tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54903813448942212082024-03-18T10:22:57.546-04:00ill advised racing inc.Chronicling foolish optimism and poor judgement in the realm of endurance sports. Doing stupid things so you don't have to!K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.comBlogger614125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-73246289656261289482024-02-24T01:45:00.003-05:002024-02-24T01:45:31.704-05:00An even dozen<p> It's twelve years to the day since I first started this blog.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUPXcngLNAFBVvbg1Ud9v8ca6LtCJJ1Noz1w2-mjd22rWR1m6M0gzeGPukJZM66pr520qeD93bb0szo3JfUp9sprucnyjlI1HJzXka_E0z583DwBZy3N4kgiunOxiRoi9ipVjIs5ETKKYRIW0glese9TOE5YTM4sCJzX3ohPRrBt0qtPMlM-gTwOR5-Y/s1200/PXL_20240219_222029375.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUPXcngLNAFBVvbg1Ud9v8ca6LtCJJ1Noz1w2-mjd22rWR1m6M0gzeGPukJZM66pr520qeD93bb0szo3JfUp9sprucnyjlI1HJzXka_E0z583DwBZy3N4kgiunOxiRoi9ipVjIs5ETKKYRIW0glese9TOE5YTM4sCJzX3ohPRrBt0qtPMlM-gTwOR5-Y/w400-h223/PXL_20240219_222029375.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a lot of driveling</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It used to be like clockwork - a new post published every Friday. Race reports, product reviews, and general prattling on about what I was doing: running, camping, paddling, backpacking, whatever was getting me outside and/or sweaty.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQHRmQsmIZuPauZdGXbblaii0Dz-4dyu5V_lY1Tk7JMidrQpFCBB4tikkpdyDNbwzxGzbD_DE9jcrIJ0LdYlga1RlGIZbnG70_d7xmra6serGQiKEEngWRWONi6dVSa9BoAsyfO71qA5INW0vWuCaqg5Nc6xlrj94brh1pwaNYpxuYdTu7oWQCnpS_JY/s1200/PXL_20240217_221853721.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQHRmQsmIZuPauZdGXbblaii0Dz-4dyu5V_lY1Tk7JMidrQpFCBB4tikkpdyDNbwzxGzbD_DE9jcrIJ0LdYlga1RlGIZbnG70_d7xmra6serGQiKEEngWRWONi6dVSa9BoAsyfO71qA5INW0vWuCaqg5Nc6xlrj94brh1pwaNYpxuYdTu7oWQCnpS_JY/w358-h400/PXL_20240217_221853721.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Believe me when I say I'm still doing rather a lot of those things</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Heck, I'm even still racing occasionally...but as for writing?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2RIIclMWmTYtl54EUEzIZf1QVqAZIl95XI9VtNLIavp06KAmS07t9hplVZP9G5cDSMRlDGhbNdfZVTIUxTxNO-fDKabYTrngge8jZcvLP_XdcJd7zy5kkj609yY0KOlmVQ4ZsPQaCif2MgD1VDx8nuo0hbzzpCB7yKfs6z9CfyDxEJZcdV9BUdrbgOE/s1200/PXL_20240218_232631032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD2RIIclMWmTYtl54EUEzIZf1QVqAZIl95XI9VtNLIavp06KAmS07t9hplVZP9G5cDSMRlDGhbNdfZVTIUxTxNO-fDKabYTrngge8jZcvLP_XdcJd7zy5kkj609yY0KOlmVQ4ZsPQaCif2MgD1VDx8nuo0hbzzpCB7yKfs6z9CfyDxEJZcdV9BUdrbgOE/w400-h225/PXL_20240218_232631032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not so much.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Here's the thing: between working absolutely ridiculous hours, running, lifting, plus playing hockey, I barely have time to sleep. I've fallen more than a month behind in my workout logs: the first of two 100 runs in 100 days challenge has just finished yesterday, but I've only got up to Jan 7th recorded, so it looks like I only ran 54 times right now when I actually finished with 101. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNkG0XKt5bSizyGSOsrPb-er8kiRtd30od_dGWXEYXrX-wkXWlX6cqi4p6WbX-PfSM-xhqWZ5LMdOcaeRALy5KBc6RnPc7wnn_fFHM5ZYKVFE5bLtRwXOmIgOamj-euVTfeXgizPADnZOci3TENZHtUdQovVlIJRmnD-VvCoh7_-9ztBlTOP2dHhDCHM/s1200/PXL_20240217_214938083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNkG0XKt5bSizyGSOsrPb-er8kiRtd30od_dGWXEYXrX-wkXWlX6cqi4p6WbX-PfSM-xhqWZ5LMdOcaeRALy5KBc6RnPc7wnn_fFHM5ZYKVFE5bLtRwXOmIgOamj-euVTfeXgizPADnZOci3TENZHtUdQovVlIJRmnD-VvCoh7_-9ztBlTOP2dHhDCHM/w225-h400/PXL_20240217_214938083.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like I said - I'm still doing the things</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I've also lost a bunch of time to video editing for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUV1qYaH_rwyOFEezP7C6Ww/">my silly Youtube channel</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sZSiq2_zMe4" width="320" youtube-src-id="sZSiq2_zMe4"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's practically a "how not to goaltend" series</div><div><br /></div><div>So with all of this, I find myself still with a race report half-written from October, another one from a few weeks ago that I haven't started yet, and no real hope of having more time to write in future. We laid off one of only 3 employees in my department last month, so there is definitely no help coming with my workload, and I'm having to take time away from work to seek some healthcare for some ongoing issues that are making things kind of miserable.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTorApMMTVGwxfIWLtv_AJordbwidnJJkYOXnLMCLISNtN-cfvl1ZMckfx6uqnG47M2gMHKZEKAxZabfJ4AoJc49AjJkU2-MSGo8Ir-M3kGHKSzO57gYUh2VZUCjjyLi38GCRlexJJwW92rMS59lVk8h9Yom6RVqpde29UE1A29VHIBAfhweFojZurJs/s1200/PXL_20240219_220430931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTorApMMTVGwxfIWLtv_AJordbwidnJJkYOXnLMCLISNtN-cfvl1ZMckfx6uqnG47M2gMHKZEKAxZabfJ4AoJc49AjJkU2-MSGo8Ir-M3kGHKSzO57gYUh2VZUCjjyLi38GCRlexJJwW92rMS59lVk8h9Yom6RVqpde29UE1A29VHIBAfhweFojZurJs/w400-h225/PXL_20240219_220430931.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But at least I got out for a ski with my honey on Family Day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So here it is - 1:45am - and I'm borrowing from tomorrow once again. While I'm not willing to give up on the blog completely, I do know that there's very little chance I'll have time to write in the foreseeable future.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AM2CSrHMXZTUt3sdAf7Ef9HY5sEKuq4vglYzaoQ90c2-9JRtuOLQ3262vycir1yKt7QCBIgHHM9kC49bP0h3Yddc2XFSBpbVA_C3ZRUDI96CSa5LzNzPg6EzOmoL9uZlv5OlUhPE7g-2daVPiNt7ym4ogCu3EagNOoaFfBJgWpEHSjiYridQEK9Je9A/s1200/PXL_20240222_224850086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5AM2CSrHMXZTUt3sdAf7Ef9HY5sEKuq4vglYzaoQ90c2-9JRtuOLQ3262vycir1yKt7QCBIgHHM9kC49bP0h3Yddc2XFSBpbVA_C3ZRUDI96CSa5LzNzPg6EzOmoL9uZlv5OlUhPE7g-2daVPiNt7ym4ogCu3EagNOoaFfBJgWpEHSjiYridQEK9Je9A/w400-h225/PXL_20240222_224850086.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we'll call it au revoir - not quite goodbye</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I hope you all are out there enjoying your lives, reaching your goals, and showing yourself kindness. I wish you the best, and I'll hope to see you soon..</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIFTvV9qltDKjI18yO_R3khy4ioqekXRBhrfVC6WkMBEuJ_gv0xPCY7LWXQJcrbHzNk0vlJgnDxN-Q7C4yVmB_jHb5h-y0NgCEmUIc3Kbp7ausXTexnkB-ETpBXNVQLzuBmrghxaErU-FuJDvbye0Syks6JGpxoToVXyc64HOMoyS2W86C6ljlainrHY/s1200/PXL_20240221_004835479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIFTvV9qltDKjI18yO_R3khy4ioqekXRBhrfVC6WkMBEuJ_gv0xPCY7LWXQJcrbHzNk0vlJgnDxN-Q7C4yVmB_jHb5h-y0NgCEmUIc3Kbp7ausXTexnkB-ETpBXNVQLzuBmrghxaErU-FuJDvbye0Syks6JGpxoToVXyc64HOMoyS2W86C6ljlainrHY/w225-h400/PXL_20240221_004835479.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe after goalball season is done?</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-47875403536213867842024-02-02T23:44:00.007-05:002024-02-03T01:40:49.295-05:00Polar Paws "25k" Winter Trail Run - Saturday, January 24th, 2024<p> After a winter with very little wintriness to it, I wondered if we'd have another <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/01/polar-paws-25k-trail-race-saturday.html">snowless Polar Paws like 2023</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0nrAZr01wXelw96geHfGlydvQdT-VT3ZNc4k2mS0-zzbdCR_SVfy2Ni2B6SzxcA1b52YYrp1bwDyyrMqlcC1d_nAHXBk0cJ6Nc5hz3ShCksLlnfClXD9TIxGW5FgRbdSqls4Rg2W30OXQ-pMz1BJguWLxCGF5aGsP_uD_LVitZ5j5utrutpwHX_B-AA/s1200/PXL_20240120_155349697.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0nrAZr01wXelw96geHfGlydvQdT-VT3ZNc4k2mS0-zzbdCR_SVfy2Ni2B6SzxcA1b52YYrp1bwDyyrMqlcC1d_nAHXBk0cJ6Nc5hz3ShCksLlnfClXD9TIxGW5FgRbdSqls4Rg2W30OXQ-pMz1BJguWLxCGF5aGsP_uD_LVitZ5j5utrutpwHX_B-AA/w400-h223/PXL_20240120_155349697.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends, it was NOT</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We were a little late getting going and arriving at <a href="https://www.lpfun.ca/">Long Point Eco Adventures</a> - after spotting a couple of coyotes on the way down, trotting through farm fields beside the road - especially since the last bit was not as clear as it could have been from the snow the day before.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin0afm8GVSATTzEtGJ6rB32-KR1a4ggUrPmlHV1LsCZY7o5yi8YGYGJS_ZJ4NKYPHbG0sdczYnTDreRCGvjsAARCs08p97H6WnzL0QvFWL83sxaM5WIRykfYt91CqfjCjZ9Kvc88cBKvvREaFroS5tQoPtLHYuAxFcgsFuspc-CmU06xN81mHng24olc/s1200/PXL_20240120_141741216.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin0afm8GVSATTzEtGJ6rB32-KR1a4ggUrPmlHV1LsCZY7o5yi8YGYGJS_ZJ4NKYPHbG0sdczYnTDreRCGvjsAARCs08p97H6WnzL0QvFWL83sxaM5WIRykfYt91CqfjCjZ9Kvc88cBKvvREaFroS5tQoPtLHYuAxFcgsFuspc-CmU06xN81mHng24olc/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_141741216.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All-wheel drive and winter tires for the win!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It wasn't exactly predicted to be the nicest day, either: </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu65ZchZFKyuUIi-ScLvF-m-zWkWaP07HgNQLyBadrHnXAPYWJQdmWt8xcH71SiW0kgTOI9prOud8bqowZLWeSK4F35NssGFP58aA-IWE9H7PCarDNKKxvVtYTrPMZnNja7L3kYda85XZE23W34paRaelLZDoXREj3977sWh6UOB1bLrmL2RDoIAyluQ/s1080/Screenshot_20240120-065912.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1080" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu65ZchZFKyuUIi-ScLvF-m-zWkWaP07HgNQLyBadrHnXAPYWJQdmWt8xcH71SiW0kgTOI9prOud8bqowZLWeSK4F35NssGFP58aA-IWE9H7PCarDNKKxvVtYTrPMZnNja7L3kYda85XZE23W34paRaelLZDoXREj3977sWh6UOB1bLrmL2RDoIAyluQ/w400-h393/Screenshot_20240120-065912.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really hoped they were kidding about that wind</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Instead of the same building behind the aid station from 2023, this year our race headquarters was in the observatory at the back of the property.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX_TGEWg0IG5amTbfS3CSXUFcB7UdgKLx1V3HVIHr5RJ9iN6H_4tJXlHNmqmVk7dNqDcNIL64pSwSqvedAymc2VmCo_FJvh5oTHfMIuU2D3f35Zd6mopebel3pt87gxgTE8WRiy47OGobtQTOxruWb-NqejGKaUVJVFsRt3zyqGL-7N2kQtpd-VD3wlc/s1200/PXL_20240120_142155271.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1200" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCX_TGEWg0IG5amTbfS3CSXUFcB7UdgKLx1V3HVIHr5RJ9iN6H_4tJXlHNmqmVk7dNqDcNIL64pSwSqvedAymc2VmCo_FJvh5oTHfMIuU2D3f35Zd6mopebel3pt87gxgTE8WRiy47OGobtQTOxruWb-NqejGKaUVJVFsRt3zyqGL-7N2kQtpd-VD3wlc/w400-h291/PXL_20240120_142155271.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I foolishly did not go upstairs to check out the actual observatory</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The Marsh Patio off the back had a lovely vista looking out to Lake Erie, though.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbfl-MTMrF58GpECeJrT4nsOLleqrZB3hMPS99sPkuhW95a6Lp7S_XLCLvpLbIMnWGs8HKqjeeachafpPSPY0ZoAjX8foNwJRhxRXvpwq9sWivEcWFI7djryrOlVoOOdmpFMUYWWQlZp24zk4KFpNi0O8mMX9GKNIyh2gB8vesvzOCliDy9moD1Y1G1s/s1200/PXL_20240120_142228140.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbfl-MTMrF58GpECeJrT4nsOLleqrZB3hMPS99sPkuhW95a6Lp7S_XLCLvpLbIMnWGs8HKqjeeachafpPSPY0ZoAjX8foNwJRhxRXvpwq9sWivEcWFI7djryrOlVoOOdmpFMUYWWQlZp24zk4KFpNi0O8mMX9GKNIyh2gB8vesvzOCliDy9moD1Y1G1s/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_142228140.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not that the day invited hanging around to enjoy the view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The races were scheduled to start at 10am (5k/10k), 10:05am (25k), and 10:45am (5k/10k with dogs), but things got delayed due to technical issues: the RaceRoster registration info didn't push over to Race Director Eric's tablet, so each participant needed to give their email address when picking up their kit. We all got a gift pack of Sue's wonderful soap and lip balm, plus a ticket for lunch afterward (chili and a beverage of your choice), but a couple of volunteers had been unable to make it, so poor Heather was all on her own trying to sort out dozens of racers all on her own. The line snaked its way through the tiny space in the observatory building, and the clock marched onward, so Eric decided to push all race starts back by 30mins to ensure no-one was left behind.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7WBoU0e00mlU01sO6rlReOu64xlRdf-Xa3pK1ro5HmFYIO5gxLuAR1moV6yNAC8kCmWMgl7YiQCaurqhlEjvz70iXSVGSU8XIa2v4jPjkcP7oKcsl91KRARjq5K5uE69DnSBK82S2O2-MF1GMK23brs_FMkMK7Kvl-xwVxgCIdAVkdvq8xhmWFQLOu0/s1080/Screenshot_20240120-100949.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1080" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7WBoU0e00mlU01sO6rlReOu64xlRdf-Xa3pK1ro5HmFYIO5gxLuAR1moV6yNAC8kCmWMgl7YiQCaurqhlEjvz70iXSVGSU8XIa2v4jPjkcP7oKcsl91KRARjq5K5uE69DnSBK82S2O2-MF1GMK23brs_FMkMK7Kvl-xwVxgCIdAVkdvq8xhmWFQLOu0/w400-h301/Screenshot_20240120-100949.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And maybe it would warm up a little?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, and I managed to convince myself to ditch my down coat and insulated skirt so I'd be ready to go...after one last portajohn stop. At 10:30, the 5k and 10k participants lined up at the tent by the <a href="https://crazycatadventures.com/">Crazy Cat Adventures</a> flags for the start of the first events.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9xT769iMQkPVK3xPVugQ8yuI_TMMPhrTUHF4KYI-erFGiNKeGzZ2A3RUZlmpHYhMyJsI8wY2pnNOB_9Dpl84X0hsZ-eo6ACGiijdBGD-m1RunxUHzLQoUEMZeknEIME9LKmytNZMNOp-AbqIf_I6zbRruWCQA5oG7S8p1NjmKBe9ICkt_5seGS3MY_4/s1200/PXL_20240120_153059323.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9xT769iMQkPVK3xPVugQ8yuI_TMMPhrTUHF4KYI-erFGiNKeGzZ2A3RUZlmpHYhMyJsI8wY2pnNOB_9Dpl84X0hsZ-eo6ACGiijdBGD-m1RunxUHzLQoUEMZeknEIME9LKmytNZMNOp-AbqIf_I6zbRruWCQA5oG7S8p1NjmKBe9ICkt_5seGS3MY_4/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_153059323.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and off they went!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Five minutes later, I was trying to get myself to the back of the pack for the 25k start, and when Eric said go we all set off at a trot through the parking lot. An employee had been out with the groomer to break a trail to the big picnic shelter that housed the aid station, but the moment I left the packed-down parking lot my right foot slid away in the loose snow and I nearly fell!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlVTJKgAH29C2VSozLnPQR9sJ2ujlB83c7uZ5uwiliqadJP4XRp8oUqJw7K38A2unWtEpsxVEfh4wKWNJ21LsYs2NMXSNPk0FOXqK7dupR1VRaJYeys-jVvOw0asSNZ0jBs0awBQXEpFNA-5MxO3GB6lZlGFd8zGKHlO_y3Rv6SKQiGJnshoDSMl11Fo/s1172/PXL_20240120_153802225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1172" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlVTJKgAH29C2VSozLnPQR9sJ2ujlB83c7uZ5uwiliqadJP4XRp8oUqJw7K38A2unWtEpsxVEfh4wKWNJ21LsYs2NMXSNPk0FOXqK7dupR1VRaJYeys-jVvOw0asSNZ0jBs0awBQXEpFNA-5MxO3GB6lZlGFd8zGKHlO_y3Rv6SKQiGJnshoDSMl11Fo/w400-h315/PXL_20240120_153802225.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank waving as he has no idea I just wrenched my SI joints badly a mere 200m into the race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The back of both hips screamed at me as I entered the trails, and it became abundantly clear this would not be an easy day. The snow was too cold to pack, so it was like running through loose sand: I could feel my quads tiring as I trudged up the first tiny incline, just half a kilometer into the race.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaKiA6lO4W_y74BToA9eTdCrG0kzwkAJbsFLeB4d06GO5kzJtK52RwBvkBp1WLlK-qq3PY_fmwGDKE1c-x50jkvUqtS0nkxMKt4VLxBy67guh2TnggJOj2iRHka5Z9Rg4fC5bjOW3SfSDWqcxqCnwgTh8ENyEsZxORYOTQ48YQfrOmt9kqfKxZ_ka2u0/s1200/PXL_20240120_154155488.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZaKiA6lO4W_y74BToA9eTdCrG0kzwkAJbsFLeB4d06GO5kzJtK52RwBvkBp1WLlK-qq3PY_fmwGDKE1c-x50jkvUqtS0nkxMKt4VLxBy67guh2TnggJOj2iRHka5Z9Rg4fC5bjOW3SfSDWqcxqCnwgTh8ENyEsZxORYOTQ48YQfrOmt9kqfKxZ_ka2u0/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_154155488.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew it wasn't a hilly course - I'd call it mostly flat-to-rolling - but there were a couple of bits that might get sketchy in the loose snow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>With very little to encourage me, I figured I'd just do my best and hope I could make the 5-hour cutoff time. Yes, I know 5 hours sounds generous for 25km - most people could walk that quickly - but my body is kind of trash and the tough conditions might make it more difficult than you'd think.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BtBscnCYJAMBaEeKtWtg1GClVMudmGkH9QwROwBPTJvV9U5XpGH0D7ZcKpUxgpzaAnhojhyphenhyphenitIdYIIFwEQ-153a6sFuf9bkqfp_dsQF_DJI2DA-S6Vpb4_TeakKs1hjIFl5A49R5oVI8k4hIUbvmdhFETpiZlEuYTHXmhYwX1CmjwxpwYRh-dtrsVHw/s1200/PXL_20240120_154120250.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BtBscnCYJAMBaEeKtWtg1GClVMudmGkH9QwROwBPTJvV9U5XpGH0D7ZcKpUxgpzaAnhojhyphenhyphenitIdYIIFwEQ-153a6sFuf9bkqfp_dsQF_DJI2DA-S6Vpb4_TeakKs1hjIFl5A49R5oVI8k4hIUbvmdhFETpiZlEuYTHXmhYwX1CmjwxpwYRh-dtrsVHw/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_154120250.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottom line: my best really isn't very good, and certainly not fast</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The woods were beautiful with their load of fresh snow, though, and I let everyone past me so I wouldn't hold anyone up while I walked and stumbled and took photos.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOeuOQxNHryAcLR54TFMacHLfmx91HO9gV9TnYplr9V1KfXMWa3NcxQp0nhaf9CD-CZlXc-vFTrcsV-YaZllfYDd0gxpT0GKbnkdmkg5jxuxWQ-M-23dkPNPqC_HeX474TY6TmSyOtfvf15L9P3tisbg-G61vUPIXrZYhYk_PFqWE9Fh3oIAI3g8TICQ/s1200/PXL_20240120_154845409.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOeuOQxNHryAcLR54TFMacHLfmx91HO9gV9TnYplr9V1KfXMWa3NcxQp0nhaf9CD-CZlXc-vFTrcsV-YaZllfYDd0gxpT0GKbnkdmkg5jxuxWQ-M-23dkPNPqC_HeX474TY6TmSyOtfvf15L9P3tisbg-G61vUPIXrZYhYk_PFqWE9Fh3oIAI3g8TICQ/w244-h400/PXL_20240120_154845409.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun and I both made an effort, but results for both of us were kind of weak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>While the forest provided excellent insulation from the rising wind, there is a section of trail that comes out to the verge of a road, with just a narrow band of trees separating you from an open field. The wind whipped across that field and through that little strip of woods, then straight through me as I ran toward it and then around the curve to parallel the road.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2B4BHoRDJCDOs6jubs81JiyK4r2yR8HLYXEKTIbhLO3VVrpWw8npJA6H70ytiuxymu8BcmA7-jfZY0tEXtZ9wdzdrFH9jhkUEy2RyZUouaUJOnSlnQSJlJlzsiq1fFiL-neyDOkszWwo8aN5uKxn7bb7k0hZf4axWVfSMILTapSNGPfiBQmwBiWUaNs/s1200/PXL_20240120_154726503.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2B4BHoRDJCDOs6jubs81JiyK4r2yR8HLYXEKTIbhLO3VVrpWw8npJA6H70ytiuxymu8BcmA7-jfZY0tEXtZ9wdzdrFH9jhkUEy2RyZUouaUJOnSlnQSJlJlzsiq1fFiL-neyDOkszWwo8aN5uKxn7bb7k0hZf4axWVfSMILTapSNGPfiBQmwBiWUaNs/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_154726503.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note all the broken and fallen trees beside the trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Really, there were fallen trees all over the course - the last year had not been kind to this tract of timberland, and every deadfall wore a thick layer of fresh snow.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nMimPC5IN4NQlQb4MrXFyy8nRo6vsUcKRxatqs-kN1UfhGy1dsLAN6HpTpeD6WKW2Z4edk76dK9Srk_bsRKmv1ZbgPXo5kcFaONFOImmzRc7zqUYZLDDxzohd_bMQt0Fjl5MDIQoulL6-hfy5_fJePJNBAp_5CLgOZMjy01LKf1ShVhatzs6smFsYUc/s1200/PXL_20240120_155106858.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="759" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nMimPC5IN4NQlQb4MrXFyy8nRo6vsUcKRxatqs-kN1UfhGy1dsLAN6HpTpeD6WKW2Z4edk76dK9Srk_bsRKmv1ZbgPXo5kcFaONFOImmzRc7zqUYZLDDxzohd_bMQt0Fjl5MDIQoulL6-hfy5_fJePJNBAp_5CLgOZMjy01LKf1ShVhatzs6smFsYUc/w253-h400/PXL_20240120_155106858.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least most of them did not obstruct passage</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I ran and walked along, I recognized parts of the course from the year before, though the marshmallow-like coating gave them a very different appearance from 2023.