Lots of days off, lots of snow, lots of running

The more I post the more I wish I had some pictures to capture some of these great times I had running. The spectacular few days after Christmas where the abundance of snow really did make Ottawa feel like a winter wonderland were incredibly fun for running. The best was that less than 10% of my accumulated distances was on actual road. I was able to do around 45k total on snow trails with the highlight being first tracks after 7cm on new fallen snow in the Quarry trails. Granted the deer did have me beat and I stop to speak with a few of them. They look very impressive right now as they carry some thick and shaggy coats and beards. The deer were simply more details in the already beautiful natural backdrop. Thick layers of snow wrapped every tree branch or thicket of pine needles like coats of white fur. They gave me somewhat of a humorous look to be honest- sort of a "what's this guy think he is? A snow leopard or something? Move along clumsy human."

Blue skies, snowy trails, Christmas Eve

I wish I had taken a camera today. It was a phenomenal run. Not only that my foot did well and I feel like progress is being made but this is the type of experience I seek when I run that inspires me to run again. Beautiful weather, and one of those cold days that sharpens the senses. You can feel exactly where you are warm and where you are not. Vapor escapes into the air as you breath and you can lose yourself in the rhythm of the noise of this and that of your feet crunching and squeaking along the snow. What a sensational day for a run. Blue skies, very cold and snow covered trails. It was awesome. Went a little longer than planned but it was all on soft trails so think it helped alot. First run back since Monday and took it tentatively but things felt good. The discomfort was there on and off mildly but overall not too bad. Pretty sure it's a ligament strain and so will recover it well and ride tomorrow but wait until Monday for another run.

Patience, discipline and sensibility- new traits

So it goes. I was very prudent and gradual after my surgery to come back to running, driven to not rush anything and risk delaying getting back to normal. So I worked up 10 minutes per run each time I went out and as hoped had no issues to mention. I gave myself a good pat on the back for not being brash and taking anything for granted. I have been known to do things that in hindsight were very head-shakingly silly. Despite this I had my great Vibram run on Saturday in the very cold. It was, quite frankly, a great run and I felt there were no problems aside from my feet being very cold in the beginning. It was quicker than I needed to be running but I felt good and just went with the flow of things. The following day my foot was a little sore. Nothing big and so I went for a 13k run in the MR10s and all was good too. I had a small twinge of discomfort in the mets but thought nothing of it. But alas, later that day my foot was sore. Huh? Out of the blue I had what felt like the initial symptoms of a stress fracture. I assessed it as sensibly and carefully as I would a patient and signs were pointing to either a ligament(s) strain or damaged bone. The next day it was still there but I had a bit of denial (read the head shaking comment above again) and decided to go and run at lunch. I ran trails off the parkway for 30 minutes and by the time I got back it was very sore and I was very sure I was on the verge of a more serious injury. So this is where I have had to instill these traits this week. Everything we suggest to a patient I have had to follow- I recognize why many don't comply (hard to not want to break these rules.)I have been listening to my body since Monday and resting, massaging and supporting it comfortably but no running.

-20 degrees in the wind for the planned VFF run. No problem? Left 3rd and 4th toe were frozen for about 10 minutes and then the run was fabulous.

What 2 shoes am I impatiently awaiting? Next year is going to be a great year for minimalist shoe choices in general and it'll be great to check them all out through the clinic. Personally, these will be the ones I will be getting ready for. Can't be soon enough. Those MT110s will take me on the first ultra and the Zeros I would like to see take me to my marathon PR.

Morning musings during a 'barefoot' run

It's dark at 5:30am these winter days when I head out for some runs. Aside from my own footsteps and breathing there isn't too much noise. Few cars keep me company even and when they do they never add much to a conversation. So this morning I had time to think. It's interesting what I end up thinking about; how Simon's hair is exactly like mine (both thick and THIN in the same places), how Isabel's eyes are the same color as my Dad's but not mine or Tara's, whether most people have their Christmas lights on timers or turn them off at sun-up like me- as you can tell, some heavy stuff.

