I almost died on Thursday...
Before the snow flies, I needed to weld a retaining bracket on the snowblower. Those of you who have run the Creemore Vertical Challenge know that my laneway is 500 meters long (for those into imperial measurements, way too long to shovel). I have a 6 foot wide snowblower that runs off the tractor, but the discharge shute was missing a small retainer and would fall off when the snow was heavy (or when I "blew" gravel).
So I needed to install a 240 volt single phase receptacle for my welder, something I have put off for an impressive 6 years! On Thursday, I wired the receptacle to the outlet for the kiln. My main panel notes indicated that the kiln was wired into the dryer line. The kiln is 7,000 watts, so I pulled the dryer/kiln fuse box and got to work wiring from the kiln outlet in the garage to a welder outlet...
I had loosened the 2 live wires (I'm no electrician, but I'm pretty sure they are black and red), the neutral (white) and the ground (green). While joining the 2 ground wires (one leading to the welder receptacle), the black live wire sprang loose and touched the screwdriver I was holding. The resulting arc was impressive, melting the tip of the screwdriver. The molten metal melted the tips of 3 of my fingers and left my temporarily blinded.
My first thought is that I could use a current meter... My second thought was something along the lines of "Gee (I used more emphatic descriptors) I could have died". The Kiln (mislabelled on the main panel - by me) is connected to the oven line. I blew one of two 35 amp fuses. Had I held a live wire and the ground, I'm not sure if the current passing through my body would be enough to blow the fuse. Perhaps there are electricians out there who could argue the point, but I think I would have died before the fuse blew.
I shut the main breaker (I have 100 amp service for the house) and completed the wiring. Today I welded the retainer brackets on the snowblower - the welder worked marvelously!
Moral: If you are working a a 70 amp line, make sure it is truly disconnected. I could have turned on one of the 5 elements on the kiln and watched to see if it turned red.
On the bright side, the snowblower is ready for the winter and although it has been 23 years since I operated a mig welder at Honda, my welding is not too shabby! But perhaps from now on I will take a bit off extra time to ensure I am safe before undertaking any electrical work!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Doug Barber Bad Road 65K
Just a quick post while I have some time. Doug Barber (250+ marathons or ultras) invited a few friends on Saturday, October 22, to run 65K and help celebrate his 65th birthday. Henri Ragetlie and I manned the S/F aid station. We had everything! Tents (although we didn't put them up), music, his and hers washrooms, cold weather, wine and an innate ability to guess exactly what the runners wanted, then give it to them, even if they kept telling us they didn't want any damn dark chocolate! The boiled potatoes, fresh out of my garden, went over well, especially with the runners that had never experienced a longish ultra (more than 50K) and were surprised to see cold, salted boiled potatoes at the AS.
It was cold! The forecast promised (I know, but I grew up near Disney Land) sun and cloud, with a high of 10. For almost the entire day, it was overcast, windy and the temperature struggled to reach 7 degrees. I think my rib about Owen Sound being close to the north pole did not go unnoticed. Anyway, Henri and I kept relatively warm, using Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, tools that should be handled with care and make sure to read the directions...
About 13 runners ran various distances. I "paced" Lee Anne for a 12K out and back loop. The quotes are because I had trouble keeping up with Lee Anne! She ran 40K the day before and I could not keep up to her from (her) 36K to 48K. Lee Anne went on to complete 60K before calling it a day. Although not many of the 13 intended to complete the 65K, Doug Barber and Ron Gehl pulled through and crossed the finish line. Some tactics were in evidence during the day, such as when Ron's support (his wife Barb) went for a hike just as Ron was finishing his fourth loop (48K). Ron had intended to call it a day, but without Barb (she took the keys to the van), Ron had to keep going. He grumbled something about Barb "doing this on purpose", which was unfair, although perfectly true! Ron mentioned that he had run 5 long races (mainly ultras) in the last 15 days and was beat.
Doug ran an smart, steady race and looked fresh right until the end. He had an amazing time, which I don't know as they wouldn't let me near the timing clipboard after the second bottle of wine.
We capped the day by having a fine meal and awards at Tomato Joe, in Owen Sound.
