With the summer season upon us I find myself behind on my blog updates again. It happened last year as I was prepping for Ironman Mont Tremblant and I told myself that I wouldn’t let it happen again. Perhaps its because I’m only doing an Ironman 70.3 course (as opposed to 140.6 - the number referring to the total number of miles travelled) this summer that I’m not falling too far behind again.
So whats been happening? Lots of charity fundraising, more triathlon training and some fun trail running events for both me and my clients, so far.
First up on Sunday, June 3, I participated in the the Manulife Ride for Heart event for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I’ve done this event for 5 years in a row now, and the last four as a VIP rider. I feel very grateful to be as physically healthy as I am, and I understand it is important for us all to be active members in building healthy communities and promote charitable acts. And as an avid cyclist this event really appeals to me. I’m both proud and grateful to say that I achieved my fundraising goal of $1000 this year. A very big thank you goes out to all of the generous friends, family and clients who donated to the campaign again this year. I could not have done it without you all! Nobody goes through life alone, and we are all touched by stroke or heart disease in some way. My family is no exception.
As for the triathlete inside me, I used this opportunity to pedal out 101km that morning and even snuck in a 2k run afterwards to make it a full-on brick workout, all as part of my training for Ironman 70.3 Muskoka coming up on July 8.
Next up was a trail running event held at Rattlesnake Point. It was the second race in the Ontario section of the Five Peaks Trail Running Series (there are many held across this great big beautiful country of ours - O Canada!). Every year I like to take on new challenges and trail running was definitely something I had wanted to explore further this year, because, you know, road racing wasn’t hard enough...
Inmar, both a friend and run client of mine, also wanted to partake in more trail races this year so off we went into the woods in search of adventure.
Although, this wasn’t supposed to be our first trail race of the year. We had originally intended to do the Terra Cotta trail run back in April but like so many outdoor events Mother Nature had other plans, and the doozy of an ice storm that she threw at Ontario altered those plans completely, wreaking havoc with the Terra Cotta trail, preventing accessibility for any trail racing this spring. So here we found ourselves racing Rattlesnake Point instead. We didn’t really mean to sign up for the most difficult and technical trail race of the season, but hey, it seemed like the fates were pulling us here and I’ve always been up for a challenge.
Although, this wasn’t supposed to be our first trail race of the year. We had originally intended to do the Terra Cotta trail run back in April but like so many outdoor events Mother Nature had other plans, and the doozy of an ice storm that she threw at Ontario altered those plans completely, wreaking havoc with the Terra Cotta trail, preventing accessibility for any trail racing this spring. So here we found ourselves racing Rattlesnake Point instead. We didn’t really mean to sign up for the most difficult and technical trail race of the season, but hey, it seemed like the fates were pulling us here and I’ve always been up for a challenge.
I have to say, I absolutely loved this trail run. It covered a stretch of the Bruce Trail between the Rattlesnake Point Conservation Area and Crawford Lake. I loved being in the woods, running on the soft earth, the single and double track trail, up and down the hills, sliding in the mud, hoping over downed trees across the path and of course pulling myself up rock walls with my arms and back muscles - all the things you wouldn’t get to do during a typical road race. You had to use your entire body for this run. I know this because it all ached the next day. But in a most gratifying way.
The race photographer took some lovely race photos on the dry wide flat track on the trail, but I felt I should add in another amateur shot that showed the actual more rugged, gnarly, hilly terrain.
The race photographer took some lovely race photos on the dry wide flat track on the trail, but I felt I should add in another amateur shot that showed the actual more rugged, gnarly, hilly terrain.
So how did we do? Inmar did great. For her first 5.5km sport trail run, she hoped to complete the course in under 35min, and she did, 34:59 coming in 15th in her AG. A job well done!
I ran the 12.7km enduro course, and was hoping to do the course in under 75min. I ran it in 1:16:09, 69sec over my goal time, placing me 4th in my age group. One spot off the podium for my first official trail race, which I wasn’t really planning on doing. Not too shabby for one of the toughest trails on the 5 peaks circuit.
Honestly, I really had no idea how I would fare with trail running. I didn’t think I had taken enough time to develop the technical skill set to land me on the podium. However, looking back on my strong history of running, hiking and dynamic sports like ultimate frisbee (where I move my body in different directions and planes of movement, think jumping/pivoting/reaching/sideways guarding, rather than simple straight forward running), I can see how my body was better suited than I expected. I underestimated myself when I placed myself in the second wave of runners, when I should’ve went in the first wave. That’s where you’ll find me next time.
So what’s next? I have one more event this June - this weekend I’ll be doing the TriMuskokan, a short course triathlon that I’m using to prep for Ironman 70.3 Muskoka. More sporting adventure lies ahead, this time in Huntsville. More hilly terrain to come, and I’m looking forward to it!
