tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44991820100975617292012-01-26T13:05:02.860-08:00Ultra Running has given me so many amazing memories. It has allowed me to really discover myself and what I am made of. Through running, I have traveled to some of the most beautiful destinations I have ever seen and made a lot of great friends along the way. This blog is dedicated to telling those stories.Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.comBlogger2391100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-51050962971454310922012-01-20T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-24T12:09:24.436-08:00

Ha, if you take a look at my race schedule, so far, none of the races are in Canada. This was very different from last year because pretty much all of my races were within driving distance. But, to be honest, my goal last year was to stick around and save some money so that this year, I could have a bit more flexibility. I feel like I accomplished this. I had origionally planned on heading to NZ

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-77811600097463432012-01-05T21:13:00.000-08:002012-01-07T22:38:58.916-08:00

Ever since I went to Europe back in 05...for a slim 3 weeks...with my family, I have wanted to go travelling again. I knew the next time I went travelling it would be for a while, a minimum of 3 months. So, on Thursday morning after months of lolligaging and a great lunch with my dad, I booked the ticket. I got a wicked deal, one which could not be refused. Needless to say, I am stoked. Stoked to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-83572655777666845622012-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:002012-01-03T13:39:23.351-08:00

As I look back at 2011, a few things stand out in my mind but by far the biggest was Peter and I's 8th month stint living in Squamish. Through working at CBC with Jen Segger and JF Plouffe, I met so many awesome people and a few who will be great friends for life. People always ask me how if feels to be back on the shore. Having lived here my entire life, it feels just about the same as the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-36077608518430578572011-12-12T18:33:00.001-08:002011-12-13T09:14:02.393-08:00

I suppose being afraid of the dark is a fear that was instilled in our childhood. The lights go out and the creeps come out...right? Usually when I get off work it's dark out and I have been getting in my workouts in the morning but somedays that is not an option. I have been avoiding the trails due to lack of sunlight and I've been missing them so much. It's already 'unsafe' to run alone in the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-35535895005850336822011-12-04T14:17:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:32:59.828-08:00

The sun is shining and the snow in the mountains is abundant (I wrote this post over a week ago). Today, I had the entire day to myself. No work and no friends to play with, so I had the opportunity to create my very own solo adventure. As of late, Peter and I have been hiking the BCMC a few times a week, usually in the morning before work. I know snowshoeing trails exist up there but have never

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-41444275220202051472011-11-09T22:31:00.001-08:002011-11-09T22:51:28.210-08:00

I must warn you, this is not a typical running post, but more of an introduction to something fun I have been doing every Christmas season (yes, were already getting into Christmas time) for the past 3 years. My boyfriend Peter has 2 older sisters, Kathleen and Angela. Both of them are awesome. Angela, this middle child, is not only an amazing elementary school teacher, but she is also an award

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-42400616786022977472011-11-07T15:26:00.001-08:002011-11-07T16:52:45.072-08:00

haha, I sit here and laugh because it has been forever since I have done a race longer than 50km. In fact, Western States 100 in June of 2010 was my last long race. This year has been a bit interesting as far as my running is concerned and I have had to DNF, due to ankle injuries, more than I would like. It's felt as though I had DNF'd more races this year than completed so I was more than

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-72513609899514818002011-11-02T21:48:00.000-07:002011-11-02T22:02:09.307-07:00

A few months ago, I was lingering on signing up for the Whistler 50 miler, taking place in Whistler this coming Saturday. After 4 hours of running a few weeks back, I was reduced to a walk due to some ITB tightness. This left me a little uncertain to whether or not I would be able to run 50 miles shortly thereafter. So, I ran the next week and the next week with no sign of any ITb discomfort and

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-56342769472339141052011-10-29T15:09:00.001-07:002011-10-31T12:23:01.451-07:00

Last Tuesday was an epically nice day! I knew that THIS DAY was a special one and had to be taken advantage of. Peter and I try and get out hiking on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT) every year for our anniversary, however, we failed to do it last year and I was eager to get it in before the snowfall. We normally run/hike the HSCT from Start (Cypress) to finish (Porteau Cove) however, this year

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-19393964324701389372011-10-23T19:52:00.000-07:002011-10-23T19:59:33.753-07:00

I wanted to run to Squamish today (from north van). I have wanted to all year. However, this morning I woke up and wasn't really feeling it but ignored that feeling and went anyways. I ran all the way along the highway before reaching Nelson Creek parking lot (aka. the start of the knee knacker). I stopped here and all I could think about was how badly I wish I had trail runners on and some more

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-2914131665006383382011-10-21T21:14:00.001-07:002011-10-21T21:26:26.609-07:00

I received a text message from a good friend of mine today, explaining that he was thinking of NOT doing a race he had in mind this coming Sunday. This race is 21.2km and last weekend we blazed 17km of the course. I asked him simply, why? He answered with, "Don't feel ready. Didn't run all week". I replied, stating that he was more than ready, considering how well he did at he 17km training run

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-58790290655732718072011-10-19T14:53:00.000-07:002011-10-19T15:24:05.319-07:00

(Dad taking photos on summit of Crown)One of the things I have come to look forward to every Summer/Spring, are hikes with my Dad. He seems to have a list of hikes he'd like to tick off in the upcoming years and this year, summiting Crown Mountain was high up on the list. We had organized ourselves to do this hike a month or so ago but the weather turned out to be significantly overcast that day

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-5397323994422718212011-10-12T08:38:00.001-07:002011-10-12T09:00:34.422-07:00

