I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this blog and the friendships with runners, made along the way. The trail and ultra races are tough, but that is why we sign up. Greeting friends at races is always a great moment and a significant aspect of why I keep going back to the various Ontario races. I mention this in case this is my last post. If you see something along the lines of "We Will Talk at Home" from Lee Anne, in the comments section, followed by my eternal silence, you'll know what happened. For my epitaph, I'm thinking:
Brave and Stupid
Of course the epitaph can be applied to most trail and ultra runners...
Living with a runner is never easy. In a shallow attempt to preempt an adverse reaction from Lee Anne, I would like to state that in our case, the above observation goes both ways. I will grudgingly admit that I have a few idiosyncrasies. There. That should ward off her attempts at manslaughter.
From one perspective, we have it easy. Both of us are runners, so we don't normally experience shock when one of us proposes some outlandish running objective. Lee Anne likes running long and on road. I have difficulty running long and prefer trails. I have only run 50 miles once, a distance that Lee Anne considers "shortish". Even though we have diverse running preferences, we typically sign up for the same races. Even when we don't, it is usually no big deal. I avoid marathons. They are too short, flat and painful. Lee Anne loves the marathon, because it is short, flat and on road. Lee Anne is running Boston soon, whereas I would gladly pay to avoid running Boston. Her daughter Lily will accompany her. They will spend about $2,000 so that Lee Anne can run a marathon. I'm not sure how couples with only one runner handle this type of objective. It has to be a stressor.
My first bit of advice on living with a runner is to encourage them to reach their goals, but make it implicitely clear that they owe you. Get it in writing. If they are overly keen on their goal, they should grant you a big ticket item to reciprocate.
Crewing is a totally different matter. Be very careful what you sign up for. I typically crew for Lee Anne, because there is usually no need to crew for someone (me) running a 50K or 6 hour race. Crewing becomes essential for races 12 hours / 50 miles or longer. The idea of crewing your spouse is very romantic. You are helping a loved one during their toughest challenge. They will be filled with gratitude, right? Right? Hello?
I last crewed for Lee Anne in September, 2015. We were extremely fortunate to have help from our good friend Sharon. Lee Anne had a fantastic race, which means that there was less of the "ugly" that typical transpires during a long bout of crewing. Even so, here is what I did:
Drive 16 hours to Tennessee. Help Lee Anne prepare for a 28 hour run. Set up a tent and Lee Anne's aid station. Wake up at 04:00 on race day and get Lee Anne to the start. Monitor her fluid, calorie, salt and electrolyte intake. It was a hot day, so the sodium and electrolyte intake had to be monitored separately. During the 26 hours and 34 minutes that Lee Anne ran, provide her with something that she would enjoy. Keep track of her metrics, to provide her with up-to-the-minute progress reports.
Make no mistake, Lee Anne ran for 26.5 hours, not me. All I did was keep her running. Without Sharon, my task would have been nearly impossible. I was able to catch an hour or two of sleep during Lee Anne's run. A great quote, which I first heard in relation to Badwater, was that a crew cannot win a race, but they can certainly lose it. I was also able to drive to a store to get hot food. Fortunately, they sold ice at the race site, which was convenient as I was giving Lee Anne a bag if ice every mile. However, here is my schedule for the race:
Wednesday night: 5 hours sleep (in Toronto)
Thursday: 06:30 to 23:00: Drive (forgot our passports in Creemore)
Sleep for 5 hours (I don't sleep well after driving for 16+ hours)
Friday: 08:00 - 23:00: Prep for the race, inspect race course, run 9K (it was HOT!)
Sleep for 4 hours (I don't sleep well before crewing for a race...)
Saturday: 04:00: Set up at race site
05:00 - 21:00: Crew for Lee Anne
21:00 - 23:00: Try to sleep
23:30: Buy chicken sandwich for Liz Bauer (a surreal moment!)
Sunday: 00:00 - 8:30: Crew for Lee Anne
09:00 - 12:00 Try to sleep in the car, in the heat
12:00 until Tuesday: Drive home
As mentioned above, Lee Anne's race went very well. This means that she never reached the point where tantrums became the main theme. The mental state of a person who has run for 20+ hours is equivalent to a cranky 3 year old. They are not thinking rational or logically. Continuous suffering starts to block out the world. Runners are only thinking about how they can make their current status a bit better. If they want coke with ice, you had bloody well better have it ready, even if you have no inkling that is what they want. Conversely, if you provide the runner with something they had not expected and enjoy, it can dramatically improve their mood. This aspect can be exhausting for the crew, always striving to think of something the runner would appreciate. Especially if the runner passes the shelter every mile, in a 100 mile race.
My advice on crewing is: Nothing longer than a 5K race...
Day-to-day living can also have its struggles, especially for spouses of ultra runners. Lee Anne runs a back-to-back every Friday and Saturday. Since I am also an ultra runner, I understand how critical it is to maintain your running schedule. Missing even one day can throw a wrench into your training program. This is different than what I tell people who are just starting to run. They can easily miss a day or three. But (think old testament here) NEVER TAMPER WITH THE SCHEDULE. Lee Anne has asked people to reschedule their funeral, to avoid conflicts with her running schedule.
Yes, my sense of humour has made my life difficult, why do you ask?
Everything from washing clothes to diet is a bit upside down in running households. We have 2 shelves in our medicine cabinet for Ibuprofen. Although there are only 2 people living in our house, we wash a large load of laundry every day. Most people consider pretzels to be the worst food imaginable. Empty calories with a massive amount of salt. Pretzels are so significant to ultra runners, they are considered a separate food group. Winter running brings the concept of drying racks to a rarified level. Although our dryer runs every day (the clothesline cannot dry clothes between runs), we still have 3 areas for drying running clothes, shoes, camelbacks, hip belts, hats and gloves. A shelf in our fridge is for "in progress" water bottles and gels. We are experts at rolling up 3 yards of toilet paper, so that it fits into a small ziplock baggy.
Our knowledge of weather patterns rivals meteorologists. We are always aware of the phase of the moon, snow and rain forecasts, temperature, wind and humidity. Sunrise is at 07:32. I had to look this up because I thought it was early now (my guess was 7:25). However, it is getting light enough in Creemore to run before 07:00. On August 6 (Creemore Vertical Challenge), sunrise will be 06:15ish (I have not looked this up), but there will be enough light to run at 05:50, 10 minutes before the 75K start. Okay, I just looked up sunrise in Creemore on August 6 and it is 06:13...
So, my advice for runners, regarding living with another runner is: Go for it. This takes 2 runners out of the dating pool and you deserve each other. My advice for non-runners: If it not too late, consider dating someone normal. Or if you are brave and stupid, start running.
Cheers!
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Winter Running...
As Lee Anne and I prepared to brave the Creemore elements yesterday, I was surprised at how effective procrastination can be during the winter. We woke up late to a sunny -16C day. There was a gentle wind from the north, which at -16 can be considered a death threat. We were in no hurry to don our gear and start the run. Ah! Winter running!
Since I was running short (24K - which I quickly changed to 15K after starting the run), we spent some time trying to figure out how to keep Lee Anne's camelback from freezing. We tried threading the tube under her running jacket, but it was awkward and part of the tube remained exposed. Next, we tried placing her extra small jacket on top of the camelback, but Lee Anne would have trouble breathing. Finally, after delaying until the temperature was -11C, we settled on the traditional blowback approach, with the camelback outside her jacket.
