HAHAHAHA. That's my body laughing at me for declaring that I'm going to start training. It was going well until Wednesday when I tripped on a stick and set back my hamstring. Tripping on a stick is very common when trail running, and usually isn't a big deal, but obviously I was still vulnerable. Since then when I try to run I've been compensating, which is leaving my back and legs feeling sore and out of whack. When I get back to where I was a few weeks ago, I'm going to have to be more careful and stick to easier trails.
Plan B is to get my butt to the gym to cross train. I so despise the elliptical, but its now officially desperate times.
HAHAHAHA. That's me laughing. Oh wait, not funny.
*************
Update: I made friends with the new ellipticals at our new gym. It was good.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Furry Fury
A wise friend of mine pointed out that whenever we become passionate about an issue, we can usually count on, in the same moment, becoming a hypocrite. Most issues have layers of complexity and shades of gray, and the people examining them have their own biases, temperaments, priorities, backgrounds, and even ignorances. Nothing is simple, and we all have equal right to our views and resulting choices. I'll defend anyone's right to that even when I emphatically disagree with them. We're all on our own journey.
Usually when I rant about something, I eventually remember of all that and my rant fizzles out before I ever get around to typing it. I can count on one hand the issues that, for me, would get out of my own head, past that filter, and wind up here as a rant. But all winter I've been seeing students (on the campus where I work) with Canada Goose jackets. Are all these kids really going off to polar expeditions or climbing Everest over their holidays, which is about the level of cold these coats were designed for? Can they really justify the need for a fur ruff to keep their faces from freezing in southern Ontario? No, they are walking to and from class draped in coyote in the name of nothing more than having a trendy, expensive status symbol. An unnecessary, wasteful, insulting, offensive and disrespectful status symbol. And call me a hypocrite in my own down jacket if you like - I'll be the first to agree that I have blood on my hands just like we all do - but it still really pisses me off.
Usually when I rant about something, I eventually remember of all that and my rant fizzles out before I ever get around to typing it. I can count on one hand the issues that, for me, would get out of my own head, past that filter, and wind up here as a rant. But all winter I've been seeing students (on the campus where I work) with Canada Goose jackets. Are all these kids really going off to polar expeditions or climbing Everest over their holidays, which is about the level of cold these coats were designed for? Can they really justify the need for a fur ruff to keep their faces from freezing in southern Ontario? No, they are walking to and from class draped in coyote in the name of nothing more than having a trendy, expensive status symbol. An unnecessary, wasteful, insulting, offensive and disrespectful status symbol. And call me a hypocrite in my own down jacket if you like - I'll be the first to agree that I have blood on my hands just like we all do - but it still really pisses me off.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Welcome Back to Winter
My friend Deb is in town, visiting from Taiwan, and we spent a few days north of here at a cottage and doing some trail running. On snow! What a concept! Deb has always loved snow, and I miss snow with all the ice we currently have, so we both had a great time playing on the trails.
Trails at Wheeler's Pancake House, in MacDonalds Corners (near Perth).
Deb made this snow angel!
All the maple tubing made for lots of limbo fun!
This guy is staring down a cat.
We also saw sheep, lots of woodpeckers (including two really big ones), and a red fox on the way out.
Deb, this is what The WHEEEE Monster looks like!!
First time on snowshoes!!
The feast after. When we were done, half that bottle of mapley, slurpy goodness was gone.
The pretty view from the cottage. This is the Mississippi River, not to be confused with The Mississippi River.
Trails at Wheeler's Pancake House, in MacDonalds Corners (near Perth).
Deb made this snow angel!
All the maple tubing made for lots of limbo fun!
This guy is staring down a cat.
We also saw sheep, lots of woodpeckers (including two really big ones), and a red fox on the way out.
Deb, this is what The WHEEEE Monster looks like!!
First time on snowshoes!!
The feast after. When we were done, half that bottle of mapley, slurpy goodness was gone.
What a perfect winter day. Thanks, D!!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Yellow Light
It's been five months. I'm going to start training. Through January I've sprinkled back elements of training (doubles, longer runs, higher weeks, even yoga) padded with lots of recovery, and everything has held up. I've had some acupuncture, which is helping my hamstring. I feel in a better place than I did a month ago, so I'm taking that as a 'proceed, with caution'. It's a birthday present to myself, I turn 39 today. That's not nearly as exciting as turning 13, which Heather just did. Happy Birthday, Heather!
A voice in the back of my mind has been telling me to run a 100 the year I turn 40. I get emotional thinking about it, which is a sign I really want to.
Training, yes! Bring it OOOOOOOONNNNNNNN. Can you say, Sick of Myself??? I can. As my Dad says, 'Sometimes you're so far down you think it's up!'
Yesterday we took Siku for a very fun run on a friend's property where we were able to go out on a giant pond. It was frozen smooth and has a clump of trees with 10 heron nests overlooking a big beaver lodge. Very cool. Our backyard is flooded into a decent pond too. Derrick Orr has been shooting pucks for the dogs a lot. Neeka, Mali and Siku are really into it.