I have been a 'chilly peppers' (Red Hot Chili Peppers) fan since since the tender age of 15/16. It was their 'Californication' album that came out in 2000 that really got me hooked. I don't know exactly what it is about the chili's that I am drawn to, but I think in the end, it must be a combination of their super funk style, creativeness, and sound. At that time I became pretty obsessed with the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-24941926582010577142011-10-06T10:01:00.000-07:002011-10-06T19:21:49.558-07:00

At some point, earlier this year, Peter and I decided to go on a fall vacation for roughly 10-14 days. However, the location(s) of said trip had changed numerous times. At the beginning, we had flirted with fast packing the John Muir trail but that idea was quickly forgotten. Eventually, this trip turned into a climbing extravaganza. The weather in all the places we wanted to go were looking good

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-12259897662399400132011-08-22T10:32:00.000-07:002011-08-22T14:41:49.177-07:00

I'm starting to think that there is a connection with me DNF'ing + 100 km distance + races that start with the letter "W"? No in all honesty, the reason I DNF'd is simple yet multifaceted but here is the long/short of it. Since injuring my ankle 7 weeks ago, my training has been less than stellar. I haven't been able to do much downhill at all instead have been more focusing on just being able

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-51533372743011719172011-08-15T14:55:00.000-07:002011-08-15T15:55:31.617-07:00

I've recently been made aware by my boyfriends mother, Flora ("aka: flo") that I have not written a post in a while, which of course I knew. I am not sure what it is. I sit down and write a little bit but never enough to complete an entire post. Then I go and do a whole bunch of new cool exciting things, things I should be writing about to only sit down again and repeat the cycle. I must have 4

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-25554634363100866722011-07-11T11:24:00.001-07:002011-07-11T12:36:34.257-07:00

(Dirk and I at package pick-up at NSA)Where does the time go? I have sat down twice since my last post and have written 2 rough draft blogs but they somehow have not made it to the real page. I'll try and make a quick update on all the happenings as of late!Alright, so....The day after Test of Metal I ran with the Knee Knacker training group. The run was the first 3/4's of the knee knacker which

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-69681594446843497702011-06-20T20:35:00.001-07:002011-06-21T17:15:13.510-07:00

(Me at the start)While listening to 107.1 MTN FM on my drive home from work, just shortly after Peter and I moved from North Vancouver to Squamish, they announces that registration for the TEST OF METAL was going on at 6:30pm that evening, and to act fast because it usually sells out in less than 30 minutes. One of my goals for 2011 was to try new things and mountain biking was number one on the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-64173569909920391132011-06-14T12:06:00.000-07:002011-06-14T12:54:55.713-07:00

(Peter and I taking time for lunch on BelleyGood Ledge...It's a good thing I am not afraid of heights!)My boyfriend Peter notified me that it has been a while since I have blogged and to his credit it has (for my standards). This has truely been the spring of diversity and I have been loving every minute of it. I had to throw out my routine of running both days on the weekends, so as to enjoy

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-88105046105948222812011-06-02T12:18:00.000-07:002011-06-02T12:51:47.502-07:00

(The start at Cleveland Park)My boyfriend Peter and the North Shore Athletics crew were putting on the Iron Knee 25km (as well as the Tender Knee 12km). I have done this race every year since I started, this one being my 5th year. The first 3 times I did it I came 2nd, the most memorable being a sprint finish against Ellie Greenwood. I think we can all imagine how that played out! The last 2

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-81164849524639116222011-05-23T17:54:00.000-07:002011-05-24T13:23:21.008-07:00

(A little foggy of a day but there were bursts of sunshine!!!)As I drove into Winthrop, WA on Saturday afternoon, with 4 of my amazingly awesome girlfriends, I realized something...I haven't ran an ultra distance event since Western States last June. WOW!(Me before the race: My LA SPORTIVA crosslites were the perfect shoe on a muddy day like today!) As the above statement demonstrates, I took a

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-23416076558684638632011-05-10T12:16:00.000-07:002011-05-10T12:50:21.259-07:00

Wow o wow! Way to long since my last post. I was on a roll there for a while. Soooo....running has been going fabulously. I am just so amped up right now about being out in the trails. The weather has finally turned and I can finally put all my tights back in the winter bin, hopefully not to be seen again for quite a few months. It's skorts and shorts from here on out! Now if I can just get rid

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-90960938931882471152011-04-24T15:06:00.000-07:002011-04-24T15:18:19.657-07:00

I have been following Krissy and Devon's R2R2R speed attempt ever since I first got news of the happenings which was only a few days before it happened. As cool as it was that they accomplished it, it's even cooler that they did it as a team. I think adventuring is often enjoyed more when done with someone else. I can think back to the movie 'Into the Wild" where right before he dies he writes...