Another 15 minutes spent donning 14 layers of clothes, gloves, hats, those things that warm your neck (I don't wear one - I'm almost a man) and 2 layers of pants, and we were ready. Since we planned to run roads, we started by heading north. Into that gentle breeze. After 30 seconds, I asked Lee Anne if she would like to run on the treadmill. Being the irrational and obstinate person that she is (the category is called "Runner"), we continued on our way. I have to admit that I enjoy the reaction of cars that pass us during these Arctic runs. They slow right down. I imagine the driver is wondering if they should offer assistance or head for high ground.
Let's talk pace for a moment. We are running with more clothes than I pack for a week's vacation during the summer. Footing ranges from icy pavement to frozen salt, unless the footing is bad. That gentle -11C breeze is dense enough to move tractors frozen in mud. Since we live on the Mad river, the terrain is uphill in all directions, unless we run in or on the river. About now I would like to take exception to the term "warm-up". Five minutes into our run, I can't feel my face. My fingers are frozen near the holes in my gloves. A graph of my core body temperature would look like a swan dive. I can't wait to warm up, he says with caustic sarcasm. Our legs are moving in slow motion, the pace sometimes approaching a 7 minute kilometre. When we stop to walk, our pace increases.
For some reason I have never been able to fathom, my mileage drops during the winter...
I have to laugh; the above struggle takes place during one of the warmest January's I can remember, in Creemore. We have had virtually no snow, so the trails are still runnable. A great winter for running!
Lee Anne started a running log this year. I started one last year. I have offered to help track her mileage, which could be a mistake. Although my mileage has suffered so far this year (I am helping with a construction project in Toronto), even my best months would pale in comparison to Lee Anne's. So far in January 2016, the comparison is sad. Due to work, I only have 3 days per week in which I can run. Lee Anne continues with her one day off (Thursday) and back-to-backs every Friday and Saturday.
During my last week before starting to work in Toronto, I logged 56K. Since then, my mileage has dropped dramatically. My total for the month is 103.5K.
For the first 3 full weeks this month, Lee Anne has logged 150K, 158K and 147K. Her monthly total is 518K. She is on pace to exceed 650K this month. I'm hoping to break 150K.
On the bright side, we are preparing for some altitude training. Actually, we might not be running as much in February, as we will be hiking in Ecuador. After a few days acclimatizing in Quito, we plan to hike the Quilotoa Loop. This hike is up fairly high (2800M to 3900M), so running may not be an option. Along the loop is the Quilotoa crater lake, a fascinating remnant of massive eruption circa 800 years ago. After the Loop, we plan to climb the Imbabura volcano, although hikers write of scrambles and tricky trails, which might not be much fun at 4630 meters (15,000 feet)! Our fallback plan is to visit the Otavalo market, just north of Quito.
Strange how events transpire in life. I understand that we are in the proper demographic (recently retired), but it is still strange how many friends are also travelling to Ecuador. We will be travelling with Manny and Barb, mutual friends of our good friend Sharon, Jane from book club has already flown south and our long time friends Mel and Al are flying down on the same day as us! We plan to meet with Mel and Al in Quito for some sightseeing.
Try to enjoy the great outdoors this month. There is no doubt that hiking or running in January is tough, but there are sites to see and you can gain a new perspective on the outdoors, during the winter. Dress warm!
Since I was running short (24K - which I quickly changed to 15K after starting the run), we spent some time trying to figure out how to keep Lee Anne's camelback from freezing. We tried threading the tube under her running jacket, but it was awkward and part of the tube remained exposed. Next, we tried placing her extra small jacket on top of the camelback, but Lee Anne would have trouble breathing. Finally, after delaying until the temperature was -11C, we settled on the traditional blowback approach, with the camelback outside her jacket.
Another 15 minutes spent donning 14 layers of clothes, gloves, hats, those things that warm your neck (I don't wear one - I'm almost a man) and 2 layers of pants, and we were ready. Since we planned to run roads, we started by heading north. Into that gentle breeze. After 30 seconds, I asked Lee Anne if she would like to run on the treadmill. Being the irrational and obstinate person that she is (the category is called "Runner"), we continued on our way. I have to admit that I enjoy the reaction of cars that pass us during these Arctic runs. They slow right down. I imagine the driver is wondering if they should offer assistance or head for high ground.
Let's talk pace for a moment. We are running with more clothes than I pack for a week's vacation during the summer. Footing ranges from icy pavement to frozen salt, unless the footing is bad. That gentle -11C breeze is dense enough to move tractors frozen in mud. Since we live on the Mad river, the terrain is uphill in all directions, unless we run in or on the river. About now I would like to take exception to the term "warm-up". Five minutes into our run, I can't feel my face. My fingers are frozen near the holes in my gloves. A graph of my core body temperature would look like a swan dive. I can't wait to warm up, he says with caustic sarcasm. Our legs are moving in slow motion, the pace sometimes approaching a 7 minute kilometre. When we stop to walk, our pace increases.
For some reason I have never been able to fathom, my mileage drops during the winter...
I have to laugh; the above struggle takes place during one of the warmest January's I can remember, in Creemore. We have had virtually no snow, so the trails are still runnable. A great winter for running!
Lee Anne started a running log this year. I started one last year. I have offered to help track her mileage, which could be a mistake. Although my mileage has suffered so far this year (I am helping with a construction project in Toronto), even my best months would pale in comparison to Lee Anne's. So far in January 2016, the comparison is sad. Due to work, I only have 3 days per week in which I can run. Lee Anne continues with her one day off (Thursday) and back-to-backs every Friday and Saturday.
During my last week before starting to work in Toronto, I logged 56K. Since then, my mileage has dropped dramatically. My total for the month is 103.5K.
For the first 3 full weeks this month, Lee Anne has logged 150K, 158K and 147K. Her monthly total is 518K. She is on pace to exceed 650K this month. I'm hoping to break 150K.
On the bright side, we are preparing for some altitude training. Actually, we might not be running as much in February, as we will be hiking in Ecuador. After a few days acclimatizing in Quito, we plan to hike the Quilotoa Loop. This hike is up fairly high (2800M to 3900M), so running may not be an option. Along the loop is the Quilotoa crater lake, a fascinating remnant of massive eruption circa 800 years ago. After the Loop, we plan to climb the Imbabura volcano, although hikers write of scrambles and tricky trails, which might not be much fun at 4630 meters (15,000 feet)! Our fallback plan is to visit the Otavalo market, just north of Quito.
Strange how events transpire in life. I understand that we are in the proper demographic (recently retired), but it is still strange how many friends are also travelling to Ecuador. We will be travelling with Manny and Barb, mutual friends of our good friend Sharon, Jane from book club has already flown south and our long time friends Mel and Al are flying down on the same day as us! We plan to meet with Mel and Al in Quito for some sightseeing.
Try to enjoy the great outdoors this month. There is no doubt that hiking or running in January is tough, but there are sites to see and you can gain a new perspective on the outdoors, during the winter. Dress warm!
Sunday, January 17, 2016
2016: The Speed Returns!
Those of you who have been running for more than 6 days know that ramping up is tough. Some aspects of a running ramp are easier than others, but they all involve some form of discomfort. Normally, increasing weekly mileage is tough, but not as discomforting as increasing your long run. This is true in part because increasing weekly mileage can be done in several ways and the "pain" can be spread across 7 days. For example, running 5 days per week instead of 4 is relatively easy. There are still 2 rest days and adding a 3K run on what was previously a rest day; not overly demanding. Don't get me wrong, some weekly increments must be epic struggles. I cannot fathom how elite athletes add an 8th training session to their weekly regime. The LMRC's (Leg Muscle Recovery Centres) must be truly pissed. They no longer have 20ish hours in which to perform recovery, but must be ready for another bout in 8 hours!
