Dinghy

A few months ago, I bought a dinghy at Canadian Tire in Squamish. I got it because I've been spending a lot of time at Whistler's various lakes, and having a dinghy would increase the good times.

It got used for the first time last week, on a sunny day at Alta Lake. Carmella had the boat and blew it up with a hand pump before I got there. There were about five of us at the lake. I showed up after everyone else, because I was biking for the first part of the afternoon.

By the time I got there, everyone had used the dinghy either on their own or in pairs. I was happy it was getting used. After about 30 minutes, everyone had someplace to go, but I didn't, so Carmella and I stayed.

When it was time to go, we had to decide how to get home. Carmella's house was on the other side of the lake from where we were, so we decided to sail there! We had to fit ourselves and all the afternoon's detritus into the boat, and were able to do it. We then piloted our garbage scow across the lake. The wind was with us, so we just floated.

Here are some pictures of the dinghy expedition, plying the waters of Whistler's most popular lake.



We get the boat loaded up.



There's no room for my bike helmet in the boat, so I opted to wear it. I had locked my bike up on shore for later retrieval.



Carmella eyes the shore, looking for an appropriate docking spot. We reached land at a private beach, for use by a condo development only. We used it anyway, and dumped our garbage in their garbage shed. Then it was a short walk back to Carmella's house.

Good times with the dinghy! Carmella is making sure it sees further use this weekend, as she's in the Okanagan where there's a river that sees a lot of dinghy traffic.

Running Club

At the race on Saturday, Carmella and I got to talking to a few people who were involved in a weekly running group here in town. These people invited us to come out every Tuesday for training and good social times. Once a month there is a hash run, and that hash run was last night.

A hash run is a Choose Your Own Adventure run. Before the event, the organizer will go into the woods, and create markings on the trail with cooking flour. These markings will sometimes lead you in the correct path, but more often than not, they will lead you the wrong way.

There are different markings that mean different things. A circle made out of flour means you must choose a direction at an intersection. A "T" symbol means you've gone the wrong way, while an arrow generally means you're going the correct way. Small dollups of flour along the trail are there to tell you to keep going.

The object of a hash run is to find your way to the finish. It's a great way to involve many different levels of runners, since everyone can take their own route. The fast runners will generally find out where not to go first, so the slower runners don't have to make the same mistakes. Everyone gets spread out around the course, choosing their own routes.

Carmella expressed interest in attending this hash run, and I was interested as well, so we showed up at the outdoor store along with about twenty-five other runners, put $5 into a tin, and signed a waiver. Then we were off!

The run leader had spent four hours setting up the course, and there were many different routes through the Lost Lake trail system. Right at the beginning of the run, we had to ford a swift and somewhat deep creek! Everyone linked hands so we wouldn't be swept away. Then it was into the woods to start the adventure, where the goal was to find a unique symbol made out of the flour...a big BN, which would stand for Beer Near!

Carmella and I made some bold choices, and ended up leading the pack on the correct path, and we were ahead of everyone by about twenty minutes. We were in the lead, and the organizers thought they better get to the finish quickly because we were dominting the hash run so much. But then, we made a few wrong turns and were back in the thick of the action.

We ran around for about an hour, hearing voices in the woods calling "On on!" which is hash run speak for "Go this way!" Everyone helps eachother find the correct route. It was like a maze in the woods; we chose routes, found dead ends, met other runners, doubled back, and met more runners. After that hour, we stopped hearing voices, and felt alone in the woods. Just when my moral was dipping, we saw the BN written in flour, and we knew that the beer was near, signalling an end to the adventure.

Just around the corner we found the other hashers lounging on the grass, and we finished strong. The organizers had a beer for everyone, and the post run chatter was good. There were some fast runners who finished after us, so we liked that we were right in the pack.

After the impromptu beer garden, we were all invited to a local pub where all the hashers could partake in free food and more beverages. Not everyone came, but there were probably just under twenty of us there. We arrived to a number of tables reserved for us, and as soon as we sat down, food and drinks began to appear before us. It was a really interesting and fun dynamic, having all the runners sitting around the pub in our running gear.

It was an excellent evening...first we completed the run successfully, then had good social times with friendly runners. Carmella won a draw prize too, which was a pair of techy socks. She had to answer a skill-testing running question before she could claim them though, so she reminded Munny (the organizer) that she was a beginner and needed an appropriate question. Turns out she had to know what the race was called that happened on Saturday. Since she was there to cheer me on (avec sign), she knew the answer was Comfortably Numb, and was able to claim the socks.

Our plan is to attend the weekly training sessions, and the monthly hash runs. I want to make this Tuesday night running a priority, since I haven't been part of a running community since 2001 at UVic. There are all different levels of runners there, and most everyone is friendly. There isn't any attitude in the group, and people are there to get fit, to get faster, or just have fun. It's quite a good atmosphere. There are more women than men in the group.

So, all in all a great evening of running and socializing. I'm excited for the training sessions too, as it will be a great way to keep my training going, be challenged, and meet more people. Carmella is planning to come regularly, so that's excellent.

Comfortably Numb 25K

I ran the Comfortably Numb 25K trail run yesterday, here in Whistler.