But then my mind inevitably floats to the experience that I am having. The run. The sensations, the connectivity of my body and what I feel interacting with the earth. I moved on and off the road to grass, gravel, sidewalk just to feel all the little subtleties. I know this is the draw of the run right now. I can connect to something pretty pure, easy to enjoy and both complex and familiar at the same time. It made me think about the perception of running the 'right' way. Seems like a debate that always draws lines in the sand. Why does it have to be so complicated? I am realizing, personally, that though we might help 'guide' a way to do it right that if you strip everything down, take out all the external/artificial influences that everyone's body will get it if given the chance. I think I used to wonder about whether it was innate- now my doubts have diminished. Its learned or unlearned. I think complicating is where the mistakes are made. I'm not trying to be 'evangelical' like the many that are out there I'm really not but like most things I believe we are over thinking it. No matter what the person, the level, the body type- the body will sort itself out. Try not to outsmart it. Made me think of a quote I saw in a post from a Carl Sagan book:

 “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

In the context of this brain dump try to keep it simple and let nature and your body guide you. I am getting more messages from my brain and body now than I ever noticed before and when you listen, it not only can give you quite an experience but also makes you realize its got a lot to say.

Skyrunning- now this sounds great

So was fumbling around getting inspired about ultra running and came across the Skyrunning Federation and race series. Sky what? Here's what is off their website.

 The International Skyrunning Federation is the only authority representing skyrunning*.  
*(Skyrunning is defined as running in the mountains above 2,000 metres altitude where the incline exceeds 30% and the climbing difficulty does not exceed II° grade.


The principal aims are the direction, regulation, promotion, development and furtherance of the sport of skyrunning and similar multisport activities at altitude on a worldwide basis in accordance with the Olympic charter.  It was founded on July 19, 2008 in Canazei, Italy, by representatives from ten countries together with the board and members of the FSA (Federation for Sport at Altitude), which it replaces. Among the events coordinated by the ISF are the annual Skyrunner® World Series (the bienniall European Championships  the four-yearly World Championships and the SkyGames® held every Olympic year.  


Racing across the tops of mountain ranges? That sounds like the thrill of a lifetime. Another reason to wish we lived in a less flat area and back up near the higher mountains. Oh well, so another item on the bucket list. I might need another page or two for that list!

1st run post surgery! A reminder of a true friend.

So happy to have this day come. It sounds ridiculous to say it felt like forever when I was only off activities for 8 days but it did feel long.
Everything felt good and there was zero discomfort so I am really pleased. Made a promise that I would do no more than 15 minutes even if it felt normal. Tomorrow will go out for 25 minutes and do a short VFF run to top it off. It felt really good mentally to get out too- that was as needed to de-stress a little. The pace was around 6:00/k to start but by halfway was skirting 5:00/k feeling fine. Didn't want any risk off pushing anything and causing more delay.
I have a big smile on my face from a mere 3k run.

Talked to Mike H. today and he never ceases to amaze me with his selflessness. A close friend already but one that is generous beyond words week in and out. As he preps for IM Tremblant this summer he is making some changes and additions to the TT bike and it includes a new Quarq....sweet....and so offered to me his Powertap!! He had every answer ready why he should give it to me when I suggested he sell it. Training with wattage has been something I have always wanted and this offer is unreal. Told him to make the decision that works for him best so we'll see. While I would love to have fun using it I don't know what it would do to plans for running races vs. tris. No sure I want to change focus but would definitely want him to think it was going to good use and the most made of it. This may get confusing, haha. He is quite a guy though.

Day 6 post surgery recovery

Day 6 of forced hiatus. Is the end on the horizon? I feel like it's reasonable to think that Saturday or Sunday will mark being able to go out for a run. Here's hoping! Got my winter Minimus shoes at work and was punk'd nicely by the others before I had a chance to open the shipping box up. I am pretty happy to have another pair of the MT10s as they have definitely been my favorite shoe this year. I'm a little disappointed that the MT110s are going to be such a late delivery but will look into a better trail shoe after Christmas. The idea for this weekend and next week for building back up the mileage is to ladder climb pretty quick. Saturday will be as little as 15min but then will increase 10 minutes each consecutive run. That should put me back to a 1:15 run by the end of the week. At that point a proper schedule will resume.

Day 4 Recovery

So I am feeling better today than the last few days and feel like I am getting closer to the end of this layoff. Sure it's nice to feel relaxed and no juggling time to run, ride or train but nonetheless I am so eager to get back at it. Told myself I wouln't take for granted that while things might not be sore I am probably far from being able to do anything strenuous. Maybe on Saturday or Sunday I might give a 15-20 minute run a go but come next Monday I would really like to say I can look at getting on a schedule.