The race was held on the Tom Thompson Trail near Owen Sound and would make a lovely venue for a 24K, 50K and 100K race. Doug, are you reading this hint?
It was cold! The forecast promised (I know, but I grew up near Disney Land) sun and cloud, with a high of 10. For almost the entire day, it was overcast, windy and the temperature struggled to reach 7 degrees. I think my rib about Owen Sound being close to the north pole did not go unnoticed. Anyway, Henri and I kept relatively warm, using Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, tools that should be handled with care and make sure to read the directions...
About 13 runners ran various distances. I "paced" Lee Anne for a 12K out and back loop. The quotes are because I had trouble keeping up with Lee Anne! She ran 40K the day before and I could not keep up to her from (her) 36K to 48K. Lee Anne went on to complete 60K before calling it a day. Although not many of the 13 intended to complete the 65K, Doug Barber and Ron Gehl pulled through and crossed the finish line. Some tactics were in evidence during the day, such as when Ron's support (his wife Barb) went for a hike just as Ron was finishing his fourth loop (48K). Ron had intended to call it a day, but without Barb (she took the keys to the van), Ron had to keep going. He grumbled something about Barb "doing this on purpose", which was unfair, although perfectly true! Ron mentioned that he had run 5 long races (mainly ultras) in the last 15 days and was beat.
Doug ran an smart, steady race and looked fresh right until the end. He had an amazing time, which I don't know as they wouldn't let me near the timing clipboard after the second bottle of wine.
We capped the day by having a fine meal and awards at Tomato Joe, in Owen Sound.
The race was held on the Tom Thompson Trail near Owen Sound and would make a lovely venue for a 24K, 50K and 100K race. Doug, are you reading this hint?
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Running and Chainsaws Don't Mix
Before I go any further, I should state that I don't mean running while operating a chainsaw don't mix. Although it is quite apparent that they don't, I am referring to cutting firewood for 4 hours, then attempting a run. The crux of the matter is my back. Of course, a lack of conditioning has an impact (I was getting to that) but running when you cannot stand up straight is more than tricky, it is also painful. In a somewhat doubtful epiphany, I decided to run the next morning... You guessed it! I could hardly get out of bed. This all stems from taking a few days off to finish the pottery studio, set up more maple syrup taps and cut some firewood. I also cut 8 large cedar posts (20 feet long - basically the whole tree) for a cabin I plan to build next year, up on the maple bush. I much prefer going for a run after work. Work involves quality time on a computer (uncannily similar to blogging!) and sitting in meetings. A "day off" involves serious attempts at self-mutilation. I dread weekends and mark the days until I can go back to work!
This reversal of typical North American values has a corollary in races. Running a race can be euphoric and cause for celebration. Then there are those days where toeing the line results in a plethora of unpleasantries. Volunteering, on the other hand, can be tough work. Ask the people at Seaton this year. Or those who helped at last year's Creemore Horizontal 100 miler. A bunch of wacked out crazies decided it would be quite funny to hold a 100 mile race in Creemore, in late November... Actually, it still sounds funny! But volunteering at a race can be very rewarding, especially when you realize that by not running the race, you don't look or feel like the wasted zombies to which you are doling out water and peanut butter sandwiches.
So, when Doug Barber decided to celebrate his 65th birthday by holding a 65K fun run on October 22 in Owen Sound (go to the north pole and turn left), I jumped at the chance to run an aid station! Even better, I will share the duties with my friend Henri. What could be better than spending time with a friend, handing out water to zombies? What will keep us warm? Do we both have DD's?
Henri is coming off an injury, but there is a chance we can get in a loop. The course is actually an out-and-back along 6.5K of trail. Each loop is 13K and the runners will clock 5 laps. For those of you who have always wanted to run 65K in late October somewhere near the north pole, here are some details. Perhaps we will meet up!
Kiwanis Soccer Complex, 3005 9th Ave. East, Owen Sound
October 22, 2011 @ 08:00 (ish)
Registration at 07:00
Cost: Free (now I have your attention!)
A donation to the Tom Thomson Trail would be appreciated
Showers after the run
Doug has booked a nice restaurant for afters
I'm looking forward to volunteering and holding those quality 30 seconds chats with runners. Then I get to yell "Get out of my aid station!" as I was trained by John Rennison, also known as the aid station captain.