I ran it pretty well off the couch, as I hadn't trained too hard in the last two weeks. I figured as long as I drew on my experience, I could tough it out and run well.

I forgot to set my alarm before I went to bed, so I awoke with a start, realizing I had to throw my stuff in my pack and get out the door fast! I only had time to throw a pamplemousse in my bag, and head to catch the special bus to the start. Race time was at 9am, but I had signed up for the 7:30 bus.

I got to the start with everyone else, and had quite a bit of time to stretch, and get in racing mode. I listened to the same music I listened to before my Hong Kong races, so I was feeling good.

There were a number of racers, but not too many people were lining up near the line. I stood about in the second row. We started the race on an uphill, and I jostled for position with some fast looking runners.

I ran with them for about 5K, sitting in about 6th or 8th place. Were were the chase pack, running after a guy who was way out in front. Were were battling single-file in the woods. But then I made a tactical error...I tried to pass a few of them and break their spirits on a long uphill, but ended up breaking my own. After that, I was too tired and couldn't keep up to the peleton's pace. I would run the next 15K or so on my own.

Throughout the race, I fell four times, including one major tumble where I rolled off the trail and into the bushes a bit. The course was tough...many rocks and logs, steep hills. The falls broke my spirit, and frustrated me quite a lot.

I got passed twice from the 5K mark to about the 22K mark, then about five more times from 22K to 25K. I could barely put one foot in front of the other...I have never felt that drained in a race! I just tried to keep the forward motion happening, but that was tough. I was in survival mode from 23K on, hoping there weren't too many runners behind me because I was incapable of putting up any sort of fight. I ended up getting 15th, with a time of 2hr18:35. I was 23:06 behind the winner.

I finished strong, buoyed by Carmella who was there to cheer me on with a sign! Once I crossed the line though, I collapsed onto the grass, and began to hyperventilate, and almost began convulsing. I had left everything on the course, and didn't have enough energy to stand up even. A friendly nurse asked Carmella if I was having an asthma attack, then moved in to help me. The nurse told me she was going to shadow me for awhile to make sure I was OK, and then she guided me to the food table. I almost fell over a couple more times before I got there.

I have never felt that way after a race before, and have never been the dramatic one before, but yesterday I was. For the rest of the morning while we were watching the other racers come in, talking race talk with other racers, and scanning the draw prize table, volunteers kept asking me if I was alright, wanting to make sure I was recuperating well.

Here are some pics that Carmella took. There should be more official ones posted on the site later, but there aren't any there at the moment.



Here I am looking haggard after the race. I am standing on my own at least!



Here's Ben, who is one of Carmella's friends that I met recently. He was fast, and got 8th. I was trying to keep up to him for the first 5K, but was unable too. He was super fast on the steep techy down-hills, and looked strong.



Carmella and her sign! I was happy to see it as I neared the finish line.




I come across the line, with my draw-prize haul.





Wait! The draw prize stuff must be displayed! I scored a small biking backpack and a visor, called THE SUPERVISOR! It is quite super.



I reenact my dramatic finish, collapsing on the ground. There's a smile on my face this time, and I have my free stuff with me, including the SUPERVISOR. Otherwise, it was likely similar, except I couldn't breathe last time!

All in all, a fun race. I need to train more so I can avoid the finish-line collapse, and I must buy some trail runners so I don't slip all over the trail, falling into the bushes. But a good time, and I'm happy with my 15th-place finish. There were 106 finishers.

Emphatic Victory

I played Settlers with Emily and Derek last night. We branched out and played the SeaFarers version. While I'm always happy to play the standard version, Emily's been hankering for something a little different.

There are many different board set-ups you can create in SeaFarers, and each one has a different number of points needed for victory. Our scenario required the winner to reach twelve points.

At the end of the game, I had 13 points, (even though I only needed twelve) including Largest Army, Longest Road, and one Victory Point. The rest were cities and settlements.

It was a quite decisive victory. Emily finished with 7 points, and Derek with 6.

I marked my victory and the others' point totals on our new score board. For the time being, I am in the lead!

Er in the Bike Park

Erik and I hit the Bike Park yesterday. It was my first day on the mountain of the year, and Er's first in about three years. We weren't sure if he biked with me in 2005 or 2006 last time.

We got a bike from my old bike shop, and were given a good deal. Then, Er bought a day ticket and I bought my seasons pass. Then it was time to hit the hill!

We started at about 10:30, and had the bike returned at about 5:30, so it was a solid day of riding. Here are some quick pictures.



We started the day on a green run, then halfway down I decided Erik was ready to hit some wood bridges, much like this one. Er ended riding off the bridgework, auger-ing into the dirt, and losing confidence.



We found ourselves at the Intermediate Skills Centre, where we worked on Er's bridge skills. Observe the mountains in the background.

Erik does well on this bridge. It ends in a teeter-totter, so you must have confidence that the end part of the bridge will tip down, so you can ride off. Er is looking strong!

Just after I took the previous picture, Er rode off this bridge too. He is battered, both physcially and mentally.

