THOUGHTS FROM THE TRAIL

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 about 7 females passed me early on (and a bunch of men) I just wanted to stop. I knew Peter's aid station was pretty close by and there would be a nice warm NSA truck to jump into. BUT, I didn't come out to try and win and in the case I wasn't winning, just stop. I came out to enjoy the day with a bunch of friends and get a fun run in.

What do you think? Do you think it's perfectly acceptable to go out and use races as training runs?

Anywho, I was happy to be smiling when I came back around the 2nd time to Peter's aid station because it took a lot of mental power to keep going and I'm glad I did, regardless of where I finished. I think sometimes it's almost easier to DNF and that is why a lot of the top guys do when they aren't having the day they were hoping for (unless of injury). Salute to those who keep truckin'!

See you in the trails!

I ski, I climb, I run....in that order it seems

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 the way there. Not to mention, I don't think my skills are quite up to snuff to attempt what he had in mind.



The night spent at the Elfin lakes hut was a little insane. First off, there were no beds left, as a few large parties rolled in just minutes before we did. We found a couple nice benches downstairs in the kitchen/lounging table area and camped out there for the night. I am surprised at how well I fell asleep, even with all the drunken roudiness going on right beside us. We were up until about 10:30pm, playing board games and chatting with a group of snowshoers who had hiked in bottles of wine and other luxery items.



The next morning we woke up to the most stunning day I have ever seen in the backcountry. Since I haven't been in the backcountry that much, I guess that's not saying much but (insert laugh) it was stunning! The day was great except for the part where Peter wanted me to "roll", I would call it more of a "jump" off this cornice. After Peter swiftly dropped off the cornice and glisaded away to safety, it was my turn and it took me all of about 10 minutes of visualizing it not happening safely to realize that it wasn't happening at all. However, we found a more challenging route to make our way to the same spot! We even got some turns in this way...a win win! As the blue bird skies turned to snowy clouds, we made our way back to the hut for some hot soup and then our way back out towards home.



By Monday, Squamish hadn't seen rain for a few days and after a measly 5 minute walk from our front door, we were in climbing heaven! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! We spent the entire afternoon climbing some pretty mellow (perfect for me) cracks and having a great time.

Tuesday I came down with something pretty feirce. No barfies or anything but just an overall body ache and light headedness which kept me off the running blocks for 4 days. In fact, I didnt do anything except for a quick session at the indoor climbing gym on Friday.

Saturday was the Dirty Duo mountain bike and running race and I had been planning on running the 25km. Not having run in a week and a half coupled with having been pretty sick the 4 days prior, I was officially on the fence. However, I really wanted to join in the fun and hang out with friends and see some old faces. And I don't mean old, as in faces I havent seen in a long time...I just mean old! haha kidding.

I woke up feeling ok, not great but good enough to run I thought. I facebooked a lady I have met here in Squamish(shannon your a rockstar!) early that morning and within an hour she had called me and we arranged to carpool (race started at 11am). I tried to visualise myself running well. With all this time off runing, I thought my body would think it was some sort of a taper and I would actually feel good. Or, it would be the flipside and unfortunetly, I got the flipside. I went out like I normally would but it was clear early on that this was not going to be my day. And why should it!


(Me before the start, clearly shorts was a bad call!)

I battled mentally early on and had many thoughts of dropping out but I pulled it together and just settled into a pace that would allow me to finish the race with a smile on my face...which is exactly what I did!

It's funny, I forget how tiring things like skiing and ski touring are on the body. It's almost as if I void them as "training" all together when really, they provide as much benefit as running.

My body didn't feel very good by the end of the race. My ITB was starting to act up and tighten quite significantly and my whole right hip/TFL complex was super sore. Thanks Kristi from MOVEO for seeing me on the massage table literally seconds after I crossed the line (no one was on it!). I have been pretty lazy in the body stretching/rolling department and it's quite clear now that this must change!!!!

Gone are the days when I first got into running and ultra's and nothing use to hurt EVER!

Alright, time to stop complaining and get out training, nice and easy.

See you in the trails!