This reversal of typical North American values has a corollary in races. Running a race can be euphoric and cause for celebration. Then there are those days where toeing the line results in a plethora of unpleasantries. Volunteering, on the other hand, can be tough work. Ask the people at Seaton this year. Or those who helped at last year's Creemore Horizontal 100 miler. A bunch of wacked out crazies decided it would be quite funny to hold a 100 mile race in Creemore, in late November... Actually, it still sounds funny! But volunteering at a race can be very rewarding, especially when you realize that by not running the race, you don't look or feel like the wasted zombies to which you are doling out water and peanut butter sandwiches.
So, when Doug Barber decided to celebrate his 65th birthday by holding a 65K fun run on October 22 in Owen Sound (go to the north pole and turn left), I jumped at the chance to run an aid station! Even better, I will share the duties with my friend Henri. What could be better than spending time with a friend, handing out water to zombies? What will keep us warm? Do we both have DD's?
Henri is coming off an injury, but there is a chance we can get in a loop. The course is actually an out-and-back along 6.5K of trail. Each loop is 13K and the runners will clock 5 laps. For those of you who have always wanted to run 65K in late October somewhere near the north pole, here are some details. Perhaps we will meet up!
Kiwanis Soccer Complex, 3005 9th Ave. East, Owen Sound
October 22, 2011 @ 08:00 (ish)
Registration at 07:00
Cost: Free (now I have your attention!)
A donation to the Tom Thomson Trail would be appreciated
Showers after the run
Doug has booked a nice restaurant for afters
I'm looking forward to volunteering and holding those quality 30 seconds chats with runners. Then I get to yell "Get out of my aid station!" as I was trained by John Rennison, also known as the aid station captain.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Run For The Toad
I don't know how many runners entertain thoughts of organizing their own race. It can be a wonderful idea, if (in my case) you have a thoroughly challenging course that demands to be shared with other, preferably unsuspecting, souls. Execution of your plan can be something entirely different than what you envisioned. It is tough to hold an event these days. Gone are the times when you could hold a race on a whim, with little planning and less thought to details such as medical, police, port-a-potties, insurance, websites, registration and personal liability...
Now imagine a race that has it all. Makes international marathons look limited in scope, has high-end catered lunch, great prizes, an amazing trail, a civilized 9:30 start and the most ultra runners of any race in Canada. Yes, Run for the Toad. The Toad is organized down to the finest details by Peggy and George Sarson. George and Peggy put their hearts into the Toad each year. As a race director, all I can do is look around their race pavilion and take notes. No race approaches the experience or the chance to see some of Canada's best runners up close. Last year, I chatted with Ellie Greenwood.
The course is a 12.5K loop of mainly trail, with some small paved sections. There are no monster hills, but before you ignore the rollers and attempt to scream it at max VO2, prepare your will. There is one short but indecently steep kicker just past the 11K mark. If you overdo it, there is a bench at the top of the hill that you can share with a skeleton. Look closely at the volunteers. Some of Ontario's top ultra talent are handing you a cup of water, or enticing you to try a pretzel. The Ontario ultra community is a small family and they are all at the Toad, racing or volunteering.
Oh yeah, my race report...
I did not train nearly enough for the 50K distance and as we well know, 50K is not a distance in which you can cheat on your training without suffering dire consequences. I started off slowly, hoping to prolong the time before my lack of training would take more than an intrinsic toll. I had some difficulty in the first loop, the same troubles with stiff joints I refuse to call arthritis. At times, it takes considerable effort to extend my leg forward. The start of the second loop filled me with hope as the effort of running eased somewhat. I was tiring at 14K and took a gel, which seemed to help me to maintain a decent gait. Things went from good to better as I was able to drink a large amount of water (I have GERDS - Gastro esophagus reflux disease - which means I cannot swallow and tend to throw up during races) and was feeling very positive as the race progressed.
Who was it that said that all good things must come to an end? I hit 20K and was actually passing a few runners! I was becoming tired due to a lack of training, but running was pain-free. Until 20K...
