Lost a running partner, gained a friend.

As the post says, 'Heather and Hubby's excellent adventures".  My hubby has been out for about 2 months with what I believe is fractured sesamoids and plantar fasciitis. He is 6 ft 3" and 230+ lbs. Something has to give!

I miss running with him.  I now know what it is like to be a gal trying to put mileage in by herself in the wilderness.   I now have to rely on my great running friends to get the mileage in.

I do not miss running with him. We are both so competitive we have often come home from runs angry at each other cuz we were racing and one of us won. Seriously, its either humerous or dysfunctional.

Since we have not been training together (he has been biking) it is amazing how well we get along!
It is actually nice to train alone.  If I feel great, I can go for a really long or fast run, without having to cater to how someone else feels that day.

Relaxation wasn't in my Schedule:
Last weekend he 'whisked me away' to Harrison Hot springs for my  bday .  I was supposed to be peaking and doing a 4-6 hr run.  Instead, I was floating in the pool, drinking wine !

Its All Good:
I am so thankful my partner 'balances me'.   I was going a bit gangbusters and was starting to hurt. The hardware in my old fractured tibfib was giving me serious pain (got to get that out if I plan to run more).  This last weekend of relaxation was just what I needed.  Though I did squeeze in an 18 km hike with 1000 m elevation gain up bear mountain.

Great waterfallfoggy

Knee knacker 50km  in North Vancouver in 3 weeks!! I gotta run off some of that great food this weekend!

Heather

Happy birthday to me!

BEST start to a birthday? - 10 mile run in the woods at 6am (with a friend much faster than me). Rock it!
NEXT?- shower, then meet my other friend for 'coffee at Starbucks"
THEN- a 1 hour massage (therapeutic and painful I might add- but worth it)
BREAK for a mini nap before the family gets home.
Wow, got that 'trophy wife' feeling... but realize, I still have to goto work tomorrow.

THEN- Open presents! yaay!  Jim remembered my bday and is taking us to Harrison Hot springs for the     weekend. GREAT  gift idea!  Not sure how I'll get a 6-7 hr run out there though.  Megan got me chocolates- that I had to share of course :)

DINNER- at the heritage pizza place. OMG- the BEST pizza I have ever had. Thin crust, all         
        meat/garlic/pesto/ whatever! .

Tomorrow is 'back to reality' day. 5 am for figure skating. yikes.

Love my life, love my friends!

Heather

From the WET coast to the DRY interior (Jug Island to Stein Valley)

JUG ISLAND WITH FRIENDS 

As my favorite running partner (my husband) is out of commission due to his foot, I am left to get my long runs in with some great running friends.

THE ROUTE

This was a solid 3.5 hr run starting at Buntzen, over the hill to Sasamat, then over another hill to Woodhaven lake (swamp), down a beautiful trail by the name of 'springboard' to Belcarra. I suggested we run a couple of blocks to the start of Jug Island trail cuz it is well worth the 3k run down. 

                                                                                                                  Lovely forested path

It was beautiful!! Probably not too smart as I was still hacking with bronchitis, and struggling to keep midpack- but worth it.  We took the road back to Sasamat as it was only planned to be a 3 hr run. My footpod told me it was a solid 19 miles. Nice.  

Stretching on the beach

MEANWHILE, BACK AT HOME

Jim was busy doing his own endurance event called home renovations. 12 hrs of drywalling- yuk!

Poor Jim.

DRIVING TO DRY LAND

SKIHIST

For Victoria day long weekend we were dying to get away from the Vancouver rains.  Not wanting to battle traffic to the Okanogan, we chose to hit another 'desert belt' farther north- Lytton! 20 deg C or more and sunny!! Great campground called Skihist to hang out at .  You are perched way up top and can watch the trains go by. Quite enjoyable.

What was very cool was there was an explosion of spring flowers and flowering cactus's in the area.  There was a 5 mile loop to hike, but of course that wasn't enough.... so we looked for more.