However, the first time you increase your long run from 28K to circa 32K, your entire body lets you know it is not happy. At all. Even after years of ramping up in the Spring, the long run ramp is the one I dread. Forget sore leg muscles, everything is sore. Oh, you forgot to apply lube to certain areas of your body? What a wonderful conversation piece! I hate experiencing, but love watching runners who are out on a long run and have forgotten to bring electrolyte. They are shuffling along at the speed of a brisk walk, but the expression on their face indicates a struggle of magnitude to maintain the pathetic pace.
Speed work is a different animal altogether. In my twenties, I used to look forward to speed work, in preparation for the rugby season. I was young, relatively uninjured and running had very little resistance. As you age and accumulate chronic injuries, something horrific happens to your pace. Instead of 1 or 2 aches and pains, every muscle in your legs and torso hurt. The resistance is alarming. Maintaining what I used to consider a recovery pace, takes real effort! Speed work is no longer uncomfortable, it is downright painful. In my mid-forties, I experienced a plethora of injuries. In retrospect, I believe this happened because I was training for 50K's instead of 10K's. This required aggravating old injuries at the same time that I was incurring new running injuries. When you are struggling to train with a bad back, bad knees and a broken neck, developing Plantar Fasciitis can greatly affect the speed and distance of your training runs, Running a 50K (or DNF'ing) with insufficient training is tricky. Speed work went out the window. Forget quality sessions, I was striving simply to get in some mileage.
My hope for 2016 is that the base I have built since retirement in 2014 will allow me to try some speed work. I fervently hope that at the end of 2016, I am not posting about the difficulties of increasing speed in your late 50's!
Plans for 2016
No, I have not seriously pondered my goals for 2016. That only happens when I write this post!
As mentioned above, I will incorporate speed sessions. I envision the sessions will be weekly, starting on the treadmill during the winter. This will provide the option of stopping at any moment, without having to walk home in the deep freeze. I will use the concept developed in France a few years back, which is to run for 4 minutes at about your 5K race pace, then one minute recovery pace. I like this concept because my current 5K "race pace" is around 6 minute kilometres. It should be easy at the start!
Races:
This is not set in stone, but more of a wish list. Again for 2016, I plan to focus on the local ultra races, but am eyeing a few in exotic locals, such as Quebec...
Spring Warm-up April 16
Not a race, but I have to be there, so why not run? Hope to run 39K (3 loops).
Pick Your Poison 50K April 30
Why not? Yes, it is a rude and unpleasant wake up call, but I enjoy the course and I need a long run in late April.
Sulphur Springs 50M May 28
If everything goes according to plan, I will attempt my second 50 mile race. Sulphur is an easy trail course and 4 loops of 20K will provide some familiarity during the later stage of the race. My hope is to get a more respectable finishing time, but realistically, I will probably be struggling to finish.
Niagara Ultra 50K June 18
I expect Lee Anne will be signing up for the 100K, so I might as well run a short little 50K. Seriously, I have doubts about finishing 50K four weeks after a 50 miler, so there is a chance I am volunteering instead of racing.
Canadian Skyrunning Festival 22K Skyrace June 25 Mont Albert, QC
Fitting this into "the schedule" will not be easy, unless we take a 2 week road trip to include this race (500K NE of Quebec city), Ottawa and Limberlost. I would like to state for the record that recovery is utterly overrated! Since Creemore is now part of the Canadian Skyrunning series, I would like to visit a brother race. Don't let the short distance fool you. The 22K has almost as much vertical as the CVC 50K.
Ottawa Ultra 50K July 2
This race hinges on what I do at Niagara. Lee Anne might not run 100K at Niagara, but run 24 hours here, depending on her goals. I would prefer to race Limberlost, which would mean that I don't run in Ottawa. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Limberlost 56K July 9
Obviously running 56K at TLC will only happen if I don't run in Ottawa. I would like to try the "grown-up" race distance. For those of you who have not been to TLC, 56K is a LONG race. in 2015, only 6 people ran it in under 7 hours!
Dirty Girls 12 hour Day July 23
I have unfinished business at DG. In 2015, my race was a textbook example of ignoring all the warning signs. I need to revisit this race to put the demons to bed. Expect disaster here again, in 2016.
Creemore Vertical Challenge 0K August 6
I hope to get in 0K. Last year, due to bear activity on the trail, I ran up and down a section of trail that I cut DURING the race, in order to divert runners away from some angry wasps. Their nest had been ripped out of the ground and strewn along the course. Ask the 75K runners regarding fond memories of their first loop.
Haliburton 50K September 10
If Lee Anne goes back to help Sharon volunteer at the 40K aid station (#7), I will run the 50K, then help them. Last year, I somehow thought I could run 50 miles, then volunteer. I did not factor in being close to death after the 50 mile race...
Horror Trail 6 hour October 29
I DNS'd this race in 2015, so again, some unfinished business. I would also like to be present for the OUTRace awards.
2016: Good Luck!
That's it. Probably more than I can embrace in a single calendar year, but plans are adjustable and I expect to make alterations. So, good luck with whatever you are planning for 2016. Don't limit yourself to what is plausible or practical. Reach for the sky and once in a while you will see the stars.
8% No Limit
Just a heads up on a documentary that will be circulating soon. Rhonda-Marie Avery, a runner with 8% vision, ran the Bruce Trail in August 2014. Yes, the whole 885K, in 20 days. I cannot conceive of the struggle she endured, running along cliffs, over such technical terrain, while exhausted and with little vision. For details on the film, please check out the website:
www.8percentnolimit.com
Cheers!
However, the first time you increase your long run from 28K to circa 32K, your entire body lets you know it is not happy. At all. Even after years of ramping up in the Spring, the long run ramp is the one I dread. Forget sore leg muscles, everything is sore. Oh, you forgot to apply lube to certain areas of your body? What a wonderful conversation piece! I hate experiencing, but love watching runners who are out on a long run and have forgotten to bring electrolyte. They are shuffling along at the speed of a brisk walk, but the expression on their face indicates a struggle of magnitude to maintain the pathetic pace.
Speed work is a different animal altogether. In my twenties, I used to look forward to speed work, in preparation for the rugby season. I was young, relatively uninjured and running had very little resistance. As you age and accumulate chronic injuries, something horrific happens to your pace. Instead of 1 or 2 aches and pains, every muscle in your legs and torso hurt. The resistance is alarming. Maintaining what I used to consider a recovery pace, takes real effort! Speed work is no longer uncomfortable, it is downright painful. In my mid-forties, I experienced a plethora of injuries. In retrospect, I believe this happened because I was training for 50K's instead of 10K's. This required aggravating old injuries at the same time that I was incurring new running injuries. When you are struggling to train with a bad back, bad knees and a broken neck, developing Plantar Fasciitis can greatly affect the speed and distance of your training runs, Running a 50K (or DNF'ing) with insufficient training is tricky. Speed work went out the window. Forget quality sessions, I was striving simply to get in some mileage.
My hope for 2016 is that the base I have built since retirement in 2014 will allow me to try some speed work. I fervently hope that at the end of 2016, I am not posting about the difficulties of increasing speed in your late 50's!
Plans for 2016
No, I have not seriously pondered my goals for 2016. That only happens when I write this post!
As mentioned above, I will incorporate speed sessions. I envision the sessions will be weekly, starting on the treadmill during the winter. This will provide the option of stopping at any moment, without having to walk home in the deep freeze. I will use the concept developed in France a few years back, which is to run for 4 minutes at about your 5K race pace, then one minute recovery pace. I like this concept because my current 5K "race pace" is around 6 minute kilometres. It should be easy at the start!
