Friends on the Trail

Don't leave your friend behind.

A friend will follow you anywhere.

 

A friendly break.

 

Remembering a friend missed.

Telling your friend where to go.

Can you spot the friend?

Two good friends.

The support of friends.

A friendly place.

Lots of friends live in here.

Friend??!

Can I be your friend?

A New Season

Winter is gradually winding down and training is ramping up. After snowshoe racing season I'm feeling in a good place to hit the trails this year. Actually, I'm hitting the roads too - running two half marathons this spring, sandwiched around the Bear Mountain 50 Miler in May.

Spring coming up means my Mom is soon facing a serious medical procedure, which is going to be a test for her and for my entire family. In May she is undergoing a stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma, which she was diagnosed with a few days before Christmas. When someone you love is hurting, you feel some of their pain in a way, almost like it is radiating from the ache in your heart. Maybe this is part of the reason I am increasingly throwing myself into running right now. It could just be I'm simply trying to distract myself, but partly I want to make myself hurt with my Mom. It makes no sense, and it is likely presumptuous or patronizing or some other unintended thing, but I can't help it. Because pushing myself feels better than doing nothing. Because not being able to do anything is the hardest part of all. I just wish it could somehow unburden some of her own - real - struggles. The good news is my Mom is a lot tougher than I am, and the better news is that she and my Dad and her medical team can, and have been, doing a lot. Mom has been taking great care of herself and responding very well to treatment, and my Dad is part-super-hero/part-angel looking after her better than ten normal people could.

Sometimes running teaches me about life, and sometimes in return life teaches me about running. When a race is going well, it is all so easy to just keep chugging happily along. But when things fall apart and get too tough, I used to say it's just a game and ask what's the point anyway and sometimes even quit. I've come to realize that there doesn't have to really be a point except to appreciate each day, or each mile. If we're truly lucky, that's what we get. It is enough, and I'm grateful.

Dion Eastern Ontario Snowshoe Series Wrap-Up

Well, we certainly had a fantastic winter for snowshoeing this year, which allowed each of the five races in the Dion Eastern Ontario Snowshoe Series to go ahead as scheduled. I was starting to think our years of having any significant amount of snow in this region were over, but happily this year proved me wrong.

It was fun to be a part of the races this year in different capacities. The three races I was able to run - Summerstown, Westbrook and Frozen Ass - were very satisfying from a participant point of view; and the other two - Frontenac and Red Barn - were fun to volunteer and spectate at. The best thing about the series was that so many people came to multiple races, so it was like a little reunion each time out. We very much celebrated that fact with a special gathering at Red Barn to wrap it all up last weekend. 

I was fortunate to be able to have some consistent results and win the women's series. Congratulations to Joe Turner for winning the men's series. 

Some of my favourite memories:

Summerstown Forest
- A super quick lead group of runners set an impressive pace on the beautiful trails. With soft snow and a back loop that was surprisingly hilly, it wasn't an easy course at all. 
- Gilles Parisien did a fantastic job with this first year event, and it will definitely get even bigger and better in the future. 
- It was awesome to do my first snowshoe race in two years. I had forgotten how much effort they take!

Frontenac
- Derrick had to scrape together a modified course, as unfortunately this was the race which had the least amount of snow. Still, we were fortunate to able to have it go at all, and hopefully next year we can route people back into the lovely single-track. 
- It was cool to have Mihira and Dean from Canadian Running there to do a video report on the race. 
- Sebastian Warner running in shorts....again!
- One of the finishers made me choke up at the finish. I love that.
- John McAlister's joy at finally getting a pair of coveted Gramma Rosie socks was about equal to having won the race.

Westbrook
- Oh the snow! So much snow the day before, and a perfect, sunny February day to race.
- Marco Smits and the gang at Westbrook Golf Course showcasing their beautiful property and putting on a delicious chili lunch for us
- Keith Iskiw learning his lesson about going out too hard at Summerstown and putting together a win this time.
- The conditions suited me well and I was able to pull out a win too. Always fun.

Frozen Ass
- Sandy Musson and her crew know the trails up in Batawa better than anyone. I love the course, which is fairly flat until coming upon a huge hill, which they take full advantage of by having us run completely up and over it before turning around and doing it again on the way back. It's a challenging course, and with the hard-packed snow this year it required some fast gears. 
- Rebecca Turner toying with me the first half and then pulling away for the women's win. The most impressive part was she didn't even seem tired at the end. 


Switzerville Red Barn
- The Turners rounding into fine snowshoe-translated-from-road fitness in time to dominate the Red Barn race, both having convincing wins.
- Keith and John finishing together after running each other into the ground (er, snowbank) early on. On the starting line I told them 'don't kill each other out there', but they didn't listen to me.
- Nephews Matthew and Michael entertaining in professional style.
- Hanging out around the fire with family and friends.

Snowshoe Racing is FUN!

Next up: Bear Mountain 50 Miler in early May. And for some strange reason I went and registered for a ROAD half marathon in April. I thought I only talked about doing crazy shit like that.

