(View from the trail, between the trees)

The weather continues to be 100% pure bliss, which means, tons of running, tons of climbing, and not a lot of everything else (i.e- house is a mess).

This week Peter managed to get me out for 4 days of climbing. I am getting better each time and it's definitely one of my new favorite activities. Of course, as with most things, I start to get a little competitive with myself and can get frustrated when I don't learning at a faster rate. I've woken up multiple days with my core and arms sooo sore. I love knowing that I am getting stronger, especially from an outdoor activity.

As far as running goes, I got in 13 hours of running. Wednesday's run was perfect knee knacker training. Peter, Mark Grist and I started at the auto mall and ran up mosquito creek to the top of Grouse Mountain and back. The quads were sore for days after. I am sure the 100 overhead snatches we did at cross fit the next day didn't help ease any of that soreness. Friday I went for a great run out to Norvan Falls and back and Saturday I did the SFU 5 Peaks Enduro event (10km). It was so much fun to go rip off a 10km. It was really hot and the course was quite hilly but with Knee knacker in a little over 3 weeks, I will take all the elevation I can get. I ended up placing first female, which I really wasn't expecting but am pretty stoked about. I guess it proves that just because you run long and slow doesn't mean you can't run fast! I spent the rest of the day lounging by my friends pool, swapping stories, drinking Hoegaarden, and enjoying the beautiful day.


(5:30 am start from Lynn Headwaters)


Sunday we went out for an epic. It was finally time to do our favorite run, Haines Valley. It's a run we do every year and the views are stunning. Being on the boulder Field on the back side of Grouse reminds me of being in a prehistoric Dinosaur land. Adam, Meredith, Peter and I started at 5:30am. We started early because Pete and I had a family breakfast to go to and my dad's blueberry pancakes are not to be missed! There was quite a bit of snow on the top but we went earlier than we do most years. I hadn't run in snow for quite some time and it was very refreshing in the heat of the day.


(Pete and I at the bottom of the Boulder Field)


There were some large ascents up boulder fields, river crossings, and rad mountain bike trail descents. Round Trip was 4:45 and I can't wait to go back and do it again.


(Adam and Meredith at the river crossing)




(Adam and Meredith at the top of the Boulder Field)


(Lot's of snow!!)


(The end)

Hope you enjoyed the picture show. It truly is a beautiful run or hike and if you can ever get into that neck of the woods...DO IT!