Races:
This is not set in stone, but more of a wish list. Again for 2016, I plan to focus on the local ultra races, but am eyeing a few in exotic locals, such as Quebec...
Spring Warm-up April 16
Not a race, but I have to be there, so why not run? Hope to run 39K (3 loops).
Pick Your Poison 50K April 30
Why not? Yes, it is a rude and unpleasant wake up call, but I enjoy the course and I need a long run in late April.
Sulphur Springs 50M May 28
If everything goes according to plan, I will attempt my second 50 mile race. Sulphur is an easy trail course and 4 loops of 20K will provide some familiarity during the later stage of the race. My hope is to get a more respectable finishing time, but realistically, I will probably be struggling to finish.
Niagara Ultra 50K June 18
I expect Lee Anne will be signing up for the 100K, so I might as well run a short little 50K. Seriously, I have doubts about finishing 50K four weeks after a 50 miler, so there is a chance I am volunteering instead of racing.
Canadian Skyrunning Festival 22K Skyrace June 25 Mont Albert, QC
Fitting this into "the schedule" will not be easy, unless we take a 2 week road trip to include this race (500K NE of Quebec city), Ottawa and Limberlost. I would like to state for the record that recovery is utterly overrated! Since Creemore is now part of the Canadian Skyrunning series, I would like to visit a brother race. Don't let the short distance fool you. The 22K has almost as much vertical as the CVC 50K.
Ottawa Ultra 50K July 2
This race hinges on what I do at Niagara. Lee Anne might not run 100K at Niagara, but run 24 hours here, depending on her goals. I would prefer to race Limberlost, which would mean that I don't run in Ottawa. Decisions, decisions, decisions...
Limberlost 56K July 9
Obviously running 56K at TLC will only happen if I don't run in Ottawa. I would like to try the "grown-up" race distance. For those of you who have not been to TLC, 56K is a LONG race. in 2015, only 6 people ran it in under 7 hours!
Dirty Girls 12 hour Day July 23
I have unfinished business at DG. In 2015, my race was a textbook example of ignoring all the warning signs. I need to revisit this race to put the demons to bed. Expect disaster here again, in 2016.
Creemore Vertical Challenge 0K August 6
I hope to get in 0K. Last year, due to bear activity on the trail, I ran up and down a section of trail that I cut DURING the race, in order to divert runners away from some angry wasps. Their nest had been ripped out of the ground and strewn along the course. Ask the 75K runners regarding fond memories of their first loop.
Haliburton 50K September 10
If Lee Anne goes back to help Sharon volunteer at the 40K aid station (#7), I will run the 50K, then help them. Last year, I somehow thought I could run 50 miles, then volunteer. I did not factor in being close to death after the 50 mile race...
Horror Trail 6 hour October 29
I DNS'd this race in 2015, so again, some unfinished business. I would also like to be present for the OUTRace awards.
2016: Good Luck!
That's it. Probably more than I can embrace in a single calendar year, but plans are adjustable and I expect to make alterations. So, good luck with whatever you are planning for 2016. Don't limit yourself to what is plausible or practical. Reach for the sky and once in a while you will see the stars.
8% No Limit
Just a heads up on a documentary that will be circulating soon. Rhonda-Marie Avery, a runner with 8% vision, ran the Bruce Trail in August 2014. Yes, the whole 885K, in 20 days. I cannot conceive of the struggle she endured, running along cliffs, over such technical terrain, while exhausted and with little vision. For details on the film, please check out the website:
www.8percentnolimit.com
Cheers!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
2015: First 50 Miler; Almost Happy
It is hard to sum up a year in review. In fact, I waited until there was enough time to write about what transpired, in a year that represented a dramatic increase in running. As an observation, don't wait until you are 57 to run your first 50 miler. It has little to do with being older, slower, chronically injured and short of breath, but that you have a large enough experience set to comprehend that you are not enjoying the last 6 hours of the race... You want to be young enough that you don't realize what a bad idea it is, to run for 12+ hours.
Note that I am recommending trying a long race. Just do it before you are experienced! I had 2 objectives for 2015 and I fully anticipated that they would compliment each other. 1. I would run more long races. I figured that in order to attempt a 50 miler, I needed to run longer. Being slightly adverse to planning copious 40+K training runs, I reasoned that if I signed up for enough 50K races, I would be trained for a 50 miler. 2. I would run faster. Does it make sense to you that by increasing your weekly total from 30K to 50 - 80K, you would also get faster? Apparently not, if you are approaching 60 years of age and have not run fast for the last decade.
So, I increased the number and duration of training runs and races, but only half-heartedly attempted to include speed work. Result: I remained slow, but was able to complete 6 ultras, including the Haliburton 50 miler.
Will I run another 50 miler? Probably. There is significant road (dirt road) at Hali and I believe this was a factor in my knees going south at about the 55K point. There is considerable room to improve, with a 12:35 finish time. Perhaps a gentle trail race (Sulphur?) would be better. Will I run a 100 miler? Not. Training for long races is difficult with my back and knees. I would end up walking a large portion, which would mean chasing cut-off's; it is not worth it. Walking plays a role in ultras. A big component of ultras is managing your resources, including being as efficient as possible. In a 5K race, you will never reach "empty" on your leg muscle scale, so sprinting up a short hill is a good racing tactic. In an ultra, it is suicide. Walking up a hill that exceeds a certain pitch is more efficient than running it, which results in reaching the finish line sooner. But I also believe that you should train so that you can run a preponderance of the race. Planning to walk the last 40 miles of a hundred miler is not actually "racing" but completing the distance. Might as well not enter the race and simply run and walk the distance on your own.
2015 By the Numbers
Daily:
Longest: 80K
Shortest: 1K (aborted run)
Average: 6.59K (includes days off)
Average: 13.75K (only running days)
Weekly:
Longest: 95K
Shortest: 0K (hiking in the Dolomites)
Average: 46.10K
Monthly:
Longest: 289K
Shortest: 67.5K
Average: 200.33K
Year total: 2,404K
2015 Race Synopsis
OUTRace Spring Warm-up 34K 2015-04-11
Not a race, but the first chance to run with people you normally see at races. Running with "racers" typically results in expending more effort than during an average training run. It is very important that NO ONE realizes you are wiped at 13K. They can (and will) use this information against you, during the racing season. Yes, we all claim that the SW is a fun run and a great chance to chat with running friends, but never underestimate the subterfuge. So, after 2 loops (26K), don't mention that you are tired-beat-to-hell, but that you are starting to warm up and would like to increase the pace. It is more important to "win" the SW than doing well in the last races of the year.
Seriously, the SW is a fun time and a great course.
Pick Your Poison 50K 6:24:05 2015-04-25
Tough wake-up call. PYP starts on gentle trails, but after 5K, the word "Ski Hill" comes into play. It is very difficult to train well for PYP, as most trails (in Creemore) still have snow until a few weeks before the race. Running 26K on a treadmill will not prepare you for PYP!
Sulphur Springs 50K 5:42:31 2015-05-23
Gentle course, some recovery from PYP, but beware the "little" hills. Heat can also play a part in this race, although 2015 was relatively good running weather. Did not start too fast, but had hoped to complete the race in less time than it took. This would be the theme for the remainder of the year.
Kingston 6 Hour 52.8K 2015-06-06
Had hoped to complete more distance, but the pace was too slow. Knees held together fairly well on the pavement, but recovery from SS and PYP was not complete. This is a great test at the 6 hour duration. The manual timing gives this race a sheen not found at most other races. It was cool watching Hans Maiers (76) break the Canadian record for his age category!
