With 2 weeks before the big event, it was time to trial the course in snow. How hard could it be? There is barely a foot of snow, quite compressed and some of it even had footprints. Easy, right? Wrong. I would not compare it to the toughest running conditions, but the old heart rate shot up and stayed there. I did not clock the run, but it took circa 2 hour and 10 minutes to run 2 loops (14.5K). There seemed to be little recovery on the roads, as they had 1 - 2 inches of slush. The kind that results in slip-back on every step. So, the "recovery" turned out to be a slow run with wasted effort. Marvelous!
Running downhill on the trails was no picnic either. Normally, you can let fly and the foot strikes are elongated commas in the soft snow. Unfortunately, my knees are acting up and under 4 inches of soft snow is quite hard snow (not quite ice) that shakes up the legs and sends the feet in wild directions. Although the knees took a beating, it was true trail running, never knowing which way the feet will land and spending great effort in continuously correcting the line of attack.
The effort to cover 15K (I'm going to round up here - if you run CSR you will empathise) was startling. I would compare it to a 20K hill run. I lay down to rest after the run!
So now all we can do is wait and see what the weather gods send our way. Will it be 4 inches of slush, or 4 feet of powder? I'm hoping for something in the middle. No, not 2 feet of slush, but a bit more than 1 foot of semi-packed snow would be about right. And today's weather would be quite nice, on February 4. It was -7, clear skies, little wind and bright sunshine. The kind of day where going for that extra loop is fine, just fine.
It was nice to beat myself up a bit today in what has become a relatively long run for me. I was on the treadmill on Thursday and running was not happening. Both runs (today and Thursday) were without Advil (I run much better with the anti-inflammatory) but Thursday's run was very disappointing. I covered 5K in 28 minutes and did not enjoy the run. Much resistance and considerable knee pain.
I see a sports doctor on Monday to assess my good (right) knee. I am experiencing sharp pain in my right knee on every heel strike. The "feeling" is bone on bone and I am not looking forward to the diagnosis. I have had a few knee injuries (right!) and it is not IT band, inner cartilage, tendinitis (I don't think), ACL, patella tendon, or a fractured knee cap... On today's run, I was wondering if it is causing me pain because I have favoured my left (bad) knee for 35 years. I guess I wait and see!
So if you have nothing to do on Saturday, Feb. 4 and enjoying the thrill of hyperventilation (I tried hard to find a positive about running in a foot of snow) come on up to Creemore for a fun run with a bunch of crazies!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
IAU Bronze Certification for Creemore Vertical Challenge!
I think the title says it all. I was quite excited when I read the email today, detailing how the CVC was now a race on the international stage. I won't go as far as to say it is in the big league (with a cap of 200, this will never happen) but I like the concept that some world calibre runners, who need an IAU race in early July, and have heard of Canada, might (oh, to dream) actual toy with a race called "Creemore"?
Drawing international calibre ultra runners is likely a pipe dream, but loyalty to NA dictates that I stress how CVC has already attracted high calibre athletes, such as Laurie McGrath and Adam Hill. And there is more than a remote chance of drawing American runners, who need IAU points and are within striking distance of Ontario. Ottawa 24 hour (an IAU Bronze race) saw Jamie Donaldson break the US 200,000 meter record (200K) while running the 24 hour race. She ran 200K in about 16 hours, then tapered dramatically to complete 214K in 24 hours, which is silly (I mean, think about it) but the amazing part is that she could have gone further, but the quick witted RD at Ottawa pointed out to her circa 15 hours into her race, that if she picked up the pace, the USA 200K female record was possible. So, after 15 hours, she pushed her legs hard, broke the record, but affected her 24 hour performance.