I felt a twinge in my left knee. This is my bad knee. No cartilage, problems with the ACL, patella tendon, IT band and lower quads, to name a few of the injuries. This happens on every long run and it usually recedes after 1 - 2K. So I continued to run, favouring the left knee ever so slightly, waiting for the pain to subside. No such luck. For 4K, the pain became progressively worse, until I was performing a running lurch that must be hilarious to watch. At 24K, I had to make a decision. In previous races, when my left knee forced me into a hobbling run, I have about 30 minutes before my back goes out. Once the back goes out, the writing is on the wall. I have no more than an hour of sheer agony before I lose feeling in my right leg and fall down. Getting back up ranges from crawling up a tree, to quality 911 time...
I knew there wasn't another 26K left in my legs, so I would be walking at about the 30K mark, if back pain did not sideline me first. Did I mention how great the lunch was? Did I mention that there might not be any left if I completed after 5:00 PM? I had many ready-made excuses and knew them to be such, but I was also not willing to spend the next 5 hours in pain, simply to finish my first ultra of 2011. I decided to call it a day at 25K.
This causes a problem. This will be the first year since 2004 in which I have not run an ultra. Something has to be done. Suggestions are most welcome.
On the bright side, I ran 7K this evening without any pain and very little effort. This is the beauty of running. Your deepest self-imposed low (not running an ultra in 2011) is quickly replaced by something positive. Maybe I can train effectively now. By April of next year, I'll be running 50K's with the front runners (please attempt to forget that I am 53 years old), moving up to an age category podium finish, run all the OUS ultras and cure cancer...
Well, gotta go get a medical degree this weekend!
Now imagine a race that has it all. Makes international marathons look limited in scope, has high-end catered lunch, great prizes, an amazing trail, a civilized 9:30 start and the most ultra runners of any race in Canada. Yes, Run for the Toad. The Toad is organized down to the finest details by Peggy and George Sarson. George and Peggy put their hearts into the Toad each year. As a race director, all I can do is look around their race pavilion and take notes. No race approaches the experience or the chance to see some of Canada's best runners up close. Last year, I chatted with Ellie Greenwood.
The course is a 12.5K loop of mainly trail, with some small paved sections. There are no monster hills, but before you ignore the rollers and attempt to scream it at max VO2, prepare your will. There is one short but indecently steep kicker just past the 11K mark. If you overdo it, there is a bench at the top of the hill that you can share with a skeleton. Look closely at the volunteers. Some of Ontario's top ultra talent are handing you a cup of water, or enticing you to try a pretzel. The Ontario ultra community is a small family and they are all at the Toad, racing or volunteering.
Oh yeah, my race report...
I did not train nearly enough for the 50K distance and as we well know, 50K is not a distance in which you can cheat on your training without suffering dire consequences. I started off slowly, hoping to prolong the time before my lack of training would take more than an intrinsic toll. I had some difficulty in the first loop, the same troubles with stiff joints I refuse to call arthritis. At times, it takes considerable effort to extend my leg forward. The start of the second loop filled me with hope as the effort of running eased somewhat. I was tiring at 14K and took a gel, which seemed to help me to maintain a decent gait. Things went from good to better as I was able to drink a large amount of water (I have GERDS - Gastro esophagus reflux disease - which means I cannot swallow and tend to throw up during races) and was feeling very positive as the race progressed.
Who was it that said that all good things must come to an end? I hit 20K and was actually passing a few runners! I was becoming tired due to a lack of training, but running was pain-free. Until 20K...
I felt a twinge in my left knee. This is my bad knee. No cartilage, problems with the ACL, patella tendon, IT band and lower quads, to name a few of the injuries. This happens on every long run and it usually recedes after 1 - 2K. So I continued to run, favouring the left knee ever so slightly, waiting for the pain to subside. No such luck. For 4K, the pain became progressively worse, until I was performing a running lurch that must be hilarious to watch. At 24K, I had to make a decision. In previous races, when my left knee forced me into a hobbling run, I have about 30 minutes before my back goes out. Once the back goes out, the writing is on the wall. I have no more than an hour of sheer agony before I lose feeling in my right leg and fall down. Getting back up ranges from crawling up a tree, to quality 911 time...