Niagara Ultra 50K 5:34:59 2015-06-20
I had forgotten how I fared at Niagara (always a bad sign) so I had to read my race report. How could I forget? 3 ultras in 4 weeks... Yes, the 50K times are trending downward, but I recall being sore and tired at the 15K mark. This is not the best mental frame for running fast, with 35K still on the horizon. I will likely have to take a longer break, should I want to push for a faster finish. I also have trouble running on pavement. My knees and back don't take kindly to performing the same mechanics for 5.5 hours.
Stayner Duntroon 8K 42? Minutes 2015-07-01
This is a fun little race, with free entry. In terms of race strategy, it is a killer. The first 2K is a gentle downhill on a paved road (or gravel shoulder), followed by a gently uphill for 2K, then 4K flat. If you want to podium, it is virtually a sprint for the first 2K, but don't let up there! No! Maintain your pace during the uphill... Lee Anne and I ran "fast" for the final 4K, resulting in an acceptable finish time, given that we started slower than a 6 minute kilometre pace.
The Limberlost Challenge 28K 3:52;29 2015-07-11
If you are unhappy with your pace, you need to shake things up a little, to see what happens. My race strategy for TLC was a bit suicidal. I would warm up at a decent pace, then simply crank it until there was nothing left. Then hold on or crash for the remaining distance. Guess what happened? I enjoy the TLC race course. The trails are not overly technical, but there is never any recovery. If you want to go fast, you have to expend vast quantities of energy. Period. I was in trouble at the 5K mark, but decided to tough it out, in the hopes of a miracle. There was no miracle... I was already slowing down before the end of the first 14K loop. My splits tell a very sad tale. 1:41 for loop one and 2:11 for loop two. Ouch! Did blasting the course and trashing my legs have any redeeming features? No. Chalk one up for the "Don't do this - ever" book.
Dirty Girls 12 Hour Day 56K 2015-07-25
I had more trouble at DG than at any other race in 2015. I was so focused on bagging more than 60K during my first 12 hour race, that I ignored a plethora of warning signs that the weather was hot and humid, and that it was taking a BIG toll on my body. My fluid intake alone should have been enough warning. Suddenly, a half litre bottle was not enough to cover 4K. I met some 24 hour runners who were walking during the afternoon because "it was too hot to continue running". These are experienced runners. Even Kinga Miklos shut it down after 64K. The warning signs were all there, but I chose to continue running at a pace I could not sustain during the heat of the day. Result? After only 6 loops (48K), I could no longer run and was very dizzy while walking. After an 8K loop that took 1:48, my race was over.
Haliburton Forest 50 mile 80K 12:35:26 2015-09-12
Too much taper and mountain hiking before the race. This might seem a bit contradictory, but I feel that I lost some running stamina while hiking in the Dolomites, yet I also over-used my hamstrings. A mere 15K into the race, my hamstrings became tight and stayed that way for the next 65K. 50 miles is a long race. I compared it to a 50K, but with an extra 30K of "pushing" on very tired legs, to get to the finish line. If I run another 50 miler, I need to train more, taper properly and avoid running on roads. I really like the Haliburton 50K course and plan to be back. From the 25K point (50K turn-around) until the 40K point, is a lot of road.
Run for the Toad 50K DNF 2015-10-03 (finished 25K)
3 weeks was not enough time to recover from my first 50 mile race. After only 15K, there was not much left in the tank and walking / staggering for 35K did not appeal to me.
Horror Trail 6 hour DNS 2015-10-31
Running after the Toad DNF simply emphasised that I was not recovered from Haliburton. My run-down state probably also led to a bout of the flu or a cold. With the bathroom project and being sick, training was negligible. I saw no good reason to enter a race where I had little chance of even a mediocre performance. Also, I could not afford to take the time, since at that point the bathroom was not fully functional.
Plans for 2016:
This will have to wait for another post, as the 2015 review is long enough. I will incorporate more speed work, as I want to improve my finish times. I will probably run about the same number of races, but mix up the distance a bit more. I think that running 6 ultras during the summer does not allow for sufficient recovery. One reason my race times remained slow was that I was taxing my legs with another 50+K race every other week.
This February, Lee Anne and I will be joining new friends for some hiking in Ecuador. I like the idea of getting the hiking out of the way early, before any serious training begins.
Cheers!
Note that I am recommending trying a long race. Just do it before you are experienced! I had 2 objectives for 2015 and I fully anticipated that they would compliment each other. 1. I would run more long races. I figured that in order to attempt a 50 miler, I needed to run longer. Being slightly adverse to planning copious 40+K training runs, I reasoned that if I signed up for enough 50K races, I would be trained for a 50 miler. 2. I would run faster. Does it make sense to you that by increasing your weekly total from 30K to 50 - 80K, you would also get faster? Apparently not, if you are approaching 60 years of age and have not run fast for the last decade.
So, I increased the number and duration of training runs and races, but only half-heartedly attempted to include speed work. Result: I remained slow, but was able to complete 6 ultras, including the Haliburton 50 miler.
Will I run another 50 miler? Probably. There is significant road (dirt road) at Hali and I believe this was a factor in my knees going south at about the 55K point. There is considerable room to improve, with a 12:35 finish time. Perhaps a gentle trail race (Sulphur?) would be better. Will I run a 100 miler? Not. Training for long races is difficult with my back and knees. I would end up walking a large portion, which would mean chasing cut-off's; it is not worth it. Walking plays a role in ultras. A big component of ultras is managing your resources, including being as efficient as possible. In a 5K race, you will never reach "empty" on your leg muscle scale, so sprinting up a short hill is a good racing tactic. In an ultra, it is suicide. Walking up a hill that exceeds a certain pitch is more efficient than running it, which results in reaching the finish line sooner. But I also believe that you should train so that you can run a preponderance of the race. Planning to walk the last 40 miles of a hundred miler is not actually "racing" but completing the distance. Might as well not enter the race and simply run and walk the distance on your own.
2015 By the Numbers
Daily:
Longest: 80K
Shortest: 1K (aborted run)
Average: 6.59K (includes days off)
Average: 13.75K (only running days)
Weekly:
Longest: 95K
Shortest: 0K (hiking in the Dolomites)
Average: 46.10K
Monthly:
Longest: 289K
Shortest: 67.5K
Average: 200.33K
Year total: 2,404K
2015 Race Synopsis
OUTRace Spring Warm-up 34K 2015-04-11
Not a race, but the first chance to run with people you normally see at races. Running with "racers" typically results in expending more effort than during an average training run. It is very important that NO ONE realizes you are wiped at 13K. They can (and will) use this information against you, during the racing season. Yes, we all claim that the SW is a fun run and a great chance to chat with running friends, but never underestimate the subterfuge. So, after 2 loops (26K), don't mention that you are tired-beat-to-hell, but that you are starting to warm up and would like to increase the pace. It is more important to "win" the SW than doing well in the last races of the year.
Seriously, the SW is a fun time and a great course.
Pick Your Poison 50K 6:24:05 2015-04-25
Tough wake-up call. PYP starts on gentle trails, but after 5K, the word "Ski Hill" comes into play. It is very difficult to train well for PYP, as most trails (in Creemore) still have snow until a few weeks before the race. Running 26K on a treadmill will not prepare you for PYP!
Sulphur Springs 50K 5:42:31 2015-05-23
Gentle course, some recovery from PYP, but beware the "little" hills. Heat can also play a part in this race, although 2015 was relatively good running weather. Did not start too fast, but had hoped to complete the race in less time than it took. This would be the theme for the remainder of the year.