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-44873067663998139172011-04-19T21:01:00.001-07:002011-04-19T22:22:09.136-07:00

(The Tenderfoot boogie crew from Sunday, The dog was jumping at me that is why I am lookin' kinda funny)As I was delightfully hiking up the Chief today, I couldn't help but think about how nice it would be to simply lay down and be one with the rock, once I got to the top. Yogi's often put there heads down to their mats (which I can't even do from a seated position!) after their practice as if to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-42134010291373901882011-04-19T06:32:00.001-07:002011-04-19T07:31:27.030-07:00

Last night, after 4 months had gone by, I finally went back to Yoga! There was really no good reason as to why I had stopped going but I was choosing to do other things. But, being back in class reminded me so much of why I love yoga and the benefits I see in my body/mind after I leave, always with a smile on my face. I am really enjoying The Yoga Studio in Squamish. It's nothing fancy (no YYOGA)

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-33746006602043905482011-04-16T13:59:00.001-07:002011-04-16T16:19:58.829-07:00

(Not me, but wow, what a splash!)Last year, Peter and I, drove up to Brohme Lake to go running. The trails were very new to us and to no one's surprise they were fabulous. We decided to jump in post run and it was a dip in the lake I will never forget. I can't really describe the way it made me feel but it was a very freeing sensation. It's like taking a leap of fail, being born again, and

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-28593113751633347812011-04-07T07:32:00.000-07:002011-04-07T07:59:04.103-07:00

(Bouldering in Bishop California, 2008, I think)Peter and I (but especially Peter) were pretty stoked up to come home and climb yesterday. We both had been working on The Shore and the weather was fabulous. However, on our drive home to Squamish (approx 5pm) the weather started to look a little dreary and as soon as we passed the cheif, en route home, rain drops started prancing on my windshield.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-2813077562415755032011-04-05T13:53:00.000-07:002011-04-05T14:50:35.743-07:00

The Tenderfoot Boogie orientation runs started out last Sunday, which is awesome because I have been left without many poeople to train with on the weekends for those long ass adventure runs. So far, I havent had the drive or patience to run more than 3 hours on my own. I was super surprised how many people I knew when we all met at the Squamish Adventure Center. My good buddy Mark Grist (and co)

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-60438734828053372942011-03-31T15:11:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:55:37.393-07:00

I have to say, my energy levels have felt 100% better this week than the last 2 weeks. I was experiencing this unbelievable phenomena of tiredness on my runs. And not just on one or two...but ALL OF THEM! Not sure if it had to do with calorie timing, i.e- waiting too long after eating to run, but after a week with no runs over 90 minutes I seem to have my pep back in my running step!Today, I met

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-71215462884589943862011-03-30T20:39:00.001-07:002011-03-30T21:13:07.112-07:00

(haha picture will make sense once you get to the bottom of the blog...love that I actually found this after writing my post!!!!!!!)I always feel as though I should have all this amazing content in order to write a post...but...I don't. No crazy pictures, I keep telling myself to get better at that. I was reading a few food blogs today and one girl posts 3 times a day. I can wake up at 5:30am to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-22978718980354051612011-03-22T09:41:00.000-07:002011-03-22T10:20:06.084-07:00

(LA SPORTIVA CROSSLITE: unisex)My love affair with La Sportiva began 3 years ago while running Comfortably Numb for the first time. I ended up winning the race and in turn, recieved a coupon for a free pair of La Sportiva shoes. At the time I was running in the Brooks Cascadia and to be honest, had no intention of actually running in the La Sportivas I was about to mail away for. My master plan

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-243466631632880592011-03-19T12:33:00.000-07:002011-03-19T12:43:55.991-07:00

I was watching Oprah the other day and whatever was on really caught my eye. I am not sure where I was watching this particular episode because we don't have cable at home but I digress...It was all about wanting something and doing everything in your power to get it. And by everything I mean, waking up every morning thinking about it and literally willing it to happen. This lady in particular

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-48260060726634776042011-03-18T14:03:00.000-07:002011-03-18T14:17:42.943-07:00

If you happen to be walking by a copy of the Georgia Straight anytime this week, PICK IT UP! Last week I got a call from a lady who works for the G-Straight. My name was passed on by Keith at North Shore Athletics (thanks Keith) as they were looking to talk to a female about trail running. I literally could have talked her ear off about the subject! Gail asked great questions and I had a really

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-52232033946971243392011-03-17T14:33:00.001-07:002011-03-17T16:17:24.138-07:00

As I was running today in Squamish, my favorite loop I might add, I had a few thoughts.The main thought was about how I was feeling at the Dirty Duo 25km on the weekend. As I mentioned in my last post, I was pretty sick the 4 days leading up to it, but felt 70% or so Saturday and decided to come out and just give what I had. I noted that I didn't have a whole lot, the energy was lacking and after

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-19651659295000217852011-03-15T08:54:00.000-07:002011-03-15T09:39:04.426-07:00

The past couple of weeks weren't so productive run-wise, but very productive on the ski/climb front!The weekend (Sat) before last, Peter and I ski-toured out to the Elfin Lakes Hut to spend the night before attempting the Neve crossing the following morning. However, the powder was just too deep and it would have been a pretty arduous excursion for Peter/me to make our own fresh skin tracks all

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-51256471928170357662011-03-01T17:34:00.000-08:002011-03-01T17:46:47.697-08:00

This is a picture of me not really 'Feeling it' on the Mountain Today. The weather was kind of blah and cold and I just couldn't muster up the motivation to be out there for very long. I convienently had to use the washroom at the top of the 7th Heaven share where the Horseman hut is located. It looked way to cozy inside not to sit down, eat lunch and splurge on some hot chocolate. Just like all

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-48793669763202711342011-02-28T21:26:00.000-08:002011-02-28T22:03:27.865-08:00

There has been a little glitch in my plan working with the Youth Girls. See, the thing is, the youth coordinators have never actually worked with this age group before because of (a) interest and (b) getting them to keep coming.Some days I go and there are only 2 girls, sometimes 4, and one time none. If it werent for the youth workers picking them up from school and bringing them to the youth

