Just. Running.
The road to New York…Archive for June, 2008
Time to Taper
Yesterday’s training run saw us cover the 1st half of the Knee Knacker course and other than a few missed turns and the hot weather, it all went without too many mishaps. There were a few people with cuts and bruises to show at Cleveland Dam, luckily for me I was not one of them. As the day got hotter and we go lower down, the heat started to play a toll and I probably didn’t take on enough fluids, another lesson for race day (you never stop learning). There is a good chance it could be a hot one on race day, so it was good to get a feel for the conditions. Having run in Brisbane over the years, it was not that new for me.
I think having run for over 13 hours in my last three trail runs played a big part in me feeling tired and sore at Cleveland Dam (finishing point for run). I didn’t have the spring in my step on the downhills and it is a sign that I need to take it easy in the lead up to the race which is 11 days. I feel confident that I have trained well and have the fitness base to run a good race, so want to make sure I give myself every chance by resting up properly.
I was chatting to Tanya yesterday, as we watched the sunset at Stanley park, about the whole Knee Knacker experience. For a new bloke in town it has been an amazing opportunity to meet a group of motivated and inspiring runners and build long lasting friendships. I have been exposed to the Nth Shore which is world renowned for its challenging trails and awe striking beauty. My confidence and ability of running on the trails has grown by the week and I have found something that I am not too bad at. I am going to really miss my Wednesday and Sunday training runs.
I have posted some more photos, so please check them out in the page section (thank you Mike for your contributuion).
Shattered
Yesterday was our second to last Wednesday night training run before the race and our longest one of the year. As well as tackling the 18km return run from Cleveland Dam to the Lower Cypress carpark, I was talked into tagging on an extra 1 1/2 hours beforehand (thanks John).
After that initial ‘warm-up’ run, we meet up with the rest of the crew and headed out to the Cypress carpark. Feeling strong, I set a pretty good pace out but having only run this leg on the downhill stretch, I underestimated just how far it was. It was on the way back I really started to struggle and got a taste of the pain that lies ahead in the Knee Knacker. It was the slowest I had ever run what is one my favourite downhill stretches, but with some welcome distraction chat with a fellow runner, I made it home. Then it got interesting. After pulling myself together, quite a few minutes had passed by and I started to get a little worried that John had not arrived back. My stress levels rose even more when the last group of runners came in and still no sign of John, or two other runners. Just before the helicopter was ordered in, he appeared from the trail in good shape (considering he’d been running for over 4 1/2 hours) and 10 minutes later the other two arrived, so all ended well.
I arrived home exhausted and hardly had the energy to eat dinner. It was also a struggle pulling myself out of the bed this morning and anyone looking at me would have thought I’d had a big night out. I think two big runs in the matter of four days, dehydration and not enough food consumed all combined to leave me feeling shattered. More lessons learnt, the hard way!
Black Mountain
Only 18 days (and counting) to Knee Knacker and am getting more excited by the day. I am starting to worry though that I am becoming one dimensional and only talk about trail running, sorry Tanya. It has become a passion and I have never been so motivated and inspired by my running.
Today’s Knee Knacker training run had a bit of everything and was our longest to date. The run covered the 1st 3/4 of the KK course (38km) and included over 1200 metres of climbs, some rock scrambling, lots of snow and some fast downhills (loved it!!). The first part of the run climbs up Black Mountain which is legendary among KK runners. It is where some runners have been known to go out too hard on race day and pay for it later in the race. This is one mistake I don’t want to make. I ended up being on my feet for close to 5 1/2 hours and really enjoyed the run and the company along the way.
Thanks to Paul, I have been able to provide some photos from today’s run. I have included more in the Knee Knacker Photos page on this blog, please check them out.
Before and After
Not long ago, I posted a blog congratulating Chris Price (Pricey) on his achievement of winning the Flight Centre ‘12 Week Challenge’. If ever a before and after story is worth telling, this is definitely one of them. As part of the challenge, contestants were asked to submit an essay talking about how getting into shape has impacted on their life, please go to the pages section of my blog to read Pricey’s story.
Grouse Grind
The legend of the Grouse Grind grows by the year and has become part of Vancouver’s folklore. The trail starts at the valley station of Grouse Mountain and climbs up to the peak’s plateau, an elevation gain of 853 metres and 2.9km in length. It is advertised as ‘Mother Nature’s Stairmaster’ and is not really for the faint hearted. Also not for those after some solitiude and escape from the hustle and bustle of modern life, as over 100 000 people hike up every year.