So now I face the quandary of having to tell Scott Jurek that the CVC has reached it cap and he will have to wait until next year for a berth in the race. Yeah! Like that's ever going to happen! He has free entry if he shows up race day. But this does present a minor issue. I have assured the land owners that only 200 runners would be on their trails during race day. What if I reach my cap and one of England's top runners asks to run? (I'm thinking Ellie Greenwood, who only attains Canadian citizenship this summer) Or someone from Kenya? Okay, another stretch! Similar to the UCC, turn a potential issue into a positive. I will talk with the land owners (one of whom is taking a pottery lesson from Lee Anne as I type) and ask if it would be okay to top the cap for national and international runners. Most land owners have a blast on race day, cheering the runners or participating themselves. I expect that a chance to see top level ultra runners would be a draw!
Well, as you can tell from this entry, I'm pumped, and looking forward to what 2012 might bring! Details on the UCC will be posted on www.ouser.org in the near future.
Dig Deep!
Drawing international calibre ultra runners is likely a pipe dream, but loyalty to NA dictates that I stress how CVC has already attracted high calibre athletes, such as Laurie McGrath and Adam Hill. And there is more than a remote chance of drawing American runners, who need IAU points and are within striking distance of Ontario. Ottawa 24 hour (an IAU Bronze race) saw Jamie Donaldson break the US 200,000 meter record (200K) while running the 24 hour race. She ran 200K in about 16 hours, then tapered dramatically to complete 214K in 24 hours, which is silly (I mean, think about it) but the amazing part is that she could have gone further, but the quick witted RD at Ottawa pointed out to her circa 15 hours into her race, that if she picked up the pace, the USA 200K female record was possible. So, after 15 hours, she pushed her legs hard, broke the record, but affected her 24 hour performance.
So now I face the quandary of having to tell Scott Jurek that the CVC has reached it cap and he will have to wait until next year for a berth in the race. Yeah! Like that's ever going to happen! He has free entry if he shows up race day. But this does present a minor issue. I have assured the land owners that only 200 runners would be on their trails during race day. What if I reach my cap and one of England's top runners asks to run? (I'm thinking Ellie Greenwood, who only attains Canadian citizenship this summer) Or someone from Kenya? Okay, another stretch! Similar to the UCC, turn a potential issue into a positive. I will talk with the land owners (one of whom is taking a pottery lesson from Lee Anne as I type) and ask if it would be okay to top the cap for national and international runners. Most land owners have a blast on race day, cheering the runners or participating themselves. I expect that a chance to see top level ultra runners would be a draw!
Well, as you can tell from this entry, I'm pumped, and looking forward to what 2012 might bring! Details on the UCC will be posted on www.ouser.org in the near future.
Dig Deep!
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Running can be a challenge
Not much to report. Did not run much this week as I was supporting production by driving cars. Walk outside to the car compound, pick a car that needs repair, drive it into the repair area, get into a car that has been repaired, drive it to shipping, repeat 100 times. I think that I walked about 2K every hour, for 48 hours this week. Since I was walking on pavement and concrete, it took a toll on my knees. Running was quite painful, so taking a few days off was the correct decision.
Medals for the Creemore Snow run and the OTS / OUS Spring Warm-up are nearing completion. I made 48 SW medals, which is a bit optimistic, but you never know! I think word is getting out that the SW is actually a lot of fun and there is usually a fair number of prizes. Pottery for sure this year as Lee Anne is in her new studio about 20 hours per week. I have put up more taps (you will see why at this year's CVC) so it should translate into more maple syrup prizes.
For those who missed last year's SW in Dunedin (near Creemore), the course starts with 800 meters of flat road, then a 3K hill. The hill goes up, in case you forgot who is writing this. At the start of the first loop, someone remarked that it was obvious who made the course, while another runner asked if the hill had a top. About 2K into the hill, you turn a corner and through an optical illusion, the hill seems to continue for another 5-6 K. Rest assured that although the road does continue upwards for a few more kilometers, the course veers onto the Bruce trail and actually goes downhill for 200 meters!
The course then goes uphill and downhill for another 10K. Simple!
Medals for the Creemore Snow run and the OTS / OUS Spring Warm-up are nearing completion. I made 48 SW medals, which is a bit optimistic, but you never know! I think word is getting out that the SW is actually a lot of fun and there is usually a fair number of prizes. Pottery for sure this year as Lee Anne is in her new studio about 20 hours per week. I have put up more taps (you will see why at this year's CVC) so it should translate into more maple syrup prizes.