Kingston 6 Hour 52.8K 2015-06-06
Had hoped to complete more distance, but the pace was too slow. Knees held together fairly well on the pavement, but recovery from SS and PYP was not complete. This is a great test at the 6 hour duration. The manual timing gives this race a sheen not found at most other races. It was cool watching Hans Maiers (76) break the Canadian record for his age category!
Niagara Ultra 50K 5:34:59 2015-06-20
I had forgotten how I fared at Niagara (always a bad sign) so I had to read my race report. How could I forget? 3 ultras in 4 weeks... Yes, the 50K times are trending downward, but I recall being sore and tired at the 15K mark. This is not the best mental frame for running fast, with 35K still on the horizon. I will likely have to take a longer break, should I want to push for a faster finish. I also have trouble running on pavement. My knees and back don't take kindly to performing the same mechanics for 5.5 hours.
Stayner Duntroon 8K 42? Minutes 2015-07-01
This is a fun little race, with free entry. In terms of race strategy, it is a killer. The first 2K is a gentle downhill on a paved road (or gravel shoulder), followed by a gently uphill for 2K, then 4K flat. If you want to podium, it is virtually a sprint for the first 2K, but don't let up there! No! Maintain your pace during the uphill... Lee Anne and I ran "fast" for the final 4K, resulting in an acceptable finish time, given that we started slower than a 6 minute kilometre pace.
The Limberlost Challenge 28K 3:52;29 2015-07-11
If you are unhappy with your pace, you need to shake things up a little, to see what happens. My race strategy for TLC was a bit suicidal. I would warm up at a decent pace, then simply crank it until there was nothing left. Then hold on or crash for the remaining distance. Guess what happened? I enjoy the TLC race course. The trails are not overly technical, but there is never any recovery. If you want to go fast, you have to expend vast quantities of energy. Period. I was in trouble at the 5K mark, but decided to tough it out, in the hopes of a miracle. There was no miracle... I was already slowing down before the end of the first 14K loop. My splits tell a very sad tale. 1:41 for loop one and 2:11 for loop two. Ouch! Did blasting the course and trashing my legs have any redeeming features? No. Chalk one up for the "Don't do this - ever" book.
Dirty Girls 12 Hour Day 56K 2015-07-25
I had more trouble at DG than at any other race in 2015. I was so focused on bagging more than 60K during my first 12 hour race, that I ignored a plethora of warning signs that the weather was hot and humid, and that it was taking a BIG toll on my body. My fluid intake alone should have been enough warning. Suddenly, a half litre bottle was not enough to cover 4K. I met some 24 hour runners who were walking during the afternoon because "it was too hot to continue running". These are experienced runners. Even Kinga Miklos shut it down after 64K. The warning signs were all there, but I chose to continue running at a pace I could not sustain during the heat of the day. Result? After only 6 loops (48K), I could no longer run and was very dizzy while walking. After an 8K loop that took 1:48, my race was over.
Haliburton Forest 50 mile 80K 12:35:26 2015-09-12
Too much taper and mountain hiking before the race. This might seem a bit contradictory, but I feel that I lost some running stamina while hiking in the Dolomites, yet I also over-used my hamstrings. A mere 15K into the race, my hamstrings became tight and stayed that way for the next 65K. 50 miles is a long race. I compared it to a 50K, but with an extra 30K of "pushing" on very tired legs, to get to the finish line. If I run another 50 miler, I need to train more, taper properly and avoid running on roads. I really like the Haliburton 50K course and plan to be back. From the 25K point (50K turn-around) until the 40K point, is a lot of road.
Run for the Toad 50K DNF 2015-10-03 (finished 25K)
3 weeks was not enough time to recover from my first 50 mile race. After only 15K, there was not much left in the tank and walking / staggering for 35K did not appeal to me.
Horror Trail 6 hour DNS 2015-10-31
Running after the Toad DNF simply emphasised that I was not recovered from Haliburton. My run-down state probably also led to a bout of the flu or a cold. With the bathroom project and being sick, training was negligible. I saw no good reason to enter a race where I had little chance of even a mediocre performance. Also, I could not afford to take the time, since at that point the bathroom was not fully functional.
Plans for 2016:
This will have to wait for another post, as the 2015 review is long enough. I will incorporate more speed work, as I want to improve my finish times. I will probably run about the same number of races, but mix up the distance a bit more. I think that running 6 ultras during the summer does not allow for sufficient recovery. One reason my race times remained slow was that I was taxing my legs with another 50+K race every other week.
This February, Lee Anne and I will be joining new friends for some hiking in Ecuador. I like the idea of getting the hiking out of the way early, before any serious training begins.
Cheers!
Monday, December 14, 2015
Creemore: A Canadian Skyrunning Race???
Sorry.
That pretty well sums it up. Of the more than 1,200 road, trail and ultra runners that have stood at the starting line in Creemore, Ontario, waiting for the gun to fire, very few were thinking "Gee, I wish this course had more hills". And as per the literature, there are only 4 hills. I see no reason to cloud descriptions of the Creemore course with words such as "incline", "grade", or "cliff". Four hills and one valley should be sufficient to get across the message that Creemore is not overly flat. Where is this diatribe heading?
About a month ago, I got an email from the Canadian Skyrunning Federation (CSF) asking if I would consider submitting the CVC as a Skymarathon. My first thought was no, I would not consider it. Mainly because it had never occurred to me that Creemore COULD be part of the Skyrunning Series! As it stands (this will explain why you have a bad feeling about the above paragraph and why I started this Blog entry with one word) Creemore has almost enough vertical to meet the minimum requirements of a Skymarathon. The CVC could be part of the Canadian Skyrunning Series, if I could add another hill. Someone out there knows how to challenge me!
One problem with trying to find a hill in the Creemore area is that there are too many options. I would like to keep most of the course intact. It works well,with aid station placement, recovery (granted, lean in this area) and to minimize the number of marshals. But there are several hills that I would dearly love to add, as some have incredible views, others offer raging technical trails and one has a pleasant flat part. Guess which one I have already discarded!
So, there will most likely be changes to the CVC course for 2016. This causes me a bit of angst, as the 50K men's record (Calum Neff) is a blistering 3:25:52. This is 35 minutes faster than the next best time. With a new course, the record books will have to be rewritten. Also of concern are the hundreds of less-than-happy runners that will not like me, for adding another hill. Come to think of it, they already don't like me, so no loss there!
So, please take a look at the Skyrunning Canada website. As a note to the runners who enjoy hills, you can accrue points at Creemore for the Canadian Skyrunning series.
The Creemore Vertical Challenge is looking up!
That pretty well sums it up. Of the more than 1,200 road, trail and ultra runners that have stood at the starting line in Creemore, Ontario, waiting for the gun to fire, very few were thinking "Gee, I wish this course had more hills". And as per the literature, there are only 4 hills. I see no reason to cloud descriptions of the Creemore course with words such as "incline", "grade", or "cliff". Four hills and one valley should be sufficient to get across the message that Creemore is not overly flat. Where is this diatribe heading?
About a month ago, I got an email from the Canadian Skyrunning Federation (CSF) asking if I would consider submitting the CVC as a Skymarathon. My first thought was no, I would not consider it. Mainly because it had never occurred to me that Creemore COULD be part of the Skyrunning Series! As it stands (this will explain why you have a bad feeling about the above paragraph and why I started this Blog entry with one word) Creemore has almost enough vertical to meet the minimum requirements of a Skymarathon. The CVC could be part of the Canadian Skyrunning Series, if I could add another hill. Someone out there knows how to challenge me!