THE STEIN VALLEY DELIVERS!!!

After a freaky tiny ferry ride over the raging Thompson river, we drive about 4.4kms up a road to the park entrance.  We instantly fall in LOVE with this place

1. The trail is relatively flat ( and runnable! )

2. there is ALWAYS a fresh water source as the trail is alongside the river!

3. There are many beautiful campsites along the river!

4. The trail goes a good 70 kms ! and shoots you out Pemberton way.

As we had our 13 yr old and dog, we only did 10 km out and back.

Jim and Timber along rockslide

My 13 yr old I renamed 'Princess Rawhide" for toughing it out. She was tough as nails... but she never broke one!

I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK AND EITHER DO A 50 K OUT AND BACK OR, A 'FAST PACK' WITH AN OVERNIGHTER....Now if I could just convince some of my friends!!

Well, back to Renos, back to Reality...

Till the Next adventure!

Heather

Funny Newbie runner video

This cracked me up.  Can anyone relate to the annoying co worker who just wants to talk about herself?... and to top that she is a runnner... who is dying to talk about her last run- to someone who has NO idea about running. Too funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cvcs9KF-gt4&feature=player_embedded

Heather

post 50k ramblings

Wow, there is so much going INTO a 50 Km run.... what about the AFTER? I learned so much, I thought I would jot it down.

First, There is no way I could eat the hot dog/smokie/ whatever lovely food they were cooking after.
         Learned:  I should bring my own post recovery drink/ or whatever.  Especially if I plan to wait 2 hrs for my colleagues to race in.  Little light headed after that one.

Second, After a painfree 7 mile run 3 days post race, my recovery tactics worked. Good ol' RICE.
        Rest- once I mellowed out and got home. Good time to write on the blog.

        Ice- Stood in cold lake. Felt great!

        Compression- Slapped on compression socks

        Elevation-On my back, legs up on the wall (or bed headboard). New tactic, Is apparently a Yoga pose- but studies show EACH of the components of RICE work equally well in reducing swelling/ inflammation- so why not do them all! Plus some credit goes to 'Recover Tabs' from Epic products. My recovery is astonishing lately, and this is the only thing I added to my usual routine.

Third, I was totally hyper after crossing the finish line. I apologise to anyone who had to listen to my ramblings.  
        Learned; I love my running  friends who understand me

Fourth, my husband DNF'd (for many a good reason- poor hydration and foot Bone contusion query sesamoid fracture going in- One look at those powerline rocks and he went home).

            I was racing the clock and the course, he was apparently racing me!  oh oh, recipe for disaster. At one point on a descent, he was cutting me off, not letting me pass! He hates it when I beat him. I was hoping I wouldn't have to pass him. Oh well.
          There are enough dynamics in a relationship/marriage, you do not need to add racing  AGAINST each other!   Some tense moments the day after.  I celebrated my 'win' quietly to myself.  We got over it . We love each other and there is just more to life. 
        Learned; My husband and I are both too competitive. We shouldn't compete against each other....but I'm thinking we would be great as a team!

And those are my afterthoughts.  I guess after a bit of recovery, its time to start looking forward again...keep moving forward.

Heather

Diez Vista 50K on a Beautiful Day

GR gps

50K- FULL CIRCLE

5-7 years ago I stood at the DV finish line and watched with awe  a 'ripped'  Suzanne Evans cross it in record time. People do this?? 50 Km trail runs?? I was inspired.  Today I got to meet Suzanne Evans and thank her for her inspiration- I am here today because of her.

2 years ago, still a fan of DV, but scared to run it.  I came across the male record holder's blog; Gary Robbins.http://garyrobbins.blogspot.com/2010/04/training-through-it-diez-vista-50k.html I have learned so much from his blog to help me be a better trail runner. Plus, many a time his inspiring runs got my a$$ off the couch. Today, I got to meet Gary, his gf Tamsin, and of course the Famous dog Roxy.  Oh, by the way,  I think he broke the record again.. on what he calls his 'training run' !