For those who missed last year's SW in Dunedin (near Creemore), the course starts with 800 meters of flat road, then a 3K hill. The hill goes up, in case you forgot who is writing this. At the start of the first loop, someone remarked that it was obvious who made the course, while another runner asked if the hill had a top. About 2K into the hill, you turn a corner and through an optical illusion, the hill seems to continue for another 5-6 K. Rest assured that although the road does continue upwards for a few more kilometers, the course veers onto the Bruce trail and actually goes downhill for 200 meters!
The course then goes uphill and downhill for another 10K. Simple!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The New Year!
Well, I tried various novel methods of dealing with bad knees and although they were all exciting and a lot of fun, I thought I'd give denial another stab. Like that sentence... Stabbing denial!
Lee Anne and I spent a couple of nights up north (Orillia and Deerhurst) and I thought, 2 days with no trees to cut down, wood to chop, snow to shovel, etc., so let's try running 3 out of 4 days. To be concise, it worked. Lots of knee pain, but I was able to run for 50 - 60 minutes for 2 consecutive days, then 2 hours after a day off.
Today's run was fun fun fun; the trails still had 4 inches of slush and it was teeming rain for about half of the 2 hour run. With temperatures at 4C at Mad river level and 2C on top of the Niagara escarpment, walking for long stretches was curtailed (part of my plan, once I realized running outside was bending normal) and I experienced very few hot flashes...
Well, welcome to the new year! Here is a very brief review of 2011:
Good: Still learning the intricacies of being a race director, but starting to see patterns and can now apply more time to inspiring and topical race details.
The CVC went smoothly (I'm going to ignore Wanda's near-death experience...) and more people now hate the race with an irrational passion. Thanks to Sharon Z., who came up with a cute slogan for the race (I believe it was sourced from a US race): "We are not happy until you are not happy". I am hoping to obtain IAU bronze certification, which (thanks Lisa) actually helps the national ultra team to obtain support from the Canadian government. If you have not run the race yet, there are actually only 4 hills, so come on by! If you have run the race, please review the definition of a hill on the www.OUSER.org race page...
Also good: I was able to complete all non-ultra races.
Bad: I DNF'd my only attempt at an ultra distance (Run for the Toad 50K), so 2011 will go down in infamy as the first year since I started running ultras where I did not!
I have now come to terms with not running an ultra in 2011 and I hope to run one in 2012. The only cloud on the horizon is an appointment with a sports doctor on January 23, 2012 to check out my good knee. See prior blog entry as to why I call it my good knee.
And so, 2011 is in the bag and 2012 is filled with promise and high expectations! I will wait until after my appointment before posting my 2012 race wish list.
Dig Deep!
Lee Anne and I spent a couple of nights up north (Orillia and Deerhurst) and I thought, 2 days with no trees to cut down, wood to chop, snow to shovel, etc., so let's try running 3 out of 4 days. To be concise, it worked. Lots of knee pain, but I was able to run for 50 - 60 minutes for 2 consecutive days, then 2 hours after a day off.
Today's run was fun fun fun; the trails still had 4 inches of slush and it was teeming rain for about half of the 2 hour run. With temperatures at 4C at Mad river level and 2C on top of the Niagara escarpment, walking for long stretches was curtailed (part of my plan, once I realized running outside was bending normal) and I experienced very few hot flashes...
Well, welcome to the new year! Here is a very brief review of 2011:
Good: Still learning the intricacies of being a race director, but starting to see patterns and can now apply more time to inspiring and topical race details.
The CVC went smoothly (I'm going to ignore Wanda's near-death experience...) and more people now hate the race with an irrational passion. Thanks to Sharon Z., who came up with a cute slogan for the race (I believe it was sourced from a US race): "We are not happy until you are not happy". I am hoping to obtain IAU bronze certification, which (thanks Lisa) actually helps the national ultra team to obtain support from the Canadian government. If you have not run the race yet, there are actually only 4 hills, so come on by! If you have run the race, please review the definition of a hill on the www.OUSER.org race page...