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LYQDjmpfabp1MP5HucKjAeGr_g7cI9Uxcmo4V27fdqnH-GIVuehzhBe0PleIknCFAfpJOsoAWPOXSN8r9z7Lfjt4jO80oqAFzwVRnjM9wwyTlxPvh1MAqhOVLAZ_BT0B47l6pi409bZy9lo0YFeauu1g_x-wrk_vubIWfRpnbyq9pKJCYKLd2he4zK8/s1200/comp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1115" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LYQDjmpfabp1MP5HucKjAeGr_g7cI9Uxcmo4V27fdqnH-GIVuehzhBe0PleIknCFAfpJOsoAWPOXSN8r9z7Lfjt4jO80oqAFzwVRnjM9wwyTlxPvh1MAqhOVLAZ_BT0B47l6pi409bZy9lo0YFeauu1g_x-wrk_vubIWfRpnbyq9pKJCYKLd2he4zK8/w371-h400/comp.jpg" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top: Jan 21st, 2023<br />Bottom: Jan 20th, 2024</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There was also an additional obstacle introduced for this year:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBSfexnG6_Rz-iIlfQHA_Ewn75LM2fbimZh6qZ-CoR50zIa9Q6_qgIQlcjQzcSNq6xvDFXivEV9mkaKOJ5TyYSufpsxa8jtO-1WUb05YdxtdQ5antWnfd8mQ9TJuI1HlMY7NP_mSwLvTaytZjbmjEo9Fd8G46UYGMmzVTsAaQQsuoBkM3i1OB_3gG8pc/s1200/PXL_20240120_155737187.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="878" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBSfexnG6_Rz-iIlfQHA_Ewn75LM2fbimZh6qZ-CoR50zIa9Q6_qgIQlcjQzcSNq6xvDFXivEV9mkaKOJ5TyYSufpsxa8jtO-1WUb05YdxtdQ5antWnfd8mQ9TJuI1HlMY7NP_mSwLvTaytZjbmjEo9Fd8G46UYGMmzVTsAaQQsuoBkM3i1OB_3gG8pc/w293-h400/PXL_20240120_155737187.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching it, I was thinking "man, that looks really low.."</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Going under it the first time was...ok. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCvSIqOKAwcH-fSVTBrtCvPYTm7-BEtGX9EmHs80Hpq0oRcc1lwsK0ARz9fyh-uedVLaGFG1JH6tkA7ekDd80rDO2Lw9cY5wOk7B-KqIwdl9dNFLts8WKbA7fvhnFD9NDDP_miiaypRkOji8GCE0yDERAqUBLYvWENFqaSBqvDmzuwOQg8G_IZcjT9-o/s1200/PXL_20240120_155747874.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCvSIqOKAwcH-fSVTBrtCvPYTm7-BEtGX9EmHs80Hpq0oRcc1lwsK0ARz9fyh-uedVLaGFG1JH6tkA7ekDd80rDO2Lw9cY5wOk7B-KqIwdl9dNFLts8WKbA7fvhnFD9NDDP_miiaypRkOji8GCE0yDERAqUBLYvWENFqaSBqvDmzuwOQg8G_IZcjT9-o/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_155747874.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but I wasn't at all sure how I'd manage the requisite deep squat and lean to clear it on my 5th lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The nice part about being really slow is that you get plenty of time by yourself to enjoy the pretty woods.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok1yWnqvKbmeVGJdE7WCk17l_gLyPD7ZKA1ffi8F_YBTO67HTS8rs5MA3k4iCRXFq4JcZuKR6XFLtlNXYOCoBwD42ue4kLxFuIzDNCYVkSQ9vW5uC10l-lso29e-g4cl5t_BTxRj9Do7G4wVlvWmcvia30P070DSPs42Pae92lqjKIEWabl6-Owc2xmc/s1200/PXL_20240120_160148830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="761" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiok1yWnqvKbmeVGJdE7WCk17l_gLyPD7ZKA1ffi8F_YBTO67HTS8rs5MA3k4iCRXFq4JcZuKR6XFLtlNXYOCoBwD42ue4kLxFuIzDNCYVkSQ9vW5uC10l-lso29e-g4cl5t_BTxRj9Do7G4wVlvWmcvia30P070DSPs42Pae92lqjKIEWabl6-Owc2xmc/w254-h400/PXL_20240120_160148830.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which would occasionally dump some snow on me when a gust of wind would penetrate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There are some flat stretches, and I'd try my best to run those, but man it was a workout in the shifting snow underfoot.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdCsaLtM_QzU8B0RPhcIYzTjAgtjUJJZMvfwbZMKBeQBSmf6r9MC-iLEx-LH_nSKBzS5ym-rF_Qz9yLdtAQi2295Q67sPc5zhhwxJb-bU-gpd8LWSQ5lGlAkhWAVPQLij1b1LIIjNSCjxHhs7urcW1oXrMZyhaOK0Ynj28s4kPL7VAg_bL883J8VfY_o/s1200/PXL_20240120_160503814~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdCsaLtM_QzU8B0RPhcIYzTjAgtjUJJZMvfwbZMKBeQBSmf6r9MC-iLEx-LH_nSKBzS5ym-rF_Qz9yLdtAQi2295Q67sPc5zhhwxJb-bU-gpd8LWSQ5lGlAkhWAVPQLij1b1LIIjNSCjxHhs7urcW1oXrMZyhaOK0Ynj28s4kPL7VAg_bL883J8VfY_o/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_160503814~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also wanted to get a look at some of the gorgeous views</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The scariest bit of the course comes at about the halfway point: a steep descent from a ridge overlooking Lake Erie.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITdZCNHFeZcGrK-Q3BYy6NCoJ-qnyq68BNb20H79jk8v5sU4p2JEc-7d3BN3V8eTEVCgNEDDDXD3wStx_iKq2zbDP2WUgMfZByxfv0lSMM8NevZ4bU_d1GFXMh2iTMjAqe-29aejeDYH3XqvHeGDcW20EkVt0RZo5N06KvbeaE7xpcvNMgxB7vCqKlKE/s1200/PXL_20240120_160635642.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="747" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITdZCNHFeZcGrK-Q3BYy6NCoJ-qnyq68BNb20H79jk8v5sU4p2JEc-7d3BN3V8eTEVCgNEDDDXD3wStx_iKq2zbDP2WUgMfZByxfv0lSMM8NevZ4bU_d1GFXMh2iTMjAqe-29aejeDYH3XqvHeGDcW20EkVt0RZo5N06KvbeaE7xpcvNMgxB7vCqKlKE/w249-h400/PXL_20240120_160635642.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, there were some trees on the left side - I'd glissade down to one, grab on, re-direct, then glissade to the next</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I say that like I'm freakin' Kilian Jornet, gracefully drifting down the slope at the speed of <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/-qDv7dWtR6g">a running deer</a>: in fact, I am timidly and awkwardly sliding like I'm trying to snowboard while having forgotten a vital piece of equipment, and wondering if I'm going to die in the process.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7nwnov0cjiyu_p_1YZaT6JcBV1ngRZf3F5D7D5EcSQW9oMeNKsvzd9cdTiXIUhnzmBbn8oPdYZvm3XYr2b60zFMKhlWRiEGojt5QEKOUyNOlCHgFAb2H9BFkMphm8XCDO1pdWs1bN2JWeq9sJY6E6QRxYhEYlWornckFiI_HV_U7z3D-NvC75l4plUE/s1200/PXL_20240120_163910783.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7nwnov0cjiyu_p_1YZaT6JcBV1ngRZf3F5D7D5EcSQW9oMeNKsvzd9cdTiXIUhnzmBbn8oPdYZvm3XYr2b60zFMKhlWRiEGojt5QEKOUyNOlCHgFAb2H9BFkMphm8XCDO1pdWs1bN2JWeq9sJY6E6QRxYhEYlWornckFiI_HV_U7z3D-NvC75l4plUE/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_163910783.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each time I'd approach the top, I'd tell myself that "butt-sliding is always an option"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Having survived the descent, I tried to get my legs moving again, especially after getting passed before the 3km mark by the leader in the 10k doggo race (who - let's be clear - started 10mins later than I did).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cJSK-TcLXwbJylrsF9Yv03tEHrp-OYFBrno9LTmtOoqArQqiwMckQpuaLqrMsCgZN8IMkSPfvWbKWcihh8lzSwDHagcPGEaz30G5Pe2Vl0MiGvpdyjs5G_kFOGbfDOVP1qB-K05qF3076qyOtCmmm5mgg_gJpPQDpBpWoRciq9hPKvA9zZapdwNErZ4/s1200/PXL_20240120_161131778.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cJSK-TcLXwbJylrsF9Yv03tEHrp-OYFBrno9LTmtOoqArQqiwMckQpuaLqrMsCgZN8IMkSPfvWbKWcihh8lzSwDHagcPGEaz30G5Pe2Vl0MiGvpdyjs5G_kFOGbfDOVP1qB-K05qF3076qyOtCmmm5mgg_gJpPQDpBpWoRciq9hPKvA9zZapdwNErZ4/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_161131778.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bet I have nicer photos than he does, though, so I've got that going for me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was still moving forward, anyway, and at least my hips/lower back didn't really seem to be getting any worse. It was still early on, and the winter wonderland around me was lovely.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkV2pQHVLFBdhOBg_0C49Qolh1EhGmVvu-pCKCiVrCISpD2o9h4gHDt1Y667OGSfQskfCjCoEOS6hn9XqyhVEKyBfrA2jSFxxaZbTQg469Lj8Ahjgjk9iWYj4XPUxrDyu2-cVt2Ly9pZUzWEA6mC_MMznEQaLeXDl6TPevjmjV9c8vnWK2FlXTZB9V-0/s1200/PXL_20240120_161334261.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkV2pQHVLFBdhOBg_0C49Qolh1EhGmVvu-pCKCiVrCISpD2o9h4gHDt1Y667OGSfQskfCjCoEOS6hn9XqyhVEKyBfrA2jSFxxaZbTQg469Lj8Ahjgjk9iWYj4XPUxrDyu2-cVt2Ly9pZUzWEA6mC_MMznEQaLeXDl6TPevjmjV9c8vnWK2FlXTZB9V-0/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_161334261.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd never want to live where I couldn't go meandering through snowy woods like this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There were definitely some unsettling spots due to the conditions, though - like this section on the edge of a steep drop, where some footprints on the left demonstrated just how unstable the snow was.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF1WcbuGMdCrWSZrKwrDeXIhvLhh8TxClviPYsM4co83vnjfAEljm13rqvxlTblFmP5Q5M39qY9-JJOPx4Fj9MFIebHX6SHPhIFQWtzS885wCNYeBAItyuwVx4cphqgSWkW0TlWNSfjO8tcvoWGtILjPhR-1s-KBaRCjIaZSyRFvX_9e3U5tMnBx66dk/s1200/PXL_20240120_161439711.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIF1WcbuGMdCrWSZrKwrDeXIhvLhh8TxClviPYsM4co83vnjfAEljm13rqvxlTblFmP5Q5M39qY9-JJOPx4Fj9MFIebHX6SHPhIFQWtzS885wCNYeBAItyuwVx4cphqgSWkW0TlWNSfjO8tcvoWGtILjPhR-1s-KBaRCjIaZSyRFvX_9e3U5tMnBx66dk/w240-h400/PXL_20240120_161439711.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't actually wish to fall off</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There was also a little humour lurking on the trail - I stopped to take a pic of the hilarious little snow hat that corniced the top of one of the trail marker posts, and just had to laugh at the trail name.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz6TgD0LUD7U3VoQQj2hUyHNAJLLJHKhoajxsPLH7KTyPvwvNyNb9UzwY0E7PcPVkYy3GHfMUjA-wo5IByM0RDIF_8DJTnh31bDzeZBhTpYuXLy5aSnZe4IeZD3VxjVDrdTyz4jQR-AHZ2DikaMrBev_82zZ63hrCrftBg6b9fDtpnu0QT4SgRcYSRBg/s1200/PXL_20240120_161814391.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="765" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz6TgD0LUD7U3VoQQj2hUyHNAJLLJHKhoajxsPLH7KTyPvwvNyNb9UzwY0E7PcPVkYy3GHfMUjA-wo5IByM0RDIF_8DJTnh31bDzeZBhTpYuXLy5aSnZe4IeZD3VxjVDrdTyz4jQR-AHZ2DikaMrBev_82zZ63hrCrftBg6b9fDtpnu0QT4SgRcYSRBg/w255-h400/PXL_20240120_161814391.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the universe does love a joke at my expense</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I couldn't do anything else about my sore back, and I hadn't been able to feel my toes at all since a few minutes before the race started, so what could I really do except chuckle a bit?</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIPd9rroKvU7knsKTinZtM74m1N4ck2fFg3U7pVQczgNLlaDPNNZKqd1Q3NP1dougQIqBX5AQFvIInjWMTe4d0Ohz55iqovmv5uunAngh9fGMkAw0RwCfvwGkyKYCNOwdbUC-cFK5_acYAlEiKYuIEd98wuka4zTrQQnXlboEePrSnHxLV-S9fZJaX4s/s1200/PXL_20240120_161828180.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIPd9rroKvU7knsKTinZtM74m1N4ck2fFg3U7pVQczgNLlaDPNNZKqd1Q3NP1dougQIqBX5AQFvIInjWMTe4d0Ohz55iqovmv5uunAngh9fGMkAw0RwCfvwGkyKYCNOwdbUC-cFK5_acYAlEiKYuIEd98wuka4zTrQQnXlboEePrSnHxLV-S9fZJaX4s/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_161828180.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, and eat cookies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I finally made it back to the small section - only 100m or so - where there is 2-way traffic on the course, and Agnes (who was out marshaling) made sure I was on the right track for the final loop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByb1WvGVqEDtztHfc34RzzVsOLv9hifiuUCmggS34mBjXF3cefvB2Q0jIuolZbJ-O1WHoM2bMWYM80vS_rtXg5vX3vmw0767_aHj8Xdfgk9_O-WNNJwyUSV1gjEpi7TN1WAPZuFACn4DnfzQwfPoZEBOVd_v3Yco0osKrqNParNGFXkoE2BgKMShrAAw/s1200/PXL_20240120_162522773.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="915" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByb1WvGVqEDtztHfc34RzzVsOLv9hifiuUCmggS34mBjXF3cefvB2Q0jIuolZbJ-O1WHoM2bMWYM80vS_rtXg5vX3vmw0767_aHj8Xdfgk9_O-WNNJwyUSV1gjEpi7TN1WAPZuFACn4DnfzQwfPoZEBOVd_v3Yco0osKrqNParNGFXkoE2BgKMShrAAw/w305-h400/PXL_20240120_162522773.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which also had its own little obstacle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon I came to the hairpin turn and climb up the ridge that I knew were close to the end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud2ohNCg9brf8IZeLr-i9w6KwitCID-JMR9s-eSvcm13zMqnk19Id7aL-i5GcWxDfxVPYJfHar9UF9Jmc3i_aUBys8b2CTBxgnZJ_VgMlDtmO-kSlV-3vkdAr1bdIxBmpv7kypEVFmaLl8e5TFNtvXNjS4m_DVQAAC1xqd0EyAQdgFj-xnMC74r93IlU/s1200/PXL_20240120_162755921.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud2ohNCg9brf8IZeLr-i9w6KwitCID-JMR9s-eSvcm13zMqnk19Id7aL-i5GcWxDfxVPYJfHar9UF9Jmc3i_aUBys8b2CTBxgnZJ_VgMlDtmO-kSlV-3vkdAr1bdIxBmpv7kypEVFmaLl8e5TFNtvXNjS4m_DVQAAC1xqd0EyAQdgFj-xnMC74r93IlU/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_162755921.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not very big, but it is a touch steep, and does seem to grow a little each lap</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I saw Sue with her camera near the top, and tried to look like I had any business being out there.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FQmQG6lYw20hZkXDKbV16aleZamd-byGC7TS92acJu9nbIbP0CdOwGXqnkmDF4pCqCJsNUX5PuziZ9lzAfd1GKi-M4QL5EKg7nM-65ZQQYcQHNibIq585auZit_9A1qOoSTgE6yzLT1-t8d7BGr9ehX0cPp2Fkq39JTeoq6YFxJg4Xpm6-qXbv2FNRs/s1200/k.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1200" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FQmQG6lYw20hZkXDKbV16aleZamd-byGC7TS92acJu9nbIbP0CdOwGXqnkmDF4pCqCJsNUX5PuziZ9lzAfd1GKi-M4QL5EKg7nM-65ZQQYcQHNibIq585auZit_9A1qOoSTgE6yzLT1-t8d7BGr9ehX0cPp2Fkq39JTeoq6YFxJg4Xpm6-qXbv2FNRs/w400-h366/k.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rather than the true basket case I am</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The last stretch runs along the very back of the property, with the woods falling away down a steep slope to the marshland bordering Lake Erie below.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYxfskT5BRS63zwruB91phgZkHG3BAeJRd5DEqPUZ2gL0kH2XLRK9BLhwb02-nymlfOZyImlCBlHKTT_2mWz9iRe1rLehJJGH5PTtwvbINY8BRFPmU-MtO-qXi3tshPSFQsI8KatpSl1ASuV3gYPnGwdzYPSmvdzx2TsohfM6uF6ZoMAXX_JjGbeDMvc/s1200/PXL_20240120_162958449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYxfskT5BRS63zwruB91phgZkHG3BAeJRd5DEqPUZ2gL0kH2XLRK9BLhwb02-nymlfOZyImlCBlHKTT_2mWz9iRe1rLehJJGH5PTtwvbINY8BRFPmU-MtO-qXi3tshPSFQsI8KatpSl1ASuV3gYPnGwdzYPSmvdzx2TsohfM6uF6ZoMAXX_JjGbeDMvc/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_162958449.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not much further now</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>You go past the glamping pods that are available year-round to those who wish for a little comfort in their camping experience.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLmRg2ecM0brdIxsp6XudX3tcbUoCzX01NbuqgKulwzajfCERD-m2NFBtY265pshhLoOnX7PYy89GUYONsAZUlz6Jhs9V-GDl1JkBbNl1qhOF1bckAXxc02RIpbI3NHsslvxU_zilc7uzp_SJqhdrMCsHWfKDmMfUIfdNha083eHpVWVN97-nGESc0zI/s1200/PXL_20240120_200619358.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLmRg2ecM0brdIxsp6XudX3tcbUoCzX01NbuqgKulwzajfCERD-m2NFBtY265pshhLoOnX7PYy89GUYONsAZUlz6Jhs9V-GDl1JkBbNl1qhOF1bckAXxc02RIpbI3NHsslvxU_zilc7uzp_SJqhdrMCsHWfKDmMfUIfdNha083eHpVWVN97-nGESc0zI/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_200619358.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of these days we may have to come and stay - maybe bring our cross-country skis!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eventually I made it back to the start/finish, where Heather marked my lap on the tablet.</p></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UjEHJ3aUyaawojhheDo2iGuEryyi1NBmaK4DfvoG6XMAXDZWjequvpSZJgXVy6zVLgpJfudHXwd2YbrLqxW_4r-gUN9IllhfiZj4BgZDmtQdNjbW7tAeHxFKnwxTREzKcdCHxKRKOjm2kT0nawKV2TtKPD5EAN53540vm1_gkt272n6m6XixHzzE1Zo/s1200/PXL_20240120_181713073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1200" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UjEHJ3aUyaawojhheDo2iGuEryyi1NBmaK4DfvoG6XMAXDZWjequvpSZJgXVy6zVLgpJfudHXwd2YbrLqxW_4r-gUN9IllhfiZj4BgZDmtQdNjbW7tAeHxFKnwxTREzKcdCHxKRKOjm2kT0nawKV2TtKPD5EAN53540vm1_gkt272n6m6XixHzzE1Zo/w400-h335/PXL_20240120_181713073.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the volunteers were wonderful!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Checking my watch, it had taken me about 55mins to complete the first lap...which did not bode particularly well. Tank was kind enough to refill my little soft water bottle - the only one I have that doesn't leak and fits in my jacket pocket nicely, so I couldn't just leave one with him to fill while I was out on a lap, costing me some time. I thought I might be able to move a little faster if the snow packed down for the second lap..</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdt-R4LSQThc4jq9iZXstX60aejMAVlIPRIRoL1AE1yBdFYuxd7v_QEnK4koEBsNK5FcLWnpst-QIKT46yT4e0sFvyiX_dvH4osoFVVnFmlH1nH2JWCr7fsDtrLgBmbnVNUxFV8WfU1rZenkijrN5tNAM_X6Gk7Q6lGDtb9pM1MjbKVqKH8tX2te0U5Q/s1200/PXL_20240120_163457526.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdt-R4LSQThc4jq9iZXstX60aejMAVlIPRIRoL1AE1yBdFYuxd7v_QEnK4koEBsNK5FcLWnpst-QIKT46yT4e0sFvyiX_dvH4osoFVVnFmlH1nH2JWCr7fsDtrLgBmbnVNUxFV8WfU1rZenkijrN5tNAM_X6Gk7Q6lGDtb9pM1MjbKVqKH8tX2te0U5Q/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_163457526.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, it did not.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My lower back was grumpy, but it was still holding in, so I just tried to trundle along as best I was able. I barely saw another soul on this lap, though I did actually pass a couple of people who were walking the 10k.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM0u7wruOizjSstxX5apEsyhYowMxJgUkE4WWc-qp4tO-aBnxTIangqCJX1Osba2KLtQrKin83o29w4YBzE3vIHhyphenhyphenLg_pL8RAxr4EHxknbm-X6NCGFu84NkAglhNiPU1vYPjbys6EC1YDc5NapXMwJC7mcZ7JVjyMJORHE2QgVPLiIUe-35vv5j773xE/s1200/PXL_20240120_163544416.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM0u7wruOizjSstxX5apEsyhYowMxJgUkE4WWc-qp4tO-aBnxTIangqCJX1Osba2KLtQrKin83o29w4YBzE3vIHhyphenhyphenLg_pL8RAxr4EHxknbm-X6NCGFu84NkAglhNiPU1vYPjbys6EC1YDc5NapXMwJC7mcZ7JVjyMJORHE2QgVPLiIUe-35vv5j773xE/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_163544416.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I was moving slightly faster than people who were making no attempt to run.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I also got a couple of photos of spots that I'd liked but not snapped on the first lap, either because I'd missed my chance or because of other folks around me doing so.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPObAvo0Qfz2bOVIVUp4_aSHmkTPnTPtLcvd-NXBh4MyZAVFzUrmlg-08VtCLRRb-tJJek6qg-D861M3B9bFIaGnFHN21qFF7P7CYGjfGY4zqG_Qnx5Riy2c8NFXsx6O1gpVhe3HY6cdxSe_HX8stSEuSj4Eic8umNttY74uColyHCE8RNujWnzNreohY/s1200/PXL_20240120_164448602.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPObAvo0Qfz2bOVIVUp4_aSHmkTPnTPtLcvd-NXBh4MyZAVFzUrmlg-08VtCLRRb-tJJek6qg-D861M3B9bFIaGnFHN21qFF7P7CYGjfGY4zqG_Qnx5Riy2c8NFXsx6O1gpVhe3HY6cdxSe_HX8stSEuSj4Eic8umNttY74uColyHCE8RNujWnzNreohY/w299-h400/PXL_20240120_164448602.jpg" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd known I'd have other opportunities with it all to myself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The wind had mercifully stayed lower than forecast, so the snow load was largely undisturbed even on tiny branches and twigs.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKzk6scbdTH_fxkUGcGNFiONLMYjTHyRhSaLypqxJ-UHhIHpOwakPTX67T3cyOC1speqVSphdr3KjCeECNQpo9M5ilevigjESE6TFIEJkrL1zHh8japJ7JHol9NbSdux-4LKVeBFxW9XbT-FepxzSvX7CJl8AdpL3_8layT0tntCeSAvpUuHXTIi9RZE/s1200/PXL_20240120_165632310.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="732" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKzk6scbdTH_fxkUGcGNFiONLMYjTHyRhSaLypqxJ-UHhIHpOwakPTX67T3cyOC1speqVSphdr3KjCeECNQpo9M5ilevigjESE6TFIEJkrL1zHh8japJ7JHol9NbSdux-4LKVeBFxW9XbT-FepxzSvX7CJl8AdpL3_8layT0tntCeSAvpUuHXTIi9RZE/w244-h400/PXL_20240120_165632310.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was surprising, considering how unstable the snow remained underfoot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I once more managed to glissade down off the ridge without falling, dying, or breaking anything by running into a tree.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopyLw9lW3XJl_2QqUwR-QeL8w4k-9SpACk9fsIUyDc2iebiFVnWHyhN4-TCGosGJuoPIV1YCAjUtu1_axAR-Urjn7GVcCqElYdbTqnsDOpxQXh31rCf_sogZgZnCh4gxnRC2Hanbvx6Ljn5UH3PQo-NC-tTk8BX03Wc5AAm7UjHJqwo5IBMJhuwhntAM/s1200/PXL_20240120_161146664.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopyLw9lW3XJl_2QqUwR-QeL8w4k-9SpACk9fsIUyDc2iebiFVnWHyhN4-TCGosGJuoPIV1YCAjUtu1_axAR-Urjn7GVcCqElYdbTqnsDOpxQXh31rCf_sogZgZnCh4gxnRC2Hanbvx6Ljn5UH3PQo-NC-tTk8BX03Wc5AAm7UjHJqwo5IBMJhuwhntAM/w254-h400/PXL_20240120_161146664.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But got mildly snowjobbed by this laden evergreen branch hanging over the end of the second big footbridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I ate one of my homemade salted maple crisp rice squares and another cookie as I trucked along, noting that I should probably pick up some more food from my drop bag at the aid station before my next lap as I only had 2 crisp rice squares left, and they're only maybe 50cal each.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvYTVsIZn43JzqaZrVXX2qKDEH2WeQt3h0W7QCIMj7cs3gZ6q0wFV2FK-__Q86aHCcxbW9aZwPFioV0BzpIa4do5Nw6OJ5OyhCTclezmr8JKmFBYbZwg1htPQ9pPkB8awg7kzlHc1ZAO7kC-GvQhhZVzZ-h76eHF9VxaT8yCW_mXZoJYVt17-pVNr2IU/s1200/PXL_20240120_165504250.