Trying new things....(not this time)

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 things in life (work, sports, relationships), if you don't mix it up, you start to get bored, or at least I do. A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about how excited I was that I finally made the big jump to skiing Blackcomb all by myself. The newness kept it fun and exciting- for that week anyways. Now, I am just skiing the same runs over and over in a different order and becuase of the weather today, even less of them. I almost took the peak to peak gondola over to Whistler but going to a new mountain alone just didn't seem appealing and wanted to wait until Thursday when I am going back with a friend!

So, here is to reminding ourselves to keep it fresh and try new things all the time! Does a 'skier's high' exist, because if so, I have not felt it yet!

OH YA...and I just signed up for the Where's Waldo 100km which is happening August 20th, 2011. I am super stoked. I love Oregon but have never really run in the trails there...can't wait to do some road trips there this summer to explore pre-race!

See you in the trails!

Eb and Flow

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 house, they would never make it there on their own. Because these girls are considered "at ricks" there are so many other variables involved in their lives.

With all that said, we decided to ditch the Sun Run idea. Maybe it was an unrealistic expectation on my part from the beginning but I had high hopes. To be honest though, what I have them doing now is 100 times more fun. Instead of the standard walk/run program, I TAKE THEM ADVENTURING to places they have NEVER been

Last Wednesday we went hiking in Lynn Canyon and I took them across the Suspension Bridge. Neither of the girls had ever been there before and it was really cool to see how excited they were. Friday I took the girls to Deep Cove where we hiked all the way to Quarry Rock.





I really enjoy this format better. I was explaining to Peter today how with the walk/run program, because a lot of the girls couldn't maintain a run for the 2 or 3 minutes (x6) prescribed, it was almost like they were having mini failures all along the way. But, with the adventure format, they get to hike and get to a final DESTINATION which is so rewarding for them. It has made me realize how fun it would be to start a hiking group for teen girls or even a bit older and take them on immaculate hikes to places they would never normally go!

On another note, life has been pretty fun. I went out with the Mountain Madness group again for the Dirty Duo orientation run. Heather was popping up all over the place and she managed to capture a quick pic. I attempted to get us all in a jumping shot but after 7 tries, we gave up haha.





Peter and I got out for a little ski tour today. We had planned to go all the way to Elfin Lakes but it started to snow pretty hard outside so we just hung out at the Red Heather Hut and played backgamon by the fire!











I think I'll head to Whistler tomorrow for a day on the hill. I finally signed up for the Knee Knacker 50km. Thanks Dirk for the test message reminding me that it was the last day to sign up! Tomnorrow is the first day to sign up for Where's Waldo 100km which I plan on running. It's part of the Montrail Ultra Cup and I would LOVE to get a guaranteed spot into Western again.

I think that is all for now. I just got back from an awesome Compu Trainer session at the Challenge By Choice Studio. Two of us rode the first 30km of the Ironman Canada course. Pretty rad! The good news is that I can continue riding from where I left off...so...maybe by next Christmas I will have completed the entire 180km!

Summary of last weeks adventures:

Monday: 2 x strength sessions at the Challenge by Choice Studio (shadowing/doing)
Tuesday: 2 hour Chief Hike from home
Wednesday: 2 hour run in North Van, 90 minute hike with girls
Thursday: run 30 minutes home from studio in torential winds!
Friday: 1 hour run in North Van, 90 minute hike with girls, 1 hour climbing (tired)
Saturday: 2.5 hr run in North Van
Sunday: off

The Act of Walking

(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 would just go by way to fast. I plug in my tunes and all of a sudden, I am in walking heaven.


(section leading up to the peak)


The Chief hiking route has been getting a lot of work done on it, as you can see below! Even in the snow...




(View of the second peak)


(A self portrait, way harder to do on an IPhone)

All this walking got me thinking. Why don't I walk more? I used to walk all the time. Before I got into distance running, I used to walk for hours. I would just leave my house, walk the 2 hours it took me to get downtown, adventering all along the way. However, I would normally bus back! You get to take in so much of your surroundings when you walk. After my run on Saturday I met up with a good friend and we just walked all over downtown Vancouver.