Last year I met up with some great running friends to train with. This year many of them were there to
cheer me on! What great friends! And isn't that what its all about- Fun and Friends!

RACE REPORT- I see it as 3 parts;
1.Diez/Buntzen
Run around Sasamat, nice warmup as I listen to some guy tell me how he went out too hard last year and blew up at the end. Freaked me out so I took it easy up first climb. Walk/ran Diez Vista. I finally caught up with Jim 1 1/2 hrs in.  We cruised down diez together, and around Buntzen.

First first 3 hrs of the run I felt woosy and unsure about my future performance.  It was nice to run with Jim.  He was having issues with a bone contusion on his foot. He toughed it out for 4 hrs but the Rocky powerline did him in...he just limped home from there.  Good decision, its not worth losing the entire summer of running and having pain at work just for a race at the start of the season.

2.Powerlines
Long, rocky, hilly out and back. Today it was sunny, so I want thru the water faster than usual.  Thanks for the great aid station at the end!  The metal plate in my tibia complained a bit on this rocky secion.  I only fell once, dropped my potato chips and actually picked them up off the ground to eat them cuz I was so hungry! 10 second rule!

3.Little Diez and home
4-5 hours into a run, I don't know what happens to me, but I become very 'clear'.  My legs fell limber and I get a 'new gear' .  All woozieness goes away and I actually feel 'hyper'...and really start to enjoy myself! I sprinted down powerhouse road, powerwalked up little diez and ran as fast as my legs could carry me back to Sasamat Lake.
The Finish Line !!!
I was aiming for under 6 hrs, but that passed, so I repeat to myself "6:02 will do"..that passed, um "6:03 it will be"...nope, "6:04 thats even more" grrr.... finally  "6:05, I'm still alive!!"

Finish line, friends, a great soak in the lake, a contortioned change in the outhouse and back to watch the awards.  It was a pleasant suprise to see I finished 6th overall F , and first in my age group!! ...but really, how many 40 + yr old women do this sort of thing. Tee hee .  Oh well, I'll take what I can get.

Great day. Glad to come home to see that Jim is kinda OK with his DNF.   I was worried he would quit with frustration. We had a good talk about finding your 'niche'.  He kicks my butt  for the first 3.5 hrs  then I do his 4-6 hrs.  He may change to shorter races or even triathalons. Jim isn't a quitter.  Besides, its just all about being 'fit and healthy' isn't it!

We shall see what the future brings...
Heather

(Oh, gotta record my STATS  for my future reference: )
Calories: Breakfast Bagel-300 Carbopro- 200, GelsX5-500, Chips-100  =11-1200 Cals. Most Ever!
Thermolytes=7
Water=3 liters + some coke
Falls= 1
Shoes= Montrail Streaks- fell apart in the race... but I was pushing past the 300 mile mark on them. Tried to hold em together with epoxy - diddn't work.  I still love them. Maybe time to try another pair.
Time=6:05
Place= 6 overall, 1st age.
By the way, Suzanne Evans, my first inspiration, finished, like, an hour ahead of me !! Totally different level!

Evolution of a Trail Runner

On a nice long run the other day I was thinking of how my running has changed.  In the end I came up with this  humerous list:

"Evolution of a Trail Runner"

1. You like the outdoors and go for hikes. But you think people who run 50Km+ are CRAZY.
2. You want to cover more ground, so you run a bit.

3. You go in a few races and actually enjoy it. You feel like a kid again.
4. You start signing up for longer and longer races.
5. You develop a subconcious  6th sense for foot placement on gnarly trails.
6. What used to be a 'hill' is now only an 'incline'
7. You start seeking out trails with more HILLS
8. You research ways to run longer without bonking or cramping.
9. You even look up trails to run while on holidays.
10.You run your first 50km race.
11. You have huge respect and admiration for those who run 50Km or more.
12. Now all your friends think you are CRAZY.