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvYTVsIZn43JzqaZrVXX2qKDEH2WeQt3h0W7QCIMj7cs3gZ6q0wFV2FK-__Q86aHCcxbW9aZwPFioV0BzpIa4do5Nw6OJ5OyhCTclezmr8JKmFBYbZwg1htPQ9pPkB8awg7kzlHc1ZAO7kC-GvQhhZVzZ-h76eHF9VxaT8yCW_mXZoJYVt17-pVNr2IU/w274-h400/PXL_20240120_165504250.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much as it looked like everything was covered in marshmallow fluff, there were no trail snacks to be found</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I saw Sue again near the top of the final climb, where I'd noticed a dead tree last year that just sort of hangs over the trail - I'd have thought they'd have cleared that out as a safety hazard, but I suppose they figured it was securely enough wedged that it didn't pose a risk.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJiuEokETXRZVitnVTl671Mq-ucJY3jbQ1pR890dsaqwkQBXyGdZMKSLTfNhjtk1jEihwIb2AiFI9GM8CtEP8Q1fEDZh5o_Jze6CkXNy_P9hf1CBeym-ViJIsavTkr8l9UmniLQejVkK75mCQrRV6GPCm5VNKPL7dmLcZDlBirCTNaW1HcJxHI650CIs/s1200/101616-d55bfd-1005023021-lift.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJiuEokETXRZVitnVTl671Mq-ucJY3jbQ1pR890dsaqwkQBXyGdZMKSLTfNhjtk1jEihwIb2AiFI9GM8CtEP8Q1fEDZh5o_Jze6CkXNy_P9hf1CBeym-ViJIsavTkr8l9UmniLQejVkK75mCQrRV6GPCm5VNKPL7dmLcZDlBirCTNaW1HcJxHI650CIs/w400-h266/101616-d55bfd-1005023021-lift.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I clowned with it for Sue</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Arriving at the start/finish once again, I checked my watch and...another 55min lap. This was not bueno: if I was already at 1h50m for two laps while fresh, I had no reason to think I'd be able to keep up the same pace as fatigue set in.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoIDiMDwoO1ij9oHFFypqXZShrXv44sGt_tczTxb3b7sdmQUj4J4KhTsIYKAwvsCJryz2yIHwoc9uNSASy3x2sjfXa7d-fXG0OhyphenhyphenHq_GF5OF3LjxJTGsERDGNTsrtyeZoNES0_9OuE1SGVBixzDoFuHSOE7RTnTyycuNMVpieJuHk2cDHrPBa5Ncu5ec/s1200/PXL_20240120_180938702.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoIDiMDwoO1ij9oHFFypqXZShrXv44sGt_tczTxb3b7sdmQUj4J4KhTsIYKAwvsCJryz2yIHwoc9uNSASy3x2sjfXa7d-fXG0OhyphenhyphenHq_GF5OF3LjxJTGsERDGNTsrtyeZoNES0_9OuE1SGVBixzDoFuHSOE7RTnTyycuNMVpieJuHk2cDHrPBa5Ncu5ec/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_180938702.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which it assuredly would, since my longest run in the prior couple of months had been about 13km</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>So, I had no choice but to try to actually act like a runner instead of just some lazy feral trail creature. After filling my bottle once again at the aid station (and completely failing to pick up any more food), I put my phone away to stop taking photos, and pushed myself to run whenever there was a flat or downhill spot.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw53RRhZLdRVqq4rw3soGWV3sr1-GKxJ6xmvTDVnFYyQZzBo0ckgX9Qm07wEfSdCH8U5rVjkHtAii6fN4Pnz3qABvfxAj43TMSBjKVzksZOELvbizkXfrRIq21w5Mgn3LRjh1DOOor9PoHKRd65tFy-9KuB9DsihFvlBiEc46qGt9vWMJo7foMrZtk0vc/s1200/PXL_20240120_170031213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw53RRhZLdRVqq4rw3soGWV3sr1-GKxJ6xmvTDVnFYyQZzBo0ckgX9Qm07wEfSdCH8U5rVjkHtAii6fN4Pnz3qABvfxAj43TMSBjKVzksZOELvbizkXfrRIq21w5Mgn3LRjh1DOOor9PoHKRd65tFy-9KuB9DsihFvlBiEc46qGt9vWMJo7foMrZtk0vc/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_170031213.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except down what I heard another runner call "the ski hill", where it was still very touch-and-go (or more like slide-and-grab)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I don't know if you've ever had to chase a cut-off for an extended period, but it is <i style="font-weight: bold;">stressful</i>. While fretting and sweating, I smacked the back of my right hand off a tree beside the trail as I ran, making my knuckle sore. However, I was making decent progress - I worked <i style="font-weight: bold;">hard</i> on that lap - until I came to this tiny little rise in the last loop of the course after the 2-way traffic section.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxXnyyVNwzTiIQn6Oxq62Uzna2nHha14kvgY8BPShPzH3V7xm6IsXgXITrJuBhnvgzI-LTagDcTA3b20lf2-qVtbFDLgOxkJ6OTSOEbsu9cWi48uYnDN8RmcYj9Hj8mWyNFmVqGfhHcChWdoNhWZ6YnSJ1Bb5xKo-kgEcf2CBf8ud3sS7EUcXiK_bVuY/s1200/PXL_20240120_162534706.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxXnyyVNwzTiIQn6Oxq62Uzna2nHha14kvgY8BPShPzH3V7xm6IsXgXITrJuBhnvgzI-LTagDcTA3b20lf2-qVtbFDLgOxkJ6OTSOEbsu9cWi48uYnDN8RmcYj9Hj8mWyNFmVqGfhHcChWdoNhWZ6YnSJ1Bb5xKo-kgEcf2CBf8ud3sS7EUcXiK_bVuY/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_162534706.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, that one - just past the "tire swing"</td></tr></tbody></table><br />As I went to step up with my right foot, the snow gave way and my leg slipped backward, wrenching my poor SI joints again and setting my lower back on fire. It was at this point I began to wonder if I'd even be able to make it through two more laps; another slip like that, and I might not even be able to walk myself out.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumi_kopBDK5Zf4DWavh1VmimP5kZF3IAGFH5cyLqvLtLiRdkIWRFj1Fh8CtLciEifkFs3ybuk3d3_IB33QoIaIl9HAdw2eWkvQbSzCcgRVVoxFYrcIdqzIhA-o1xybzz5pQlHdC2sbWzetteZD0Nboo9weYevWuzlUeUxiYerVzViHkBBE2HXQEJv8gs/s1200/PXL_20240120_195910634.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="919" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumi_kopBDK5Zf4DWavh1VmimP5kZF3IAGFH5cyLqvLtLiRdkIWRFj1Fh8CtLciEifkFs3ybuk3d3_IB33QoIaIl9HAdw2eWkvQbSzCcgRVVoxFYrcIdqzIhA-o1xybzz5pQlHdC2sbWzetteZD0Nboo9weYevWuzlUeUxiYerVzViHkBBE2HXQEJv8gs/w306-h400/PXL_20240120_195910634.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, there was only one way to find out..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I kept moving - trying not to let anything seize up - and was even able to keep running a bit. My efforts had paid off, too: as I came through the start/finish a third time, I saw 2h40m on my watch, which meant I'd cut that lap down to 50mins. This gave me a bit more breathing space for the cutoff.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3epXF1MBB_Ui57Zw1DMeBriS4gwM2okx7MgxpFcf_Dpdw_4qbzLJKJ76SoRkaQDsvefEATzldrRps9nau0-h3b4krMdKPaPU1C8pE6Koj70LWOWVLARUPH8ddszpGNvT4bs4K0zhBqRTt6tm8XxgpqkGIyiRsgpyB2BLr0PEcymZaq4SQ7RatwnysD-U/s1200/PXL_20240120_172202179.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3epXF1MBB_Ui57Zw1DMeBriS4gwM2okx7MgxpFcf_Dpdw_4qbzLJKJ76SoRkaQDsvefEATzldrRps9nau0-h3b4krMdKPaPU1C8pE6Koj70LWOWVLARUPH8ddszpGNvT4bs4K0zhBqRTt6tm8XxgpqkGIyiRsgpyB2BLr0PEcymZaq4SQ7RatwnysD-U/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_172202179.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I'd have to keep running whenever I could</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I did actually manage to pick up some more food while getting my bottle filled at the aid station again, having only eaten 1 crisp rice square on my third lap. The duck under the fallen tree went ok on lap 4, and I ate another Oreo, still trying to move efficiently but not pushing quite so hard now that I was relatively sure I'd come in under 5 hours.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZhCS0Z889QkyBC4oqdzgAf6cUpAg68Fw467E5NTWJh00mSTxMaGyYFkyYD2VAZI45uR0qOs3Y0L4IfjIhg1YJZfUEuTrU2cKxyRjJVXaEPdbKVb9my9ipXkdQ7pL6y0I0bZQyPaeghWWLa3uk1EVgfEM9oAPO49HLNd14673UpM60qzacXnroQt4b7U/s1200/PXL_20240120_194957696.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZhCS0Z889QkyBC4oqdzgAf6cUpAg68Fw467E5NTWJh00mSTxMaGyYFkyYD2VAZI45uR0qOs3Y0L4IfjIhg1YJZfUEuTrU2cKxyRjJVXaEPdbKVb9my9ipXkdQ7pL6y0I0bZQyPaeghWWLa3uk1EVgfEM9oAPO49HLNd14673UpM60qzacXnroQt4b7U/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_194957696.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The snow was finally starting to consolidate a little in places, too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br />I actually got to thinking back to the old days of Frosty Trail, when I'd sign up for the 3-hour trail race and never quite made 25km (the closest I came was <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2017/01/frosty-trail-3-hour-trail-race-saturday.html">24.4km in 2017</a>, back when I thought I might be a real runner): there was always a 6-hour as well, and I never felt sorry that I had only signed up for 3 hours.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO2woYjPo67sPuNqgWGj-YvBrWkSyaGuahP0V347rIuFuwm2L9hdc-YvZmvvfAoYWVHly9LWdSXfgsfCLWq7-ZqlZ3rTVFXebXV-4oUeOeTdDVsEVOB2-HnDvZNmYkyrkccGMvP6TM3PmPQRIc2GX_UeFUArPtmIimzYERqrFBoF24VNDZ4pK6Tb53X4/s1200/PXL_20240120_183819665.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSO2woYjPo67sPuNqgWGj-YvBrWkSyaGuahP0V347rIuFuwm2L9hdc-YvZmvvfAoYWVHly9LWdSXfgsfCLWq7-ZqlZ3rTVFXebXV-4oUeOeTdDVsEVOB2-HnDvZNmYkyrkccGMvP6TM3PmPQRIc2GX_UeFUArPtmIimzYERqrFBoF24VNDZ4pK6Tb53X4/w305-h400/PXL_20240120_183819665.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet here I was, past 3 hours and still with more than a lap to go, and I smoked my hand on that same tree again!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In an interesting development, I actually passed someone - I wished him well as he let me by, and assured him that he'd probably be passing me again within a few minutes. Oddly enough, though, he stayed behind me for the rest of the race. The weather turned as well: my ears popped repeatedly as the pressure dropped and the wind increased, making it much colder than it had been for the first 3 laps.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KwZffUFcb3VtS5ke5VKdY3PQmPxdscGMtkUGWiN2gYKVifla-SroyVMluEOwahNbacwzQFKP3mjI8O6nGooVbDxOTC3ADTxKKXUYkRkGPv_qmGupm-UEeCzwg6f7ujKCgPU4acZNepZ4U_7vVLXa_ahm9z5DCMlGFObfiq3Tkt-sr-OLu__fqZHtH3Q/s1200/PXL_20240120_192417986.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="883" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KwZffUFcb3VtS5ke5VKdY3PQmPxdscGMtkUGWiN2gYKVifla-SroyVMluEOwahNbacwzQFKP3mjI8O6nGooVbDxOTC3ADTxKKXUYkRkGPv_qmGupm-UEeCzwg6f7ujKCgPU4acZNepZ4U_7vVLXa_ahm9z5DCMlGFObfiq3Tkt-sr-OLu__fqZHtH3Q/w294-h400/PXL_20240120_192417986.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not superb, as I was soaked in sweat from my efforts on my third lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I wanted more than an hour and a quarter on hand for the last lap so I could walk a lot if I needed to - as a matter of fact, if I'd brought a synthetic insulated jacket that I could throw on, I might have just walked it in period if I had time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ICCk68_YuqPhXCjMH2qnB_caXdD39kAaxHg85MNVVL4qIVGEvm2mtNCwf_8ug7ARIvUUawdXyS4gqakFBZcV_KeB2ITRLK3AEeeMsAI9VMKZ_QzQUfRYzaV_CmPiKKxTqua1AxzG_hJ0r6NDfQmhErSeABewvHqCmkJ9iVSFi-a0UGLOrNi53-TVSO8/s1200/101616-4a0ccc-1005023018-c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1200" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ICCk68_YuqPhXCjMH2qnB_caXdD39kAaxHg85MNVVL4qIVGEvm2mtNCwf_8ug7ARIvUUawdXyS4gqakFBZcV_KeB2ITRLK3AEeeMsAI9VMKZ_QzQUfRYzaV_CmPiKKxTqua1AxzG_hJ0r6NDfQmhErSeABewvHqCmkJ9iVSFi-a0UGLOrNi53-TVSO8/w400-h373/101616-4a0ccc-1005023018-c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I only had the jacket I was already wearing, and my big down coat back at race headquarters, so I'd need to run enough to stay warm</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I saw Eric at the start/finish as I transitioned from my 4th to my 5th lap, and he confirmed I still had around 1h35m left as I'd taken about 53mins for lap four. The last one paid for all, so off I went to get this thing done.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk75We0343OIrULbf_sSPSxSdWYfBSzZ-VIlj3h7AUji4H_g8DOCXNgsOrRF4NS3La53D56GqvOY6VLBMI6i6i8wDNgwCEII2pMGI7X88idjqwLaZhJcy2Fw3hm6tr8KQ63dksvIWROe1D3TG_qf2Ux14vnlpzKkE7cKuXYT8q-0ZZrqLDKwZnBbeRNjI/s541/tank%20polar%20paws.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="541" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk75We0343OIrULbf_sSPSxSdWYfBSzZ-VIlj3h7AUji4H_g8DOCXNgsOrRF4NS3La53D56GqvOY6VLBMI6i6i8wDNgwCEII2pMGI7X88idjqwLaZhJcy2Fw3hm6tr8KQ63dksvIWROe1D3TG_qf2Ux14vnlpzKkE7cKuXYT8q-0ZZrqLDKwZnBbeRNjI/w400-h395/tank%20polar%20paws.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Tank - pictured here with Eric in a shot by Sue - filled my bottle for me once more</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm not going to lie: the last lap was a struggle. I munched another cookie early on, but I'd already been moving for ~3h35m and only eaten 3 Oreos and 2 crisp rice squares in that time: about 260cal, or 74cal/hr. The usual minimum recommendation is 200cal/hr, so I was well behind.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HopXgVi14sgvtqQefBN9xrzgpLqAlK9Y9Dq3-wFOvOyailX7b1ebjgVRtLaPLbkujlp2qr4_kZciVqfFQPyPaQfL0QtYc5y6BAN0FsjDbrWlwc-kGnZyqSuNuNs05IfZaT1zCO48ZfoMC2quCsg6e81Cd_OIFqiY2WcYn6ax25yK8IKSaNjCwr_nYpY/s970/map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="970" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HopXgVi14sgvtqQefBN9xrzgpLqAlK9Y9Dq3-wFOvOyailX7b1ebjgVRtLaPLbkujlp2qr4_kZciVqfFQPyPaQfL0QtYc5y6BAN0FsjDbrWlwc-kGnZyqSuNuNs05IfZaT1zCO48ZfoMC2quCsg6e81Cd_OIFqiY2WcYn6ax25yK8IKSaNjCwr_nYpY/w400-h293/map.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of the course - you can see the 2-way traffic section, where the trail approaches the road to the north, and the final loop that doubles back along a ravine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PY84UdF_Fc-NR8KoTWa-JLdK7CctxoEQkP24LsB4zHSmJB5SFrgZezFs-7Nsv3w6EMw7i-UIPmYPnENHb_KsLfbbsuWEDiQuMKGalAGz7BgzpIFMXjF5BZNcyg8qniAv_pyby-e6oJdZpIuTgdNDjdIr_dURNFQfpH3Lj7KtPzBV08MbIYSfjz6P10I/s1413/elev.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="1413" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PY84UdF_Fc-NR8KoTWa-JLdK7CctxoEQkP24LsB4zHSmJB5SFrgZezFs-7Nsv3w6EMw7i-UIPmYPnENHb_KsLfbbsuWEDiQuMKGalAGz7BgzpIFMXjF5BZNcyg8qniAv_pyby-e6oJdZpIuTgdNDjdIr_dURNFQfpH3Lj7KtPzBV08MbIYSfjz6P10I/w400-h140/elev.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation profile for the 25k - not hilly, but not really flat<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Had the course actually been 25k, I'd have finished in about 4 hours.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9zL_IvCt9_oE2XfpdnP8vN9qdLpISXLA8tVub5ezLDhI8sCDauZsQszCCo1e7AChA_V5OKjwsNhO0SHUlcHJGjLbFOp-jRSfZrpORGFMF9RXBhAY7OH4CRORxB6PzEdYVmA8etjISzX-QAckBWnoaT46YNO759sDQrQ5UC0v9z4n7rD_166j6WF6qhc/s1200/PXL_20240120_193619119.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="946" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9zL_IvCt9_oE2XfpdnP8vN9qdLpISXLA8tVub5ezLDhI8sCDauZsQszCCo1e7AChA_V5OKjwsNhO0SHUlcHJGjLbFOp-jRSfZrpORGFMF9RXBhAY7OH4CRORxB6PzEdYVmA8etjISzX-QAckBWnoaT46YNO759sDQrQ5UC0v9z4n7rD_166j6WF6qhc/w315-h400/PXL_20240120_193619119.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but I wasn't even halfway through my final lap yet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I took the opportunity to say goodbye to all the sketchy bits I wouldn't have to do again, like the "just run it and hope for the best" downhill to the first big footbridge.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-ifzWYYMqfsQGghnq_zeZkRe8ScyN_daGw6Qhim37_O94Kp7khGf1-KhKGikRbjuJHGvmdoheh84ZOzhPnwFbIFdlwCYhWGybdCydsAFNCnMfX9-VZRYGKatdeQhRpr0DVaAbc36MjiTaGz1CxAU-fXjM7G89aK4OpMWSR-l-ZOq_CNGC31AsO41iw/s1200/PXL_20240120_192640970.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZ-ifzWYYMqfsQGghnq_zeZkRe8ScyN_daGw6Qhim37_O94Kp7khGf1-KhKGikRbjuJHGvmdoheh84ZOzhPnwFbIFdlwCYhWGybdCydsAFNCnMfX9-VZRYGKatdeQhRpr0DVaAbc36MjiTaGz1CxAU-fXjM7G89aK4OpMWSR-l-ZOq_CNGC31AsO41iw/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_192640970.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steeper than it looks, and very narrow with a dropoff to the left</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I somehow did not paralyze myself ducking under the low fallen tree for the fifth time.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvKYB2IBpDZKUx9pD0_Vajq6yf2xb51FP3h-DtRc_ZQhvQ1XmbHlTXfea7kGC7qfRn65370BHKeKapJOdXfmuXsczjB12SfHfpnlPoOjI0YAiDFcqa_sLRUo_a4tq__MthtvbeGx26JLIo0ZB6dSmYrpWTe0PvnIAyrLUw6EiaI8axBDJYPzSeoiUGsQ/s1200/PXL_20240120_165241088.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvKYB2IBpDZKUx9pD0_Vajq6yf2xb51FP3h-DtRc_ZQhvQ1XmbHlTXfea7kGC7qfRn65370BHKeKapJOdXfmuXsczjB12SfHfpnlPoOjI0YAiDFcqa_sLRUo_a4tq__MthtvbeGx26JLIo0ZB6dSmYrpWTe0PvnIAyrLUw6EiaI8axBDJYPzSeoiUGsQ/w225-h400/PXL_20240120_165241088.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though it did not - and let me be clear about this - feel at all wonderful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>To add insult to injury, the wind blew in snow flurries - the icy flakes sticking to my face and making my skin freeze as I continued to traipse along as best as my wounded carcass was able.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzqOdouoBIV4ZPHjd6yF_vzu5bIaEc5MNkpWLJ8QfNnuXQLKl-0cMXGHL0iwghWmyDDMfKamp52qjHr12fBtE85Hge_Z-X1gIhCb8PYIL2EeHzKn-ptMkSGAs0PKSrEy0rFNIg8VcXfbMKh6T-lHxt8VicD7lBA8kBU8vfk1un2dBITaR3ZC1_sWKp5c/s1200/PXL_20240120_200625867.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1014" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzqOdouoBIV4ZPHjd6yF_vzu5bIaEc5MNkpWLJ8QfNnuXQLKl-0cMXGHL0iwghWmyDDMfKamp52qjHr12fBtE85Hge_Z-X1gIhCb8PYIL2EeHzKn-ptMkSGAs0PKSrEy0rFNIg8VcXfbMKh6T-lHxt8VicD7lBA8kBU8vfk1un2dBITaR3ZC1_sWKp5c/w338-h400/PXL_20240120_200625867.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tips of my mittens froze solid, too, as did the bottom hem of my jacket.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>You definitely could not ask for better course marking, though: everything was well signed and flagged, so even a lemming like me need not worry about getting lost.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNGn7M3OiM0hV8ovf21IB1M1YmM7QI9-oAQktEZSZoT7jJsUAd_hByv4SwQZIuNnIIsrv3sKWCVMDMsDnMAAT7Cs1P3TuBJP16o7aRnFTxk4z9O1gw5CAK9VWloANxls-edey94NVI1PGGdmQxpCwo_uTcI4S8GNPorKIBXLHyM0FfW_X7Pu3LGauO1I/s1200/PXL_20240120_154554115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="842" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZNGn7M3OiM0hV8ovf21IB1M1YmM7QI9-oAQktEZSZoT7jJsUAd_hByv4SwQZIuNnIIsrv3sKWCVMDMsDnMAAT7Cs1P3TuBJP16o7aRnFTxk4z9O1gw5CAK9VWloANxls-edey94NVI1PGGdmQxpCwo_uTcI4S8GNPorKIBXLHyM0FfW_X7Pu3LGauO1I/w281-h400/PXL_20240120_154554115.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy Cat Adventures arrow signs and the ubiquitous trail race pin flags</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I got down the "ski hill" for the final time without incident - the snow had actually started to pack a little, so I was able to mince my way down without needing to glissade.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8si-OUP30jNCpXHcGSmESmFhHDBPgWbSwWoZVH8er9qNr3XFgZpN8rCiuF5s1MiQD_zwM4v0McVC3CuvbkMfHIsuX2WSKE3Q1ZDtRFS-DGR8jmNFJMdmyOG16O9QjX-OTsjiicmdCZ4CpctDIm8HfciNhuDWvgdyCWPLRFGwq1LE1UlMPKza4rVt91Q/s1200/PXL_20240120_194105231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="694" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8si-OUP30jNCpXHcGSmESmFhHDBPgWbSwWoZVH8er9qNr3XFgZpN8rCiuF5s1MiQD_zwM4v0McVC3CuvbkMfHIsuX2WSKE3Q1ZDtRFS-DGR8jmNFJMdmyOG16O9QjX-OTsjiicmdCZ4CpctDIm8HfciNhuDWvgdyCWPLRFGwq1LE1UlMPKza4rVt91Q/w231-h400/PXL_20240120_194105231.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back up it from the bottom - you can see how sliding runners tore through the snow to the fallen leaves below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I finally managed to get a photo of a stump so heavily corniced by snow that it looked like a mushroom.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDfJF8ovMIPDRVIOGUM60tTeZQPx2J51liypKmE5KaoAlM1r-sbbMjauX8UT3FA2Ht13Rr7jBxVUVrDzlC27FRJK7w848so4MDraiYif_6XOS7GB6HiLFHha7trntqfUeljBykAWV5h_xHqsPIDytRPMv6-BcIs6M2QVCfK-Enyb9kAtFed7EKG3hRgI/s1200/PXL_20240120_193049346.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1100" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdDfJF8ovMIPDRVIOGUM60tTeZQPx2J51liypKmE5KaoAlM1r-sbbMjauX8UT3FA2Ht13Rr7jBxVUVrDzlC27FRJK7w848so4MDraiYif_6XOS7GB6HiLFHha7trntqfUeljBykAWV5h_xHqsPIDytRPMv6-BcIs6M2QVCfK-Enyb9kAtFed7EKG3hRgI/w366-h400/PXL_20240120_193049346.jpg" width="366" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't you think?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div><div>The sun had completely given up any semblance of shining, but I knew I was nearly done.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA5blBtOBLV5SBC_aYtJVl8RXPT7XEPvX3g0TAL2qb9HUCs2dUhBU2ysINMh55qrqUGZ7_NAyz5iwuBt_I37xNls4vg32Twyuqw49m1mB5sEhigmyf9osAeMqPKjT1ypP4gWl14HfpwmwuPxj_dx9vpp-G5_lZXgarptJv5GDqJzVD8PSHtoIyaMFdwU/s1200/PXL_20240120_200435311.