Also good: I was able to complete all non-ultra races.
Bad: I DNF'd my only attempt at an ultra distance (Run for the Toad 50K), so 2011 will go down in infamy as the first year since I started running ultras where I did not!
I have now come to terms with not running an ultra in 2011 and I hope to run one in 2012. The only cloud on the horizon is an appointment with a sports doctor on January 23, 2012 to check out my good knee. See prior blog entry as to why I call it my good knee.
And so, 2011 is in the bag and 2012 is filled with promise and high expectations! I will wait until after my appointment before posting my 2012 race wish list.
Dig Deep!
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Mayan Calendar and Running
You know what? Let's skip the obvious analogies between my struggles with running and the impending ending to the Mayan calendar...
I have been detailing a new strategy for running with a gammy knee. Running every third day seems to work best. I still dream of back-to-back runs, but upon waking the next morning, walking is difficult, so running would be unwise. The next day, I could run, but based on the knee pain, not a great idea. I have run the second day and it doesn't seem to make things worse, but it does prolong the pain.
Running in Creemore just now is quite enjoyable. There is 4 - 6 inches of snow and no drifts, so the trails are considerably tougher than in the summer, but very manageable. The pace is slow (slower?) which translates into a requirement for less concentration on the trails. One can look about, enjoy the river and wildlife, enjoy the views.
Lee Anne has tossed her hat into the RD ring. She will organize the Copper Kettle Dash, a 5K run and walk, and a 10K run, during Creemore's Copper Kettle festival. The festival is organized by Creemore Springs Brewery during August. Should be a fun event! Details on the festival:
http://www.creemoresprings.com/live/creemore_copper.php
So, we are now involved in several races and fun runs! Aside from the CKD and the Creemore Vertical Challenge, we also help to organize the Creemore Snow Run (Feb. 4) and the OUS Spring Warm-up (April 14). 2012 should be a fun year.
One maxim in advertising is to turn a drawback into a positive. Neil Jefferson (RD for The Limberlost Challenge) and I did just that when we realised our races (Creemore and Limberlost) would be scheduled only 1 week apart. This is tough for those running the 25/28K distances, but quite a "challenge" for those running 50K at Creemore, followed one week later by 56K at Limberlost.
The Ultra Challenge Challenge!
Yep! 2 challenging ultra races, 1 week apart. Simply complete both races and you will be awarded the much coveted and incredibly beautiful (can you tell that I made them?) UCC medal. Furthermore, there will be 6 prizes (top 3, M & F) for the best combined times. Details to follow (once we figure out the logistics), but I can only envision the envy and admiration when a fellow runner sees the UCC award on your medal wall...
Well, the year draws to a close and I would like to wish everyone success in 2012. Success in your running pursuits of course. Everything else (career, family, health, prosperity) is merely living, and thus secondary... Okay, perhaps there are aspects of living more important than running, but running certainly helps with life's issues.
Cheers!
I have been detailing a new strategy for running with a gammy knee. Running every third day seems to work best. I still dream of back-to-back runs, but upon waking the next morning, walking is difficult, so running would be unwise. The next day, I could run, but based on the knee pain, not a great idea. I have run the second day and it doesn't seem to make things worse, but it does prolong the pain.
Running in Creemore just now is quite enjoyable. There is 4 - 6 inches of snow and no drifts, so the trails are considerably tougher than in the summer, but very manageable. The pace is slow (slower?) which translates into a requirement for less concentration on the trails. One can look about, enjoy the river and wildlife, enjoy the views.
Lee Anne has tossed her hat into the RD ring. She will organize the Copper Kettle Dash, a 5K run and walk, and a 10K run, during Creemore's Copper Kettle festival. The festival is organized by Creemore Springs Brewery during August. Should be a fun event! Details on the festival:
http://www.creemoresprings.com/live/creemore_copper.php
So, we are now involved in several races and fun runs! Aside from the CKD and the Creemore Vertical Challenge, we also help to organize the Creemore Snow Run (Feb. 4) and the OUS Spring Warm-up (April 14). 2012 should be a fun year.