La Sportiva has announced their 2010 Running Team and associate sponsors in this release.
A voice in the back of my mind has been telling me to run a 100 the year I turn 40. I get emotional thinking about it, which is a sign I really want to.
Training, yes! Bring it OOOOOOOONNNNNNNN. Can you say, Sick of Myself??? I can. As my Dad says, 'Sometimes you're so far down you think it's up!'
Yesterday we took Siku for a very fun run on a friend's property where we were able to go out on a giant pond. It was frozen smooth and has a clump of trees with 10 heron nests overlooking a big beaver lodge. Very cool. Our backyard is flooded into a decent pond too. Derrick Orr has been shooting pucks for the dogs a lot. Neeka, Mali and Siku are really into it.
La Sportiva has announced their 2010 Running Team and associate sponsors in this release.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Weekend Winter Fun
Had a fun weekend with some productive stuff and lots of fun stuff too. It was nice to have lots of sunshine after all the snowy days lately. Taylor and Matt Murphy stopped by for a snowshoe run with Derrick on Saturday and it was nice to hang out after. Then on Sunday, another snowshoe run in Frontenac Park. Derrick ran with Keith and Aaron while I puttered along behind on their trail. I was happy to get through the full loop, which capped off a 4h15m week for me! Feeling very good!
A highlight of the weekend was having my cousin Chris, his wife Jaqueline, and son Nicolai from Australia come by on Sunday morning for a dogsled ride. Nic, who is 11, has been eating up winter activities, like skiing at Whiteface Mtn, since they arrived here from Sydney last month. His parents say he must have a lot of Canadian in him the way he is handling the cold, which of course he's not used to at all.
He also just loves dogs, so bringing him on a dogsled ride was a blast, and something he can tell his friends about back home. Brennan and Heather showed him the ropes and I think it was neat for them to hang out with people from Australia with cool accents. Nic rode in the basket while Derrick drove the team, and then he let Nic take a turn on the runners part of the way back. Afterwards, Nic even fed the dogs with Derrick like a true musher, and took it upon himself to go go back out and say goodbye and give scratches before they left. At the last minute Derrick thought to give him the musher hat he wore as a memento of his winter adventure. My mom, who had dinner with them all later that evening, reported that he hadn't taken it off. :) We all had a lot of fun!
A highlight of the weekend was having my cousin Chris, his wife Jaqueline, and son Nicolai from Australia come by on Sunday morning for a dogsled ride. Nic, who is 11, has been eating up winter activities, like skiing at Whiteface Mtn, since they arrived here from Sydney last month. His parents say he must have a lot of Canadian in him the way he is handling the cold, which of course he's not used to at all.
He also just loves dogs, so bringing him on a dogsled ride was a blast, and something he can tell his friends about back home. Brennan and Heather showed him the ropes and I think it was neat for them to hang out with people from Australia with cool accents. Nic rode in the basket while Derrick drove the team, and then he let Nic take a turn on the runners part of the way back. Afterwards, Nic even fed the dogs with Derrick like a true musher, and took it upon himself to go go back out and say goodbye and give scratches before they left. At the last minute Derrick thought to give him the musher hat he wore as a memento of his winter adventure. My mom, who had dinner with them all later that evening, reported that he hadn't taken it off. :) We all had a lot of fun!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Trail and Ultra Running Blog Awards
There are so many to choose from, but here is a sampling of my favourite trail/ultra running blogs and posts. Any worthy additions?
Fav Funny Posts
Marit Fischer's grammatical pennance
Ultra Running Guy and Gal dreaming
Geoff Roes loves the marathon
Gary Robbins takes a trip across the border sans vital documents
George Zack is having a problem with snot
Meghan Hicks goes fastpacking in the land of phalli
Fav Photos
Jill Homer
Leslie Gerein
Fav Running Dogs
Strider Pup
Nelson and Boober
Roxy
Ernie
URP
Fav Race Reports of 2009
Aaron Anderson's first 50k at Haliburton
Fav Funny Posts
Marit Fischer's grammatical pennance
Ultra Running Guy and Gal dreaming
Geoff Roes loves the marathon
Gary Robbins takes a trip across the border sans vital documents
George Zack is having a problem with snot
Meghan Hicks goes fastpacking in the land of phalli
Leslie Gerein exposes all in the name of the B.U.T.T. at Mt. Assiniboine
Is Lance Armstrong really running the Pike's Peak Marathon? asks Buzz Burrell (and while we're at it check out his ride in style)Fav Photos
Jill Homer
Leslie Gerein
Fav Running Dogs
Strider Pup
Nelson and Boober
Roxy
Ernie
URP
Fav Race Reports of 2009
JD Begin's 50 Miler at Haliburton
Jamie Donaldson's 24-Hours of Self-Transcendence on a Track...and an AR!
Devon Crosby-Helms' JFK 50 Course Record
Bryon Powell's Leadville Part 1 and Part 2
Derrick Spafford's Haliburton 100, along with David Bohn's pacer report.Aaron Anderson's first 50k at Haliburton
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