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA5blBtOBLV5SBC_aYtJVl8RXPT7XEPvX3g0TAL2qb9HUCs2dUhBU2ysINMh55qrqUGZ7_NAyz5iwuBt_I37xNls4vg32Twyuqw49m1mB5sEhigmyf9osAeMqPKjT1ypP4gWl14HfpwmwuPxj_dx9vpp-G5_lZXgarptJv5GDqJzVD8PSHtoIyaMFdwU/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_200435311.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After smacking my poor knuckle off that same tree <b><i>again</i></b> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I finally made my last pass by the glamping pods, turned the corner just before the observatory, and was greeted by cheers from Heather as she gave me my finisher's award.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPccaqTHtRNR1HtVgBBXwlmNHZdMzc-ACudOFR89MbtxVZPsULtfyP-Q8tZTZqjnwKaSuDk32hqvGHf4MRXioPrUdIar1uMKc91nCjfIYPmkOAVgk0cwgEznn65Z8cepzc92Y9W8ke57WX4uFZmXYad4gJKUCffXF_jqLAz-AQ7BkRHG7ZVYz62FfmiM/s1200/PXL_20240120_200947993.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPccaqTHtRNR1HtVgBBXwlmNHZdMzc-ACudOFR89MbtxVZPsULtfyP-Q8tZTZqjnwKaSuDk32hqvGHf4MRXioPrUdIar1uMKc91nCjfIYPmkOAVgk0cwgEznn65Z8cepzc92Y9W8ke57WX4uFZmXYad4gJKUCffXF_jqLAz-AQ7BkRHG7ZVYz62FfmiM/w256-h400/PXL_20240120_200947993.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A maple leaf-shaped bottle of maple syrup!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Unofficial time: 4h30m34s for "25k"</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>(actually nearly 28km by my watch)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The technology issues persisted, so there are no official results</b></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/13591762170">Garmin data is here</a>)</div><br /><div>Oh, and it turns out I wasn't last! Not only was there the one fellow I'd passed behind me, another lady finished after me as well. I realized that after I got inside the observatory, and was able to see how badly my jacket had iced up.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW9CLn6jpmtOuBhnzoMh_o1P5ZfuEDvz-4ndFXbv2HEVU6QZxhV-zX66_XvBfyiwOs7dDq7-76tjyCui3xeQyLHFlbi8DEEd5NBYwWYvWUFP7azPINohauKONfPUSySx-6grCP9uRLSE0qY35-lxyZF5MfK2ID2vxNz-p7lSLs5C-XoOMTR0D4cHSzT0/s1200/PXL_20240120_201305552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1037" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW9CLn6jpmtOuBhnzoMh_o1P5ZfuEDvz-4ndFXbv2HEVU6QZxhV-zX66_XvBfyiwOs7dDq7-76tjyCui3xeQyLHFlbi8DEEd5NBYwWYvWUFP7azPINohauKONfPUSySx-6grCP9uRLSE0qY35-lxyZF5MfK2ID2vxNz-p7lSLs5C-XoOMTR0D4cHSzT0/w346-h400/PXL_20240120_201305552.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had felt the ice on the back when getting my bottle out of my pocket</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KwCzEvt_LW2HhQIQYQacdMzzs0rfi_Uk37OsgRPgdGl_6ywgMPRsQsU12s0ykpo-oJuVgGICmzdJ1Cpv2Zro8MIbOKgi_FUoAZL_bg-_H1uOlkW1u82p1HH2Iyw7C4jnd-5DsSZFr6Uqk-ZaDRJLA34ls1MB64kI8lsON1vNQ51hMSa-BO1OQe7uKn8/s1073/PXL_20240120_201422475.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1073" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KwCzEvt_LW2HhQIQYQacdMzzs0rfi_Uk37OsgRPgdGl_6ywgMPRsQsU12s0ykpo-oJuVgGICmzdJ1Cpv2Zro8MIbOKgi_FUoAZL_bg-_H1uOlkW1u82p1HH2Iyw7C4jnd-5DsSZFr6Uqk-ZaDRJLA34ls1MB64kI8lsON1vNQ51hMSa-BO1OQe7uKn8/w400-h251/PXL_20240120_201422475.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hadn't realized it had iced up at the front, too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Other than the technology problems, this was a perfectly organized and executed race - the volunteers are amazing, Sue's photographs are included in your entry, and all proceeds go to support the Simcoe Humane Society. There are tons of cute dogs, too! Not to mention the chance to see some of the beautiful trails at Long Point Eco Adventures.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zA-gqiLtupvo3Qe_eXU-YBuBfxZ28-24UwGffoEa_YffnG7RSShQk9N2yNxiRepnpht8TT5aj3hepQ88Pd8W4PgZZSSy4fakhIyvOC3FQRXot3EkIG3oypWiI96rhd3i4Uw6vMZukUNawoQm0CY8uFHRerajqRbJPx_QlkZ51jYs52bOQRkgMd-18hU/s1200/PXL_20240120_211704332.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1200" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zA-gqiLtupvo3Qe_eXU-YBuBfxZ28-24UwGffoEa_YffnG7RSShQk9N2yNxiRepnpht8TT5aj3hepQ88Pd8W4PgZZSSy4fakhIyvOC3FQRXot3EkIG3oypWiI96rhd3i4Uw6vMZukUNawoQm0CY8uFHRerajqRbJPx_QlkZ51jYs52bOQRkgMd-18hU/w400-h215/PXL_20240120_211704332.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only do they have loads of walking trails..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zIeLhIubyBlDVJaGIzv9927_TnA1ACZTdWBKvj4GB69B9zCuO54mYBBkjQxG7Cju40WB6whXJqrUeTC98kBKDU0mnBWPZ3D3YmCY6bkwWC52aa1-X05LlZq-udPK3eeMG5v9mPb18Na54hZSMICjZSRjCh71CQ1ypyLb4yUaVa5jdGBj5GsnqU_0_Yc/s1200/PXL_20240120_170559389.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zIeLhIubyBlDVJaGIzv9927_TnA1ACZTdWBKvj4GB69B9zCuO54mYBBkjQxG7Cju40WB6whXJqrUeTC98kBKDU0mnBWPZ3D3YmCY6bkwWC52aa1-X05LlZq-udPK3eeMG5v9mPb18Na54hZSMICjZSRjCh71CQ1ypyLb4yUaVa5jdGBj5GsnqU_0_Yc/w335-h400/PXL_20240120_170559389.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..they are also part of the Turkey Point Mountain Bike Club trail system</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So, if you're looking for a great way to spend a snowy Saturday in January, you could do much worse than to get involved in the next Polar Paws.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19zhPaEY0PyrcJuXAImp9R5xuSXkA1UkbH4ocuJZQHpBYnNTbO0xqepv1LqTKsKB4w9h-wQxX7GPq6HKLnLj8o9vvlz4s-UNEX6llDi2z3RdYB9Sfy6Qziv3Y9hJzsYgHLrK8LhLsyXRd2TqX4Gasvs9U7O706vtFdzRw8lctGlB5QVpNjb0DgAOx3qc/s1200/PXL_20240120_153011526.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19zhPaEY0PyrcJuXAImp9R5xuSXkA1UkbH4ocuJZQHpBYnNTbO0xqepv1LqTKsKB4w9h-wQxX7GPq6HKLnLj8o9vvlz4s-UNEX6llDi2z3RdYB9Sfy6Qziv3Y9hJzsYgHLrK8LhLsyXRd2TqX4Gasvs9U7O706vtFdzRw8lctGlB5QVpNjb0DgAOx3qc/w400-h225/PXL_20240120_153011526.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even if just to take in the view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-16984178460476215452024-01-19T19:10:00.003-05:002024-01-19T19:10:32.675-05:00Hitting pause<p> ..or rather, paws.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsc6E4xkbVsc3aWChhJm0udIIaS6bxzStzSD0_VpdyRl6aakXHtPphKjC4zoBsj1u-hD1YrJ70xTzj22FM4H3qkT2FSHlkf242JJnxikIJrqXbF6inPLLP4RG0IA9DixA29NiFKYQY4BYMthzhwstyHtuICN_HSrOyoUuYqVgTHeBFofViKu6SDVwwQA/s1200/PXL_20240114_214815628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsc6E4xkbVsc3aWChhJm0udIIaS6bxzStzSD0_VpdyRl6aakXHtPphKjC4zoBsj1u-hD1YrJ70xTzj22FM4H3qkT2FSHlkf242JJnxikIJrqXbF6inPLLP4RG0IA9DixA29NiFKYQY4BYMthzhwstyHtuICN_HSrOyoUuYqVgTHeBFofViKu6SDVwwQA/w400-h223/PXL_20240114_214815628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's looking pretty polar out there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Yes, I know I was the one asking for winter - and now that it's come, I bet a lot of you are probably mad at me for giving it the invitation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ07nbQTIwKUr-VjHswbyi6QWvdOAqFf9JzkSx3xHI9DGtn41Tby5zpEWVfT7qBuIJTzfPRiA7L3744yjrKI0GqiisFBGhc9jmM2NdptmY3efV5wjv0gGvtFA6geUob0Cvg9OQmsAJWFeTPpvxRDQvzASuLL0YcA748X9tF_O43CgFIA1Pn8aq2zKeleg/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1200" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ07nbQTIwKUr-VjHswbyi6QWvdOAqFf9JzkSx3xHI9DGtn41Tby5zpEWVfT7qBuIJTzfPRiA7L3744yjrKI0GqiisFBGhc9jmM2NdptmY3efV5wjv0gGvtFA6geUob0Cvg9OQmsAJWFeTPpvxRDQvzASuLL0YcA748X9tF_O43CgFIA1Pn8aq2zKeleg/w400-h340/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't know it was gonna drop to -12c/10f for the daily high - I just wanted a little snow, I didn't think I'd suddenly need insulated layers to run!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Some of it has been super gross, too, since the initial snowfall turned to rain that soaked through. I headed out for my first real snow run of the season and ended up with absolutely drenched feet due to the hidden slush puddles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g7liR_A5GfEV1iw54PLCVqpIwDndKXEsa1SmnBISD7F8o9sk-mqHRWdOlemEfO1M8d_8pk-CXiGxJMwIafPBODgxfxIDN_tUUhZrOJKgwY5VTYv3I_K6dJk5k75IJFexK2EUX9tv1zdmXBtDsKPaMG6zP_XE_OoeT7NbuNSHEhpHDJliSBMAmecHUyM/s1200/PXL_20240113_213709869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8g7liR_A5GfEV1iw54PLCVqpIwDndKXEsa1SmnBISD7F8o9sk-mqHRWdOlemEfO1M8d_8pk-CXiGxJMwIafPBODgxfxIDN_tUUhZrOJKgwY5VTYv3I_K6dJk5k75IJFexK2EUX9tv1zdmXBtDsKPaMG6zP_XE_OoeT7NbuNSHEhpHDJliSBMAmecHUyM/w254-h400/PXL_20240113_213709869.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NOT AMUSED</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Once I was aware of them, I did my best to work around them...but sometimes that was a little difficult.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-g5bwgAnt17ywB33oSBPpgTN4yhyphenhyphen-Muwyg8XXdzCq0Fh3uLG0kapTu2csuHFWpqeSbcTo2i2wGXdpKjXMkViWb9P1rUwGFxOaX1mh6R8diKSErgU8-e5fm2L5t4g9U0hgMHKIPU-RmBN87_P_cHfAVynupCJhfAlGejmmngE4uPxL9_DLcm2iSpQiL2A/s1200/PXL_20240113_222202780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-g5bwgAnt17ywB33oSBPpgTN4yhyphenhyphen-Muwyg8XXdzCq0Fh3uLG0kapTu2csuHFWpqeSbcTo2i2wGXdpKjXMkViWb9P1rUwGFxOaX1mh6R8diKSErgU8-e5fm2L5t4g9U0hgMHKIPU-RmBN87_P_cHfAVynupCJhfAlGejmmngE4uPxL9_DLcm2iSpQiL2A/w400-h225/PXL_20240113_222202780.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*laughs nervously*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>By Saturday night the temperature plummeted and the slush began to freeze up, but I had trust issues so I broke out some assistance for second run.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeU88tZCC1K6FXC01ZlFAEDcDBNXc5fZ0noVlgVqZD8ocYOGC0bP_OKyhGHv8xkMWI3tcv0HasaYo_xLmJkwFN4PB_hLU5jBFA04Ars83_qMOIggAk73aHNE5y9w3ut67Kx6srrSqiweuJ5mU-gigPIKsYi41w4XnFVD9TQO-zvgsfxGRrQkx4oEHukw/s1200/PXL_20240114_032706290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1200" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeU88tZCC1K6FXC01ZlFAEDcDBNXc5fZ0noVlgVqZD8ocYOGC0bP_OKyhGHv8xkMWI3tcv0HasaYo_xLmJkwFN4PB_hLU5jBFA04Ars83_qMOIggAk73aHNE5y9w3ut67Kx6srrSqiweuJ5mU-gigPIKsYi41w4XnFVD9TQO-zvgsfxGRrQkx4oEHukw/w400-h261/PXL_20240114_032706290.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It also started snowing again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eABB5QO49QwWhDr4ww3TyGPndweoIhvTpFSxj3j-7FdJs61gMpof5a7Mpdvyu1BJi88WFx-DxlqFzE1VmZ6Rtf1BT0JC5gBImCCQJ-0EfDvW-1ICHBYBHB4yHpnETaW1VJWIWqBtcTmKb7inY2g7WycT1rUuoYXlXbKIK6bp8h7jjYOoBMcuJGxQvVw/s1200/snowshoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1200" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eABB5QO49QwWhDr4ww3TyGPndweoIhvTpFSxj3j-7FdJs61gMpof5a7Mpdvyu1BJi88WFx-DxlqFzE1VmZ6Rtf1BT0JC5gBImCCQJ-0EfDvW-1ICHBYBHB4yHpnETaW1VJWIWqBtcTmKb7inY2g7WycT1rUuoYXlXbKIK6bp8h7jjYOoBMcuJGxQvVw/w400-h374/snowshoe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blizzard conditions while snowshoe running at night was an interesting experience</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lutBAm8Ln7RyNGeINcTF1Kp_PN4HurkUbN8Awk3id3jC8uK7M69BnD1cu3IzJ8R40H0-AF7ZsU6LpTQjgLC3r-OCvcEfdipA06Q5KVopbvv9mO1zQLZC6Pe0QvU3Wr9COPdvQZGVDfdKyVMADsSpNOwEcjq9_rW5thyTb2Wa91PLirXlxq6I5sBJT0U/s1200/PXL_20240114_035216494.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lutBAm8Ln7RyNGeINcTF1Kp_PN4HurkUbN8Awk3id3jC8uK7M69BnD1cu3IzJ8R40H0-AF7ZsU6LpTQjgLC3r-OCvcEfdipA06Q5KVopbvv9mO1zQLZC6Pe0QvU3Wr9COPdvQZGVDfdKyVMADsSpNOwEcjq9_rW5thyTb2Wa91PLirXlxq6I5sBJT0U/w400-h225/PXL_20240114_035216494.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..especially with the wind whipping through the trees, causing branches to crack and fall around me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Having survived that, Sunday's sunny trail wander was practically a cake walk.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtctaby70xGsy0ikS1sezI5c8KCB-dQeduGYnKdbtRgtDl6pDz-Jv3Z1IgmV4BlEJJWdP7vg007YU5p071xdZhaqT3OtYPd1ioV9C-nhBllkoz4hxe1yETJwdc6dyJSog5ImNdUZubFKzOjk4cYp8jByaDfVz0KwR0RKGdmDI9ZAEmaKSCWKgWF-aTfPE/s1200/PXL_20240114_213532119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtctaby70xGsy0ikS1sezI5c8KCB-dQeduGYnKdbtRgtDl6pDz-Jv3Z1IgmV4BlEJJWdP7vg007YU5p071xdZhaqT3OtYPd1ioV9C-nhBllkoz4hxe1yETJwdc6dyJSog5ImNdUZubFKzOjk4cYp8jByaDfVz0KwR0RKGdmDI9ZAEmaKSCWKgWF-aTfPE/w225-h400/PXL_20240114_213532119.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except the wind was so bitter and vicious that I needed insulated shorts even to do a point-to-point that was almost all downwind</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Through the early part of the week, it definitely wasn't just me that was feeling a little less than cheerful about the conditions.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUL8ewNNOAjcHc1eak2xH7qaGR39PiIqXZ-msLWniYsKl_-lfcW4UbEl2ceeWIWywLevsRMXJ2oyiGObMwUenrgyLJ3wQxF48UlO5ZjTa8Hk8yEKNznBoxMW2KD_uZ3zd2Qfib1-YZVbV1r2wDkSsR7MtH_LzTQbQWvagGkrTluOb-NCrT66oVgKAjZ8/s1200/PXL_20240117_032011130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUL8ewNNOAjcHc1eak2xH7qaGR39PiIqXZ-msLWniYsKl_-lfcW4UbEl2ceeWIWywLevsRMXJ2oyiGObMwUenrgyLJ3wQxF48UlO5ZjTa8Hk8yEKNznBoxMW2KD_uZ3zd2Qfib1-YZVbV1r2wDkSsR7MtH_LzTQbQWvagGkrTluOb-NCrT66oVgKAjZ8/w400-h225/PXL_20240117_032011130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted on the multi-use path down the hill from my house</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I wasn't about to argue: it was bitter enough out that my wool tubular gaiter frosted up around my face while I ran.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9jydCsokfHP125Nn6xOfbF1vn_WpFu3dOTtdJCfe4A1gPYdvNTwkq2XE8EPsMUvVIs1yv-ogXxDogou9Bd6vkQgDdLtYom6dE2kFL-3hOE_R_WD9b974Brj24Luddej7oDGc-cvuTHxmBs2CgK9ycirR3gN_OsbeHyRzVLjWHICY_K5afQfeaNUBmQU/s1200/PXL_20240117_032514396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9jydCsokfHP125Nn6xOfbF1vn_WpFu3dOTtdJCfe4A1gPYdvNTwkq2XE8EPsMUvVIs1yv-ogXxDogou9Bd6vkQgDdLtYom6dE2kFL-3hOE_R_WD9b974Brj24Luddej7oDGc-cvuTHxmBs2CgK9ycirR3gN_OsbeHyRzVLjWHICY_K5afQfeaNUBmQU/w258-h400/PXL_20240117_032514396.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping in mind I don't even bother with the gaiter over my head until -10c/14f or below</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The deep freeze finally broke a bit yesterday - it was a near-balmy -5c/23f when I went out to hang with some cool folks in downtown Kitchener.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMWdPZ0oR1HFmVzdKLvUjl09P02rcpyRaFa6VMHnRssWkR3cyIN1dQZUfu4IJw4n8j4zqnBl5tcay3DptU59T3IDSDLSw2PXcu8d-BlCQqXtv8JineSPlw0whALteofriGxA3ZW97RKnSh1a-pngNAMQdu6P8Y6SOUkYOCI2bYK225WoSI1D6N-mjJjo/s1200/PXL_20240118_214230644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="945" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMWdPZ0oR1HFmVzdKLvUjl09P02rcpyRaFa6VMHnRssWkR3cyIN1dQZUfu4IJw4n8j4zqnBl5tcay3DptU59T3IDSDLSw2PXcu8d-BlCQqXtv8JineSPlw0whALteofriGxA3ZW97RKnSh1a-pngNAMQdu6P8Y6SOUkYOCI2bYK225WoSI1D6N-mjJjo/w315-h400/PXL_20240118_214230644.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not very chatty, but they gave me plenty of room to pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Now, however, it seems like the early part of the week was just conditioning for tomorrow...when the 2024 edition of the <a href="https://crazycatadventures.com/polar-paws-winter-trail-run-2024/">Polar Paws Winter Trail Run</a> kicks off at <a href="https://www.lpfun.ca/">Long Point Eco Adventures</a>, and the weather prediction looks like this:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyot2O-XJM67sYIOoaEBBya7DsKX3J2Hq2ooOCwnEoz1CLBg1vr7R927g54FCE-kW3lxmKi3EjwAMYfZIGx4vnBU9R7SxYUdBQ0Cnfcz5xaz71IgJKaD5vtCDvi3aTwVr6mM1qDux01fz90IQma8Ngh3zbPUohPssi2Ow41ghO5PZ-mxAe-C5DEgsunvE/s670/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20190350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="405" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyot2O-XJM67sYIOoaEBBya7DsKX3J2Hq2ooOCwnEoz1CLBg1vr7R927g54FCE-kW3lxmKi3EjwAMYfZIGx4vnBU9R7SxYUdBQ0Cnfcz5xaz71IgJKaD5vtCDvi3aTwVr6mM1qDux01fz90IQma8Ngh3zbPUohPssi2Ow41ghO5PZ-mxAe-C5DEgsunvE/w241-h400/Screenshot%202024-01-19%20190350.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brrrrrr</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The cut-off is just shy of 5 hours, so I may actually make it...but you can bet I'll be bundling up!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_gb8vr2WyuvgURLIw_ZTgVc3gBvxhMiNfpRsozewT4JRs3klMj7rr85Ti4fTzTQ45vGwEYVX8-2jqpbwlvvY7gfsa9LPhrefn1vWPrPQykyw19oIDxAyaxQ-9XIrUnj6yBXao-MyWoDqoNtGUBhBmUF83IYCYyHDFkvWMSsBvxX3XqsObIbBs77bOt4/s1200/PXL_20240114_212838831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_gb8vr2WyuvgURLIw_ZTgVc3gBvxhMiNfpRsozewT4JRs3klMj7rr85Ti4fTzTQ45vGwEYVX8-2jqpbwlvvY7gfsa9LPhrefn1vWPrPQykyw19oIDxAyaxQ-9XIrUnj6yBXao-MyWoDqoNtGUBhBmUF83IYCYyHDFkvWMSsBvxX3XqsObIbBs77bOt4/w400-h225/PXL_20240114_212838831.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and hoping for some sun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Stay warm, friends!</div><div><p><br /></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-8363279040413380552024-01-12T17:55:00.002-05:002024-01-12T17:55:33.789-05:00Unseasoned<p>We're finally starting to get some winter in our winter!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwA4XrJ55D_AjQOFjXh1eFc3nS8_rMpgxnGpXPtIP-Kjlq9x-CEsnTVS96jmAXamBT4S377NMtFHmP-YF32AN4VCJnVkIoj0D1o3arDdDOPm3KWb3haEGagnAweGz_BLkc31mqaYkuWZdZv2cHrMpiEpRjLMRsTQriIgHz5idSWYZPuXtR-K9ATFysps/s1200/PXL_20240111_132900727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwA4XrJ55D_AjQOFjXh1eFc3nS8_rMpgxnGpXPtIP-Kjlq9x-CEsnTVS96jmAXamBT4S377NMtFHmP-YF32AN4VCJnVkIoj0D1o3arDdDOPm3KWb3haEGagnAweGz_BLkc31mqaYkuWZdZv2cHrMpiEpRjLMRsTQriIgHz5idSWYZPuXtR-K9ATFysps/w400-h223/PXL_20240111_132900727.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a distinct lack of it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I know it's not everyone's cup of tea - and I don't always enjoy it myself - but I really do miss the snow in the years we don't get much. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuPZ7APy6VSwC788c7eZBY4HixKzJcnsMOv9ts4WJbeQVZCFRDVlqvZROOvwyRevOHegzVFnBJR_QfpRwOFjFLwDHNV7ysCiHsU1HkwGjKVxbYREz7xvC1il42icgDq3ZuNhHcCIJ3O8bQL0IVghkEoe47rikB9xzWsqzWfer0QcfaKDRc2IWZBqpgSs/s1200/PXL_20240106_204649257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuPZ7APy6VSwC788c7eZBY4HixKzJcnsMOv9ts4WJbeQVZCFRDVlqvZROOvwyRevOHegzVFnBJR_QfpRwOFjFLwDHNV7ysCiHsU1HkwGjKVxbYREz7xvC1il42icgDq3ZuNhHcCIJ3O8bQL0IVghkEoe47rikB9xzWsqzWfer0QcfaKDRc2IWZBqpgSs/w274-h400/PXL_20240106_204649257.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like a little more than just a dusting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This week seems to be the ticket, though: I finally had some decently snowy running on Sunday!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaupanQKiZMP7hrpMzLInJ6TKqIYcuN-l6DkB-5wn0LGPm7ZjlDvf_DnoktdOXooqcG8A8I0wgmuOfHuCROuB6QuDjeWobG5KaPNXhjzPwScHS3eGO4BfjwPSe9fTAjttmPl_QoUv-p-vpLn9Hs0rwvEaqIMyl9JqlU9vlNHfA_HSJwVp7ZZENyWwQVc/s1200/PXL_20240107_200825727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="926" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaupanQKiZMP7hrpMzLInJ6TKqIYcuN-l6DkB-5wn0LGPm7ZjlDvf_DnoktdOXooqcG8A8I0wgmuOfHuCROuB6QuDjeWobG5KaPNXhjzPwScHS3eGO4BfjwPSe9fTAjttmPl_QoUv-p-vpLn9Hs0rwvEaqIMyl9JqlU9vlNHfA_HSJwVp7ZZENyWwQVc/w309-h400/PXL_20240107_200825727.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping cover up the dull brown and grey that everything has turned</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The colder weather has also led to some really neat ice formations along the rivers in town.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae0eJdRKyqKYhNlhaK7OvORvPSWNnvQIQMbqjfFpa55LXC_eOJt32F7gZ_mjJbdVIrXZTcGI8Cf_-SYcotZsKuMWGemHyBVqHGfXcJMwufMKhQ4clWuUi3Wq7SH9TThtG4dFBp2ULD-neLIaaslLWg911PbevS3xQBIbNmvcsQiGrlx2gItdYRYi_lsY/s1200/PXL_20240106_211041677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae0eJdRKyqKYhNlhaK7OvORvPSWNnvQIQMbqjfFpa55LXC_eOJt32F7gZ_mjJbdVIrXZTcGI8Cf_-SYcotZsKuMWGemHyBVqHGfXcJMwufMKhQ4clWuUi3Wq7SH9TThtG4dFBp2ULD-neLIaaslLWg911PbevS3xQBIbNmvcsQiGrlx2gItdYRYi_lsY/w400-h225/PXL_20240106_211041677.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twigs looking like fat dipped candles below the Hespeler Millpond dam</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had kind of a pleasant morning run through the snow on Tuesday..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9iAlNH8BsqjGbb9m7K1BWATSn7AfKrrzt0z8uQbGqoRnStoUNcP84DR_9ZGdmZm8sWTiof7QcZb6pUyYKU0JLB-RUgcaILaB2iKzkqbAnuJsBFNgWLLqHx96FglMJbMXWaUVRH6wymCQrb3fbD87WBpUeZy6JGXTXkrAmiLAWxgBuc6a-2HkvnpKKJE/s1200/PXL_20240109_130050051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9iAlNH8BsqjGbb9m7K1BWATSn7AfKrrzt0z8uQbGqoRnStoUNcP84DR_9ZGdmZm8sWTiof7QcZb6pUyYKU0JLB-RUgcaILaB2iKzkqbAnuJsBFNgWLLqHx96FglMJbMXWaUVRH6wymCQrb3fbD87WBpUeZy6JGXTXkrAmiLAWxgBuc6a-2HkvnpKKJE/w266-h400/PXL_20240109_130050051.