With the Kettle 100K three weeks from today, this was the weekend for a final long run. I did a 50K race three weeks ago so I figured I should be OK but I haven't run a lot this year so you never know! I went somewhere between 50K and 100K pace (i.e. lots of hill walking), and boy does that feel good!
Sarah P and her husky Mika joined me for the first part of the run, which was a Hockley Loop starting at the northwest corner. Mika was the perfect pacer for today's run since she took breaks to drink from streams, and we didn't want her going too quickly up or down hills. Great company - the time flew.
They went back to their car when I turned north toward Mono Cliffs. I'd hidden an "aid station" cooler in the woods by 15th Sideroad so I stopped for Coke and a cold water refill. Then I headed up to Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, which I don't know very well. I'd thought about doing two Hockley Loops but I wanted a change. Mono Cliffs had lots of apple trees in blossom; clearly, an autumn expedition will be required.
I added a couple of gravel road hills since the route is not quite as hilly up there. The best hill I found today was on my drive home. (Actually, to Dairy Queen.) On 3rd Line just north of Hockley Rd., you can start at the northern bridge and gain 100 m as you go north 1.3 km. There is access to the Glen Cross Side Trail from 3rd Line so it doesn't all have to be boring.
I felt good. No blisters, dizziness, sore knee (which I had most of this week), sore hip, sore feet - yay. Fingers crossed, I think I'm ready to run 100K in a few weeks. The other, bigger challenge will be running 101K in the Alps two months from now. I need to do a *lot* more hill climbing over the next while.