Island Race Series Race 2

Island series race 2, learning to fall, discovering pain, running it out, getting in touch with my physical self.

What started out a bit sore everything got going well and sore went away, probably mid pack I found myself face down about the 7k mark of this very gruelling 20k course, over 900m elevation gain. I got up dusted myself off and continued. Thinking if I did it again I would quit, and at 9 km kabam belly flopped in the most on the downhill, it hurt pulling a muscle in my right thigh(quad) and my right arm and shoulder. Some guy going by offered pain killers, I had to pass but wondered bout it for a second. Lol, and at that I thought I would try to make it to the next aid station, but it was only one guy so....

I kept running and got passed by a fella named John who I followed for several kilometers till the last aid station and the uphill where I passed him and eventually 2 others. Once at the downhill I was to hurt to be fast and both had passed me.  I managed a finish but not a happy one. It was truly the hardest and longest race I've done to date.

The injury would haunt me keeping me out of the Elk lake ultra and down for several more days so far. 

Island Series Race 1, Royal Roads

Definitely a intresting 10k, it really wasnt that difficult however I went to fast out of the gate and had problems late in the race, Il sort this out as I go along. Still learning and definitely lots of room for my trials. 

The highlights of the race, my first 5kms were all sub 5 minutes and 2 were sub 4 minute, and they were back to back, but being g off the line may have been a bit of a cause for later problems.

The later problems came at the last hills where I ran outa zoom and also got the dry mouth heaves briefly but they really slow me down. I am learning from this and it maybe a good way to set my pace till I can formulate a remedy

One cool note was the two gals I met in the food line who were chatting about running pregnant the year before Kaitlyn at 5 months and Hillary at 7, to me that was a amazing story. It turns out Hillary was my speech pathologist at the cancer clinic who's appointment I did in fact miss twice. Definitely a strange place to meet and a stranger place to discuss pregnancy and running, such a unique experience and just another part of the adventure.

I was a little hard on myself mentally for not doing well enough, I've come tho the conclusion I have no right for being so as every day is full of blessing and 5 sub 5kms with 2 of them sub 4s is pretty dam cool. I dont know why my new Garmin only recorded 5 but it recorded the most important 5.

Next race the Cobblehill 20k,

it should be a beauty!

Juan de Fuca trail Mystic Beach

The trail down to the beach was very quick, technical with roots and alota fun, going from Mystic to Bear beach was a after thought and we only went to the 6km marker, so 3 k away when we turned around. It's very technical either uphill or downhill with lots of roots and a bit of mud, zig and zagging, also several trees of various diameter blown down across the trail to make it more of a adventure, again lots of fun. We plan to do it again.

Mountian Equipment Co op, Race 1 Thetis lake 17km

It was a beautiful day for a race, I woke early did my yoga stretches, and met my friend Penelope (aka Shannon) at the gate, she drove.  Everything went well, nothing hurt, upper IT band and Achilles were fine all day. Again I believe I started to far back in the pack and now think I went maybe a little to easy in the beginning, I knew the climb about 7km in was a good one. A pee break at the bottom and up I went at a casual pace, once at the top my pace went into over drive. I've been practicing on the downhills and it truly showed, I shredded the last half of the course, passed quite a few runners right away, down on the flats I chased a guy in a red shirt catching upto him in about 5kms at the last mud spot, nearing a collision with another runner and slightly rolling a ankle blasting through the mud I focused on a fast pace and not walking any up hills, I just find it easier to fake run a hill than to start out again. Crossing the finish line in 1hr 55, a decent finisher for my longest race ever and 41 minutes faster that the Stewart Mtn Challenge in November. I place a bit of a disappointing 67th over all but 3rd in my age group. Also of highlight Strava told me I ran my fastest km (4:26) and had my fastest 15km time ever. All in all it was a super good time Icam not sure how much faster I could have run the beginning but I know I could have. Tomorrow is my Cancer Clinic 12 month check up and Ceevacs running clinic. I think the cancer clinic appointment sayes alot, I suspect itl go well. Next race is the Island Trail Series Race 1 at Royal Roads a 10km with 300m elevation gain so itl be a fast one.

Run Vancouver Island

Running right out my front door on some amazing trails, quad, single track and old logging roads.  I can be at the Kinsol Trestle in 2kms and can go from there, the trails zig zag and circle through some amazing forest.

Will hug the occasional tree  not a tree hugger tho

Not sure where or how to go, I ran my fastest recorded 5:07, just need to stack more of them up, pretty cool. Trying to switch to a more vegan diet is not easy but I'm gona try, not sure how extreme, I just want to be healthy and stay cancer free. I am trying to sort out a bit of a career change or at least change the way I am doing the automotives, grease, oil and fumes have lost all appeal. Literally not a tree hugger but il hug a tree.

2919 Spring Garden on the deck

To my surprize my Red Russian garlic has sprouted as well as the chives and Strawberries. I'm going to try and keep the deck garden smaller this year as I am away lots, or at least Il try. Hopefully Il be spending alot of time on the trails and in the forest. My goal right now is to seek some part time employment that will allow me to travel back and forth to Alberta. I may consider full time if it's the right job. I'm struggling with this a bit praying for direction.