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..though it was definitely a little tougher than it would have been with clear ground.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I also had a truly horrible run in the mixed precipitation later that same afternoon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1B7KXMwg6nFxZA3HWFjTz-_oqJr_Ukgfkzr6KVS3pLSzDzxmFAFaw1vijT5ulNOiEneXlcP-Hb2MOCJgeeD5V0MqkeTg-d7kVSZzWIAViVLtl4UQ2kZhZsVshqEY0TuqYb9WPLgNvcgGJlb6Q4tR4ZyOcC58gqe8gVbe3UJsXCP_BExalyqB4XKuWSo/s1200/PXL_20240109_190226536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1B7KXMwg6nFxZA3HWFjTz-_oqJr_Ukgfkzr6KVS3pLSzDzxmFAFaw1vijT5ulNOiEneXlcP-Hb2MOCJgeeD5V0MqkeTg-d7kVSZzWIAViVLtl4UQ2kZhZsVshqEY0TuqYb9WPLgNvcgGJlb6Q4tR4ZyOcC58gqe8gVbe3UJsXCP_BExalyqB4XKuWSo/w225-h400/PXL_20240109_190226536.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not overjoyed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>To be fair, the streets were a disgusting mess of slush by then, with each road crossing a nightmare of deep slush puddles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHhZWbcOrIL8xKoMeB4tJJ5fWLlCKi3YlvHc3inHUI2grK8uCu6nChm5FpwkGpKteqrbb7Ly7KPZhQqRmGmvIovhUMTOgMs_8nQVCcVZycYk1L4ds3MudKs7UB0fFkREASN_9Rm8OkSnU1raBnFPpGEYSvfn6elXM4ObRk_-BAXw7GAsjzzHwKFRKyNI/s1200/PXL_20240109_193005320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="730" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHhZWbcOrIL8xKoMeB4tJJ5fWLlCKi3YlvHc3inHUI2grK8uCu6nChm5FpwkGpKteqrbb7Ly7KPZhQqRmGmvIovhUMTOgMs_8nQVCcVZycYk1L4ds3MudKs7UB0fFkREASN_9Rm8OkSnU1raBnFPpGEYSvfn6elXM4ObRk_-BAXw7GAsjzzHwKFRKyNI/w244-h400/PXL_20240109_193005320.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add in no less than 3 vehicles splashing me with slush from ankle to thigh, and I would honestly have rather taken the heckin' bus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Things settled down a bit after another dump of snow (that fell on me as I actually <i style="font-weight: bold;">was</i> walking up to catch the bus towards my office) on Thursday, and some new friends appeared!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZJjfydOaM_Y4MGx92UdOPWqygnV1aOid0lneOW8f9daczv1FngLUAUSvvuYHqF9iO2Zt6ANebn40PH_Yjzw4iGT75zrx8IJ49w6iHJJ8CMJcizKXAAQCTmoZDh9FHQ1NdY66IzTpQHmhIbIn6kDxXNNIMrim-1LkBypHP6dQhxALGRushVbhwy5Tpag/s1200/PXL_20240111_223940444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1179" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZJjfydOaM_Y4MGx92UdOPWqygnV1aOid0lneOW8f9daczv1FngLUAUSvvuYHqF9iO2Zt6ANebn40PH_Yjzw4iGT75zrx8IJ49w6iHJJ8CMJcizKXAAQCTmoZDh9FHQ1NdY66IzTpQHmhIbIn6kDxXNNIMrim-1LkBypHP6dQhxALGRushVbhwy5Tpag/w393-h400/PXL_20240111_223940444.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one was a little too small for a hug</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There's more coming tonight, though, and I have high hopes that soon I'll finally be able to get the snowshoes out for a rip!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCCXMDunBxiV1KU6jasDYOQKh-A8yXelfX8qtlHqQflI5tGAITWDtRVDMH18TignPbmsq9yfNnAf4TTPxvyLmp1ULT-34klr3LRBnP00UFruCjYpUv4N8d4MHJXiEARhm8c3i5ZjismW4FoZEl_3XnONC_SFprvOyasewyuyFa6DCcTjw2HQkUIhnkd0/s1200/PXL_20240111_225331508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCCXMDunBxiV1KU6jasDYOQKh-A8yXelfX8qtlHqQflI5tGAITWDtRVDMH18TignPbmsq9yfNnAf4TTPxvyLmp1ULT-34klr3LRBnP00UFruCjYpUv4N8d4MHJXiEARhm8c3i5ZjismW4FoZEl_3XnONC_SFprvOyasewyuyFa6DCcTjw2HQkUIhnkd0/w225-h400/PXL_20240111_225331508.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which would be nice, with a snowshoe race I'd quite like to do coming up in just a few weeks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'd also love to get our cross-country skis out - it's been nearly a year since we had the chance to kick and glide.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQAcDbJLbjVdOadoSOje9gaufMRC23Dufxv_xNXP5nGc1vpjNGmzPo88SYeMqUmDNOdSNKxjTJDW5WfEXaBnKUqKjJlR3HTy8-NuyO00oyX-G3ZxLeUAGvDHFNSiXbIYIESG5fI9N1K1_G_VbaOZBl8IFD9r9qLz93RvPDCAUss4WXulYklGQyVdbVxU/s1200/PXL_20240109_190806076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1200" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQAcDbJLbjVdOadoSOje9gaufMRC23Dufxv_xNXP5nGc1vpjNGmzPo88SYeMqUmDNOdSNKxjTJDW5WfEXaBnKUqKjJlR3HTy8-NuyO00oyX-G3ZxLeUAGvDHFNSiXbIYIESG5fI9N1K1_G_VbaOZBl8IFD9r9qLz93RvPDCAUss4WXulYklGQyVdbVxU/w400-h263/PXL_20240109_190806076.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We certainly won't be skiing on the river any time soon, though.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>And yet...as much as I do love a snowy day, what I'd really like to see is some sun. The last time I was outdoors in sunshine was December 15th; almost a full month ago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdp3vURViWXi-nQwpQ67Gwkvi_4ZaJhNa5081UP4f13wdYdgMW2coy3q7FlJUN6cFm-F9Ssb-UewJnDGlBQmlntKMlOV9g_qlbex-JDS21VdF2HcDTkNyPcyLeS6qX_8jRZrRSJf-ohPjWeDfJXDMUvLxhYiGHjlXWu2FwiXv1T23qZw4aC-XLWAFV88/s1200/PXL_20240104_135336819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1200" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdp3vURViWXi-nQwpQ67Gwkvi_4ZaJhNa5081UP4f13wdYdgMW2coy3q7FlJUN6cFm-F9Ssb-UewJnDGlBQmlntKMlOV9g_qlbex-JDS21VdF2HcDTkNyPcyLeS6qX_8jRZrRSJf-ohPjWeDfJXDMUvLxhYiGHjlXWu2FwiXv1T23qZw4aC-XLWAFV88/w400-h363/PXL_20240104_135336819.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the closest I've come since - looking out my front door on Jan 4th, but had no time to get outside</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Stay safe in the storm tonight for those who will be affected, and cross your fingers that the sun still exists!</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-4529302629271360302024-01-05T20:52:00.004-05:002024-01-05T20:52:42.469-05:00No place like hockey<p> ..for the holidays.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eZ8U4snAIGuCWLxF7izRNWrDNiX8hM6wl6iL2Yj0Eq0kRIhgxO1veKp6eIJJs5v3q1Y1YT1KlZnxARsD91Y6-yvnGqLDAjRvmBH2lerCgkEFN3jWyU5BkDpH-hPvCYZ7Hw4Aq9Fe9n7czZ_m72jU0-5WwY1dagXD1QWNbi5DgE4U2gtj2iU8UO4SZUc/s1200/PXL_20231231_041007968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eZ8U4snAIGuCWLxF7izRNWrDNiX8hM6wl6iL2Yj0Eq0kRIhgxO1veKp6eIJJs5v3q1Y1YT1KlZnxARsD91Y6-yvnGqLDAjRvmBH2lerCgkEFN3jWyU5BkDpH-hPvCYZ7Hw4Aq9Fe9n7czZ_m72jU0-5WwY1dagXD1QWNbi5DgE4U2gtj2iU8UO4SZUc/w400-h223/PXL_20231231_041007968.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or at least December in general</td></tr></tbody></table><p>It all began Saturday, December 16th - we frequently play pickup hockey on Saturday nights, and this was no exception. It was our first game at RIM Park in quite awhile, and my bottle ended up spilling most of its contents just as it began (leaving me with barely any water for an 80min game - keeping in mind the average temperature inside my equipment is about 32c/90f), but it was pretty fun!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBbAV1t2vaj6Q6xBUvChZY2FZLZSXZd8gRtEekqfaAqQ4F2Ih3naQ-pRo1JkF32QeNrUv6ICjpBO0wDqtU0lVBgAFhXfciqBtgHYIiN0R51ooUy84vzuyqVFee5S-tTUb2Y-xEVI2FXlSEBaar41wCNtwCyTipRGGBKBmx7PpXBjVSIQ7GrM4EIU6w-g/s1200/PXL_20231231_041007968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBbAV1t2vaj6Q6xBUvChZY2FZLZSXZd8gRtEekqfaAqQ4F2Ih3naQ-pRo1JkF32QeNrUv6ICjpBO0wDqtU0lVBgAFhXfciqBtgHYIiN0R51ooUy84vzuyqVFee5S-tTUb2Y-xEVI2FXlSEBaar41wCNtwCyTipRGGBKBmx7PpXBjVSIQ7GrM4EIU6w-g/s320/PXL_20231231_041007968.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f7wfGKpo8mOK6lEdATnGZn2aR-ST5Q05WflJLug5G5aIWbfclKrzQBKMhxusYEftcCTqbhJSWRmeJYpLXExt6MYtcS1EXM8e_acO-D8yGvkC2Q2CqOcStNCGTPS2vVGk97b9SZLG71jKbFoXYqimZ_rkYlP1xYhcBqbJNeyXP2Td54GhCCEoXh1OOpU/s1200/PXL_20231217_035607097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f7wfGKpo8mOK6lEdATnGZn2aR-ST5Q05WflJLug5G5aIWbfclKrzQBKMhxusYEftcCTqbhJSWRmeJYpLXExt6MYtcS1EXM8e_acO-D8yGvkC2Q2CqOcStNCGTPS2vVGk97b9SZLG71jKbFoXYqimZ_rkYlP1xYhcBqbJNeyXP2Td54GhCCEoXh1OOpU/w225-h400/PXL_20231217_035607097.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eps4YdCAzLg&ab_channel=KJacobson">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Sunday we played our last league game of the year - the season continues after a 2-week holiday break - and I tried to make it a bit fun with an addition to my usual kit, but I played like trash and it resulted in a pretty nasty loss.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BYWDM8BCkSZWs9WY6Wj_kx6gSm4AokF3LsJyhQF9NtaPs8zj5MCCfjoalyZg36mkp2WM6BXqbj5Ev-kmCrhYWZeTVKD5Dc9IywNfHGk7LSk7cIKEG3a9DAdFMEhlsQfaUlPwaC83a9W2QnCrpLHgUSa9G8EEhSpVTT-0UrWap8LjIm9Z2vUSArT38IE/s1200/IMG_20231217_200727_647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BYWDM8BCkSZWs9WY6Wj_kx6gSm4AokF3LsJyhQF9NtaPs8zj5MCCfjoalyZg36mkp2WM6BXqbj5Ev-kmCrhYWZeTVKD5Dc9IywNfHGk7LSk7cIKEG3a9DAdFMEhlsQfaUlPwaC83a9W2QnCrpLHgUSa9G8EEhSpVTT-0UrWap8LjIm9Z2vUSArT38IE/w320-h400/IMG_20231217_200727_647.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't recommend watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVaQkLf8IJs&ab_channel=KJacobson">this game video</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I didn't play Monday, but come Tuesday a goalie friend of mine needed someone to cover two games as his knee was bothering him, in a rather unique league at <a href="https://www.thezonetraining.ca/">The Zone</a> in Guelph: 2 on 2, on a 95' x 45' rink - basically a quarter of an NHL-size rink, with no markings on the ice around the net for me to use and landmarks for angles. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidur5ZZt3RL701RJ_kdsM8GueZOllJk7VKPS4I2hVIEZSPlGpULKIokV3699fO-LW7DQ7cJmGYS6aycVzJ7-DVvZOUJQokd_7vkRmc7dER3mVcKQUbyT7DvvxVA0oh7EX5CUXrppo_Y0uD-hbf58mxYJxupOXzaettkoYRhG3bMQGgSBy0JAbUCHpamkY/s649/20231219_221002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="649" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidur5ZZt3RL701RJ_kdsM8GueZOllJk7VKPS4I2hVIEZSPlGpULKIokV3699fO-LW7DQ7cJmGYS6aycVzJ7-DVvZOUJQokd_7vkRmc7dER3mVcKQUbyT7DvvxVA0oh7EX5CUXrppo_Y0uD-hbf58mxYJxupOXzaettkoYRhG3bMQGgSBy0JAbUCHpamkY/w400-h396/20231219_221002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I definitely struggled with positioning, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCoUc8RtfCY&ab_channel=KJacobson">as you can see</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I faced 47 shots in the two 22-min halves of the first game, and 55 shots in the second game...and allowed 29 goals between the two matches!<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GiQbL-_bU2Dx7y8m4C1lB2Qx0UY62wtf_H1LVFcrerMItbxc-jNzHt98o_lVW1DIdqk3HA20-k5IEKQb-vzSPaFHGa65DsHVLKmv5JMgShTggQFBv3-2gglhJwibutkj4zgVFYAZ0CrKZC2CZqPt8d6DCknIKVT4k1bL7pVUNd-I97loQ5MoMHYhCEA/s1200/PXL_20231220_022937483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5GiQbL-_bU2Dx7y8m4C1lB2Qx0UY62wtf_H1LVFcrerMItbxc-jNzHt98o_lVW1DIdqk3HA20-k5IEKQb-vzSPaFHGa65DsHVLKmv5JMgShTggQFBv3-2gglhJwibutkj4zgVFYAZ0CrKZC2CZqPt8d6DCknIKVT4k1bL7pVUNd-I97loQ5MoMHYhCEA/w289-h400/PXL_20231220_022937483.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was lots of fun though! Second game video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrp14ApSHWg&ab_channel=KJacobson">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Wednesday night, another goalie was unable to make his <a href="https://www.beerleaguehockeypractice.com/kitchener">BLHP</a> shinny game, so I covered that game as well.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrYfG2cgOuLrHPJGrcHpEe6IE2Agp7rHC_VG5N-U5LUcyiLkdVGKkNojzvmGF-lRkOhDyBXwnkpCek7gBKCPvLhNMUgvRUZTFHkMuOwxT9cqSIhroax6lIKqw5Ofvx6az_4-h1vn6q35xlNtV7O47sxhTBQC_5obiTtN34VewO84GpoPjz603wPKjHl8/s1200/PXL_20231221_003029886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1200" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrYfG2cgOuLrHPJGrcHpEe6IE2Agp7rHC_VG5N-U5LUcyiLkdVGKkNojzvmGF-lRkOhDyBXwnkpCek7gBKCPvLhNMUgvRUZTFHkMuOwxT9cqSIhroax6lIKqw5Ofvx6az_4-h1vn6q35xlNtV7O47sxhTBQC_5obiTtN34VewO84GpoPjz603wPKjHl8/w400-h246/PXL_20231221_003029886.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and gave Tank's new stick a custom tape job</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I decided - with it being December the 20th - I'd go peak Christmas hockey for this one.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDIiboqkvTt4yz7KUQQ_ZWeQK0D6i2TpKj3c3jdlTl3fl7CSi4FnXBncvzhUIyY3kOLXwIQyW77NEa77jOEPWceRGgdzcgMrBstYc53MejVfma8BTQQO9ra3-N2leojoEPrN_CIgvv1TNRPjvXsJJJWbN2ENQuIVmofoVAq7va_LqLoBem5munga5ZDw/s1200/IMG_20231220_232604_368.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDIiboqkvTt4yz7KUQQ_ZWeQK0D6i2TpKj3c3jdlTl3fl7CSi4FnXBncvzhUIyY3kOLXwIQyW77NEa77jOEPWceRGgdzcgMrBstYc53MejVfma8BTQQO9ra3-N2leojoEPrN_CIgvv1TNRPjvXsJJJWbN2ENQuIVmofoVAq7va_LqLoBem5munga5ZDw/w320-h400/IMG_20231220_232604_368.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately the beard was SO HOT to wear, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yLTOT7AA5M&ab_channel=KJacobson">I played like junk again</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Thursday was a night off, but we'd signed up to go to stick & puck - basically an open skills and drills practice session - on Friday night. We also had a pickup game booked for Saturday, and I knew if I played in goal at stick & puck (which basically turns into non-stop breakaways and hundreds of shots in the hour of ice time) I would be too beat up to play well on Saturday. So, I improvised.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsJk4xLo9TI2Ufh5VFjyMJ0rllMltIZq9s8SGo825p1qsOPKKujZ2J-SWE8No6b5_UUVmeAsYY7zcSLX1-wf6nQR1PhhMrqCtq-d0pBmt-49w8ZVEYX7SmyDJI6Nm71-46m7sLYQa80w8DJhjHrUSiACS63Bml_UIj-SHui0uOVXWmXUXNaeKb7TOFxU/s1200/PXL_20231223_025802154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsJk4xLo9TI2Ufh5VFjyMJ0rllMltIZq9s8SGo825p1qsOPKKujZ2J-SWE8No6b5_UUVmeAsYY7zcSLX1-wf6nQR1PhhMrqCtq-d0pBmt-49w8ZVEYX7SmyDJI6Nm71-46m7sLYQa80w8DJhjHrUSiACS63Bml_UIj-SHui0uOVXWmXUXNaeKb7TOFxU/w251-h400/PXL_20231223_025802154.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first time I'd played out since August!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Come Saturday, it looked like we might not have enough people for the pickup game to happen - the cancel if not enough folks sign up - but there was another stick & puck at the same rink in the timeslot before that, so I decided to register for that to make sure I'd get a skate in.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t93hQk_FrGR82UCgRb_cRUGt-5Nf1NZSD-Cu3x8gXFxMovvFNFD6fBmOUUbW8koym8mNCQUjJhsCzjMCAHeu51NMEw8nkV5NOj9ZVNHzdiKYdvAgPg2-eTuigm7XKnLsHf3pyQRd9Oj6sve1RDRJGeVxyCIKZBljmQLy_hlc7vFGOlJEn35w6r2dduo/s1200/PXL_20231224_005503435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t93hQk_FrGR82UCgRb_cRUGt-5Nf1NZSD-Cu3x8gXFxMovvFNFD6fBmOUUbW8koym8mNCQUjJhsCzjMCAHeu51NMEw8nkV5NOj9ZVNHzdiKYdvAgPg2-eTuigm7XKnLsHf3pyQRd9Oj6sve1RDRJGeVxyCIKZBljmQLy_hlc7vFGOlJEn35w6r2dduo/w225-h400/PXL_20231224_005503435.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank came along, too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Now here's the thing: at the last minute, a bunch of people signed up for the pickup game...but it was too late for us to cancel out of either the stick & puck or the game without losing our registration fees, so we ended up playing both. I took it a little easy for the first hour in the stick & puck session, but didn't have that luxury in the 80min shinny that followed, as I faced no less than 80 shots!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB68K4NmMjPL2E2TbzrFJ-dJy1xJnnDsyCRYC3DQrHFmPnOB_3BBioThp3_1ygZHs478BR5zZuEkF3MlgsjQOZiSDrI1pOUTA8QLRMrmYyv_NRlyYxW0nSa9Vlsr-5eXewIEW03vzsP5MAmhRMab0VbPeNdbNZQvZL-GdVvj7W6oJETSPAUyN0gO8jxxg/s1200/PXL_20231224_032748647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB68K4NmMjPL2E2TbzrFJ-dJy1xJnnDsyCRYC3DQrHFmPnOB_3BBioThp3_1ygZHs478BR5zZuEkF3MlgsjQOZiSDrI1pOUTA8QLRMrmYyv_NRlyYxW0nSa9Vlsr-5eXewIEW03vzsP5MAmhRMab0VbPeNdbNZQvZL-GdVvj7W6oJETSPAUyN0gO8jxxg/w286-h400/PXL_20231224_032748647.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I survived, but just barely! See it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZL7Jjs5SZQ&ab_channel=KJacobson">here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Rinks were closed for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (Sun-Tue), so I got a reprieve, but come Wednesday the 27th BLHP was in need of a goalie again, so back to the net I went. I couldn't get myself together out there, though: it almost felt like my legs weren't even my own, and I was trying to control them like some sort of weird sofa-cushion-clad marionette.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC6yC11Hu1_WYoSMcCryyRQ9Vt189QHo-LQRchWlKkaLdcLWsh5KXmAAwT4b6B9xx4ReE5eGDFbk4N9GjKpX6i41eqsO7GBfuuOvP37HyGTNxVI51t7BluFL8M1CQS7gufZGhixcYAVCbs8NsXAOGYn7p5h7hMfL4vHCglfHh-ZGCG87AHCPiDGvfMyY/s1200/PXL_20231228_041649984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuC6yC11Hu1_WYoSMcCryyRQ9Vt189QHo-LQRchWlKkaLdcLWsh5KXmAAwT4b6B9xx4ReE5eGDFbk4N9GjKpX6i41eqsO7GBfuuOvP37HyGTNxVI51t7BluFL8M1CQS7gufZGhixcYAVCbs8NsXAOGYn7p5h7hMfL4vHCglfHh-ZGCG87AHCPiDGvfMyY/w225-h400/PXL_20231228_041649984.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a good time, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwEyT2W9Xxo&ab_channel=KJacobson">not a good look</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We'd signed up for an 80min pickup game on Thursday as well, and I even went to the trouble of re-taping one of my goal sticks in hopes of playing a bit better. I also took the Santa hat off my mask - can you believe that it stayed on for 7 skates with just a few bits of sock tape? - to see if maybe that might help.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZCRyQwlIupEzfc3DbLGCpRCA_IxIWkPFgfB26D8I-7juSSB15x-EG-A1WsNP0IqD4x0VpKErFegOY3MQsY4ovAUBKZEMXWsaRkKk4D9ggE_NfanEWZQE0Ri8CT5PncxmaYTGP5cQ9EKbSyrRY93AoY7DGwh39x-OuZDE-wjMsVY9vc8SgyM98afflbI/s1200/tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZCRyQwlIupEzfc3DbLGCpRCA_IxIWkPFgfB26D8I-7juSSB15x-EG-A1WsNP0IqD4x0VpKErFegOY3MQsY4ovAUBKZEMXWsaRkKk4D9ggE_NfanEWZQE0Ri8CT5PncxmaYTGP5cQ9EKbSyrRY93AoY7DGwh39x-OuZDE-wjMsVY9vc8SgyM98afflbI/w375-h400/tape.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It was probably my worst game yet: just couldn't stop a bloody beach ball. Seriously, I've seen dollar store coupons save more.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNc65PLOuxzJoChAgiapvp27qlSBcdhhYlnZZyFiaW_kBbeqhuHHd1oCZyjYn3PIfHgNecAiCFxWsd8T9tfqC1izrjH9mCtOoKxI7YTbFkDagzwqK7JmEmeMMkdbQWYUyJdEZCHvq0e3bOgmRlyAZJStA4a3IC_18F7gp0qyIWmU8Gvc17JMjSk36P1U/s1200/PXL_20231229_031201859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNc65PLOuxzJoChAgiapvp27qlSBcdhhYlnZZyFiaW_kBbeqhuHHd1oCZyjYn3PIfHgNecAiCFxWsd8T9tfqC1izrjH9mCtOoKxI7YTbFkDagzwqK7JmEmeMMkdbQWYUyJdEZCHvq0e3bOgmRlyAZJStA4a3IC_18F7gp0qyIWmU8Gvc17JMjSk36P1U/w225-h400/PXL_20231229_031201859.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RNzYwI99ZY&t=1s&ab_channel=KJacobson">You can see the carnage here</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Nonetheless, I went into Friday's pickup game hopeful for better things, and actually played a decent game for once!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpurw3tzsPe12pJ96GBkRHNaX-O_y6o7n19mLP9se1F1QlzRLRLzTjJFCJVg0IV-SLPXB_Eq-AxqF_XBavsgh1FsyMLfLiyG30QuRK9U1o0c_AaNUHAUa0aFrxdvphoZ4IgelILREi7fLc1dY8dUeB040NnlUlbzc0-EDWPlL49zes2DAO7xMViV2bhJs/s1200/IMG_20231229_203257_273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpurw3tzsPe12pJ96GBkRHNaX-O_y6o7n19mLP9se1F1QlzRLRLzTjJFCJVg0IV-SLPXB_Eq-AxqF_XBavsgh1FsyMLfLiyG30QuRK9U1o0c_AaNUHAUa0aFrxdvphoZ4IgelILREi7fLc1dY8dUeB040NnlUlbzc0-EDWPlL49zes2DAO7xMViV2bhJs/w320-h400/IMG_20231229_203257_273.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at RIM Park, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyxz6ZuHLA0&ab_channel=KJacobson">this time my bottle stayed intact</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was definitely feeling a bit weary by the time Saturday's pickup game in Baden rolled around: not only was it a lot of hockey, the game didn't start until 10pm, and it had been a long day. It was only a 50min game, but with a bunch of hotshot kids on the ice - whose speed and skill were a pleasure to watch, but a little difficult to defend against - I got lit up pretty badly again, and tweaked my groin a little in the process.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGNulZDhoRWr5IFeVmlQWL8lsXq4jQ3o0RBzEi4hhLX7Ig9ytrXzMQx8GJSIRrIOCJJHQ5aYrqowk2d0VniTewhfmEbVUQbu3X65D4TvquUAYGHK6xMeZQakOy0MWVQG5p2Sl2ISXk-KpqYytZFv_tgXXQxDGLF41ACb0ThfqJJcsbZqYaMnVi3nEXMo/s1200/IMG_20231230_233112_466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGNulZDhoRWr5IFeVmlQWL8lsXq4jQ3o0RBzEi4hhLX7Ig9ytrXzMQx8GJSIRrIOCJJHQ5aYrqowk2d0VniTewhfmEbVUQbu3X65D4TvquUAYGHK6xMeZQakOy0MWVQG5p2Sl2ISXk-KpqYytZFv_tgXXQxDGLF41ACb0ThfqJJcsbZqYaMnVi3nEXMo/w320-h400/IMG_20231230_233112_466.