One maxim in advertising is to turn a drawback into a positive. Neil Jefferson (RD for The Limberlost Challenge) and I did just that when we realised our races (Creemore and Limberlost) would be scheduled only 1 week apart. This is tough for those running the 25/28K distances, but quite a "challenge" for those running 50K at Creemore, followed one week later by 56K at Limberlost.
The Ultra Challenge Challenge!
Yep! 2 challenging ultra races, 1 week apart. Simply complete both races and you will be awarded the much coveted and incredibly beautiful (can you tell that I made them?) UCC medal. Furthermore, there will be 6 prizes (top 3, M & F) for the best combined times. Details to follow (once we figure out the logistics), but I can only envision the envy and admiration when a fellow runner sees the UCC award on your medal wall...
Well, the year draws to a close and I would like to wish everyone success in 2012. Success in your running pursuits of course. Everything else (career, family, health, prosperity) is merely living, and thus secondary... Okay, perhaps there are aspects of living more important than running, but running certainly helps with life's issues.
Cheers!
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Year in Rearview
Before starting on today's topic, a brief update...
Took xray's of my good knee. On January 23, I see a sports doctor in Collingwood (actually Cranberry Village, for those who DH ski) who will look at xrays, then give me the good news. I'm pumped!
This is not a review of the year, which I hope to complete early in the new year. This is more about the social side of running and the amazing people in our sport. If you are reading this, most likely you are on the list. Unless you are my mother. Of course, she's dead, so it is unlikely she is reading this. Yes, I dabble in the macabre, if you have not noticed so far.
Every aspect of running (I don't want to limit this to trail and ultra running) is positive. I think if everyone knew how many positives there are in running, our sport would be saturated. It is trending that way for good reason! How many of you have run a race (I know, easier to ask how many have not run a race, but humour me)? We pay good money to throw our bodies against impossible terrain, heart-churning distances and, as 2011 pointed out, some seriously nasty weather. What is our reward? Even those chronically astride the podium suffer in this sport. In fact, those on the podium are the few that suffer the most. What we take back from a race cannot be bought in a store. Being familiar with the challenges of the Creemore Vertical Challenge, I most noted 2 runners (Chris and JD) who passed each other at the 35/40K point of the race and both wrote in their blogs about the anguish on the other runner's face. Both were having an epic struggle and both KNEW the other running was in the same mindset.
We learn at races. We learn how to overcome obstacles, why nutrition is important in a race, the cute effects of starting too fast and the euphoria of touching the perfect race. I call it "touching" because there is no apt description of what happens when your training, nutrition, pace and mental state are all in balance and the only disappointment is when the race is over.
The appeal of volunteering at a race is another aspect of running that is hard to explain. Handing out water in beating down heat or freezing rain, to people too far gone to enunciate a simple statement is fun? How much am I getting paid for all this? Yet the expressions on people's faces when you hand them a coke with ice on a hot day is indescribable. They are too overwrought to figure out what would stave off death to the next aid station and you have delivered them manna from heaven.
I would dearly love to espouse on the camaraderie amongst the aid station volunteers, but unfortunately, what happens in the aid station, stays in the aid station...
Pacing is an entirely different arena. Many blogs have dealt with how the pacer does everything the runner does, but does not get a finishing medal and deals with a cranky three year old for hours on end. Sign me up!
I have limited experience pacing people. One of my first such attempts was to pace Charlotte on her record breaking run of the Bruce trail. It was an incredible learning experience. Picture the rabbit on the rail, trying to keep exactly 5 meters ahead of the runner, on a trail that is technical enough to make turning around too often a big mistake. Then horror struck! Although still on what looked like the trail, I had not seen a blaze for 200 meters. Asking Char to stay put while her legs where killing her (she had been running for 15 hours at this point. Oh! on her 9th day of running 50 - 80K...) then racing around trying to find a blaze... Not pretty. I finally found a blaze more than 130 meters from the last blaze. I think one of the blaze posts must have fallen over.