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-6361045392493262422011-02-22T14:30:00.001-08:002011-02-22T14:52:50.512-08:00

(View from the top of the first peak)One of my favorite adventurs these days, consists of a walk/hike, from my doorstep, up to the first peak of the Chief and back. Why don't I run it? I don't know! I just really enjoy the leisure nature of the walk. I tend to do this specific outing on very nice sunny days which allows me to optimize the amount of time spent outside. If I ran the whole thing, it

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-64565273020969612862011-02-22T08:58:00.000-08:002011-02-22T09:19:13.218-08:00

(Not my picture but this is what it all looked like essentially. I am usually to busy eating my food to think about taking a photo, will try and get better! props go to electricrecipes.com)When I lived on my own I used to make A LOT of greek salads. Let's face it, the salad is delicious, the colors boom out of the bowl, and it's healthy to boot. I mess around with a lot of different salad

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-40118248226227546062011-02-20T18:39:00.000-08:002011-02-20T19:17:02.455-08:00

I decided to stick around the city (North Van) this past weekend. Peter had left for the week on an unreal ice climbing trip in the Canadian Rockies and I seized on the opportunity to visit/run with some people I had not seen in a while. When I first got into road running, I ran with the North Shore Athletics marathon clinic. It's no secret that I love this store, the staff, and the people. The

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-34608433030776330492011-02-17T18:24:00.000-08:002011-02-17T18:57:33.783-08:00

This week has been a whole lot of fun. That's my main goal in life right now...just to have a whole lot of fun. That's right. I am not concerned about making a lot of money, saving for a house, having kids...All I want to do is play, every day, all day!!! (Note: I do not just play all day everyday, I do work (a bit)...It's just the goal)I have acquired a season's pass to Whistler/Blackcomb

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-54944979172921433212011-02-15T08:43:00.000-08:002011-02-15T09:06:40.403-08:00

(My friend Fawn, at this same race 3 years ago)I origionally signed up to this event because 1) My mom, who now lives in Powell River, was making the trek down to do it. The last time my mom and I both entered into the race (4 yrs ago), I finished and selfishly did not wait for her to cross the line. This was my chance to redeem myself, now that I am a little bit older and wiser. (2) a friend of

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-30241470407145101642011-02-10T12:31:00.001-08:002011-02-10T12:41:12.913-08:00

When thinking about the environment lately, I have focused a lot on the things I DON'T that is hurting it (i.e- not using cloth bags, buying things in plastic containers). But yesterday I started thinking about all the things that I DON'T do that actually help the environment!1. I don't use deodorant (I've never had a complaint!)...maybe everyone is just being too nice. I just find I don't smell

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-72783590592004509272011-02-08T14:29:00.000-08:002011-02-08T15:21:18.788-08:00

Today, I was blessed with another wonderful day here in Squamish, B.C. After a long road run yesterday and a great spin session that night, I knew I wanted to take it easy today. I also wanted to be outside and maximize my time spent under the sun and in the mountains. I started the morning with an amazing bowl of rasberries, 1/2 a banana, edelweiss granola, and topped it all off with a healthy

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-91223144823650291512011-02-07T13:10:00.000-08:002011-02-07T13:34:29.193-08:00

A little over 2 weeks ago I went to the screening of "The clean bin project" which was held at Quest University. Funny enough, Peter knew Jen, the main girl, from high school. Here is a little snip-it telling you what the movie is all about...The Clean Bin Project is a feature documentary film about a regular couple and their quest to answer the question "is it possible to live completely waste

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-17782184883703816472011-02-07T09:07:00.000-08:002011-02-07T09:36:22.523-08:00

Last week seemed like a pretty busy week and a lot was accomplished...except, not a lot of running!Monday: 1:20 run (actually discovered some new trails!)Tuesday: am: 90 min ski tour pm: Spin (1:00/27km)Wednesday: am: BCMC (opted not to come down) pm: Run/walk with Youth girlsThursday: pm: weights workout + spin (1:20/32km)Friday: Run/walk with youth girls + climbing gym (felt rather tired today

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-83610327308659041852011-02-03T08:18:00.000-08:002011-02-03T08:39:47.023-08:00

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of running with 6 totally awesome girls as well 2 of their youth leaders. These girls are from the Squamish Nation Youth Group (North Van) and I believe most of them are considered 'at risk'. It's been a while since I have worked with a group of girls of this age group (age 14-17). The last time would have been 6 years ago when I coached a U16 girls soccer team

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-37548852167799657122011-01-30T20:17:00.000-08:002011-02-01T10:56:48.240-08:00

It's interesting how you can go from having a pretty downer week to having a really great one. I think it probably has a lot to do with ATTITUDE as well as smart decision making. For whatever reason, last week, I was just in the dumps. I am sure a lot of it had to do with the fact that I hadn't been able to run for over 2 weeks because of the mole removal/stitches thing and with Jen's studio not

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-38283972580424352972011-01-26T18:09:00.000-08:002011-01-26T18:24:33.780-08:00

Eric asked me if I would post the recipe for the VEGAN ENERGY BARS so I thought I would. I don`t know if I would recommend these for during runs because of the fiber content but try it out for yourself and let me know!The recipe comes from the book above. I made very little (if any) adaptations to it. Dry Mix:- 2 Cups 7-grain cereal (I found it in the bulk section)1/2 Cup raisins1/2 cup chopped

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-23818509603186279522011-01-25T12:47:00.000-08:002011-01-25T13:00:30.365-08:00