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But my jersey was fly as heck, so <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl6Z7_bjjBo&ab_channel=KJacobson">I had that going for me</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I did some stretching and massage when I got off the ice, hoping I'd feel better in the morning. We rolled straight out of bed on New Year's Eve and into the car with bags full of still-wet gear for one last skate with less than 12hrs remaining in 2023.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooZg5KwHi_OMFkZtdq7Lv0oBd_QOPYj0tMYJh3RjaBT_LqqUlWXE45Dr_1iiOVb-__lVEmQV6touOqFihx7kWSetv36GAADYfyRGvONWtkq76CPVgv665ZH4xSQaEGxrCyPaqN6OkgHZttgqR3vjq_6QG_d2sARUbTSAq4AvX-jnBrDJGyh5cGKYSvnE/s1200/PXL_20231231_185126086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhooZg5KwHi_OMFkZtdq7Lv0oBd_QOPYj0tMYJh3RjaBT_LqqUlWXE45Dr_1iiOVb-__lVEmQV6touOqFihx7kWSetv36GAADYfyRGvONWtkq76CPVgv665ZH4xSQaEGxrCyPaqN6OkgHZttgqR3vjq_6QG_d2sARUbTSAq4AvX-jnBrDJGyh5cGKYSvnE/w225-h400/PXL_20231231_185126086.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly, it was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzdp5dauOgo&ab_channel=KJacobson">probably my best game of the bunch</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When all was said and done, I'd played 13 times in 16 days - 12 of those in goal, and two of the days had multiple skates - ending with 5 straight games in 5 days. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq86zRmffEn7TCfd8LO7gG8oycCHAwsj9QTkmqrPPn1v10_Ky_fa5b9Mfix-qGbZBUlWwh50nV79N31N874_d-FoQvi_GbTMibl3MsSRUAR8ImO6aCLntx8y_Dxv6x88H2Z3XGmEkIrFM9zXqKSM0b9lzQ6IG6V057FIQiZQdewgjt0H4SGomIewuxdg/s1200/PXL_20231217_035919801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguq86zRmffEn7TCfd8LO7gG8oycCHAwsj9QTkmqrPPn1v10_Ky_fa5b9Mfix-qGbZBUlWwh50nV79N31N874_d-FoQvi_GbTMibl3MsSRUAR8ImO6aCLntx8y_Dxv6x88H2Z3XGmEkIrFM9zXqKSM0b9lzQ6IG6V057FIQiZQdewgjt0H4SGomIewuxdg/w225-h400/PXL_20231217_035919801.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd survived!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It was a total of 13h3m on the ice - 12h13m in goal - with 5h40m of that in the final 5-day stretch. Oh, and did I mention I ended up in a run streak while all this was happening? I ran every day from Saturday, December 22nd until yesterday: Thursday, January 4th, with double runs on December 24th and 27th. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWUJ5pg4MTJGR_Kf4TPBHOEzRcYwhN9uRNER9CHTDCwj2YlzEnrXVfPCCAGlxY5vKIqvvku6bm2X4A8aDpH_CMyLOk0ffmQYYGO8XlMFNjHgbna87Dzp6XvdTO0CZ3fTyEqdLlvKh6K5oXtHvUEpjyt-qFNMpTAHIwZs3DP0LjDbOQamFt494__1ga20/s2688/PXL_20231223_201016189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWUJ5pg4MTJGR_Kf4TPBHOEzRcYwhN9uRNER9CHTDCwj2YlzEnrXVfPCCAGlxY5vKIqvvku6bm2X4A8aDpH_CMyLOk0ffmQYYGO8XlMFNjHgbna87Dzp6XvdTO0CZ3fTyEqdLlvKh6K5oXtHvUEpjyt-qFNMpTAHIwZs3DP0LjDbOQamFt494__1ga20/w225-h400/PXL_20231223_201016189.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot that the 29th was a Friday, so just went out for a run as usual</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Distance wasn't much - only a total of 70.5km from Dec 22-31, and another 23.6km since, so less than 100km total - but still a fair bit of stress on my poor, beat-up body. The longest run was only 12.75km, but it was right before the back-to-back stick & puck and pickup game!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsvA4Ae811ZfanCViAFoOe4tUXulHOaXivXu3ztWBPUVj6EA5jIoJcyjcuGUzxE7IGaF6j5PpdoQpaNWj0BJxjkgnxMB7T_SVS3Js9PDQJOdMtwqX_4CwcnWB8AgTujSzt8NZM0rsTuz0e5GQHtx_vhgcx9rsxQKv74gm3TIAvI15RMFkCwDqQnQy730/s1200/original_c84acdeb-1b05-463b-8f5b-c30a02f7a1a9_PXL_20231225_184616616~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="704" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsvA4Ae811ZfanCViAFoOe4tUXulHOaXivXu3ztWBPUVj6EA5jIoJcyjcuGUzxE7IGaF6j5PpdoQpaNWj0BJxjkgnxMB7T_SVS3Js9PDQJOdMtwqX_4CwcnWB8AgTujSzt8NZM0rsTuz0e5GQHtx_vhgcx9rsxQKv74gm3TIAvI15RMFkCwDqQnQy730/w235-h400/original_c84acdeb-1b05-463b-8f5b-c30a02f7a1a9_PXL_20231225_184616616~2.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There may also have been some shenanigans on the trails</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>So I've taken this week off of hockey to let things heal - though I did keep running - and will be back to regular league play on Sunday. Will I be able to channel all of this work into better performance on the ice for my team? I have my doubts - I'm kind of awful, as the linked videos amply demonstrate - but at least I can have some fun!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKv6rznm0ncn4C5Ac4SmRZsIzGLCUwhQ9xmLiVvBUFJ503KZ-YC_UMSAWNupycfrAYJjGnaMyhBGhhLbGlXXcZdB4rzNqCNmx6Tly8ItsDSx6zuWgWSDDn9nWkOJ4owNZQ_LFlFeSsK0jft5DLrjGkJfgdeDPHIhTaTrGR8H0gIw1NU81wevrbaNSqos/s1200/PXL_20231231_194842501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKv6rznm0ncn4C5Ac4SmRZsIzGLCUwhQ9xmLiVvBUFJ503KZ-YC_UMSAWNupycfrAYJjGnaMyhBGhhLbGlXXcZdB4rzNqCNmx6Tly8ItsDSx6zuWgWSDDn9nWkOJ4owNZQ_LFlFeSsK0jft5DLrjGkJfgdeDPHIhTaTrGR8H0gIw1NU81wevrbaNSqos/w240-h400/PXL_20231231_194842501.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and have the world's cutest bodyguard for my gear</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Happy new year, friends! Hope the holidays were kind to you, and 2024 brings you all that you desire!</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-54872027209113603112023-12-15T21:41:00.004-05:002023-12-15T21:41:57.530-05:00Calories in<p> This is the time of year that some people dread.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg307bDXIT3NfRXwQXZIr3IAcmJv3urRyTCs836Ak5tI44AJOpsAKq1YGLb9Dz9xDWWgeJARnjGsBfeguBezzA5F732Ib5ybtqjUNyY7rOj8QQgtR-50bZVhuYO70gj0QXPolTCMRISfDlZZMK1a8vwVfykoHEJ9d3Y-u9ifNCzup89-goHrxJ20l-tjjQ/s1200/PXL_20231213_195202131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg307bDXIT3NfRXwQXZIr3IAcmJv3urRyTCs836Ak5tI44AJOpsAKq1YGLb9Dz9xDWWgeJARnjGsBfeguBezzA5F732Ib5ybtqjUNyY7rOj8QQgtR-50bZVhuYO70gj0QXPolTCMRISfDlZZMK1a8vwVfykoHEJ9d3Y-u9ifNCzup89-goHrxJ20l-tjjQ/w400-h223/PXL_20231213_195202131.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though it doesn't really look like it yet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The holiday season brings all sorts of delicious temptations: eggnog, cookies, fruitcake, big dinners with all the fixings, with nuts and chocolates and candy seemingly all around us.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSyjxivGErfSc4TbAfye85GpQsnKZBUWmMOwY9OBCGKa-3dJwn00v8ougPLGvsd56wHgTp5Q2TxJprGUET43eXyyII868DQFGfFWjJLl3ms4vTw2_IyBdQbASeDimrtl-cpK-uqCoeAQVrGJbx139E_evG9x48dzPcNueg78MgYPRSMDwGaA5-8fu3wQ/s1200/PXL_20231209_161620508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWSyjxivGErfSc4TbAfye85GpQsnKZBUWmMOwY9OBCGKa-3dJwn00v8ougPLGvsd56wHgTp5Q2TxJprGUET43eXyyII868DQFGfFWjJLl3ms4vTw2_IyBdQbASeDimrtl-cpK-uqCoeAQVrGJbx139E_evG9x48dzPcNueg78MgYPRSMDwGaA5-8fu3wQ/w225-h400/PXL_20231209_161620508.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's enough to make you want to run away!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>You'll also encounter any number of strategies to manage all of these "extra calories" - charts showing you how much you need to run to burn off various foods, or lower-calorie substitutions to choose instead of rich foods.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wnBPYSZHaTUc0arlVy_z-jV3AZjY7SSf62epkPWC2Y6e-E5Uq1zC0nUS6vvDTAsIFPBjxOx8ZpZmkAugZTgurcDr4c1ZTL2xyYNQPu88-XCfB8bH7s689oV1lelwap0uk_2V4Uio5_odStPXnkV8vNlJLy7tk2F2kiJzejyPsZUt5HurgiesiMObZww/s1200/PXL_20231210_200948088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wnBPYSZHaTUc0arlVy_z-jV3AZjY7SSf62epkPWC2Y6e-E5Uq1zC0nUS6vvDTAsIFPBjxOx8ZpZmkAugZTgurcDr4c1ZTL2xyYNQPu88-XCfB8bH7s689oV1lelwap0uk_2V4Uio5_odStPXnkV8vNlJLy7tk2F2kiJzejyPsZUt5HurgiesiMObZww/w400-h225/PXL_20231210_200948088.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like mushrooms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now listen to me carefully here: if you are someone who is training hard - running every day, or lifting or cycling or otherwise sweating and striving to meet your goals - I want you to throw all of that "don't indulge over the holidays" nonsense right out the window. Unless you're taking time off from training, your focus should always be on eating <i style="font-weight: bold;">enough</i> instead of too much.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdgs82xB6YIziD21_bgu5RM8gQZlDRlnUz4wj_l9GSUpkuHHaFF55UDvUZlUsnZMc45Nupz6EV6xLP2oGWROiMdmZWiSCIEfQ-FJUup7vgi_2CpQcO2w1DjrnEdb37YSWIEd7CgPFUk370-8cVu7AsDMmK-FaZthLP_HNB6orfCeP93e2u9kE6FO1JRw/s1200/PXL_20231209_162436303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1200" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdgs82xB6YIziD21_bgu5RM8gQZlDRlnUz4wj_l9GSUpkuHHaFF55UDvUZlUsnZMc45Nupz6EV6xLP2oGWROiMdmZWiSCIEfQ-FJUup7vgi_2CpQcO2w1DjrnEdb37YSWIEd7CgPFUk370-8cVu7AsDMmK-FaZthLP_HNB6orfCeP93e2u9kE6FO1JRw/w400-h339/PXL_20231209_162436303.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Only eat what you can forage" is <i style="font-weight: bold;">terrible</i> advice for most of the people who would read this blog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you don't provide your body with adequate calories to rebuild from the breakdown that occurs during training - because let's face it, you are <i style="font-weight: bold;">absolutely </i>doing damage when you train with purpose, because that's how you get stronger - then you open the door for illness, overtraining, and injury.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45GoWnE3MpdrCka96RfshQGs75KuyzcacdCToS_91PHZy5pkQnAlTobW70PFssqKX4CcgWVGPa6i9eIjAmgdaj_hLMdduLSjL7OuFslNT5t7bqDL-w7WcpFjQNd4jvDTSt0qKd5pvz2qmYHyRNrcRrT7yk1D4hnQ_d5LzgsgZVLnrPJfN9sHdPI6bWcU/s1200/PXL_20231212_222625043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45GoWnE3MpdrCka96RfshQGs75KuyzcacdCToS_91PHZy5pkQnAlTobW70PFssqKX4CcgWVGPa6i9eIjAmgdaj_hLMdduLSjL7OuFslNT5t7bqDL-w7WcpFjQNd4jvDTSt0qKd5pvz2qmYHyRNrcRrT7yk1D4hnQ_d5LzgsgZVLnrPJfN9sHdPI6bWcU/w400-h225/PXL_20231212_222625043.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't make the rules - them's the brakes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As for weight gain, my experience over the past year has showed me that focusing on eating <i style="font-weight: bold;">enough</i> has led to me averaging a lower overall weight since spring than I have in recent memory - at least half a decade - and improving my recovery time after hard workouts. You need to give your body the materials it needs to repair damaged muscle tissue so it can rebuild it stronger than it was before.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZQN6VwW13rX357ikzS5VcKVKiCJol49F7nNY97-xaknd0TjxGbvNUhD93UQTnSjmY7T2XZnf7wz1imfrn1QPrvN0Qs8vOQ_KyAzCs-A2nl2Cn-WEYOqqQpfJuSiXf4xLyaSgJ3fWAnVdl12Dqa7LokWoVznq73R0gpbZtJV3YnDQ3VayMqYiMcrSSu4/s1200/PXL_20231213_194228190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="863" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZQN6VwW13rX357ikzS5VcKVKiCJol49F7nNY97-xaknd0TjxGbvNUhD93UQTnSjmY7T2XZnf7wz1imfrn1QPrvN0Qs8vOQ_KyAzCs-A2nl2Cn-WEYOqqQpfJuSiXf4xLyaSgJ3fWAnVdl12Dqa7LokWoVznq73R0gpbZtJV3YnDQ3VayMqYiMcrSSu4/w288-h400/PXL_20231213_194228190.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating lots of plants for nutrients is good, but makes it very hard to get enough calories to properly fuel yourself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you feel like you're too busy to eat enough each day, there are strategies you can employ to help with that. Many people have success with meal prepping: making large batches of dishes that can be stored for a quick meal later on. You can also cook in a way that multi-tasks: chop a bunch of veggies and throw them on a baking sheet with some sausages or chicken legs, then go for a run or workout while it's in the oven. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvV0qZIJuO6GH0v17HX-ForlwynI0XFOoeenjpfmBrgw6aIkMGiMHbJAy_OyRG5zpOirgejaZ6GJKl1VnVjzLcJNIhtJ-POTMp0Pwam0mhYEik9LEB7m4Q4ckmqyPPo7efjNOweSV6b5Q5GiveVMqVISmrRQdSfuCiNnZosfGudtxylmcEtcHNQP4JKQ/s1200/PXL_20231212_032746568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1200" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvV0qZIJuO6GH0v17HX-ForlwynI0XFOoeenjpfmBrgw6aIkMGiMHbJAy_OyRG5zpOirgejaZ6GJKl1VnVjzLcJNIhtJ-POTMp0Pwam0mhYEik9LEB7m4Q4ckmqyPPo7efjNOweSV6b5Q5GiveVMqVISmrRQdSfuCiNnZosfGudtxylmcEtcHNQP4JKQ/w400-h214/PXL_20231212_032746568.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pull it out and let it rest while you change/shower/whatever, then dig in!<br />Lining the baking sheet with foil or parchment paper makes cleanup easier</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If nothing else works, just buy yourself a big box of your favourite cereal. If you're still hungry before bed, have a bowl. Or a cookie. Or some eggnog. What you're eating is less important - as long as you're getting some vegetables in there daily - than <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> you're eating. Of course there are protein shakes and nutritional supplement bars and all that sort of stuff too: if it's appealing and accessible for you, go ahead! I keep things pretty simple, though - you don't need anything engineered, you just need food.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw5SIFlgYY3vmiFVoxbaD-dFl2xci-23ecFf8NYZHquj9agaRIVvr31erYBvfYYbYD-Bh2mal_f7OHMPcdNFIJvohCN-sWKV7LF_xRpE82qA6Q5K7OldsBVBWP_ia1SizaMy0GLb3cA5rxkRCqGBT-IyD1MU6ljBKbTz_PjQO-WlWPoNEsI6Z0TaMc3c/s1200/PXL_20231213_200737561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1200" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw5SIFlgYY3vmiFVoxbaD-dFl2xci-23ecFf8NYZHquj9agaRIVvr31erYBvfYYbYD-Bh2mal_f7OHMPcdNFIJvohCN-sWKV7LF_xRpE82qA6Q5K7OldsBVBWP_ia1SizaMy0GLb3cA5rxkRCqGBT-IyD1MU6ljBKbTz_PjQO-WlWPoNEsI6Z0TaMc3c/w400-h284/PXL_20231213_200737561.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do have a habit of routing my lunch runs from the office past a cafƩ that has allergen-free baked goods, though, and running the last half mile with a cookie or muffin in hand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Of course if you're trying to get leaner, it becomes a more delicate equation...but nothing will ruin your body composition goals like becoming injured due to inadequate food intake, and being unable to train to reach your goals. If you're reducing calories without reducing training, do so with caution, and try a very small deficit (with a big dash of patience) to avoid causing health issues.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cDlS2pXI-2H40DXhZjft1D2cuf0sXtxgtu8Xv2BFfbp6u_EDcg8xoQj0kFOWhzACVctkn7iGLFgdi2Ley8E51OQSq-q8nsVluFX0Th9MtHn8eNVc_baQs1EMl9YVecbWIF9MV_I9_F0G0bchjZsnkO_aNMXFnEFO5bfvQu2SVWguDELsfPaPc4DIopc/s1200/PXL_20231210_200359397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cDlS2pXI-2H40DXhZjft1D2cuf0sXtxgtu8Xv2BFfbp6u_EDcg8xoQj0kFOWhzACVctkn7iGLFgdi2Ley8E51OQSq-q8nsVluFX0Th9MtHn8eNVc_baQs1EMl9YVecbWIF9MV_I9_F0G0bchjZsnkO_aNMXFnEFO5bfvQu2SVWguDELsfPaPc4DIopc/w400-h225/PXL_20231210_200359397.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weight loss should never be approached as a sprint</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you genuinely enjoy the healthy substitutes for highly caloric foods or beverages, then absolutely consume them instead - especially if it's a matter of food allergies, about which I know entirely too much! However don't let some article (or person) shame you out of an indulgence that gives you joy: eat the cookie, or drink the hot chocolate, and know that you never need to feel guilt for fueling your body or savouring something delicious.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga8AitnJmy8pDrNOT-J_FHuDXtyka_WJjWyBli9ZM9DJz8XRtQO_-5FQnjExgWogBx6eVG5ieaKS7KQy4v85eQVBod0PdOhHgPfNqnmXoEXoxdMb2bXlNwUUwANw52j4JRCfVBdavaEy2BYd3DA9JXhr4J4JXueindcljuJY2UQSZrJ9gavuyVTzr-6I/s1200/PXL_20231214_223648012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjga8AitnJmy8pDrNOT-J_FHuDXtyka_WJjWyBli9ZM9DJz8XRtQO_-5FQnjExgWogBx6eVG5ieaKS7KQy4v85eQVBod0PdOhHgPfNqnmXoEXoxdMb2bXlNwUUwANw52j4JRCfVBdavaEy2BYd3DA9JXhr4J4JXueindcljuJY2UQSZrJ9gavuyVTzr-6I/w400-h225/PXL_20231214_223648012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end of the day, we're not professional athletes with millions of dollars riding on our performance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So be kind to yourself, and have some fun with the life you have right now - I guarantee it will be better if you allow your body the food it needs to help you shine!</p>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-85742281978639089252023-12-08T23:35:00.003-05:002023-12-14T13:46:05.478-05:00Three Days in the Park 48hr - Friday, October 13th, 2023 - Part 2<p> ..and we're back!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKa-XhfWMfun3eapo1RNhmh131wO4_hOtcU2BtfIJr6JRkYKvBoIb-7VCQ6xpTzvLOZXY4JR9dyiHbQPL791UPuVWsztTWT19Jqd9Ls9oTXaNRwb9Pf_AKNQX2zVSLAa28099LDIBIQYCQAZn6z2id9YWnah-q6y8o_h3n_VALXlEzLw6mJ8gvtIGZDg/s1200/PXL_20231015_100825816.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKa-XhfWMfun3eapo1RNhmh131wO4_hOtcU2BtfIJr6JRkYKvBoIb-7VCQ6xpTzvLOZXY4JR9dyiHbQPL791UPuVWsztTWT19Jqd9Ls9oTXaNRwb9Pf_AKNQX2zVSLAa28099LDIBIQYCQAZn6z2id9YWnah-q6y8o_h3n_VALXlEzLw6mJ8gvtIGZDg/w400-h223/PXL_20231015_100825816.NIGHT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24hrs and 109km down - 24hrs left to go<br />(<a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/11/three-days-in-park-48hr-friday-october.html">Part 1 is here if you want to start from the beginning</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/11/three-days-in-park-48hr-friday-october.html">When last we met</a>, I'd just got up from a nap to find someone's leftovers on the trail, and the overnight rain had just ended. Ron Gehl had returned from his day at home (after a rough night Thursday in the 72hr that led to him leaving mid-day Friday; I'd been the only one on course for about 22hrs now), having slept for 11.5hrs and warmed up sufficiently to give it another shot, and Merlin had come out to run the 24hr as a way to test nutrition strategies for a future 100mi attempt. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a6F0Yw3gpvX6VYej59Oc_ZU8HOE2yI7bb5lcn04h0VqXaFHpZ9GaB7x6l9dhm6RqdwBK0obEquOvmLLyhufBZZZvn2XNxdJyqj7caI9tP1JmazN5ijji0lfEfbVr6Qx4xohVFiXFdA_kxBdOHf66-xHPkTZCGl5NwedNG0ivlFOmNqrpHnjEKxNKZMY/s1200/PXL_20231014_124825275.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a6F0Yw3gpvX6VYej59Oc_ZU8HOE2yI7bb5lcn04h0VqXaFHpZ9GaB7x6l9dhm6RqdwBK0obEquOvmLLyhufBZZZvn2XNxdJyqj7caI9tP1JmazN5ijji0lfEfbVr6Qx4xohVFiXFdA_kxBdOHf66-xHPkTZCGl5NwedNG0ivlFOmNqrpHnjEKxNKZMY/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_124825275.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So now I had some company as I poled my way around</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The morning remained overcast and the forecast predicted rain would continue, so I'd layered up the same as the overnight (in fact, I hadn't really changed when I went for a nap; I slept in the same grid fleece base layer shirt and sweater, and even the same tubular gaiter over my ears. I had put on a fresh pair of tights before the nap, and just slapped on the fleece skirt, hat, and water-resistant jacket before heading out the tent door), hoping the hill wouldn't get too much more slippery with two extra pairs of feet now out there to squelch the wet into the dirt.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE2HYIzrvxVodOAB-d3Z1o5piqDuchNjCrKbuWMEKregqZ0KP26cNYHi5BsDWd-86TwEtOXvxIVVrauEw2wEG7jen8K4RRxOraSo_apyGVcwaK77lf2hwqTbz552yi-Jj6Cnl9ONy242PPCUZauCvWf5MO1xVEueuIJoFFgXMwa0xWo2haVjPzRf1QH0/s1200/PXL_20231014_130803825.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE2HYIzrvxVodOAB-d3Z1o5piqDuchNjCrKbuWMEKregqZ0KP26cNYHi5BsDWd-86TwEtOXvxIVVrauEw2wEG7jen8K4RRxOraSo_apyGVcwaK77lf2hwqTbz552yi-Jj6Cnl9ONy242PPCUZauCvWf5MO1xVEueuIJoFFgXMwa0xWo2haVjPzRf1QH0/w298-h400/PXL_20231014_130803825.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the daylight I could see a couple of spots where my foot had slipped in the mud the night before</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Morning had brought more dog walkers: this time a woman with no less than two large off-leash dogs, who came absolutely pelting at me as I turned into the Endor loop. They had no recall at all, and one of them - while excitedly running past me - cracked me right on the shin with its back leg. I don't blame the dog, but it hurt and I may have said something rather sharp to the woman.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6BSe4vLgb87j2myypCdsJ8MC1rbbcwYzhjhzicwjL9vPUn8tVr4w9gNcMfOxSjKmzgiIacM1XXsmO0zmFs6RQT1R_MsmO00xt4xSDxVBLEk6nyYJEjauCjl8wjPC6M2_B7g94xiKNIXCNEzX_gdMH1IBZheYlcIWDfK494xyYCVODEHIVGZqZqsfjcY/s1200/PXL_20231013_200813988.