Erik demonstrates his crash, recreating the way the bike drove off the workwork. He didn't have time to get his arms out to break his fall, so his helmet did that instead. It's probably better that way, because a lot of riders break arms and separate shoulders when they try to break their falls with their arms and hands. Smart, heads-up crashing Er!


Erik shows excellent form in the woods. We rode a number of trails, including tight and twisty ones, rooty ones, jumpy ones, and wide fast ones.


Erik dominates the wall ride on Crank it Up. This was our favourite trail of the day; it had lots of jumps, features, and berms. This wall ride was one of three in a row. Solid freeriding Er!

I also hit the wall ride.

We came across this bear lounging on some remaining snow. He was happy to relax on the snowpack, as it was a pretty hot day. After awhile, he lumbered away looking for berries. He didn't look like a fully grown adult, so he was probably just beginning his first spring on his own.

Er closes out the day by washing his bike, as per his rental contract. The woman on the left was spraying him quite a lot, and Erik showed a lot of restraint by keeping his hose pointed at his bike, instead of her.

We pose at the end of our full day of biking. Erik's skills progressed through the day, and we did every blue trail on the hill. Like the last time he was here, Erik showed a lot of endurance and rode all day even though he was tired. Another good day in the Park Er!

Today we went to the Pemberton 4 x 4 rally. My roomate Derek was driving in it, so we went to watch him. There are no pictures from it though, but it was pretty fun.

Carmella and my friend Jess went with us. We sat in the sun all day, and got pretty tired. There were 50 trucks registered, and today was the last event, where the drivers drove around a course that had jumps, mud bogs, and lots of turns.

I'm tired and am going to maybe fall asleep for a bit. I will drive Er down to Vancouver later tonight, possibly after a Settle.

Bruce and I

So I've been to the gym twice in the last few days, and it's felt good. I bought a ten-time pass, so I'm somewhat commited.

I'm going to get super ripped like Bruce Lee.

Here were are in Hong Kong.

Race!

So I entered the Whistler Valley Trail Run today. I wasn't going to do it, as I wasn't feeling race-ready.

Then yesterday I was at work, and decided I need to get out there and race, whether or not I'm in racing condition. Racing will help me get in shape and back in a racing mindset, and this race could be a small step toward the larger goal of running a successful marathon in October. There was a 10K course and a 5K course. I opted for the longer route.

I looked at the results from past years, and was happy to see the race wouldn't be too competitive. There were no staggeringly-fast times posted by elite runners, so I figured it would be a pretty low-key and friendly race. This atmosphere would be perfect for where my fitness and training is at the moment.

I ran the inaugural Whistler Valley Trail Run back in 2004, and it was a disaster. That race was a 5K. I got to the starting line, and looked about. There were few serious-looking runners there, so I figured I might have a shot at a high-placing finish.

About 500m into the race, I overtook the leader and began to lead the race. This was the first race I had been winning since the Field Day races in primary school. I was excited!

I was running well, but had trouble finding the proper route. There were no marshals, and very few markings on the trails. Since I was leading, I didn't have anyone to follow, and there were no rabbits on bikes to help out either.

I heard voices and cheering, sensing I was getting close to the finish line, and was still feeling extremely fast. I looked at my watch and was impressed with my blistering pace. I approached a fork in the trail, looking forward to breaking the tape for my first racing victory.

Turns out I took the wrong turn, and kept running into the woods when the rest of runners figured it out and exited the woods, running towards the line and finishing as they should have. Confused, I emerged from the forest quite a ways away, coming at the finish line from the back. I would get a DNF because of this mistake. I was very frustrated and irritated.

My pace was so fast because the race wasn't actually a 5K, but was measured very poorly and was actually something like 3K. I remember the race organizer telling everyone over the mic that she was sorry about the race problems, but it was all about the children, right? (The race was in support of some child's charity.) This comment was successful in frustrating and irritating me more. I was in a foul mood.

Because of the past blunders at this race, I was a bit nervous going into this 5th edition, but as I was running I saw there was caution tape everywhere, marshals at all junctions, and arrows along the route in chalk. I had no problem knowing where I was supposed to go.

The race was really fun because I was up near the front for almost all of it. My favourite moment was about 2K in. There were two fast guys way up front, and a pack of about five of us giving chase. I found myself leading this dense group of runners from a wide trail onto singletrack that led into the woods. I felt like I was in the Olympics or something, leading the chase pack against the leaders. I was feeling like a superstar and it was awesome.

In the end, I believe I got 4th. Results won't be up for a few days, so I'll post when it's official. I had a really good race, and was able to pick off runners throughout the course. There was a runner in a blue shirt in front of me, and I was able to stay in contact with him for the whole race, and then took him with about 2K left. I finished strong, and was happy with my performance.

My time was 42:03 for 10.24K, which isn't bad considering it was a trail run with a tonne of climbing and numerous hairpin corners. I'm happy with this time, as it tells me I'm right where I should be at this early stage in my training. I'll be able to break 40 mins soon enough, on a paved, fast course.

Now, I'm going to nap. I had a late night last night, and then put in this stellar performance early this morning. I deserve a good nap, even though it's sunny. I've accomplished a lot, and it's not even noon.