I knew there wasn't another 26K left in my legs, so I would be walking at about the 30K mark, if back pain did not sideline me first. Did I mention how great the lunch was? Did I mention that there might not be any left if I completed after 5:00 PM? I had many ready-made excuses and knew them to be such, but I was also not willing to spend the next 5 hours in pain, simply to finish my first ultra of 2011. I decided to call it a day at 25K.
This causes a problem. This will be the first year since 2004 in which I have not run an ultra. Something has to be done. Suggestions are most welcome.
On the bright side, I ran 7K this evening without any pain and very little effort. This is the beauty of running. Your deepest self-imposed low (not running an ultra in 2011) is quickly replaced by something positive. Maybe I can train effectively now. By April of next year, I'll be running 50K's with the front runners (please attempt to forget that I am 53 years old), moving up to an age category podium finish, run all the OUS ultras and cure cancer...
Well, gotta go get a medical degree this weekend!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
West Highland Way
Okay, typically I'm overly verbose, tend towards the bulging emails, write a paragraph when a yes or no will do... I think you get the drift!
I also tend to become preoccupied when "on a project", such as the pottery studio I'm building for Lee Anne, hence the 11 day hiatus from this blog. So, rather than spend an acceptable (inordinate) amount of time dealing with an embarrassing lack of technical calendar reading (also known as scheduling), I will copy the article written about the West Highland Way. The "Way" is staggering in scenery, wonderful to experience and a unique view of Scottish land and life. The article does little justice to how glorious the experience was and how much we experienced.
But first, a succinct line or two on my glaring scheduling faux-pas... Basically, I thought I had 2 weekends between now and the Run for the Toad! For those calendarially challenged such as I, the Toad is next weekend (9 days from tomorrow). Out the window go my plans to ramp up to 28K for 2 weeks before the race. Unfortunately, the reality is that running 50K at the Toad is also not practically possible.
Let's get on to the Way:
I also tend to become preoccupied when "on a project", such as the pottery studio I'm building for Lee Anne, hence the 11 day hiatus from this blog. So, rather than spend an acceptable (inordinate) amount of time dealing with an embarrassing lack of technical calendar reading (also known as scheduling), I will copy the article written about the West Highland Way. The "Way" is staggering in scenery, wonderful to experience and a unique view of Scottish land and life. The article does little justice to how glorious the experience was and how much we experienced.
But first, a succinct line or two on my glaring scheduling faux-pas... Basically, I thought I had 2 weekends between now and the Run for the Toad! For those calendarially challenged such as I, the Toad is next weekend (9 days from tomorrow). Out the window go my plans to ramp up to 28K for 2 weeks before the race. Unfortunately, the reality is that running 50K at the Toad is also not practically possible.
Let's get on to the Way:
Running the West Highland Way
Considered a rite of passage for the Scottish, the 95-mile West Highland Way (the Way) is a wondrous venue for exploring and appreciating Scotland. It covers majestic landscapes in both the lowlands north of Glasgow and the highlands, culminating in Fort Williams.
There are many packages for hiking the trail, typically in 7 or 8 days. There is also a race for those who would like to test themselves against the terrain. In 2011, the race started at 1:00 AM on June 19th with a cut-off at noon on June 20th. This provides a generous 35 hours to cover the 95 miles.
Most of the course is quite runnable, following well-marked paths or older roads comprised of gravel, pavement or cobblestone. Some trail sections are more technical in nature, but these only represent about 15-20% of the course.
Planning to break the course record? In 2006, Jez Bragg ran the WHW in 15:44:50. The next year saw Lucy Colquhoun shave 20 minutes from the woman’s record with a time of 17:16:20. The race started in 1985 with two runners and aside from missing a few years, continues to this day. In 2011, 113 runners beat the 35-hour cut-off.
Are you interested? Check out www.westhighlandwayrace.org for details. Entry for 2012 opens in September or October of 2011. Read the rules carefully, for there are hidden gems, such as you must have motorized support and at least 2 crew on your team and you are not allowed a pacer if you are within 4 hours of the leader!