Or pacing Lee Anne in her first attempt at 100K. We had almost crested a small hill (sorry Stephan, a MOUNTAIN) when this orange rat attacked us. I wish I was making this up, but other runners saw the orange rat! The runner can stop worrying about a plethora of racing details and logistics; leave them to the pacer, and just run.
Organizing a race is also rewarding, perhaps the most so, but requires an order of magnitude more time and committment. This is not intended to discourage people from organizing a race, but be prepared to invest heavily of your time and capital. The result of poor planning in a race is different than forgetting to bring your shoes to a race! Again, there are aspects of being an RD that don't add up. In a quaint little race like Creemore, prepare to spend 5 - 8 grand before any money trickles in. If it trickles in! And regardless of how much insurance and medical staff you have on site, why don't you gamble on losing your house and assets in a lawsuit? Yeehaa!
But being an RD has incredible rewards. Like the runner in 2009 who approached me after finishing the 25K, shook my hand and stated "I don't like you". Then he walked away and poured himself a Creemore Springs beer! I appreciate that for close to 20K of the race, he had this image of the ##$&^ who designed the course that had punished his body. He was back in 2010...
So by all means, continue to push yourself in the races. Here in Ontario, we are the envy of much of North America, with our "normal" 5K, 10K, half and marathon races, but also depth in our trail and ultra races. Try a few you have not done before. Not experienced on trails? Try racing Pick Your Poison. I guarantee it will open your eyes! Or jump to a 50K or 50 mile race. It only costs cents per minute (you will want to hurt me for this once you figure it out...)
But also try pacing, volunteering or crewing next year. You will learn so much, that can be used in your own races!
Took xray's of my good knee. On January 23, I see a sports doctor in Collingwood (actually Cranberry Village, for those who DH ski) who will look at xrays, then give me the good news. I'm pumped!
This is not a review of the year, which I hope to complete early in the new year. This is more about the social side of running and the amazing people in our sport. If you are reading this, most likely you are on the list. Unless you are my mother. Of course, she's dead, so it is unlikely she is reading this. Yes, I dabble in the macabre, if you have not noticed so far.
Every aspect of running (I don't want to limit this to trail and ultra running) is positive. I think if everyone knew how many positives there are in running, our sport would be saturated. It is trending that way for good reason! How many of you have run a race (I know, easier to ask how many have not run a race, but humour me)? We pay good money to throw our bodies against impossible terrain, heart-churning distances and, as 2011 pointed out, some seriously nasty weather. What is our reward? Even those chronically astride the podium suffer in this sport. In fact, those on the podium are the few that suffer the most. What we take back from a race cannot be bought in a store. Being familiar with the challenges of the Creemore Vertical Challenge, I most noted 2 runners (Chris and JD) who passed each other at the 35/40K point of the race and both wrote in their blogs about the anguish on the other runner's face. Both were having an epic struggle and both KNEW the other running was in the same mindset.
We learn at races. We learn how to overcome obstacles, why nutrition is important in a race, the cute effects of starting too fast and the euphoria of touching the perfect race. I call it "touching" because there is no apt description of what happens when your training, nutrition, pace and mental state are all in balance and the only disappointment is when the race is over.
The appeal of volunteering at a race is another aspect of running that is hard to explain. Handing out water in beating down heat or freezing rain, to people too far gone to enunciate a simple statement is fun? How much am I getting paid for all this? Yet the expressions on people's faces when you hand them a coke with ice on a hot day is indescribable. They are too overwrought to figure out what would stave off death to the next aid station and you have delivered them manna from heaven.
I would dearly love to espouse on the camaraderie amongst the aid station volunteers, but unfortunately, what happens in the aid station, stays in the aid station...
Pacing is an entirely different arena. Many blogs have dealt with how the pacer does everything the runner does, but does not get a finishing medal and deals with a cranky three year old for hours on end. Sign me up!