Alright, I feel like I am finally back on my feet and back to myself. It's crazy, I am like one of those cranky runners who gets cranky when they can't run. All good though. The first step is acceptance!All of that aside, I have gotten out for some decent runs in the past few days. Did a nice 2 hour run on my old home turf in North Vancouver on Saturday. Saw A LOT of familiar faces and it

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-75480832959612346462011-01-19T16:34:00.000-08:002011-01-19T16:50:23.664-08:00

Man, when did I become such a wussy! Oh wait, I guess I've always been one. Whoever said getting your stiches taken out didn't hurt, was a liar. Ouch! It's even better when the doctor who takes them off is wondering why the doctor who did them, did it the way they did. Always very reassuring. BUT, nothing a little trip up a mountain won't fix. Thanks BCMC, for keeping me Human! I have a little

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-42893667291575717422011-01-18T17:51:00.000-08:002011-01-18T17:59:08.331-08:00

A photo from my Chief Hike today. The stitches come off tomorrow and I can't wait to go for a run! The doctor called a week ago and gave me the all clear good news.On another note- I have ran (no pun intended) into a few people I haven't seen in a long time and the first thing they both said to me was, "Are you still running all the time?". I think it's funny because truthfully, I'll always be

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-75599692486017657962011-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:002011-01-12T14:40:58.451-08:00

While I was out walking/plunging in the snow today, I realized that I really haven’t taken the time to look back at the last year (2010). There were some good times and some bad times, but WAY more good times. Here are some of my highlights:- Re-kindling my love with skiing on Blackomb Mountain with Peter’s Family. It was my first time back on skis in 13 years and it felt sooo good. It’s also the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-29391330015035601982011-01-06T12:53:00.000-08:002011-01-06T13:21:25.658-08:00

People often like to make this analogy whenever I am being a baby about something...here is a recent example, "You can run 100 miles but getting stitches freaks you out"Yes, it's true. In fact, if given the choice, I would RATHER run 100 miles than have to go get cut open. It's no secret that I have about a million moles all over my body (I like to call them beauty marks!). It had been a while so

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-65282501334694267002011-01-01T09:41:00.000-08:002011-01-03T21:38:36.338-08:00

I love the holiday season. Usually it just fly's by but this time, it's been gone by slowly and has been one of the most enjoyable breaks I have had in a long time. I have a good bout of work coming up ahead so even though I feel like a slacker now, taking so much time off, I know I'll be thanking myself later. I finally got my ski touring set up and just days later I was off to Mount Baker to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-2840154956686885902010-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:002010-12-16T13:06:42.977-08:00

There she be...I called her Sergeant...G.I Jane baby! The last 3 letters of the license plate are SGT, it was only fitting. I agonized over what I should do for a vehicle for quite a while after it got totalled. You can breifly read about that HERE if you want the background story.In the end, ICBC ended up rewarding me with a whopping $1200 for her. On the bright side, I did make $500 on the car

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-70007945845821327172010-12-08T15:08:00.000-08:002010-12-08T15:19:49.073-08:00

Wow, I just had a 90 minute standard car driving lesson. My one regret (not really) in life will have to be not having learned this years ago when I started to drive. It feels so unnatural to have to use my left foot. Usually it just dangles pretty off to the side. I only managed to freak out and cry once. I started to find all my mistakes/frustrations rather amusing by the end. I think being the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-5439392607304362432010-12-07T08:52:00.000-08:002010-12-07T09:38:44.049-08:00

I think I have forgotten how to blog it's been so long! I guess 3 weeks isn't that long but when your used to blogging a few times a week, it feel like forever. Our move up to Squamish has been both amazing (hands down best decision I ever made) but has had it's share of frustrating moments. We love our place and location. So far, the running I have done (before it snowed) was great and made for

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-47138760474658604952010-11-19T08:50:00.000-08:002010-11-19T10:19:02.428-08:00

For the past 2 years, I have volunteered with Peter and the Phantom Race, which takes place in the Lynn Headwaters area. This race is put on by the lovely Heather Macdonald of Mountain Madness trail events/clinics. There are 3 distances to choose from- 12km, 19km, and 24km. This year, very last minute, I decided I would run it.I decided upon the 19km because I just like the route better than the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-11974096776257391962010-11-08T19:03:00.000-08:002010-11-08T19:11:51.897-08:00

I had once considered massage therapy as a career but after speaking with a few, many had stopped doing some of the activities that they loved because of how it would affect their hands. Now I get it...I was totally stuck on this one boulder problem at the climbing gym and tried relentlessly (and repeatedly) to solve it. I noticed a mean callus forming on my pinky finger but just kept going.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-22344038641774747052010-11-04T10:22:00.000-07:002010-11-04T10:30:28.804-07:00

This scene is from the garage and if I had taken this picture yesterday, you would've thought that metal rack barfed up about 8 pairs of trail shoes. I am sure our landlords think we're nuts. I have so many pairs of the same shoe that I don't even know which one goes with which. I always tell myself to mark down when I got them (inside the shoe) but I have yet to make that dream come to fruition.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-41711558029007656132010-11-01T19:35:00.000-07:002010-11-01T20:09:12.858-07:00

I was reading a blog post by Tom Craik on his RUN NOW blog. yesterday. He's discussing how he feels on his runs when he isn't training for a goal race. He quotes:"Run Now" is my mantra on so many occasions, but this morning, while climbing a new route up Grouse, I had an epiphany that some recent restlessness, and lack of present-minded running, came from having no racing goals. I'd been racing