One problem with trying to find a hill in the Creemore area is that there are too many options. I would like to keep most of the course intact. It works well,with aid station placement, recovery (granted, lean in this area) and to minimize the number of marshals. But there are several hills that I would dearly love to add, as some have incredible views, others offer raging technical trails and one has a pleasant flat part. Guess which one I have already discarded!
So, there will most likely be changes to the CVC course for 2016. This causes me a bit of angst, as the 50K men's record (Calum Neff) is a blistering 3:25:52. This is 35 minutes faster than the next best time. With a new course, the record books will have to be rewritten. Also of concern are the hundreds of less-than-happy runners that will not like me, for adding another hill. Come to think of it, they already don't like me, so no loss there!
So, please take a look at the Skyrunning Canada website. As a note to the runners who enjoy hills, you can accrue points at Creemore for the Canadian Skyrunning series.
The Creemore Vertical Challenge is looking up!
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Bad Idea: Wearing Antlers While Running
Well, we made it to December and I think we should celebrate the decay of daylight and erosion of ambient temperatures! I thought seriously about challenging others to run every day in December, but that's been done before. Anyway, I have a better idea...
The Challenge:
This makes much more sense from my perspective and has the added bonus that you can change your mind in mid-December, if you are falling behind your goals! Chose 3 of the 4 available challenge options and decide whether you will increase or decrease from your current rate!
Options:
1. Run Faster
2. Run Further
3. Drink new beer or wine
4. Potato Chips
This is too easy. Pick 3 of the above and decide if you want to increase or decrease. Example, here is my choice:
Running Further: Increase
Drinking new wine: Decrease
Potato Chips: Increase
This should be easy for me, as I have drastically reduced my mileage since Haliburton. I am comfortable with the wines I am currently drinking and you can never eat too many potato chips. I will ignore running faster as I am having trouble with that aspect this decade.
I knew that hunting season started soon, so in a fit of proactivity, I checked the Ministry of Hunting for the season dates. Have you ever been to the MOH site? Holy crap! There is no way anyone can figure out when hunting season starts or when it ends! Being an incredibly intelligent ultra runner, I decided to ask a hunter when the season began and finished. They lose their license if they don't know, so I'm sure all of them have waited patiently on the phone for hours, to talk to an actual MOH person, to find out. I figured that if you want to find a hunter, simulate their prey. So I donned an old set of antlers and ran in the Simcoe County reforestation areas...
I really hope that anyone reading this entry is not taking notes.
Running:
Since Haliburton, running has been tricky. A DNF at Run for the Toad and a DNS at Horror Trail. However, running is now starting to get easier. I still have the odd run where my legs seem to be in a different time zone. They are starting to listen to me now. I am not running much over 20K, but shorter runs (12K) no longer feel like a visit to the Gobi desert. New for this year is a running log. I have always wondered what sort of mileage I did and the current total for this year is surprisingly high. I've just surpassed 2200K, which includes quite the nosedive in the past 2 months. Monthly totals show how much of an impact Hali had on me: July (250.0K), August (200.5), September (208.5), October (67.5) and November (135.0). August included hiking in Italy. I find you don't run as much when climbing mountains for 10 hours a day! At least I don't. September, without 80K at Hali, and October were lean months, as I struggled to recover.
Creemore Vertical Challenge:
Some very surprising news! I can't divulge much information until after December 14, but hope to have some great news then. As a hint, check out one of the Canadian running organizations, that is holding a press conference on December 14.
I had hoped to deploy online registration and update outrace.ca in early December, but these activities will have to wait until mid-December. Why? I can't tell you yet. Not that I'm sworn to secrecy, but I figure that waiting until after the press conference on December 14, 2015 is the correct thing to do. In bathroom reno parlance, I'm pumped!
The CVC will take place on Saturday August 6, 2016 and include a 25K, 50K and 75K, same as last year. I have fiddled once again with the prizes for 2016. Unfortunately, the total number will trend downward to 42, coincidentally, the answer to life, the universe and everything. This year, I had 7 prizes for the 75K women, but only 2 women running that race. I also have trouble keeping track of different age groups for the 25K versus the 50K and 75K, so I have aligned these, to assist my remaining sanity. I heard that!
Another change that might not be appreciated is I have reinstated the Earlybird discount. If you sign up before July 1, it is $10 cheaper. Why will this not be appreciated? The Earlybird discount will replace the small jug of maple syrup, received by the first 100 people who signed up. Now I will find out who the MMSC's are! (Militant Maple Syrup Consumers). In 2015, I had to guess at T-shirt sizes, as many people signed up after I had to place the order. This did not work out nicely, as there were several women who signed up early, but did not receive the correct size T-shirt. This year, I will only order for people who sign up before July 1. I need to submit the T-shirt order on July 2,
So, signing up before July 1 will be cheaper and you get a T-shirt. Win-win.
I will also bring back the spot prizes. They were discontinued in 2015 because the race itinerary became quite crowded with the addition of the 75K. I noticed that a few runners were disappointed. I now have to convince my wife Lee Anne that making a few extra pieces of pottery is fun!
As it is never too early to troll for volunteers, keep in mind that you can get volunteer hours at the CVC, for that big race you hope to enter. Some races (Western?) you have to volunteer on the trails or at aid stations for the hours to count.
Enjoy your running and note that the days get longer in 3 weeks.
Cheers!
The Challenge:
This makes much more sense from my perspective and has the added bonus that you can change your mind in mid-December, if you are falling behind your goals! Chose 3 of the 4 available challenge options and decide whether you will increase or decrease from your current rate!
Options:
1. Run Faster
2. Run Further
3. Drink new beer or wine
4. Potato Chips
This is too easy. Pick 3 of the above and decide if you want to increase or decrease. Example, here is my choice:
Running Further: Increase
Drinking new wine: Decrease
Potato Chips: Increase
This should be easy for me, as I have drastically reduced my mileage since Haliburton. I am comfortable with the wines I am currently drinking and you can never eat too many potato chips. I will ignore running faster as I am having trouble with that aspect this decade.
I knew that hunting season started soon, so in a fit of proactivity, I checked the Ministry of Hunting for the season dates. Have you ever been to the MOH site? Holy crap! There is no way anyone can figure out when hunting season starts or when it ends! Being an incredibly intelligent ultra runner, I decided to ask a hunter when the season began and finished. They lose their license if they don't know, so I'm sure all of them have waited patiently on the phone for hours, to talk to an actual MOH person, to find out. I figured that if you want to find a hunter, simulate their prey. So I donned an old set of antlers and ran in the Simcoe County reforestation areas...
I really hope that anyone reading this entry is not taking notes.
Running:
Since Haliburton, running has been tricky. A DNF at Run for the Toad and a DNS at Horror Trail. However, running is now starting to get easier. I still have the odd run where my legs seem to be in a different time zone. They are starting to listen to me now. I am not running much over 20K, but shorter runs (12K) no longer feel like a visit to the Gobi desert. New for this year is a running log. I have always wondered what sort of mileage I did and the current total for this year is surprisingly high. I've just surpassed 2200K, which includes quite the nosedive in the past 2 months. Monthly totals show how much of an impact Hali had on me: July (250.0K), August (200.5), September (208.5), October (67.5) and November (135.0). August included hiking in Italy. I find you don't run as much when climbing mountains for 10 hours a day! At least I don't. September, without 80K at Hali, and October were lean months, as I struggled to recover.
Creemore Vertical Challenge:
Some very surprising news! I can't divulge much information until after December 14, but hope to have some great news then. As a hint, check out one of the Canadian running organizations, that is holding a press conference on December 14.