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="879" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6BSe4vLgb87j2myypCdsJ8MC1rbbcwYzhjhzicwjL9vPUn8tVr4w9gNcMfOxSjKmzgiIacM1XXsmO0zmFs6RQT1R_MsmO00xt4xSDxVBLEk6nyYJEjauCjl8wjPC6M2_B7g94xiKNIXCNEzX_gdMH1IBZheYlcIWDfK494xyYCVODEHIVGZqZqsfjcY/w293-h400/PXL_20231013_200813988.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had enough to worry about just trying to keep moving and not trip over stuff on the trail, like this little fellow I call the Scary Stump</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p>I did try running a little, but my knees immediately said NOPE - the pressure on them was unbearable when I'd land, so it looked like Saturday would be an all-day hike. Forward is forward, though: with no-one else in the 48hr it's not like I was in competition with anything except for my own bodily breakdown, and since I've never done a 48hr before it would automatically be a PR distance.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWfWsc4FlMIHd9-NHmLWmflA9hHAe-a827vUocEwHLqdc-n57ELl5nQkSSRSXMiaH9J3y2wTHr5krgWhHXBpSOjT_AkJCSStIIpwG2GXsjoyV9L3775puN0uBtJhBmUIAlKdqwJLmY5gGC3H0BmNockHH-MPkW6FTSyqva9WPUhUrfe7dkIi7V2KCdU4/s1200/PXL_20231014_124818069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="840" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWfWsc4FlMIHd9-NHmLWmflA9hHAe-a827vUocEwHLqdc-n57ELl5nQkSSRSXMiaH9J3y2wTHr5krgWhHXBpSOjT_AkJCSStIIpwG2GXsjoyV9L3775puN0uBtJhBmUIAlKdqwJLmY5gGC3H0BmNockHH-MPkW6FTSyqva9WPUhUrfe7dkIi7V2KCdU4/w280-h400/PXL_20231014_124818069.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have had "Just walk the mile that's in front of you" written on a piece of tape stuck on the top of one of the big plastic totes I use for bringing gear to these events since I did <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/10/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">the 72hr in 2021</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The temperature came up a bit from 7c overnight to around 10c, but the wind was rising as well. Fortunately it blew some of the cloud away, and a bit of blue sky began to peek through before 10am.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmoilVkQ2q7Y0OYxdEucUFFeyw3I-csnXr4_bUuZdMGJjdDWTYfxsJnZWiT0KD1L837Z3Z92xvJqRYLP8EowXKDmVUJoLV7k2Edoh6o45Y0P0INXPCo308nGpCk_f-9KTXhCR8lx1TlJufnZ_my7kuluNh0NI8x4EZJYHD3RZc9UKnx-pFVbomMffEQQ/s1200/PXL_20231014_135307693.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmoilVkQ2q7Y0OYxdEucUFFeyw3I-csnXr4_bUuZdMGJjdDWTYfxsJnZWiT0KD1L837Z3Z92xvJqRYLP8EowXKDmVUJoLV7k2Edoh6o45Y0P0INXPCo308nGpCk_f-9KTXhCR8lx1TlJufnZ_my7kuluNh0NI8x4EZJYHD3RZc9UKnx-pFVbomMffEQQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_135307693.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron out and about, just having stepped over the deadfall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was nice to see that the combination of footsteps and rain had repaired much of the damage done to the trail <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/11/three-days-in-park-48hr-friday-october.html">the previous evening</a> by the kids on dirt bikes: their tire tracks had basically been obliterated in the Endor loop, so you'd never really know they'd been there except a bit of a hole (that Gary had kicked a bunch of dirt into, patching it up) by the fallen logs that had stymied them at the end of the loop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9zPJb1DyJeRYd9vjHXmfVghdTBGtfXXz68sK5mQNYhyy-WJVTbJOSjLjwLkIb-IDdYhsVFKd9itnSjJ0I2mrMzY5KdZDxfm3lMi5xoJd9rydW4LmqKaxGig1QY1qZpQFuqtQQCFq17U_wBhPKgNe6MncrECufgRWNQytFpu9uAUahrNN9yHwm9Tx3Q/s1350/endor.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1350" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggv9zPJb1DyJeRYd9vjHXmfVghdTBGtfXXz68sK5mQNYhyy-WJVTbJOSjLjwLkIb-IDdYhsVFKd9itnSjJ0I2mrMzY5KdZDxfm3lMi5xoJd9rydW4LmqKaxGig1QY1qZpQFuqtQQCFq17U_wBhPKgNe6MncrECufgRWNQytFpu9uAUahrNN9yHwm9Tx3Q/w400-h355/endor.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can also see that the knobby tire tore a bunch of new splinters off the lower fallen log</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I wasn't feeling particularly Star Wars-y, and wanted more pockets - the jacket I wore overnight only has one on the chest; same with the sweater I wore beneath it, making it inconvenient to carry both snacks and my phone. I did eat a big oatmeal raisin cookie around 10am, just munching it back as I walked toward the portajohns; it was pretty easy to take in calories at any point since I wasn't trying to run anymore. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi738K25xoGYk2ygMEUrQwIBeQ-TjfFvFzodqiDujS9pQ8QEgEAgDk1qEBMMS-GD2cFI3HK0r7DXlDOji-yZ2nxMCCiGh2O21SxeVr7VSE9J1YDAPxgf4T8h5WxQzDfMT-z5PbI5OEENuQV26ysZBsehpkDg94cS2133dAEaZTF1VslrrWusoieiARqsd8/s1200/PXL_20231014_125729944.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="860" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi738K25xoGYk2ygMEUrQwIBeQ-TjfFvFzodqiDujS9pQ8QEgEAgDk1qEBMMS-GD2cFI3HK0r7DXlDOji-yZ2nxMCCiGh2O21SxeVr7VSE9J1YDAPxgf4T8h5WxQzDfMT-z5PbI5OEENuQV26ysZBsehpkDg94cS2133dAEaZTF1VslrrWusoieiARqsd8/w286-h400/PXL_20231014_125729944.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had even moved more to stepping sideways over the deadfall and alternating my lead leg, to change up muscle recruitment</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was experimenting with just using my hand bottle for fluids instead of putting on <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/06/upgrading.html">my little vest</a> (which I bought specifically for <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/10/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">the 72hr</a> so I could hold a bottle hands-free), hoping it would help me remember to drink more - I find the bottle in my vest kind of easy to forget about or ignore, and dehydration wouldn't help anything. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioo5vboEjvgElJ0QX0yFmEcFaEEKqwGcgeoJjfGsB24sD3xfhCmdOl852OuEZlu_Zvh_CiOOXn2x_iMEMkT1mKvFaA7A8t4u4if8q6WmFIRLDySG2CcFdLZAJ_uytSTpIHPmcjqC1tbZH4RoakwUosl_dGsEJLko_bKJdygKsp6fzrT9SAnPbe_RoIKE/s1200/PXL_20231014_135758480.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioo5vboEjvgElJ0QX0yFmEcFaEEKqwGcgeoJjfGsB24sD3xfhCmdOl852OuEZlu_Zvh_CiOOXn2x_iMEMkT1mKvFaA7A8t4u4if8q6WmFIRLDySG2CcFdLZAJ_uytSTpIHPmcjqC1tbZH4RoakwUosl_dGsEJLko_bKJdygKsp6fzrT9SAnPbe_RoIKE/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_135758480.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was looking rather more pleasant out now, too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The lack of pockets might lead to me not eating enough, so - with it now looking much less like it might rain any moment - I switched up to my Boba Fett wind jacket before 11am.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4G3Qw6sjcpw_qlr7soHdBSRdd3CQeUX63hjkWVySEDUpCFoqCQ9oN8vIdtxwwIgc3BMv78FX8rXzzfIugBTyhvaNvG6ZXAGoksJJXktcFvm6DWASuYxJBtXdrC5WzIWBZi-DasDQhlVYSalR1H2_UYYctH8W3yUvxxykI_2cQ1yViSLk0DSKFnom7to/s1200/PXL_20231014_144535036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4G3Qw6sjcpw_qlr7soHdBSRdd3CQeUX63hjkWVySEDUpCFoqCQ9oN8vIdtxwwIgc3BMv78FX8rXzzfIugBTyhvaNvG6ZXAGoksJJXktcFvm6DWASuYxJBtXdrC5WzIWBZi-DasDQhlVYSalR1H2_UYYctH8W3yUvxxykI_2cQ1yViSLk0DSKFnom7to/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_144535036.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, I was even able to ventilate a little in the emerging sun!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Speaking of eating enough: I had made sure to bring 4 eggs and a mess of shoulder bacon with us, as I had figured Tank could cook himself up some breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning. Now that Saturday morning was actually here, I realized that we'd really just be packing up on Sunday (as the event ended at 9am), and I was <i style="font-weight: bold;">hungry</i>. I talked to Tank between loops, and asked if he could pretty please make us some bacon and eggs? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywcj7t93KAFWaBbSxT9_iFw5TOCVyAQRrWp7E-BzqtLXt5cPNWys8sEicnnzRcRpMGPvKEAaCz5nY73zn0xMPvdhJhwaputXhxBCisVlAPaoUkiw0R0RtqmmQAPhDjhGbPhjeipnc2W0VuEWE4uUFQgJhLhoGm6Urzofndgcvp7XWteacq0CA33yMrzo/s1200/PXL_20231014_144552048.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywcj7t93KAFWaBbSxT9_iFw5TOCVyAQRrWp7E-BzqtLXt5cPNWys8sEicnnzRcRpMGPvKEAaCz5nY73zn0xMPvdhJhwaputXhxBCisVlAPaoUkiw0R0RtqmmQAPhDjhGbPhjeipnc2W0VuEWE4uUFQgJhLhoGm6Urzofndgcvp7XWteacq0CA33yMrzo/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_144552048.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had just finished my 65th loop - about 114km</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>He had to wait a few minutes for one of the other volunteers to cover marking laps, but by the time I got in from my 66th he was busy over the stove making bacon!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_cEXwO0HwB2uE3kLKGIQg2BFH33lAmJRo2CjzGrlqnDMRKl1ZQwlWMEM8X_tel6AVCRiQEmTHdAVIzkPem6v0M-rSvF5SQQRd6QMNcaZM0ZRS1ZtZvlN_v6p95i5X97WlTKlFuA78vOe8J1geNFVyt416_bFbHgkya85LlxeOquGKYpWtw1LmPgTHD4/s1200/PXL_20231014_144656503.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_cEXwO0HwB2uE3kLKGIQg2BFH33lAmJRo2CjzGrlqnDMRKl1ZQwlWMEM8X_tel6AVCRiQEmTHdAVIzkPem6v0M-rSvF5SQQRd6QMNcaZM0ZRS1ZtZvlN_v6p95i5X97WlTKlFuA78vOe8J1geNFVyt416_bFbHgkya85LlxeOquGKYpWtw1LmPgTHD4/w251-h400/PXL_20231014_144656503.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That man is a keeper!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I would have gone for another lap while he made eggs, but I stopped (at 66 laps/~116km) for a couple of reasons: first, I knew I'd be gone close to 20mins if I did, at which point there's no way things would still be hot. Second, poor Tank needed the portajohn, and we never leave the stove running while it's unattended for safety reasons. So, I hung out and made eggs for both of us.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqpqcGIVdgFCdJRy9IANs-sJGdHu8V0QmUqM1y94Z5gpIwCgR_kLvwXg2ICDlYHJDtuBpve9CoaliA47ha2FOyxrphM3t9DjuWUrUc1sLHA901xlthju0j7iHIgWnVIK4SdzRPkXvOePepgtMNfb9B9xmL8Jz8lSiSAQJImK_jdPztfTuELN81PJHLzU/s1163/breffus.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1163" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqpqcGIVdgFCdJRy9IANs-sJGdHu8V0QmUqM1y94Z5gpIwCgR_kLvwXg2ICDlYHJDtuBpve9CoaliA47ha2FOyxrphM3t9DjuWUrUc1sLHA901xlthju0j7iHIgWnVIK4SdzRPkXvOePepgtMNfb9B9xmL8Jz8lSiSAQJImK_jdPztfTuELN81PJHLzU/w400-h184/breffus.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then loaded up my bacon & eggs on a piece of bread with a bit of mayonnaise, because I was looking for a <b><i>meal</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As it turned out, there was still some coffee left in the thermos from Friday night as well, so I washed down my brunch with a cup.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxkLJiSows2imxWgNlYdL_RwvKlXc5J7uqbjVrsHv9AbB_4kF1fBLs1voQxaucdNSaIpHTgxlQecGT8vdN-w3-8JaLpRIQXqmLJ2dG1SoYWqUTiO3uEDWOdwuU6vcqtXWBcxFUr_o85jgRum8Eozc8r0PYydEWPOWRflp-5jrsS7YZrFbWt-g1Qs-SVw/s1200/PXL_20231014_151531020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxkLJiSows2imxWgNlYdL_RwvKlXc5J7uqbjVrsHv9AbB_4kF1fBLs1voQxaucdNSaIpHTgxlQecGT8vdN-w3-8JaLpRIQXqmLJ2dG1SoYWqUTiO3uEDWOdwuU6vcqtXWBcxFUr_o85jgRum8Eozc8r0PYydEWPOWRflp-5jrsS7YZrFbWt-g1Qs-SVw/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_151531020.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still fairly hot, too - let it be known that a <i style="font-weight: bold;">really good </i>thermos is a huge asset for stupidly long events!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was nice to sit down out of the wind, too: possibly entirely too nice, as I was off course for another three quarters of an hour! That did include some light cookery, that delicious cup of coffee, and the most minor of wardrobe changes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbemQoz6PWDRGvY4qpAd5ZMsFH5TR-PgyyuIP0fxGnrxWx8uwT2KeDNslnsdVhAgHMMLUHEEOuHlRlieIyHzN3phKTKMdxtuBkoPIgkKxVaLSaYFzGFIFBKSJMXtIx5Yu2nvqhsT3rcnQmW_RpgmJzMOqS0jC3yfoTwAXJrnVGa0Yio0TaQ_VOLRaaYVk/s1200/PXL_20231014_154028520.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbemQoz6PWDRGvY4qpAd5ZMsFH5TR-PgyyuIP0fxGnrxWx8uwT2KeDNslnsdVhAgHMMLUHEEOuHlRlieIyHzN3phKTKMdxtuBkoPIgkKxVaLSaYFzGFIFBKSJMXtIx5Yu2nvqhsT3rcnQmW_RpgmJzMOqS0jC3yfoTwAXJrnVGa0Yio0TaQ_VOLRaaYVk/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_154028520.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got my stormtrooper hat back on!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The forecast continued to predict rain, and the wind kept blowing in nasty-looking clouds: I kept saying to myself that it may start coming down any moment, but then it would suddenly clear to sunshine again. I just adjusted the zips on my jacket and sweater as I felt too warm or too cool, which often happened on the same lap: no matter how easy I tried to go, I'd always end up with a bloom of heat in my chest after climbing the big stinkin' hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QbNCof-iINZC_phRrUYIxDecoZYAGocamnPM79pOBICvVj3TdRg2Z5OgZAP2zy8i4E88Cc65GlWMylUJGhlZOhE5_3oMedHcEeY6v2bUZDrbdkku-rmV5r2j86kjingCOWZdmqM7Rj3EYqUYe9gkrtDO1Y6TcpNnCSqf5En4hAOS_RSjnXkFBBKsBiY/s2688/PXL_20231014_130955120.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QbNCof-iINZC_phRrUYIxDecoZYAGocamnPM79pOBICvVj3TdRg2Z5OgZAP2zy8i4E88Cc65GlWMylUJGhlZOhE5_3oMedHcEeY6v2bUZDrbdkku-rmV5r2j86kjingCOWZdmqM7Rj3EYqUYe9gkrtDO1Y6TcpNnCSqf5En4hAOS_RSjnXkFBBKsBiY/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_130955120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which was nice, before reaching the wind-blasted field</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The wind did actually help with one thing: despite the lack of sun, it dried out the bottom of the hill enough that traction was no longer an issue. I kept the pole, though, as my legs were definitely not improving, and it was a great help in getting up the climbs. I made about 118km by noon, just trucking along at what I'll generously term a "power hike" while Merlin and Ron ran and shuffled and generally moved much faster than I was able to. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXimT9LbNlYWlgrSVY4M1wovA9z8ocxuEK9fqy6zP0avWsEFiNX-fH3c8KyQnFEiHlYNaZSZleU4LQWUIeH-dAOkLJNhpsNh4J22D9sDFcv5oMCdXVRXv2a5vjgJ2OqusA-jJ1VL2Ptf8Mw9AhY6DybnOcupJxEICAeJlpT5sQ3JmmLZu-EI-roB-STDo/s1000/PXL_20231014_172912426.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXimT9LbNlYWlgrSVY4M1wovA9z8ocxuEK9fqy6zP0avWsEFiNX-fH3c8KyQnFEiHlYNaZSZleU4LQWUIeH-dAOkLJNhpsNh4J22D9sDFcv5oMCdXVRXv2a5vjgJ2OqusA-jJ1VL2Ptf8Mw9AhY6DybnOcupJxEICAeJlpT5sQ3JmmLZu-EI-roB-STDo/w358-h400/PXL_20231014_172912426.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But hey, I probably got to see more stuff, including this healthy little fellow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><p>I ate a few more fuzzy peaches, but even they were losing their appeal - I didn't have a pocket that would keep them close enough to my body to warm them up, and they were quite stiff in the cool weather, and would stick in my teeth as I chewed them. Dree showed up sometime a bit later, and after checking in at the aid station with a bunch of food and decorations, got into her own stormtrooper running kit to share a few laps with me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOK02_NuYUN48vPUdKDU888f6C-1U6X4FzhsOu7v3H3MEcru02LsdeD74Db65hxfKRDAJ4S8SREW_AUDgpgZlWtHbk7wHK3YM0ATgvoqEJafa969Fmq1iJugmxlmpiZbTSvJM4Lk25Twkg1MW6yR8srXN5QjZZQabwk5vJLP5OaLkwrMm936MGzcD_5I/s1200/PXL_20231014_175501473.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOK02_NuYUN48vPUdKDU888f6C-1U6X4FzhsOu7v3H3MEcru02LsdeD74Db65hxfKRDAJ4S8SREW_AUDgpgZlWtHbk7wHK3YM0ATgvoqEJafa969Fmq1iJugmxlmpiZbTSvJM4Lk25Twkg1MW6yR8srXN5QjZZQabwk5vJLP5OaLkwrMm936MGzcD_5I/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_175501473.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got to hear all about her epic 1,000mi journey run across the UK!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We did 4 loops together, but I was getting weary - before she came, Dree had asked if there was anything she could bring, and I had requested tea as I'd stupidly forgot to pack some along. As I finished a lap, I asked Tank to put the kettle on so I could have a brew-up. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8CMd23ah2valyE9wYcNdgXM45kOoiNUU2BcsdNT5x9WbFUrwIxc8Rie2O0y6DVpVjcNjF1tQTTJSCKQ2CQrUYU5qYPXDW-fa-BZDgfbJegPspkNGbyjv_apq8oFUu295l0CRICK9qH_iiukQ7rdNzrKLlRq8A_LPkPZrOfcTgucqkmXVWA6zNbxg4hI/s1200/PXL_20231014_181429451.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8CMd23ah2valyE9wYcNdgXM45kOoiNUU2BcsdNT5x9WbFUrwIxc8Rie2O0y6DVpVjcNjF1tQTTJSCKQ2CQrUYU5qYPXDW-fa-BZDgfbJegPspkNGbyjv_apq8oFUu295l0CRICK9qH_iiukQ7rdNzrKLlRq8A_LPkPZrOfcTgucqkmXVWA6zNbxg4hI/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_181429451.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skies were looking really threatening at that point</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>With 72 laps down (just over 126km, so past three-quarters of my minimum 100mi goal) by just after 2pm, I had a seat and treated myself to a cup of Lady Grey and a butter tart. I can only drink a limited amount of coffee before it badly upsets my stomach, but tea tends to treat me more gently while still offering a bit of caffeine to perk me up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz99ivRr4myuR0zEaxHFLCthLDfTae9-oFasWZyLZQpPW5oO5u72NqcimxEppPmMvUqwj5eJBuMHx9c3wcozWe0pGCVDllxaq-Bzt3xKwU9b8Q98VN0ySafMLJkJMUDF83dpyu19EdoreGhKzPALq68-J9PFzo-b5AiDZN4xUtGaaIHUmGwuHuLeBbZtQ/s1200/PXL_20231014_180926370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz99ivRr4myuR0zEaxHFLCthLDfTae9-oFasWZyLZQpPW5oO5u72NqcimxEppPmMvUqwj5eJBuMHx9c3wcozWe0pGCVDllxaq-Bzt3xKwU9b8Q98VN0ySafMLJkJMUDF83dpyu19EdoreGhKzPALq68-J9PFzo-b5AiDZN4xUtGaaIHUmGwuHuLeBbZtQ/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_180926370.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And while I adore coffee - I won't hear a word against it - I've never found that it <i style="font-weight: bold;">comforts</i> the way a cup of tea does.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I added another squirt of vitamin B12 to help the caffeine along, but I was off course for half an hour - man, I was being lazy! - before getting back out again with Dree, who had kept on going while I sat and sipped. We did another 3 laps together, bringing me to 75 (131.6km), then she headed off to change into warmer clothes and help out at the aid station. The temperature never rose above 12c all day, which is admittedly fantastic running weather; less so for a tired girl walking, though.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLnxC7SwAIWOmMbioNd1QboF3V-vp3Ya_J33A1-NcC0sb8ouek-a_ple5uu8Tmki7YBhvAAXAGITqLGUqJ7h0h0cV4-LSoJU19GtFmEs569Jw2HcQtaQ7yc0gGFp18V7YsqdF71Las6VMTdyTqsKmbnikzchXsEyaPbGjKWV6bFxlgxZ1tkbgph6aJO8/s1200/PXL_20231014_194455871.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLnxC7SwAIWOmMbioNd1QboF3V-vp3Ya_J33A1-NcC0sb8ouek-a_ple5uu8Tmki7YBhvAAXAGITqLGUqJ7h0h0cV4-LSoJU19GtFmEs569Jw2HcQtaQ7yc0gGFp18V7YsqdF71Las6VMTdyTqsKmbnikzchXsEyaPbGjKWV6bFxlgxZ1tkbgph6aJO8/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_194455871.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did get some moments of blue sky, but somehow there was always a cloud preventing full sunshine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It could have been worse: Merlin had been zooming around the course all day, but had run into some trouble. He mentioned first that his foot was hurting, and that changing shoes hadn't solved it - apparently it only got worse. I felt bad for him, as I'd dealt with some foot pain myself the day before, but it had fortunately buggered off and left me alone except for the occasional mild ache. Cookies helped: I eschewed any more gummy candy in favour of gluten free Oreos and stroopwafels, which were much easier to chew and of course quite tasty in their own right. I did a couple of solo laps, then Tank joined me for my 78th around 4:40pm.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKZw69ocQkhdfpgwErXICnd63nx-Rul4C82zOnAMN0LeIl8QIpEPmzLEZnvSziz52fMQmoUd-rf4pIKIJxMUILlO-hx1a9PPUG1aFX8bAWYk7-5XLDaFzvcaML5obnFuNv2tUWNDG4ysHBiCcjnhkg8BvqjzvabPepb9EJdauyvsjiywrVImaa1T_OBs/s1200/PXL_20231014_203732860.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKZw69ocQkhdfpgwErXICnd63nx-Rul4C82zOnAMN0LeIl8QIpEPmzLEZnvSziz52fMQmoUd-rf4pIKIJxMUILlO-hx1a9PPUG1aFX8bAWYk7-5XLDaFzvcaML5obnFuNv2tUWNDG4ysHBiCcjnhkg8BvqjzvabPepb9EJdauyvsjiywrVImaa1T_OBs/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_203732860.