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-48231659260877272002010-10-28T13:12:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:48:22.569-07:00

(Even Lance is doing them!)I am taking this awesome strength training class with Human Motion called "L.I.F.T Camp". Basically, the owner is not a firm believer in boot camps and the style of training they traditionally put their clients through. Typically, boot camps are just an ass kick and if you come across one, a lot of participants demonstrate bad form and are very susceptible to injury. If

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-58587853081038391732010-10-28T12:52:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:03:12.543-07:00

Congrats to Sue Lucus for being the second winner of the Elevate Me Organic Energy bar contest. She gets a free box of their new flavor 'Strawberry Apple Pie' delivered straight to her door step. Way to go Sue! For everyone else, it isn't too late to still reap the rewards of the contest. Elevate me is offering a 20% discount to anyone who places an order online by Nov 1st. By the by, ordering

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-82062187439846742562010-10-24T13:34:00.000-07:002010-10-27T09:20:29.488-07:00

(photo care of Gary Robbins)I've said it before and I'll say it again, this race rocks! This year I decided to go for the 10km instead of the half marathon. I still haven't done any distance (race wise) over 15km so I didn't think I should start now. Not to mention, I had some ITB tightness going on last weekend at Around the Lake Giv'r take around the 12km mark, which forced me to pull out. 10km

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-33684874053341754862010-10-23T11:17:00.000-07:002010-10-23T11:38:20.637-07:00

I was training a client the other day and he was having a hard time with the workout. He was doing a lot of negative self talk- saying out loud that he was 'fat, slow, and out of shape'. At this moment I drew upon many of my experiences with running. I too have gone through periods of negative self talk- I think we all have at some point or another. This gentleman however, is not the same shape

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-24934051154181140352010-10-22T18:29:00.000-07:002010-10-22T18:44:25.895-07:00

There have been a few races in my life where I didn't think that the effort I was putting out was sustainable, only to find that I was able to hold that intensity for the entire race. Who knew you could run at 183bpm (max = 184) for an entire half marathon! That one hurt...I was reading an article called "How to push past the pain" and it really demonstrates what elite athletes go through to win

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-64786600416226940222010-10-21T12:25:00.000-07:002010-10-21T12:33:39.888-07:00

Alright, so clearly my question was way too easy! I have decided to give this another go (giving away my free sample box) to make it fair to those who won't read the post right way. Nice work Joey for answering the question in under 2 minutes of the blog being posted!!All you have to do is leave a comment, proving to me that you have checked out the website. Give me a small piece of info that you

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-89818561167408670622010-10-21T12:19:00.000-07:002010-10-21T12:20:19.784-07:00

I have known the owners of Elevate Me (gluten free) Energy Bars for quite some time now. I used to personal train them back when I worked for Innovative Fitness. At the time, Earl was a very fit individual (he still is) and his wife Trish, was very pregnant. Training them both at the same time was a challenge. I developed a solid relationship with these 2 and am proud to be an athlete ambassador

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-73151058127815064542010-10-20T12:37:00.000-07:002010-10-20T13:00:55.212-07:00

Every now and then I come across a recipe that I just have to share because it's THAT good. I had been wanting to try it ever since I got the Rebar cookbook. I had been bundled up at home sick for the past 2 days and suddenly had a lot more time on my hands to bake! As my good friend Meghan (who just got engaged!!!) would say, the millet provides the crunch factor (I love crunch factor).Pumpkin

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-36792618114753681592010-10-19T14:00:00.000-07:002010-10-19T14:47:07.744-07:00

(There were a few people out in costumes...)Last Saturday I drove the large and in charge North Shore Athletics (NSA) mobile out to Chiliwack to partake in Around the lake, Giv'r take 30km. NSA sponsors the event, and because of this Peter usually goes out and drops off the tents and prizing and runs it himself. I have joined him for the past 2 years and I must say it is one of my favorite races.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-71003824537289392042010-10-19T13:49:00.000-07:002010-10-19T13:56:52.830-07:00

I would like to introduce my long time friend Melanie. I say long time friend because we grew up a half a block away and spent a lot of our elementary school years together. She ended up going to a different high school so I never saw much of Melanie after that. Recently however, we have re-connected and I think what she is doing is very cool and something I would like to do myself one day.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-43205131588586256032010-10-14T09:52:00.000-07:002010-10-14T11:28:47.759-07:00

(This beautiful river wraps around this beautiful park) Like I said in one of my earlier posts, the last time Pete and I came here we ran around Smith. How O' so very exciting it was to come here and explore all that Smith has to offer...well at least a bit of it (it's a big place). We departed North Vancouver at 4:30pm on Thursday. A minute after we let our place, Peter was having some doubts

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-55401145385717476822010-10-07T14:48:00.000-07:002010-10-07T14:58:48.762-07:00

The last and only other time I have been to smith rock was exactly 2 years ago. Peter and I went on a 3 week road trip through the U.S.A. He pretty much took me to all these steller climbing destinations (bishop, smith rock, indian creek, yosemite) but because I did not climb 2 years ago, he settled on running through them all with me. Today we take off for a weekend in Smith, which is located in

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-88624127717298946012010-09-24T16:35:00.000-07:002010-09-24T16:36:41.887-07:00

It's funny how going for a run can make you feel like you can change the world...