Batawa Frozen Ass Snowshoe Race

Last Sunday was the Batawa Frozen Ass Snowshoe Race, the fourth race in the Dion Eastern Ontario Series, and my final snowshoe race of the season. I ran this race two years ago and really enjoyed it, and was looking forward to seeing the course again. It is an out-and-back, with the first and last three (or so) km being mostly flat, and then a big up-and-over hill to hit twice in the middle.

The snow conditions were very packed so it would be a fast race. Our friend Rebecca Turner was running, and I knew she is faster on roads so I would be hard pressed to be able to run with her today. For the first few km I ran ahead as she was being a bit cautious with not having run many snowshoe races, but by the beginning of the big climb she had caught up to me. I led into the half way point, but I knew I was working harder than her, and on the climb back up she went ahead and I just did my best to stay as close as I could.

I've really enjoyed these shorter, faster races on snowshoes as it has been a nice way to mix things up and enjoy the winter season. I feel structurally in an excellent place, and I think the addition of some regular faster running, in training and now these races, has provided the best specific strength building for the running muscles.

The final race of the series is on Sunday, the Switzerville Red Barn race. I'll be sitting this one out, but am looking forward to spectating and helping out.

Before the start

Half way point

At the finish. I'm a bit more knackered than Rebecca.

On Monday, we lost our big old tabby cat Rocky, who was almost 18 years old. He was such a sweet guy, always looking for a cuddle. He was quite an eccentric in his later years, and is legendary for standing up to the dogs and protecting his and our other cat Ozzie's turf. Our neighbour's black lab got the full treatment this summer when he visited our yard. Rocky went flying in the air and landed squarely on the dogs's back, sending him running home with his tail between his legs. No one was hurt, but one ego grew and the other was bruised.

A gentle giant

He followed me everywhere, even onto the hammock

We'll miss you, Rockums

Westbrook Snowshoe Race

Last Saturday was the first ever Westbrook Snowshoe Race as part of the Dion Eastern Ontario Series. The morning of the race the skies had finally cleared after a huge snowstorm. The trails were very deep with fresh powder, which made for challenging but fun conditions. Unfornately the same snow was still being cleared off of many roads, so some racers were unable to get to the race.

It was a chilly morning but we all warmed up well once we got to work racing. I liked the conditions, and that everyone got to experience some deeper snow than we have had the past few years in this area. Going into the day I hadn't really felt like racing, but once I was a couple of km into it I started feeling really good and ended up being really happy I did it. You just never know.

Go here for a race recap, photos and full results.

Next race in the series is the Batawa Frozen Ass this Sunday the 17th, followed by the Switzerville Red Barn season finale on February 24th.

Race Start. Photo by Heather Spafford

Lots of snow flying at the start. Photo by Sean Hickman

Heading out to the woods. Photo by Heather Spafford

Joe Turner of Without Limits carving some snow. Photo Sean Hickman

Derrick and Heather perched for a good view. Photo Sean Hickman

Always good to be done. Photo Sean Hickman

Summerstown Forest Snowshoe Race

My first race of 2013 was the 7.5km Summerstown Forest Snowshoe Race held near Cornwall, Ontario on Saturday. It was a very warm day, but there was plenty of snow on the wooded trails to accommodate the race.

The first quarter of the race was fairly flat and meandering through a nice wooded area, and then the middle part of the course wound through a hilly forest with deep and tough snow conditions before ending with a flatter section again. It was a beautiful trail system, which always makes a race more enjoyable.

I felt fairly decent throughout the race, and it was good to be back on snowshoes for a race. Short races like this are a much higher intensity than ultras, and it is fun to change it up.

The women's race was dominated by Natasha Elliot, who finished in 44:43. I was second in 52:07, and Lynn Giroux was third in 55:02.

Full Report and Results.

Photo: Erika Glasberg, Cornwall Standard Freeholder

The next race in the series is Frontenac Park this Saturday the 19th. The entire series is listed here.

Shift to a new year

The new year always brings about a welcome fresh start. Holidays this year were spent with as much family time as possible. There were some poignant reminders of how fleeting and finite life is, which have shifted my priorities and perspectives. Each day is precious, and living much more in appreciation of that fact is my intention for 2013 and beyond.

We have been enjoying a lot of snow this winter so far. Snowshoe running is the main way we enjoy that, but I've also dusted off the cross country skis (which didn't get used at all last year). I'm not a great skier, but it always makes me smile, so it's worth doing more of right there.

I'm excited to be on the La Sportiva team for 2013, and am fired up to train and race. Last year's season was just winding down when I started to find my groove, so I'm happy to have some races coming up fast.

Snowshoe racing starts next weekend at the brand new Summerstown Forest Snowshoe Race, which will be my first race of 2013. I'm looking forward to fitting in as many snowshoe races as I can, and then ramping up for the Bear Mountain 50 Miler this spring. After missing it last year I'm looking forward to it even more.

Meela frolicking on the snowshoe trails.

 

That dot in the sky is an owl I heard screeching.

Piling up.

Winter? No thanks... Mali prefers to lounge by the fire.