strength and toughness training but not so great for trying to run properly. We're lucky to live in an area of hilly gravel roads so we can get a trail-like workout when things are messy in the woods. I went around our country block (9.36 km loop from the house, 58:48) and finished with a quick climb to the summit of Mt. Tobler in front of our house, just to make it an even hour. I suppose I should finish all my runs with a few hills to get accustomed to climbing steep slopes on tired legs. Conditions were good except for the kilometer of Duffy's Lane that is closed in winter; it was mostly snow and ice.

Running felt pretty good - light and easy. After Tierra Viva, any activity where I don't have to wear a 22+ lb pack feels easy. I stopped for a chat with Crash and Peter, who were heading to the Hockley Store on their bikes. Looks like the beautiful sun is gone and rain is coming, so I hope they don't get soaked.

Highlands Nordic is open for skiing today but starting tomorrow, I will officially get on Harps' bandwagon and admit that I'm ready for spring. Winter has had a good run and skiing is over until November. It took me awhile but I'm ready to accept that now. :)

Now *this* is smart! Paris Marathon organizers plan to use some of the runners' power to generate electricity to power the event.
http://runningmagazine.ca/2013/04/sections/news/pa...

I can feel the fatigue in my legs but this still felt worthwhile. I even tried a new power drill - hopping upstairs to the 2nd floor on one foot. My one fast twitch fibre is tired now.

Rodney Yee Power Yoga for Flexibility. It feels good to move and stretch although I had a couple of coughing fits when I hit a position that aggravated my throat. The volcanic ash we inhaled while biking has left me with a few mild respiratory symptoms. From what I've read, this is not unusual and shouldn't last long - like breathing in regular road dust. I would put a Buff over my face if I were doing Tierra Viva again.

It's always like this around our place except usually it's BazingaDog pushing BulletDog out of the way. Right now, I'm the one eating everything I can find in a vain attempt to satisfy my post-expedition race appetite! Fortunately, the cupboard is nearly empty of chocolate now so I will soon be forced to make healthier choices.

UTMB waits for no one, and it's less than 5 months away so I'm a little behind on my preparation. I'll have to hope that all the climbing in the Andes had some positive impact on my fitness. My feet have a few small blisters and I'm not exactly a powerhouse right now but all things considered, this run felt pretty good. The variable trail conditions (polished hard ice, slush, mud, ankle-deep snow, cold pools of water) reduced the pace more than my state of fatigue.

Now I have to head into Toronto for a Salomon runners' meeting. They've asked me to bring my dirty shoes and race bib from Tierra Viva for the Salomon Store window display. They may be sorry! Let's hope I can stay awake for the meeting and the late night drive home.

Breakfast burrito in Dallas after our flight was rerouted. Memories of the years when Hingo and I worked for Texas Instruments. Looking forward to being home!!