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-23126081046227139842010-09-24T14:56:00.000-07:002010-09-24T15:15:03.019-07:00

This morning in between clients, I decided to make a quick pit stop at Delany's for a nice cup of Joe (I don't even know why it's called that). I was looking through the Province newspaper and came across this article (Title above) by Peter O'Neil. I was shocked but not surprised by the numbers and the fact that they are not only amazingly high, they are also increasing. - Canadians are among the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-46259910896409123332010-09-22T14:28:00.000-07:002010-09-22T14:44:34.419-07:00

I was kind of dreading having to write this blog because anyone who really knows me knows how incredibly indecisive I am. This post might have you thinking..'can't she ever make up her mind', but to me, this is one decision I feel I am incredibly decisive about. After 2 weeks of school (yes, not long, but it felt like ages) I have made a switch in direction. In August I signed up for classes (

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-49660129367754987312010-09-15T09:40:00.000-07:002010-09-15T10:08:15.088-07:00

I finally came out of retirement and spontaneously decided to do my first event since Western States. Taking the last 2.5 months of racing has been really good for me. Previous to last weekend, I hadnt even felt an urge to race in the last couple of months. Then all of a sudden that urge came back, so I jumped in it. The Coho Run happens every year and is part of the bigger Coho Festival. Besides

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-64183566937959933712010-09-03T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-03T08:12:46.085-07:00

(The Grey peak on the left is Black Tusk)As Monday rolled around, we naturally found ourselves in need of a rest day from 2 days of climbing in Squamish. Neither of us had ever been up to the Black Tusk so the decision was easy. We got up, ate some breaky/packed lunches and drove out to Squamish for the 3rd day in a row. I love doing long hikes on Mondays because there is hardly anyone else out

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-36989633725393116722010-08-29T20:20:00.000-07:002010-08-29T22:03:13.309-07:00

The past 2 years (since graduating from University) have been the best years of my life. I have accomplished more in that time frame than I would have ever thought imaginable. I have been riding this incredible wave, sometimes feeling a little selfish along the way. I have been employing myself as a trainer and run coach, a job that has allowed me the freedom to pretty much do whatever I wanted,

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-81031672448801450352010-08-18T12:35:00.001-07:002010-08-18T13:06:23.881-07:00

The adventures never stop, and so 'high school' summer break continues. Since my last post I have been climbing more than a handful of times. I even freaked myself to tears last week on a climb called 'Denice the Menace'-That was humbling (Thanks Pete). Scrambling up the North Gulley of the Chief was something- something pretty amazing. It was supposed to be a rainy day but we managed to avoid it

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-82059786202658372092010-08-07T12:18:00.001-07:002010-08-18T13:05:11.591-07:00

Last weekend Peter and I, as well as 3 other friends (Meg, Joe and Nicole) went camping in Squamish with one goal in mind- To climb! And climb we did. Saturday morning, megs picked me up (Peter had to work until 2pm) and the 4 of us went to score a camp site. It was the long weekend and we were in a bit of a hurry to secure one before they were all gone. Luckily, we came at the perfect time

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-63910215033540942422010-08-03T14:17:00.000-07:002010-08-03T15:07:25.733-07:00

I admit, it has been a while since I have written. I am sure part of me feels a bit weird writing about subjects that are non-running related, seeing as how this is a "running blog". However, due to a slight tight hamstring "thing", that was presenting itself on the side of my knee, I have not ran more than a handful of times since Western. This has been more than O.K with me because it has

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-42336467840986950962010-07-18T15:54:00.000-07:002010-07-18T22:10:23.159-07:00

I officially feel like a lucky elementary school kid who is on their summer holidays!!!Two weekends ago I spent 3 wonderful days on Vancouver Island with all the Gildersleeve Clan (including the inlaws, who renamed themselves the "outlaws").(``The Cousins``)(All seven of my Dad`s sisters and Brothers- including himself)It was a family reunion of sorts except there were some key players missing.

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-57327363035042846482010-07-08T11:03:00.001-07:002010-07-08T11:22:33.521-07:00

Finishing a 100 miler (or a goal race) is sort of like Christmas- There is so much build up/excitement/anticipation, for months and months, and then the day comes, and it's over, and you are left feeling a little bit empty (trying to recover). I wish my recovery was going a little bit better or perhaps I just need to be a little bit more realistic with myself. Is it weird to expect to feel really

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-34482955266592553432010-07-03T15:05:00.000-07:002010-07-03T15:23:12.183-07:00

It is one week to the day I ventured on one of the coolest adventures of my life. A lot has happened since I finished and it has taken me until now to finally sit down and write this sucker. Where to begin? Where to begin?The lead up…Qualifying: Most of you know that I qualified through the Montrail ultra-cup at the Mountain Masochist 50 miler in Virginia, last November. I was going to go back to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-62364150437858729552010-06-22T22:05:00.001-07:002010-06-22T22:10:41.025-07:00

Today, Peter and I (and my wonderful younger cousin Caitlin) began our drive to Reno. We are currently laying down at the 'hole 6' in Eugene, OR. We managed to get here in one peice however the windsheild of Pete's car got hit by a rock, leaving a rather large crack that's spreading rapidly. He will need a new one upon our return home. The price of this trip just went up!!!!For those of you that

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-28951818309144383652010-06-16T22:06:00.000-07:002010-06-16T22:24:21.021-07:00

When people hear or are told that I am running 100 miles...they first of all take a moment to think to themselves silently (probably about how long it takes them to drive it), then they look back and repeat..."100 miles?"...after I politely say "yes", the hit of questions starts to roll on through. The questions I have found to be the most common are:- In one day?- Do you run the whole way?-