My wife Lee Anne and I hiked the Way in 6 days. Although no day was as difficult as running a 50K race, we hiked up to 22 miles on one day, which took about 9 hours. You truly deserve a dram of scotch after such a feat! The Way starts at Milngavie, 12 miles from the Glasgow airport. Milngavie is more or less a suburb of Glasgow and at the start, the Way reminded me of any crushed rock trail inside a city. A very pleasant way to start a long journey. Throughout the lowlands, the trail is mainly on groomed trail or road, but with enough technical bits to require some of your attention on the path forward. The scenery is splendid; it seems everything in Scotland is lush and green, or historic. I excitedly took pictures of waterfalls, until the tally superseded 50, and then tended to consider them as no big deal. Loch (lake) Lomond figures prominently in the lowlands, with startling vistas from Conic Hill.
Once you arrive at Crianlarch, the trail turns more rugged and the Highlands start. Viewing a country via a “horizontal” trail is new to us. We tend to hike trails in the mountains and have done so in Scotland and other countries. These “vertical” hikes are most impressive and provide beautiful vistas, but hiking “horizontally” brings you in touch with the history, architecture and natural beauty of a country. Highly recommended!
Lee Anne runs about 90 miles per week and went for a few 10-mile runs after the shorter days, typically comprised of 14 miles of hiking. I found 95 miles in 6 days just about right, thank you. On 2 days, we both ran the last 6 – 8 miles and were quite surprised that it would have been easy to run part or all of the Way throughout the 6 days. In retrospect, a very doable run. Either as a 95 mile race in under 35 hours, or as a 2 – 4 day run / hike. We booked with Macs Adventures, as we prefer B&B’s to camping. It tends to rain in Scotland! Macs Adventures (www.macsadventure.com) was hassle-free. They book the hotels and B&B’s, transport luggage to the next room and provide excellent maps and details of the hike.
For runners with Scotland on the bucket list, consider the West Highland Way. The trail is a wonderful Way to see Scotland and run some interesting terrain!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Wasaga Beach Half
I am still resenting the decision (actually a lack of a timely decision) to skip Haliburton. The reason was acceptable, I couldn't afford the time just now to drive over on Friday evening, run a race (Curly would start at 06:00), wait around for Curly to finish 50K or 50M, then arrive in Creemore Saturday evening. I am building Curly a 12' X 20' pottery studio. She plans to ramp up her pottery, now that she has retired from teaching.
Being in IT at Honda and involved in project schedules, (I tend to default to the technical project lead, even when I instruct my managers not to slot me into such a position. Managers! Who can trust them...) I like to keep personal projects on schedule. I know, run, think about running, write about running...
A surprise phone call at work on Wednesday from Curly culminated in her signing us up for the Wasaga Beach half marathon. The half is actually a wonderful distance. The course was flat (flatter than Creemore!), a mixture of road and bits of trail, and it doesn't burn the day away, such as a 50K 3 hours from home.
A half is also a distance at which you can "cheat" on your training. From my perspective, the first 5K of Wasaga was painful and slow, as the various ailments resist running faster that a slow hobble. From 5 to 10K, I can ramp it up to a fast, lurching hobble, with little pain. Quite enjoyable! From 10 to 15K, my lack of training resulted in a short black period, in which running became painful surviving. From 15K to the end was a bit better, as I kept repeating to myself that I only had 6 more K!
A finishing time of 2:05 was my second slowest ever, but I'm happy, given the lack of training. An added burden stemmed from handling 6 bushcord of firewood last week and hauling wood and hammering on Friday and Saturday, something I do infrequently. It was strange to run with significant resistance in the shoulders and arms.
I can now look forward to running 50K at the Toad. How am I going to do this without proper training? A very good question! Any hints or suggestions? My only recourse at this point is to attempt a 30K next weekend, then execute a perfect taper. "A" plan is run 25K, then run/walk 12.5K, then walk/crawl the forth loop. B plan is to run 25K, then DNF. The plan will depend on how much pain I am managing at the 25K point.
Well, the floor is done and 2 walls are framed, but time to swing a hammer!
Being in IT at Honda and involved in project schedules, (I tend to default to the technical project lead, even when I instruct my managers not to slot me into such a position. Managers! Who can trust them...) I like to keep personal projects on schedule. I know, run, think about running, write about running...