For people that are into physical punishment, there is the extra challenge on just how fast you can get to the top. The offical record (recorded at the 2007 annual ‘Grind Mountain Run’) is 26:19, but the unoffical record of 24:22 is held by a Kiwi, Jonathan Wyatt (2 time mountain running champion).
So, here is my Grouse Grind story. I left from Tanya’s work downtown and made my way up through Stanley Park and up and over the Lions Gate Bridge onto the north shore. I linked up with the Capilano Pacific trail and wound my way to the Cleveland Dam, our normal meeting spot on Wednesdays. I still felt pretty good, so plodded my way up Nancy Green Way, to the Grouse Moutain base car park. I did have an engagement in the evening, but thought I would go a little way up the Grind just to see what all the talk was about. First breather was 1/4 way
… ok, I will head up to 1/2 way then turn back (all the time knowing in the back of my mind I was going the whole way). Well, I did go all the way up and it was a tough climb. My legs were burning and the heart rate was up in the high 180s, I reckon. I clocked in at around 43 minutes, turned around and ran 30 minutes down the BCMC trail and caught the bus back to town.
So now all I have to do is tackle it again, with fresh legs.
12 Week Challenge
I just wanted to congratulate a friend, Chris Price, on winning Flight Centre’s ‘2008 12 Week Challenge’. This was a global competition for employees of Flight Centre, with the individual winner being determined by the greatest overall positive change in their body-shape and lifestyle. This is an amazing achievement and one that Pricey should be very proud of. I am hoping he will have the time to write a personal account of the 12 week challenge, which I will post on this blog.
Run for One Planet
I first heard about ‘Run for One Planet’ at EPIC Vancouver, a sustainable living Expo, a few months ago. Matt and Stephanie Tait were advertised to speak on the Saturday afternoon and I was very keen to hear what they had to say. A couple of mad keen runners, they have decided to run close to 11 thousand miles (17.7 thousand kilometres) across North America in a year, about the equivalent of a marathon a day. I won’t go into too much detail, as you can check out their website (www.runforoneplanet.com) for yourselves, but this is all for a great cause – to raise awareness and inspire actions for the environment. They have already run close to 1.5 thousand miles and raised $42 thousand dollars, which is awesome. I hope to catch up with them later in our travels across Canada and maybe even keep them company for a few miles or so!
Happy Days of Summer
I woke on Sunday morning to one of those days that you just can’t help but have that extra spring in your step. After two weeks of unseasonal cold and wet weather, the sun was out in force and hardly a cloud in the sky. It’s days like this that Vancouver lives up to its reputation of being one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
This week’s knee knacker training run went from the Cypress Top lookout to Deep Cove, about a 33km point to point run.
After a challenging out and back run to Old Buck last weekend, this weekend’s run didn’t seem so daunting. The trail was in good condition and the tempertaure perfect for running.
One of the highlights of getting involved in the trail running scene in Vancouver has been the amazing people I have meet. You can’t help but be motivated and inspired in this sort of environment. So today being no exception, I ran with a group of very competent runners, all with their own stories. Just to keep up was a victory in itself!
I thoroughly enjoyed the run, especially the downhill stretches where I just can’t help myself. I feel sorry for the people out for a nice Sunday morning stroll being scared out of their wits by this rampaging Kiwi coming pounding up behind them on the trail. We finished off with a soak in Arctic cold waters (well cold compared to back in Queensland) and a coffee and berry bun at a favourite jaunt of trail runners in Deep Cove.
I came away from the run still happy at how I am progressing and feeling confident heading towards July 12th. I don’t think I have ever been so excited about a race.
1 Month and Counting
Thought I would share a picture from tonight’s run, would you believe that we are in June and still playing in the snow. Tonight’s run took us up to the Hollyburn Rangers Cabin on the Baden Powell Trail. In winter this is Cypress Mountain’s Nordic area and some cross country skis would not have gone astray.
Except for the odd moments of feeling exchausted, all is on track and the countdown has begun.
Sublime Canapés
Just a little plug for dear friends of mine who reside just out of London and have started up their own business.
“Sublime Canapes is headed by Matthew Brint, an internationally acclaimed chef with over twenty years of experience, to bring you the most exquisite canapes for every occasion” (www.sublimecanapes.co.uk).
If you or anyone you know are in the London area and need a caterer, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