I guess, as a runner and a car owner, when I am not running, I am driving. Somewhere along the way I lost the want to walk. Why walk when I can drive! Maybe it's because it just takes so darn long to get to places. On a nice day however, it truly is great to just set out on your own 2 feet and experience. Experience the folks who are also walking, sitting on the bus or taking the sky train. You give yourself that time to take in the view while crossing the Lions Gate Bridge, or watching the waves crash down while you sit on a bench in English Bay.

Walking...the love affair has been rekindled.

Quick and Easy (Healthy Dinner Idea)

(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 dressings but sometimes I get lazy and just put on some low calorie kraft greek feta.

Peter went away on an ice climbing trip, so naturally, I turn back into that living solo person and get into my old ways. This dinner is fast to make, easy to prepare, and unreal to eat. The flavours are just MMM.

Greek Salad with Quinoa and Chicken (serves 2-3)

1 green pepper, roughly chopped
1 red pepper, roughly chopped
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives (I actually didnt have them in this salad because I had a bunch of them the day before and was olived out but I would highly recommend you out them in)
1/2 large cucumber, roughly chopped
2-3 roma tomatoes, roughly chopped
1/2 cup Feta cheese or more to your liking
1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
2 chicken breasts,

I have an awesome rice cooker that I won at a silent auction last summer and I always end up cooking my quinoa in that. 1 cup quinoa:2 cups water, turn it on and your in business. If you have to use a pot, bring water and quinoa to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for about 15 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes and then fluff with a fork.

After this, put in your chicken. I like to use about 1-2 tbsp olive oil to brush over(coat) the chicken, sprinkle with dried basil, and salt and pepper each side.

In the meantime, roughly chop your peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, add the olives and sprinkle the feta.

Let the quinoa cool and slice up your chicken. Because I was eating solo, I added about 1/4 of the quinoa into a bowl and 1 chicken breast but could easily just eat a 1/2 breast. You are getting protein from the quinoa as well and the feta! Then I added about 1/3 of the greek salad, added my kraft dressing and voila...an easy...healthy...delicious dinner. This meal has left me with about 3 meal servings for leftovers!

* Other dressing ideas- When I had it the next day for lunch I simply used 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar and it was delicious. You can also go with a more traditional greek dressing which uses olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper.

Time to go play!!!! There is snow on the ground and sun in the sky.

My Running Roots...

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 same clinic members have been coming for years and years and there will always be a handful of people I know on any given clinic run day. Awesome. This Sunday they were set to run 16 miles. Perfect. I could manage that. Staying the weekend was more of a spontaneous endeavour and I was not as prepared as I could have been. I left my road runners back home in Squamish but did have a pair of Nike free's that I wear for work/all the time. I was pretty confident that they would do the trick but have only ever ran in them once, for 45 minutes. After 16 miles I can confidently say that they were SUPER COMFY. Right on. The Nike free is just an overall great multi-purpose shoe and it packs up super small because of the colapsable top. I am a fan.

Likewise, when I first got into trail running, I started with the mountain madness clinic. It was through this clinic that I learned all the trails in North Van. I ended up running with them on Saturday. I have been writing 'blurbs' on training tips for the weekly newseltter. Heather (clinic owner) calls me the 'virtual coach', it was only a matter of time before I showed my face! Again, another super awesome 20km run with some amazing peeps. One of my clients was there and he made the mistake of telling me on Friday, during our session that he has never run up Homestead hill. Yes, homestead is a doozie and, in the past, it was my nemesis hill. However, I learned to conqeur it and now I run up the entire thing every time, unless I am extra extra tired. Anywho, so I happened to be running with my client at that time and I asked him if he was ready to tackle it all in one go- and of course he was. He rocked up the entire thing and making it look damn easy I must say. Way to go B.Y!

The rest if the day was spent catching up with an old friend. We went to the market (via water taxi) and got an amazing spread of food. Olives, olive baguette, cappicollo, salama, smoked jarlsburg, grapes, and some vino. Walked along the sea wall, taking in the sunshine. A perfect was to spend an afternoon. The city of Vancouver is simply stunning!

All in all, an awesome weekend of running. My muscles were pretty tight after both those runs, mostly in my hammys and groin area. Not sure if that is because of last weekend race or because of 2 days of skiing as well. hmmm....

I think a yoga class could be in my future...i.e- tomorrow!

See you in the trails!