Training Log Archive: Bash

While 'Bent, Melanie B and BGY did a 5-hour hilly run around Hockley, I opted for a shorter, slower and - most importantly - later run from the 5th Line parking lot. It's a fine line between training enough and overdoing it; I'm feeling good now but it would be easy to mess up. I'm not going to run tomorrow.

Today's route was modelled after a winter run that Browner and I did before Leatherwood. Our goal was to climb 1,000 m in 20 km and we succeeded. I could have done that today but ran out of time because of my late start. The top priority was a post-run brunch with the other three at the Black Birch Restaurant. I didn't eat at all during the run so I could truly appreciate it. :)

Fascinating Radiolab podcast today: "Nukes"
http://www.radiolab.org/story/nukes/

"President Richard Nixon once boasted that at any moment he could pick up a telephone and - in 20 minutes - kill 60 million people. Such is the power of the US President over the nation’s nuclear arsenal. But what if you were the military officer on the receiving end of that phone call? Could you refuse the order? This episode, we profile one Air Force Major who asked that question back in the 1970s and learn how the very act of asking it was so dangerous it derailed his career."

Short version: The missileers - the specialists who would launch intercontinental nuclear missiles - are subject to a strict system of checks and balances. For example, they have to confirm their orders out loud to one another, then they each have to turn a key simultaneously to launch the missile. They both carry weapons, partly to protect themselves from one another in case the other specialist goes rogue.

However, at the top of the chain of command where the orders originate, there are no checks and balances. The decision to launch an ICBM is entirely up to POTUS with no obligation to consult anyone else. One reason is that people believe any nukes launched toward the U.S. would target land-based missile sites so if they don't act within 6 or 7 minutes, they will lose their chance to retaliate.

With all due respect to my Republican friends, this is terrifying given the impulsiveness of the current White House occupant - plus a few other characteristics.

"Elevation Gain" Week continues! Today was pure hills at Georgian Peaks on a beautiful, cool day. My goal was 1500 meters of climb, which is about 6 repeats of the ski hill. I hiked up with poles and ran down at an easy, ankle-safe pace.

I got lucky when Dee, Red and Nicole escorted me for 3 repeats, which made the time fly. So great to see them and hear their news! After that, I listened to podcasts. I missed 15 mins of my track when I forgot to turn the Ambit back on after chatting with a hiker. Data adjusted.

So that's been 2900 m of climbing on foot in the past three days over almost 36 km that took almost 7 hours. That's a little more climbing per km than we'll do each day at Ultra Tour Monte Rosa, which averages 40 km and 3,000 m climb per day with a daily time limit of 12 hrs. I can't replicate the Alps in southern Ontario but I'm getting a little taste of it!

Back to 5th Line in Hockley Valley to get in some climbing between severe thunderstorm warnings. I finished Season 2 of Serial, which was fine but not as captivating as Season 1.

Another day, another severe thunderstorm watch. I'd considered a Georgian Peaks session but decided to stay closer to home in case I had to bail. I decided on some different hill repeat routes from the 5th Line Bruce Trail parking lot in Hockley Valley. I'd tested this out a few months ago and it's an efficient way to get in lots of climbing in a short distance, mostly in the shade, which is nice on a hot, humid day.

As expected, thunder began to roar before I was ready to stop but it was a decent climbing session for a relatively short run. An eye-opening moment was doing calculations on the drive home and realizing that I will run 5 times as far as this each day of UTMR, which is fine, but it'll be up to *6* times the elevation gain. So yup, UTMR will is going to feel hilly!

Alex Hutchinson reports on a new study that challenges common wisdom about losing weight in an endurance event. It is widely believed that it's a sign of dehydration when you lose weight during a run. However, when you burn fuel during exercise, e.g. carbs stored in your muscles, the chemical reaction releases stored water for use in your body. Thus, according to this study, you *should* lose a little weight when you run because you're using up fuel. However, your level of hydration may not decrease unless you lose a larger amount of weight.
https://www.runnersworld.com/sweat-science/just-be...

Thunderstorms *again* so I shopped for canoe trip food instead of riding my bike.

Note to self: No caffeinated coffee after breakfast even just to be social with Mom - unless I actually *want* to be wide awake at 3 a.m. In that case, it's OK.

The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge has just opened between Grächen and Zermatt, Switzerland. The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge is almost half a km long and rises to 85 m above the ground.

Rockfall destroyed the old bridge seven years ago and the high alpine route between the two towns fell into disuse. We will now be crossing it on Day 1 of Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. I sure hope it was designed to handle a pack of runners!
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/31/design/longest-pedes...