Day 2 post surgery

So here I am lying in bed looking out the window and what appears to be a blue sky on a cold December morning. Looks like perfect morning for a run. Very little snow and surely the trails are still accessible. Wish I could get out and starting to feel lazy already. I need to at least eat well while I am off and not eat more than necessary assuming I will run it off. I am thinking of meeting with Ry this week to discuss training and plan how to get back. Maybe along with light runs, maybe will get to the pool. Trainers rides will come last I am sure. Don't think intensity should happens right away though. I will also use the VFFs wear pattern study as integration too. Oh sunny day- go on without me and hope everyone enjoying it will have some ethereal runs!

Great training run in the trails for 3 hours

Great recent adventures with great training buddies.

So I am here on the couch with some mild discomfort and settling into the idea of things being like this for the following week. I can at least not have any guilt for not running or hitting the trails because I was lazy or procrastinated but that I legitimately couldn't. The surgery was more bark than it was bite but the early aftermath is not so fun.
So I will put my mind onto distracting, motivating things. It's clear to me I want to immerse myself into running long, primal, natural routes in the new year. I want to redeem the Boston Marathon of 2011 first in May and prove I have that 2:50 in me but from there want to feel what it is like to push the boundaries of the farthest I have run by moving up. Haliburton 50k seems like the next logical step in racing both from the distance and date of the race. Would it be possible to run it and Waterfront? Haliburton would be Sept 9th (I guess) and the Waterfront would be approximately 4 weeks and a couple of days later. I would love to complete that challenge if it were possible.

Is this my schedule for 2012?
Winterman 10k or Half (Feb 19)
Around the Bay (March 25)
Run for Reach (April 10)
Ottawa Marathon (May 27)
5 Peaks Camp Fortune Enduro (August 18)
Haliburton 50K (Sept 9)
Toronto Waterfront Marathon (Oct 14th)

It may be biting off more than I can chew but if I run, run, run and keep up the long minutes I cna stay in shape and hit these targets assuming we can afford the time and weekends. I think what I want most from the year is to experience a long natural terrain race moving up in the beginning of the ultra distances. I want to know how to plan and train for it and what my body and mind will experience in that journey. I have had a piece of it in my recent trail adventures like below but I want to experience more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k7QSSK1kWc

In my mind I want the CDR race to happen and it hinges on family support and being able to afford it but I hope i can happen. May require some financial ingenuity but not motivation. I am 100 % in.
Facing my guilt of absenteeism from my old days of triathlon still itch me but that is for another post. Bottom line is I have to do what is right for me, my family and my current drive.

No running? No activities? No anxiety?

Well, t-minus one day before there will be no running or any activities for about 10 days due to a minor surgery. This is the first time in a long time I will be out of commish from doing anything. It feels 50% disappointing and 50% strange to not be able to run. I feel very much motivated at this point to make the most of the coming year and take on some new challenges and meet some goals. Maybe 10 days will allow me time to evaluate a realistic schedule for next year. I will put together an outline for the year to make it committal and conceptualize the way to make it all happen. Hope to get started officially with a building up from almost scratch on Dec. 12th. Ryan has offered his training guidance again and I am both appreciative and on the fence whether to see this through on my own or follow a written plan. I guess it mostly because I don't want to disappoint him if he hopes I will go more tris this year and my interests may lie more in running long distance and getting on the trails as much as possible. I will ride in the winter as well as when the weather is better and keep my riding up strong but don't know how swimming will fit in anywhere with the kids schedule and Tara's own interests too. Plus, there is the issue of money to make all this happen- as in there is NOT too much extra to throw around on races and swim programs. So be it for now. Here's hoping tomorrow goes well! See you on the other side.
Seedless Grapes

Still figuring things out

Waiting for a sign or moment of creativity to post.

Not even sure this is how you start

A blog?
Not sure I think of myself as a blogger or that I know exactly why I am, all of a sudden, curious to put something together. I realize that lots of other people, runners, parents have been blogging about their lives and for some reason now I too want to put some things in my head into words.
I've changed quite a bit in the last 10 years, not just because I became a husband, a father, and an 'adult' but because I have started to connect with myself better about what makes me feel happy about myself. I can't deny this has a lot to do with my activities. I have grown more and more involved with running as each year has gone on the it feels so much a part of what completes me. It gives me motivation, personal reflection, therapy and life experiences that get me in touch with something very basic and human to me.