Training Log Archive: Bash

I was encouraged by the way my injured heel responded to Thursday's stop-'n-go run with the dogs. Over the past year, I've often limped with painful inflammation the day after a run so I've taken long breaks from running. I felt fine on Friday so with the optimism of an addicted athlete, I tried running the Oak Ridges Trail to Gore Road and back. In the before times, this would have only been a small portion of a longer run but I'll see how it goes. I really, really, really miss my long runs and would love to be able to do an ultra again. If necessary though, I'll settle for hiking without pain.

Upper body - weights, TRX, machine, pushups.

Hips and lower body stretching.

The Next Town Showdown challenge in the Scavenger Hunt asks us to head to the next town over and explore an area that's new to us, learning about some of the highlights ahead of time.

I'm not a big fan of running in towns. Since my Home Town challenge was a tour of our local conservation area, I chose Cold Creek Conservation area, which I've only visited twice even though it's 25 minutes away.

In reading about it ahead of time, I learned some history that explained why I hadn't gone there much. It was a farm from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s when it became conservation land. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority built an education centre and managed two large shooting ranges. The TRCA closed Cold Creek in 1990, the year I moved to the country. So I vaguely knew it was a place with guns but it was closed now anyway, and then I ended up living near other conservation areas so I mostly forgot about it.

In 2006, Cold Creek reopened under the management of King Township with the land still owned by the TRCA. It has hiking trails and ski trails, offers day camp and hosts school trips and weddings.

'Bent, the pooches and I hiked the perimeter trail.





For a small area, there's a surprising amount of variety.











There are lots of nature information signs.



We found remnants of the old trap shooting range.





The trout lilies were out in full force!



It was great to explore a new-ish area. The dogs were grateful for all the different smells.

Great ride around Palgrave Forest with 'Bent.
(Bike computer distance)

Early in the CMTR Scavenger Hunt, I agreed with Caron and Jill that we would meet up for the Dog Jog challenge. They are cat owners but we get along anyway. Caron is the co-race director for the Furry Friends 5K event where people can race with their pets and raise money for charity. 'Bent and I have done it a few times. In almost a decade, they've raised more than half a million dollars for animal charities. So we agreed to wear T-shirts from different versions of that race and make it our theme.





Then last Friday, it became illegal in Ontario to run with people outside our household for political reasons. (It certainly wasn't for medical or scientific reasons.) As a dog might say, "Grrr."

So we compromised and ran separately but connected via technology. First the dogs led us in a Zoom "Doga" warmup.







Then I put on BazingaDog's skijoring harness and headed for the trails with him and AdventureDog. This video shows why I seldom take the two of them with me. After the first 5 minutes, I can handle them. Before that, there is a strong chance of injury, thanks to a super-excited 85 lb dog who is attached to my waist while he's being taunted by his younger brother who can be trusted off-leash. The only reason there's no profanity is that I knew I might post the video online.



After the initial insanity, things went pretty well. It was a run/hike/lurch rather than a run because... dogs.





Halfway through, Caron and Jill Facetimed me from their run. Caron included part of our chat in her short summary video of our Dog Jog. As always, she did a great job.

U of T medical prof and St. Michael's Hospital respirologist Dr. Samir Gupta answers the question: Which vaccine is best?

With so many challenges in the Scavenger Hunts, it's not surprising if one doesn't inspire me. For the 5th Element challenge, we're supposed to connect somehow with Earth, Wind, Water, Fire and Space. I just couldn't get creative with that for some reason.

To make sure I covered three of them, I borrowed PeggyD's idea of using a playlist of Earth, Wind and Fire.

I knew there would be snow today so Water was covered. And where the snow was starting to melt, I could see Earth on the trail.









Looking toward west Caledon from Thinker's Hill, I was surrounded by lots of Space.



I checked out a couple of areas that were devastated by the forest Fire in 2007.





A morning hike got me into a better head Space. Back home, we had a Fire burning in the fireplace.



And that's the best I could do! I've been hiking to rest my injured heel but I'll be running with two dogs tomorrow.

Rowing warmup + Lower body weights

The Spring Scavenger Hunt has another potentially serious challenge - the Jeopardy Jaunt / F-Cancer challenge. There are different options. People can build a run/hike around Jeopardy, Alex Trebek or a game show, or they can choose a F-Cancer theme, often honouring a loved one.

Following yesterday's hike in Mom's memory, I chose F-Cancer and hiked today in Dad's memory. I wore the ring Dad gave Mom for their 50th wedding anniversary. Counting the years they dated, they were together for 63 years.

A storm was coming so the sky was dramatic.



Spring flowers are going wild!



I ran into Crash and her pooches for the first time in ages so I changed my route to walk them home before heading home myself.

Like yesterday, it was nice to spend time thinking about Dad. He's been gone for 6 years and I miss him.





Some of you may remember his first 5K in his late 70s while he was living with cancer. I wrote about it here.



I found a plastic butterfly by the trail. Symbolism.