Training Log Archive: Bash

I've finally posted a report (mostly photos) of our relaxing Algonquin canoe trip with the Timato/Tiny family last weekend. Aubrey (Teeny Tiny) and AdventureDog were awesome rookie canoe trippers.
https://ar.attackpoint.org/viewlog.jsp/user_920/pe...

Hockley Provincial Park loop - out via the three side trails and back on the main Bruce Trail. I tried to push out of my comfort zone, which I don't do often enough. While the sun was behind clouds, it was beautiful summer running weather. When the clouds faded away, it got steamy. I encountered 4-5 dozen hikers at different times, most of whom were great. Many of them called out encouragement and at least one hiker took a photo of the crazy runner lady. But there are always a few people who just don't like being passed on a trail, no matter how polite you are. Luckily, they're a small minority.

I feel pretty good about this run, especially since I'm dragging an extra 5 lb uphill compared to a month ago when we returned from Italy. No ice cream for me this week!

Rode to and from Eugenius' 50th birthday party, hosted by his in-laws who live beside Albion Hills. Eugenius is a wine expert so we thought we might want to ride home on trails. :) It turned out to be like an Italian wedding banquet - incredible food and lots of it! Whenever we thought we were done, another overflowing platter came out the door. We tasted a few nice wines and some 50-year-old port but after this morning's run, I drank more water than anything else - and espresso. The ride home from their place is uphill - oooofff. Welcome to your new age group, Eugenius!

Hike around Kilgorie with Radek, 'Bent and AdventureDog. There are some good hills around here including a 2 km steady climb up 15th Sideroad, a rough back road that isn't maintained in winter and is partly designated as Bruce Trail. We bushwhacked past the Pine River Fishing Area and had a lovely lunch with Radek's family afterward. BazingaDog had to stay behind because of his knee injury but it turned out well because Radek's Mom felt sorry for him and cooked some steak!

Another Heat Warning today (aka Harps weather) and I lost my inspiration for a Hockley run. 'Bent and I went out at high noon for a very warm ride around the Palgrave East single track. At this time of year, the technical level increases due to the need to avoid poison ivy and horse poop. We succeeded and had a fun ride. Trails were dusty and really needed the downpour that caught us five minutes from home. We stopped to pick raspberries in the rain. I wish more had fallen! (Rain, that is, not raspberries.)
-Bike computer distance-

Did a leg strength routine while listening to a TA1 podcast. I incorporated our new balance cushion into a few exercises. Canadian Tire let us exchange our old cushion for one that inflates. That changes everything!

My date with the jury box has been delayed until Monday, then I'll be there every day until it's done - hopefully mid-August. I may spend my birthday in court - a first world problem indeed.

My main complaint with the judicial system so far is that we will be required to listen carefully to evidence for hours on end in a room where coffee is prohibited. Who ever thought *that* was a good idea?! The jury attendant told me she is supposed to bring a glass of water if she sees a juror nodding off. Hello! How about caffeine, people?

Today was my new jury duty date, deferred since it had conflicted with our trip to Italy. Out of a room of about 150 people, I was selected as Lucky Juror #1. So I will be attending a trial related to drugs, probably from this Friday until Aug. 15.

The biggest surprise today was that our jury ended up being 12 women, 9 of us white, most of us over 40. I would have thought the lawyers would want more diversity that represents the wider community. I was also surprised there were fewer men in the jury pool than women and the men were more likely to present some reason (poor hearing, medical problem, family issue, self employment) in hopes of getting off this jury.

One prospective juror said he couldn't answer the question of whether he could be unbiased and impartial, given the defendant's race (same as the juror's). Obviously, he was not accepted.

The lawyers would just look at a prospective juror, listen to them answer one question and observe them as they looked at the defendant. (Part of the process is an uncomfortably long "stand and stare" between the accused and the prospective juror.) More often than not, either the prosecution or the defence lawyer would reject a prospective juror, seldom for any reason I could guess. They went through 37 people until a full jury was selected.

It will be interesting, I think.

I finally got out for a run in Palgrave Forest at 6:30 p.m. I ran into my old friend Radek - which probably doesn't sound too surprising unless you know that he lives in Sydney, Australia! It wasn't a total shock since I knew he was visiting his parents in Brampton and we had planned to get together this weekend.

I ran like a sack of potatoes. The Ambit had a hiccup at the start.

Bug-out Day! Packed up camp and paddled on Louisa Lake to the portage trail, then paddled on Rock Lake up to the access point. We stopped near the cliffs to teach Teeny Tiny how to play "Echo!"

Great vacation! Fun to hang out and relax with Timato, Mrs. Tiny and Teeny Tiny. AdventureDog and Teeny Tiny were awesome on their first canoe trip.

(This GPS track includes both paddling and portaging.)

Portage from Louisa Lake to Rock Lake. We'd finished most of our food and drink so it wasn't as anaerobic as Friday's portage. I doubled back a short distance and took Teeny Tiny's pack. Boy, is she good at trail running when she's in the mood!