A surprise phone call at work on Wednesday from Curly culminated in her signing us up for the Wasaga Beach half marathon. The half is actually a wonderful distance. The course was flat (flatter than Creemore!), a mixture of road and bits of trail, and it doesn't burn the day away, such as a 50K 3 hours from home.
A half is also a distance at which you can "cheat" on your training. From my perspective, the first 5K of Wasaga was painful and slow, as the various ailments resist running faster that a slow hobble. From 5 to 10K, I can ramp it up to a fast, lurching hobble, with little pain. Quite enjoyable! From 10 to 15K, my lack of training resulted in a short black period, in which running became painful surviving. From 15K to the end was a bit better, as I kept repeating to myself that I only had 6 more K!
A finishing time of 2:05 was my second slowest ever, but I'm happy, given the lack of training. An added burden stemmed from handling 6 bushcord of firewood last week and hauling wood and hammering on Friday and Saturday, something I do infrequently. It was strange to run with significant resistance in the shoulders and arms.
I can now look forward to running 50K at the Toad. How am I going to do this without proper training? A very good question! Any hints or suggestions? My only recourse at this point is to attempt a 30K next weekend, then execute a perfect taper. "A" plan is run 25K, then run/walk 12.5K, then walk/crawl the forth loop. B plan is to run 25K, then DNF. The plan will depend on how much pain I am managing at the 25K point.
Well, the floor is done and 2 walls are framed, but time to swing a hammer!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Confusion Reigns Supreme!
Okay, I've been very very bad this week. I had hoped to run Haliburton or with Ron Irwin (West Grey Runner) who scheduled quality time yesterday on the Bruce Trail at Beaver Valley. Guess what? Time commitments precluded both endeavors as I needed to complete the firewood supply for one of my sisters and myself, before starting a new pottery studio for Lee Anne this coming weekend. Today is Lee Anne's first official day of retirement! She is looking forward to once again becoming a professional potter, after teaching primary classes for 27 years.
So, firewood, pottery studio and running. Did I mention I work for a living? I know, my priorities are running, thinking about running, writing about running and way down the list, "other"... To be fair, this week I have been writing an article on the West Highland Way in Scotland. Lee Anne and I hiked the Way in August. Inspiring scenery, epic hiking and a wonderful way to see Scotland. There is also a race that follows the 95 mile Way. I hope to post soon.
At some point I need to post on my injury list. The task is surprisingly daunting, as I have been running for 38 years and was also active in sports that are usually not considered sedentary in nature. While playing Rugby for Waterloo University, my teammate's ear became infected after having been partially torn off. He needed a note to play against McMaster, but his Doctor knew little of the sport. He convinced the doctor that Rugby was similar to tennis, and was granted a doctor's note to play! Similar to running, denial is a large component of high-impact sports...
For fun, let's start with the left knee: Operation to remove cartilage (embarrassingly enough, it was high school basketball), damaged ACL (chainsaw), torn petellar tendon (rugby), ripped quadricep (Swiss saw), IT band (running) and knee strain (arthritis). I jokingly state that my left knee is the good one! Enough frivolity, I better call it a night...
So, firewood, pottery studio and running. Did I mention I work for a living? I know, my priorities are running, thinking about running, writing about running and way down the list, "other"... To be fair, this week I have been writing an article on the West Highland Way in Scotland. Lee Anne and I hiked the Way in August. Inspiring scenery, epic hiking and a wonderful way to see Scotland. There is also a race that follows the 95 mile Way. I hope to post soon.
At some point I need to post on my injury list. The task is surprisingly daunting, as I have been running for 38 years and was also active in sports that are usually not considered sedentary in nature. While playing Rugby for Waterloo University, my teammate's ear became infected after having been partially torn off. He needed a note to play against McMaster, but his Doctor knew little of the sport. He convinced the doctor that Rugby was similar to tennis, and was granted a doctor's note to play! Similar to running, denial is a large component of high-impact sports...
For fun, let's start with the left knee: Operation to remove cartilage (embarrassingly enough, it was high school basketball), damaged ACL (chainsaw), torn petellar tendon (rugby), ripped quadricep (Swiss saw), IT band (running) and knee strain (arthritis). I jokingly state that my left knee is the good one! Enough frivolity, I better call it a night...
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