I have limited experience pacing people. One of my first such attempts was to pace Charlotte on her record breaking run of the Bruce trail. It was an incredible learning experience. Picture the rabbit on the rail, trying to keep exactly 5 meters ahead of the runner, on a trail that is technical enough to make turning around too often a big mistake. Then horror struck! Although still on what looked like the trail, I had not seen a blaze for 200 meters. Asking Char to stay put while her legs where killing her (she had been running for 15 hours at this point. Oh! on her 9th day of running 50 - 80K...) then racing around trying to find a blaze... Not pretty. I finally found a blaze more than 130 meters from the last blaze. I think one of the blaze posts must have fallen over.
Or pacing Lee Anne in her first attempt at 100K. We had almost crested a small hill (sorry Stephan, a MOUNTAIN) when this orange rat attacked us. I wish I was making this up, but other runners saw the orange rat! The runner can stop worrying about a plethora of racing details and logistics; leave them to the pacer, and just run.
Organizing a race is also rewarding, perhaps the most so, but requires an order of magnitude more time and committment. This is not intended to discourage people from organizing a race, but be prepared to invest heavily of your time and capital. The result of poor planning in a race is different than forgetting to bring your shoes to a race! Again, there are aspects of being an RD that don't add up. In a quaint little race like Creemore, prepare to spend 5 - 8 grand before any money trickles in. If it trickles in! And regardless of how much insurance and medical staff you have on site, why don't you gamble on losing your house and assets in a lawsuit? Yeehaa!
But being an RD has incredible rewards. Like the runner in 2009 who approached me after finishing the 25K, shook my hand and stated "I don't like you". Then he walked away and poured himself a Creemore Springs beer! I appreciate that for close to 20K of the race, he had this image of the ##$&^ who designed the course that had punished his body. He was back in 2010...
So by all means, continue to push yourself in the races. Here in Ontario, we are the envy of much of North America, with our "normal" 5K, 10K, half and marathon races, but also depth in our trail and ultra races. Try a few you have not done before. Not experienced on trails? Try racing Pick Your Poison. I guarantee it will open your eyes! Or jump to a 50K or 50 mile race. It only costs cents per minute (you will want to hurt me for this once you figure it out...)
But also try pacing, volunteering or crewing next year. You will learn so much, that can be used in your own races!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Changing Seasons - And Obvious Analogies
Okay, the title was just to draw you in, pique your interest and make you question if I would propound on analogies involving life lessons and secret BBQ tips. Keep reading, but prepare for disappointment...
I enjoy the potentially short season I affectionately call "between DST and THE SNOW". For those in exotic southern locales, such as St. Catherines, you might not realize that Creemore can have very nasty snow-filled time periods normally referred to as weeks, with serious accumulations of snow. These periods (let's call them "weeks") can dump 1 - 2 feet of snow and are a gentle reminder that winter is on the way, and in a few short days, running trails becomes a distant memory.
Running trails, with impending or snow present, in the dark, can be quite invigorating! There is something other-worldly about running a familiar trail in the dark. I like the thrill of the heightened tracking requirements, or becoming lost on a trail I can normally run with my eyes closed. This is a bit hypothetical; running the trails and cliffs near the Mad river with your eyes closed is not generally encouraged. Unless you enjoy really cold and wet swan dive-style face plants.
This year and last year are wonderful examples of a DST-to-snow season wherein I could steal precious time on the trails due to warmer than normal weather. Last year, we even organized a 100 miler at the end on November, and definitely had luck on our side. I think we caught the elements off guard, as they did not expect anyone to be rash enough to run for 15 hours in darkness! A 100 miler in Creemore at the end of November would normally be considered a bid to increase the cemetery population...
So I am enjoying these weeks, careening along darkened trails (note: "Careening" this year is a euphemism for my pathetic limping gait, but in the dark it feels like you are flying!) gauging how close the coyote packs are to my position and struggling to remain upright. Too soon THE SNOW will make running trails nearly impossible. Then what?