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-73553065173994627102010-06-14T20:14:00.000-07:002010-06-15T06:32:27.874-07:00

I came back from Banff feeling inspired and rejuvinated and ready to take on the last bigger week of running on the shore. It was also during this week that I just got crazy excited to toe the start line in Squaw Valley. I threw a little more intensity into this week than I normally do, starting the week off with a Personal Best up the BCMC. I went into the steep hike with no time expectations

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-69747271763163979422010-06-09T16:22:00.000-07:002010-06-10T14:04:57.503-07:00

I have a list of places that I have never been, that I would like to see this summer...and because of Banff Trail Trash, Banff was one of them.After perusing Leslie's Blog (Banff Trail Trash) and seeing all the great photos of her epic weekends spent running in the rockies, I spontaneously emailed her and asked if she would play tour guide and host me for the weekend. Leslie is also training for

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-2731814865948786102010-06-02T06:47:00.000-07:002010-06-02T07:18:16.950-07:00

I have had my share of falls over the last few years, many of which simply resulted in a few scrapes and bruises. I think the worst fall I've had was this year when I ended up bruising my sternum and was off any sort of physical activity for 3 days. It must have only been 2 weeks ago that I took that huge scraper bail, which I blogged about before heading off to the Grand Canyon. Since then

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-70520497820289999962010-05-26T13:41:00.000-07:002010-05-27T20:25:33.258-07:00

(Hanes Valley) My boyfriend Peter is one of the reasons I end up doing a lot of the more interesting adventures in my life. He is a true mountaineer, climber of every style, mountain biker, ski tourer, alpinist, and adventure runner. He has all the back country knowledge and if it weren't for his guidance, I would not have been to many of the places I have talked about in this blog over the past

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-77576089820535758372010-05-22T12:53:00.000-07:002010-05-22T22:58:43.467-07:00

I had been looking forward to this trip for months, as I hadn't been on a trip since Novemeber. Peter scored a wicked deal and gave the trip to me as a birthday gift. We flew out of Bellingham at 10pm Tuesday night and arrived in Las Vegas around midnight. Besides my all inclusive trip to Mexico when I was 20 years old, this was the second time the passengers busted out in a full on applause/

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-42557814497145934702010-05-18T08:29:00.000-07:002010-05-18T08:44:06.617-07:00

After 3 days off of running I took this body out for a nice 4 hour run. I left the house in shorts and a t-shirt and that was just perfect. Last week it was warm, but still chilly enough in the morning to wear arm sleeves and pack a pair of gloves just in case, of course, the sleeves always came off within minutes. The run was pretty straight forward, home to deep cove and back along the baden

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-83311075745532613472010-05-13T20:45:00.001-07:002010-05-17T09:03:02.554-07:00

Thursday morning, Peter and I left the house at 6am for a longer run in the woods! It was gorgeous out and not a cloud in the sky. I managed to get away with shorts, short sleeved shirt and arm warmers. A few weeks ago Pete and I moved to a new suite which is much lower down than where we were before. This is great because all of our runs now have more elevation gain and take longer than they

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-63569589306241641062010-05-11T08:36:00.000-07:002010-05-12T16:14:26.083-07:00

When I used to write in my journal as a younger kid, I used to start every entry off with "well,...". I am not sure why but in this case, it just feels write (fun play on words) so here I go.Well, I have not written in what seems like forever. I love writing, it is one of my favorite things. Writing allows me to put all my thoughts down on paper (or computor) as if I am sharing them with the

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-74484734732257840952010-04-27T18:05:00.000-07:002010-04-27T19:07:48.869-07:00

I had a great week coming off my Salt Spring adventures. I felt like my fitness really hit another level and I am able to run more miles (at a lower HR) with less fatigue and it feels great! However, with that said, I spent all of Sunday moving and never got my second weekend long run in that day. Oh well, I am sure all the lifting and packing/unpacking counts for something! Our new place is

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-89752329420324388402010-04-22T16:38:00.000-07:002010-04-22T16:54:04.768-07:00

When you train, build in volume/intensity, and follow that with a period of recovery you get adaptation. Hopefully this adaptation is to the positive side! I had been building my mileage up gradually over a 3 week period. At the end of the 3rd week I had totaled nearly 15 hours of mountain running, and my legs were perfectly fatigued by the end of it. I could sense that a down week was needed to

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-71607886833950238062010-04-20T09:06:00.000-07:002010-04-22T09:38:42.682-07:00

(A break at serious coffee in Sidney, Victoria on our way to the ferry)I had a few goals I wanted to accomplish this summer and one of those was to visit Salt Spring Island (as well as all the other gulf islands). When I arrived in Victoria on Friday afternoon I noticed that the ferry to Salt Spring was right in the same terminal. My friend and I had all Sunday to play and I asked her if she

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4499182010097561729.post-38806924892266508202010-04-17T16:11:00.000-07:002010-04-17T16:44:09.338-07:00

Friday morning after a sunny weather/early morning inspiring run, I packed my bike in my car and headed to Victoria. On my way I visited a good friend of mine, leslie, who lives in Tsawwassen, and has a beautiful new baby boy named jack. She was kind enough to let me park my car at her place and give me a lift over to the ferry, which is conveniently only a 5 minute drive from her place. She

Nicola Gildersleevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08609038320644576098noreply@blogger.com1