I had hoped to deploy online registration and update outrace.ca in early December, but these activities will have to wait until mid-December. Why? I can't tell you yet. Not that I'm sworn to secrecy, but I figure that waiting until after the press conference on December 14, 2015 is the correct thing to do. In bathroom reno parlance, I'm pumped!
The CVC will take place on Saturday August 6, 2016 and include a 25K, 50K and 75K, same as last year. I have fiddled once again with the prizes for 2016. Unfortunately, the total number will trend downward to 42, coincidentally, the answer to life, the universe and everything. This year, I had 7 prizes for the 75K women, but only 2 women running that race. I also have trouble keeping track of different age groups for the 25K versus the 50K and 75K, so I have aligned these, to assist my remaining sanity. I heard that!
Another change that might not be appreciated is I have reinstated the Earlybird discount. If you sign up before July 1, it is $10 cheaper. Why will this not be appreciated? The Earlybird discount will replace the small jug of maple syrup, received by the first 100 people who signed up. Now I will find out who the MMSC's are! (Militant Maple Syrup Consumers). In 2015, I had to guess at T-shirt sizes, as many people signed up after I had to place the order. This did not work out nicely, as there were several women who signed up early, but did not receive the correct size T-shirt. This year, I will only order for people who sign up before July 1. I need to submit the T-shirt order on July 2,
So, signing up before July 1 will be cheaper and you get a T-shirt. Win-win.
I will also bring back the spot prizes. They were discontinued in 2015 because the race itinerary became quite crowded with the addition of the 75K. I noticed that a few runners were disappointed. I now have to convince my wife Lee Anne that making a few extra pieces of pottery is fun!
As it is never too early to troll for volunteers, keep in mind that you can get volunteer hours at the CVC, for that big race you hope to enter. Some races (Western?) you have to volunteer on the trails or at aid stations for the hours to count.
Enjoy your running and note that the days get longer in 3 weeks.
Cheers!
Monday, November 9, 2015
Bathroom Break
I have been extremely busy replacing almost everything in the bathroom over the last 3 weeks, so I am taking a break...
If you ever need to remodel your bathroom and decide to do it yourself, here is some advice:
Don't.
Bathrooms are not as straightforward as other simple tasks such as building a Formula 1 car, or climbing Mount Everest. And I believe that remodelling the bathroom takes much longer than the other mentioned tasks. The problem is that each task (example: Install a toilet) should only take 2 - 3 hours, but ends up taking much longer, when you actually perform the task. In order to replace my toilet, Csaba (pronounced Chuba) and I had to first reconfigure the floor joists. Getting a new floor joist into my house means tearing up 10 feet of floor. Once the joists were in place, we had to strap below the joist (yes, from above), put in new insulation, vapour barrier, plywood, concrete board and new tile. Without Csaba, it would have taken me about 3 weeks.
Csaba is a master carpenter. Perhaps you have never heard of a master carpenter? Csaba apprenticed under an older master carpenter in Hungary for 6 years. Six years! From the age of 13 until 18, he learned the proper methods of carpentry. In Canada, here is how you learn carpentry: "Take this hammer".
Csaba is extremely quick at carpentry. It has something to do with having learned the best practice for almost everything, then doing it until his technique was perfect. I help Csaba with his projects from time to time and he makes a mistake about every other week. When my son-in-law built a house last year (see picture), I was the manual labour for Csaba, who built one of the most complicated houses I have ever seen, let alone helped to build. I think Csaba likes my sense of humour, because it was definitely not my skill set that prompted him to ask for my help on some of his other projects. When Csaba found out I was remodelling my bathroom, he offered to help. This is the type of offer you cannot refuse.
If you have a construction project in the GTA, you could do worse than hiring Csaba. If you are interested, email me and I can provide contact information. Well worth having the job done correctly, the first time.
So, aside from the floor joists (another was rotten), we tiled the floor and walls, put in a new bathtub, water heater, toilet, bathroom sink, washer, dryer, water pump and 3 new windows. The main construction (wall tile, floor tile, joists, toilet, bathtub, plumbing, and windows) was done in 2.5 days with the help of Csaba. I have been working alone on the new cabinets and trim for the last 2 weeks...
Horror Trail Race Report
DNS
Since running my first 50 mile race at Haliburton, running has taken great effort and I tire quickly. After the DNF at Run for the Toad, I contracted a cold, or likely the flu, and was not able to run for about 3 weeks. Then the bathroom project started and I felt that going to Waterloo to run for 6 hours while I didn't have running water (get it?) was not a great idea.
My running is starting to get better. I went for a couple of 2 hour runs last week. Too bad the season is over!
Film Festival
Lee Anne and I staged a film festival in Toronto on Saturday, November 7, 2015. A selection of Trail in Motion films was shown to a sell-out crowd of about 100 people. I believe the films were well received and we might continue with the festival next year.
Cheers!
If you ever need to remodel your bathroom and decide to do it yourself, here is some advice:
Don't.
Bathrooms are not as straightforward as other simple tasks such as building a Formula 1 car, or climbing Mount Everest. And I believe that remodelling the bathroom takes much longer than the other mentioned tasks. The problem is that each task (example: Install a toilet) should only take 2 - 3 hours, but ends up taking much longer, when you actually perform the task. In order to replace my toilet, Csaba (pronounced Chuba) and I had to first reconfigure the floor joists. Getting a new floor joist into my house means tearing up 10 feet of floor. Once the joists were in place, we had to strap below the joist (yes, from above), put in new insulation, vapour barrier, plywood, concrete board and new tile. Without Csaba, it would have taken me about 3 weeks.
Csaba is a master carpenter. Perhaps you have never heard of a master carpenter? Csaba apprenticed under an older master carpenter in Hungary for 6 years. Six years! From the age of 13 until 18, he learned the proper methods of carpentry. In Canada, here is how you learn carpentry: "Take this hammer".
Csaba is extremely quick at carpentry. It has something to do with having learned the best practice for almost everything, then doing it until his technique was perfect. I help Csaba with his projects from time to time and he makes a mistake about every other week. When my son-in-law built a house last year (see picture), I was the manual labour for Csaba, who built one of the most complicated houses I have ever seen, let alone helped to build. I think Csaba likes my sense of humour, because it was definitely not my skill set that prompted him to ask for my help on some of his other projects. When Csaba found out I was remodelling my bathroom, he offered to help. This is the type of offer you cannot refuse.
If you have a construction project in the GTA, you could do worse than hiring Csaba. If you are interested, email me and I can provide contact information. Well worth having the job done correctly, the first time.
So, aside from the floor joists (another was rotten), we tiled the floor and walls, put in a new bathtub, water heater, toilet, bathroom sink, washer, dryer, water pump and 3 new windows. The main construction (wall tile, floor tile, joists, toilet, bathtub, plumbing, and windows) was done in 2.5 days with the help of Csaba. I have been working alone on the new cabinets and trim for the last 2 weeks...
Horror Trail Race Report
DNS
Since running my first 50 mile race at Haliburton, running has taken great effort and I tire quickly. After the DNF at Run for the Toad, I contracted a cold, or likely the flu, and was not able to run for about 3 weeks. Then the bathroom project started and I felt that going to Waterloo to run for 6 hours while I didn't have running water (get it?) was not a great idea.
My running is starting to get better. I went for a couple of 2 hour runs last week. Too bad the season is over!
Film Festival
Lee Anne and I staged a film festival in Toronto on Saturday, November 7, 2015. A selection of Trail in Motion films was shown to a sell-out crowd of about 100 people. I believe the films were well received and we might continue with the festival next year.
Cheers!
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