On Saturday, February 4, 2012 you are invited to join (let's be nice, here) some adventurous souls in the Creemore Snow Run. This is not a race, but a fun run in which we see how long and how far we can run in the depth of winter. Most consider it good training for the plethora of hyperventilation events (nope, I can't think of any), or a wonderful way to chase away the winter blues. As in, your face turns blue from lack of oxygen... The run starts at 09:00, which brings up the tactical aspects of this event. Some will be starting early, to truly appreciate the challenge of being first (possibly only) to pack deep snow, at a run. Others will be "unavoidably" late, and wait for the not-so-bright to pack the trails for them. At the end of the day, those who arrived late are chagrined as they missed the challenge of packing the snow (I didn't say this is an honest blog) and those who started early question their sanity...
Although I have yet to think of an analogy for running and the changing seasons, winter running provides different challenges and logistics. How to keep water from freezing, which roads are plowed, but not icy and whether a rum toddy or a black russian will thaw your frozen face faster. Say that 3 times after a 3 hour winter run!
So stay on the trails until the last possible moment, then join us in Creemore for some seriously stupid and dangerous winter running. Oh! And the bragging rights and a finisher medal that proves you conquered the Creemore Snow Run!
PS I'm off to see the doctor tomorrow for a look at my knee. I am running very short (5 - 7K) every other day. Any more and I can't walk the next day.
I enjoy the potentially short season I affectionately call "between DST and THE SNOW". For those in exotic southern locales, such as St. Catherines, you might not realize that Creemore can have very nasty snow-filled time periods normally referred to as weeks, with serious accumulations of snow. These periods (let's call them "weeks") can dump 1 - 2 feet of snow and are a gentle reminder that winter is on the way, and in a few short days, running trails becomes a distant memory.
Running trails, with impending or snow present, in the dark, can be quite invigorating! There is something other-worldly about running a familiar trail in the dark. I like the thrill of the heightened tracking requirements, or becoming lost on a trail I can normally run with my eyes closed. This is a bit hypothetical; running the trails and cliffs near the Mad river with your eyes closed is not generally encouraged. Unless you enjoy really cold and wet swan dive-style face plants.
This year and last year are wonderful examples of a DST-to-snow season wherein I could steal precious time on the trails due to warmer than normal weather. Last year, we even organized a 100 miler at the end on November, and definitely had luck on our side. I think we caught the elements off guard, as they did not expect anyone to be rash enough to run for 15 hours in darkness! A 100 miler in Creemore at the end of November would normally be considered a bid to increase the cemetery population...
So I am enjoying these weeks, careening along darkened trails (note: "Careening" this year is a euphemism for my pathetic limping gait, but in the dark it feels like you are flying!) gauging how close the coyote packs are to my position and struggling to remain upright. Too soon THE SNOW will make running trails nearly impossible. Then what?
On Saturday, February 4, 2012 you are invited to join (let's be nice, here) some adventurous souls in the Creemore Snow Run. This is not a race, but a fun run in which we see how long and how far we can run in the depth of winter. Most consider it good training for the plethora of hyperventilation events (nope, I can't think of any), or a wonderful way to chase away the winter blues. As in, your face turns blue from lack of oxygen... The run starts at 09:00, which brings up the tactical aspects of this event. Some will be starting early, to truly appreciate the challenge of being first (possibly only) to pack deep snow, at a run. Others will be "unavoidably" late, and wait for the not-so-bright to pack the trails for them. At the end of the day, those who arrived late are chagrined as they missed the challenge of packing the snow (I didn't say this is an honest blog) and those who started early question their sanity...
Although I have yet to think of an analogy for running and the changing seasons, winter running provides different challenges and logistics. How to keep water from freezing, which roads are plowed, but not icy and whether a rum toddy or a black russian will thaw your frozen face faster. Say that 3 times after a 3 hour winter run!
So stay on the trails until the last possible moment, then join us in Creemore for some seriously stupid and dangerous winter running. Oh! And the bragging rights and a finisher medal that proves you conquered the Creemore Snow Run!
PS I'm off to see the doctor tomorrow for a look at my knee. I am running very short (5 - 7K) every other day. Any more and I can't walk the next day.
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