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I can be excused - after nearly 32hrs - for looking a bit knackered here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we ambled around the course, I discussed my plan for the evening: I was once again feeling the need for a substantial meal, and my friend Dion was planning to arrive at 8pm to pace me for some night laps. Since he had offered to stay until the wee hours of the morning, I thought it would be best to get another nap in so I'd be "fresh" for his arrival - I told Tank that I was starting to feel like someone was lowering a weighted blanket onto my head and shoulders - and also so I could snooze through the dusk and twilight that seem to trigger even more mental fatigue.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ9vqxeY9sg2HtXQNnUn8-buMR0Nth0TKlLd-Xqu1ZI1wAnc0ZdlTJKHCnqqDbT3Ngwms9OKv5RCFh4grn0fgmh-ZYqz6SQFU2fghaE21cGIK72xKZSE_rRPbDxHrO8_HMQAIRQYAugNS8JNeifw58hawBhBISP66tN_89C9IepShaTEFRNxyTp0Odyw/s1200/PXL_20231014_180936234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="871" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ9vqxeY9sg2HtXQNnUn8-buMR0Nth0TKlLd-Xqu1ZI1wAnc0ZdlTJKHCnqqDbT3Ngwms9OKv5RCFh4grn0fgmh-ZYqz6SQFU2fghaE21cGIK72xKZSE_rRPbDxHrO8_HMQAIRQYAugNS8JNeifw58hawBhBISP66tN_89C9IepShaTEFRNxyTp0Odyw/w290-h400/PXL_20231014_180936234.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon the lights would be lit once more</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I also ran into Merlin again, and I guess my brain had been thinking over his foot pain in the background: I wondered if his feet had swollen, causing pain in his feet due to the shoes effectively becoming too narrow. I mentioned this idea to him, and asked if - when changing shoes - he'd tied the fresh pair up all snug like he usually does. He confirmed he had, and I suggested easing the lacing off to see if it helped. He thanked me and said he'd try it, then I headed off to the Chowhouse to take care of myself a little. I knew it would likely take me at least an hour to sort out food and a change of clothes (as I had managed to sweat a bit, and Saturday night was going to be colder) before I even got my head down, so I stopped just after 5pm having completed lap 78 (around 137km) to give myself the time I needed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkkn6-7GF2mX6sMQ_a-FotpvslrF0ZzgVT3mRLbITnXHj5jSuFnlrQ1B3KORdXmC1B5zktRYX5mtUDN2IsiHyOvlm3VG_MzJZmRsg76NxTcHn2qkXRWGjoiKJKJFv8qqKQ1OJdmMGUMFncnHyAmIFJNRFbHzm0x6ZbWHnavjo5zf34xHP-oToJJop9o4/s1200/PXL_20231014_210234125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkkn6-7GF2mX6sMQ_a-FotpvslrF0ZzgVT3mRLbITnXHj5jSuFnlrQ1B3KORdXmC1B5zktRYX5mtUDN2IsiHyOvlm3VG_MzJZmRsg76NxTcHn2qkXRWGjoiKJKJFv8qqKQ1OJdmMGUMFncnHyAmIFJNRFbHzm0x6ZbWHnavjo5zf34xHP-oToJJop9o4/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_210234125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the sun began to tint the sky gold to the west (far right)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>My first order of business was to get my shoes off: I had been loosening the laces off from time to time as my feet swelled (I practice what I preach!), but that had led to a bit of slippage in the shoe, particularly with my right foot. I had a rather nasty blister on the inside of my big toe from this, which had been quite painful when climbing the big hill all day. I had another pair of the same shoes in a half-size larger, but I thought that might just lead to more slippage, so I planned to change to a totally different pair, and hopefully alleviate the pressure on the blister. I was astonished upon removing my gaiters to find my shoes crusted with salt!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji9wsZ1SY9RHe1T2NCPQw5_odJHiGJMHq5se8hXtgTeftKMXTF3XuWFaG4h4M4632edwbOqiWvIa3_8hw9OtUfPzmJ_mDBrFHd7UE_T-on-c_rJhF61MmMz6dc4UbCYVnRj_0N8DZbuCio-if_pwXIpkYm-Gq3UAnckeHnwjTayuN-hygsp3im3i-_cA/s1200/PXL_20231014_211949053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="935" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji9wsZ1SY9RHe1T2NCPQw5_odJHiGJMHq5se8hXtgTeftKMXTF3XuWFaG4h4M4632edwbOqiWvIa3_8hw9OtUfPzmJ_mDBrFHd7UE_T-on-c_rJhF61MmMz6dc4UbCYVnRj_0N8DZbuCio-if_pwXIpkYm-Gq3UAnckeHnwjTayuN-hygsp3im3i-_cA/w311-h400/PXL_20231014_211949053.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew I'd done some sweating (and had been wearing them for the whole 32hrs so far), but DAMN!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I had only taken a couple of salt tabs on Friday, so I figured the salt must have come from alternating between a bottle of water and a bottle of Skratch electrolyte beverage every hour or so for the last day and a half. Still, I was happier sweating it out than going hyponatremic! I took my socks off as well, having a look at the blister on my poor toe.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC4ZSyzdUoz3ippJlwLyXlEiICH0YMVjuEGGUlp9M1T7hRdsfRzTaI8K9mktpW40xlFEl_-4JTAvLbHzd4GsnyBVtmnkkjvgEvM42OeGTOuWeG6RrXiM6APfmj42mm-DD0gxdL0lcS0U2PunI7r0wjMGL5V10X6VhVKFNWK30-SEKyzSou1Wh7vgEHfc/s1200/PXL_20231014_220150886.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1126" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC4ZSyzdUoz3ippJlwLyXlEiICH0YMVjuEGGUlp9M1T7hRdsfRzTaI8K9mktpW40xlFEl_-4JTAvLbHzd4GsnyBVtmnkkjvgEvM42OeGTOuWeG6RrXiM6APfmj42mm-DD0gxdL0lcS0U2PunI7r0wjMGL5V10X6VhVKFNWK30-SEKyzSou1Wh7vgEHfc/w375-h400/PXL_20231014_220150886.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolutely nothing compared to the blisters at <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/08/tally-in-valley-trail-race-100-mile.html">Tally a couple of months beforehand</a> - I left it alone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I put on some fresh socks, then made a big, fat sandwich each for Tank and I for dinner while he fired up the propane heater to keep me warm. The cold sandwich wasn't as much of a letdown as it had been the day before: some hot food might have been better, but I think by this point I was too hungry and tired to care much.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-PEuiQ_rFOAsfC3oSx1XhWjVW6m_vCAw-4SV-SFeJKauuQNs0HNB-8DsHTZ4ePPidfOHA8iU_8HPFDk-CMCtSxDoNo0QftyAmCZfMJEIk75kK3iP7b3SchdCFYRSxOj7canTdb9ytv3B9C9taxYA_HJCebIxUq6p8xMKLSqLgZs7ZFIex2bm6z8Xt5E/s1200/PXL_20231014_213311057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-PEuiQ_rFOAsfC3oSx1XhWjVW6m_vCAw-4SV-SFeJKauuQNs0HNB-8DsHTZ4ePPidfOHA8iU_8HPFDk-CMCtSxDoNo0QftyAmCZfMJEIk75kK3iP7b3SchdCFYRSxOj7canTdb9ytv3B9C9taxYA_HJCebIxUq6p8xMKLSqLgZs7ZFIex2bm6z8Xt5E/w240-h400/PXL_20231014_213311057.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also pictured: why I chose that particular hat - out of the 2 stormtrooper caps I have - for the majority of this event</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The temperature was already starting to drop, so I knew I'd need warm, dry kit for both the nap and the night to come. Pulling things out of the big plastic tote was a bit disappointing: the damp from the previous night's rain had crept into everything, so all of my clothes felt chilly and clammy. I had to hold them in the blast of warmth from the propane heater before I could even consider putting them on. My tights had stayed pretty dry all day so I didn't bother to change them, but Tank actually held a wool sports bra over the heater for a minute for me before I threw it on, adding a longsleeve wool shirt, then a sweater to keep me warm while I napped. I topped it all off with my ridiculous stormtrooper ear flappy hat, stuck in some earplugs, put my Garmin on charge again, set an alarm, then kissed Tank (who helped me arrange blankets over my legs, propped up on a stack of pillows) before he killed the heater and left the tent for a nap in the car.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KnlG1zt3M7Y6TYLb9LThexjrHLKljKk5Q0-EwgTLHXLyGDtKVOFhakqjDRHk8A2n0WMWRl4s5c_0E2PBaC-Me_HVAVKYOQxh3zbhgsHJCahDjNKKAiwGQLqYMLLTC-SRvMkR5xhZorBKcZaEQSnGdi6-Vj85_Z7hGU1Mtd42o0LncLRrJkrHUvYLWEM/s1200/PXL_20231014_220720557.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KnlG1zt3M7Y6TYLb9LThexjrHLKljKk5Q0-EwgTLHXLyGDtKVOFhakqjDRHk8A2n0WMWRl4s5c_0E2PBaC-Me_HVAVKYOQxh3zbhgsHJCahDjNKKAiwGQLqYMLLTC-SRvMkR5xhZorBKcZaEQSnGdi6-Vj85_Z7hGU1Mtd42o0LncLRrJkrHUvYLWEM/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_220720557.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part stormtrooper, part squid?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Settling down at 6pm with clothes laid out for the overnight, I set an alarm for 7:30pm so I could be ready to go by the time Dion arrived at 8...but then I awoke at 7pm to what sounded like Tank greeting someone, saying "we didn't expect you for awhile!". I scrambled out of bed, as I thought Dion had arrived early and didn't want to keep him waiting. It took me a bit to slap on my fleece skirt, fresh shoes, jacket, toque, headlamp, waist light, and gloves, then grab my bottle and pole - I wasn't moving terribly quickly at that point.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUPPNVZr63-7SF8R242EU8gmmpRv1DZhEHhO5gKGGEkdIFf0-H7Mx1hq2ytEF7lg5n2A4_NbxJBOMxiR8HhWy49XEFsWk5DpgVdvqgxHymNOdELZGPXu-G_txAClGyo39v6FBNwpkQOyBOhm5uA7K2Z35lhfM1leYfbI0DIHoiWzyOFG7Mqw6YQa4naE/s1200/PXL_20231014_233542246.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUPPNVZr63-7SF8R242EU8gmmpRv1DZhEHhO5gKGGEkdIFf0-H7Mx1hq2ytEF7lg5n2A4_NbxJBOMxiR8HhWy49XEFsWk5DpgVdvqgxHymNOdELZGPXu-G_txAClGyo39v6FBNwpkQOyBOhm5uA7K2Z35lhfM1leYfbI0DIHoiWzyOFG7Mqw6YQa4naE/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_233542246.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew that it was going to be a colder night, so I needed to bundle up.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I went bopping over to the aid station tent by about 7:30pm, and asked where Dion was - I couldn't spot Tank, either. Nobody had seen either of them: Tank was still napping in the car, and nothing had been heard from Dion since just before I went down for my nap. I had a seat in the aid tent with Dree, Tim, Gary, and also Merlin: he had tried loosening off his shoelaces and it had helped ease the foot pain a bit, but unfortunately he was also having some ankle and knee pain now. I ate one of my blueberry muffins and one of the hardboiled eggs that Dree had brought, and waited for Dion...who stubbornly did not appear. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI2-tvSzlCnI4tmLkIYxOU1HLV_oMwGSAvEmDuQKO6vgyYhIM_oDMPgnrHHRSw1iVrSKZP73ZW-25f5hu8NCIbMIId3wtWe1u6J2pXsjk3HMl5eZvHpe-VCJB3AkTCfVFIEhtqQI9NBo2A0JHSu9BusekX6Ls6xkn2pjvyGyeo3FxESJ2UvrFISGows0/s1200/PXL_20231015_000644016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI2-tvSzlCnI4tmLkIYxOU1HLV_oMwGSAvEmDuQKO6vgyYhIM_oDMPgnrHHRSw1iVrSKZP73ZW-25f5hu8NCIbMIId3wtWe1u6J2pXsjk3HMl5eZvHpe-VCJB3AkTCfVFIEhtqQI9NBo2A0JHSu9BusekX6Ls6xkn2pjvyGyeo3FxESJ2UvrFISGows0/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_000644016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at the Chowhouse and our car from the aid station tent</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Tim saw me looking antsy, and asked what I needed, to which I replied "A lap...and then another one". At that point, I realized there was no reason I had to wait - I could just go, and Dion would either appear or he wouldn't. At 8:02pm, Tank awoke from his nap to watch me step out of the aid station, click on my lights, and march away into the night alone. A few minutes later, we both got a ping from Messenger.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo-gGmiAean-3GbxzXQSOPXowOate0CCEuH4Aefi3tBsCIOztcqNzqqP2-kMKajniOsMB8qtNQxbHgd_A_yLCPjkUNwuo-ng4uStfKXa5Ayk3Ha1bQh4XfQthNwN76DTJ6OhmghUCtVUdyAce_CMeo1LqLR30BlRu6Uq7ro1pKmpHmlpj7IF_rIrdBlQ/s901/reroute.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="901" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXo-gGmiAean-3GbxzXQSOPXowOate0CCEuH4Aefi3tBsCIOztcqNzqqP2-kMKajniOsMB8qtNQxbHgd_A_yLCPjkUNwuo-ng4uStfKXa5Ayk3Ha1bQh4XfQthNwN76DTJ6OhmghUCtVUdyAce_CMeo1LqLR30BlRu6Uq7ro1pKmpHmlpj7IF_rIrdBlQ/w400-h176/reroute.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I kept going after the first lap as he hadn't arrived yet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I saw Merlin and Ron still out on course, but Merlin wasn't doing well - he was down to basically just walking, with the pain in his knee having crept up to his hip. I suspect that his foot pain made him change his stride, which led to the pain in his ankle, and that then cascaded further upward - as these things tend to do. It wouldn't be much longer before he'd call it a day to prevent further damage, though to his credit he did stay at the aid station for the rest of the night to help out. When I was out on the second lap - my 80th - Tank had just got himself up from his nap and was shuffling toward the aid station, when he saw a headlamp approaching him. He was pretty sure it wasn't a runner (as they'd be going the wrong way on the course), so called Dion's name and got an affirmative reply. Not only had Dion arrived, he'd brought Tank a full meal from A&W - his absolute favourite! They headed over to the Chowhouse to wait for me to come in.</div><div><br /></div><div>I gave Dion a quick hug, then we wasted no time in heading off together because I needed the portajohn. I ought to have grabbed some more food, but I didn't think of it: for some reason I wasn't entirely at my best! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVbucHTlf65F4BGRBtH7v7sBQbrE3zkOSRWMx-BPJ83PGOt9aq7Zgio-EAOmuTDSfqQIP56dw-pzbzazz-RhCfDHIdWQDJaxdq6XBwMn1pLshzwajVdP6ym-B2WBbQGn7Wi62wwefCoxVDGHoezxdPeLP3ZqrQbmAULxTyqV7mZMdcwQEQYR7V21nfdY/s1200/PXL_20231015_000704704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="847" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVbucHTlf65F4BGRBtH7v7sBQbrE3zkOSRWMx-BPJ83PGOt9aq7Zgio-EAOmuTDSfqQIP56dw-pzbzazz-RhCfDHIdWQDJaxdq6XBwMn1pLshzwajVdP6ym-B2WBbQGn7Wi62wwefCoxVDGHoezxdPeLP3ZqrQbmAULxTyqV7mZMdcwQEQYR7V21nfdY/w283-h400/PXL_20231015_000704704.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You didn't even really need a headlamp for the first hundred metres or so of the course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>It was a pleasure to have company again, though, and I had a really lovely time chatting with Dion. I won't say the laps flew by, because I was definitely in rougher shape than the night before, but by and large I was able to focus more on our conversation and less on my increasing decrepitude. I will say that my right foot was a little happier after the shoe change: it eased the pressure on the blister that had come up on the inside of my big toe. However, my <a href="https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spine-anatomy/sacroiliac-joint-anatomy">sacroiliac joints</a> - badly damaged in a hockey incident a few weeks before the race, and cranky ever since - began to kick up painfully. We did 5 laps together - making seven since I got up, and 85 total (149km) - then I had to sit down for a few minutes to give my sore back a rest. This also let me escape the cold wind that had shifted so it whipped across the open field: as I left the Chowhouse with Dion to start lap 86, I immediately began to shiver violently, and scurried into the heated aid station tent to warm up again.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmVzvy5AFjopZ01lzR-8rMRhiXX9Bn8gvLUKd_k8ABXy7X8QzhC2LRYUT0HzUgATkSbFmHHnxOV2FkQ8dNpomxMxSK4SqgtJqNKNGg4mOzGAOBsf81Zv0klDfzri4Vycpzq92-jgPLoQxfStPizhU5XVfUnwr2EEkVRoneDGI5g4GLVK0wGVuSmJI92Q/s1200/PXL_20231015_021032733.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmVzvy5AFjopZ01lzR-8rMRhiXX9Bn8gvLUKd_k8ABXy7X8QzhC2LRYUT0HzUgATkSbFmHHnxOV2FkQ8dNpomxMxSK4SqgtJqNKNGg4mOzGAOBsf81Zv0klDfzri4Vycpzq92-jgPLoQxfStPizhU5XVfUnwr2EEkVRoneDGI5g4GLVK0wGVuSmJI92Q/w264-h400/PXL_20231015_021032733.NIGHT.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a cloud in the sky to trap any heat, but the stars were beautiful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Tank was sent to fetch me my warmest running jacket - the insulated one I typically only wear for if it's -15c/5f or below - and I changed into it gratefully, also adding a tubular gaiter around my neck and a warmer pair of gloves. I knew if I could just get myself around to the big hill, I'd generate plenty of warmth as I climbed it, but I also knew it would take me nearly 20mins just to get to it and I wouldn't make it with the way I'd been shaking unless I bundled up some more. Now absolutely absurdly dressed for the 7c/45f conditions (admittedly made colder by the wind, and my cumulative fatigue) and with a cookie in me, Dion and I set off once more for another push.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqGjKH7u0zXrvA4Gbw7WNPHRdT8pYW6jc43elSJdhId1mg8KgtigEOKMV0CnxQQV_IETBDLi1phjXDtODbMZ8flai8wtmH9OyonfdGHVBnVDnzCBdOghKhXhrGgbDgmA3UR1a6mRTvs2KcbshqVp3ljczEkdyoKc1r78p2nXhQlZ2gTAWS0_FPks3s8/s1200/PXL_20231015_024754101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="997" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YqGjKH7u0zXrvA4Gbw7WNPHRdT8pYW6jc43elSJdhId1mg8KgtigEOKMV0CnxQQV_IETBDLi1phjXDtODbMZ8flai8wtmH9OyonfdGHVBnVDnzCBdOghKhXhrGgbDgmA3UR1a6mRTvs2KcbshqVp3ljczEkdyoKc1r78p2nXhQlZ2gTAWS0_FPks3s8/w333-h400/PXL_20231015_024754101.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Progress was happening</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I managed another 4 laps, but I was having trouble: Dion walked along behind me, a bit over to the right. That made me unthinkingly talk sort of over my right shoulder to him, which made my feet start drifting off to the left of the trail. For the most part it wasn't too much of an issue, but there was a spot near the entrance to the Endor loop where a stump was concealed by a tuft of grass at the left side of the trail, and I kept catching my left foot on it. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcPlwpt45tpkO93Q5vu1-X26raSAlc58eRZ11GXxXUj_HZmGZoFKItnrzpJa0OvRxaeRnfMdpgX-0VDrpx7TT5SGSuTwDhzOavHlPnFMoIapLm5uStxAZ1Pebl9iGZPsaD3BCdJSIivT4gK649ghiHG11hVO5Gl5AhP_oL2dF0Ta71kRHjhxaFdnoCa4/s1200/PXL_20231015_101646778.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="882" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtcPlwpt45tpkO93Q5vu1-X26raSAlc58eRZ11GXxXUj_HZmGZoFKItnrzpJa0OvRxaeRnfMdpgX-0VDrpx7TT5SGSuTwDhzOavHlPnFMoIapLm5uStxAZ1Pebl9iGZPsaD3BCdJSIivT4gK649ghiHG11hVO5Gl5AhP_oL2dF0Ta71kRHjhxaFdnoCa4/w294-h400/PXL_20231015_101646778.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't exactly the easiest thing to spot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Not only was I hurting my left foot (which was already tetchy: I had a plantar wart coming up on the outside of the ball of it, and it wasn't happy in the shoes I'd chosen) by whacking it off this heckin' thing, but I'd frequently trip and stumble, which made my cranky hips and back even more painful. I only managed four laps - asking Tank to brew up fresh coffee as I went out for the last one - then collapsed in a chair around ten past one in the morning (at 89 laps/156km) to drink a hot cup of coffee and eat a stroopwafel. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TPa3iaKCXYakX3oD54BWmnX6SA5E0KIEUrtSlN7JKXxJYgTLGPgsGrMfLRZR05KCT1DW3IaHsNPPZhuer9BL1hdwRyVGLIbpGtNexJlkMDfB3aELq4I4kFBEiDnMInNfiDrYoXLS5RCopBwTpKppYloPrMY6VmbP_TR0LlhBmUy5j1f5aOXcH9EPYXo/s1200/PXL_20231015_100721963.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="859" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TPa3iaKCXYakX3oD54BWmnX6SA5E0KIEUrtSlN7JKXxJYgTLGPgsGrMfLRZR05KCT1DW3IaHsNPPZhuer9BL1hdwRyVGLIbpGtNexJlkMDfB3aELq4I4kFBEiDnMInNfiDrYoXLS5RCopBwTpKppYloPrMY6VmbP_TR0LlhBmUy5j1f5aOXcH9EPYXo/w286-h400/PXL_20231015_100721963.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="286" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really hate that I never got a photo of Dion and I, but since he was such a star for me this photo of Orion shining bright to the north of the course will have to do</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TPa3iaKCXYakX3oD54BWmnX6SA5E0KIEUrtSlN7JKXxJYgTLGPgsGrMfLRZR05KCT1DW3IaHsNPPZhuer9BL1hdwRyVGLIbpGtNexJlkMDfB3aELq4I4kFBEiDnMInNfiDrYoXLS5RCopBwTpKppYloPrMY6VmbP_TR0LlhBmUy5j1f5aOXcH9EPYXo/s1200/PXL_20231015_100721963.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>A little less than 30mins later, we were back out on the loop - I only had 3 more laps until I'd pass the 100mi mark, but I was a bit annoyed that the warmer gloves were giving me a hotspot as I poled my way along. To take my mind off it, I made a little gift to Dion: I knew that fuzzy peaches are his favourite candy, and since I had basically stopped eating anything gummy in favour of cookies and muffins, I gave him a snack baggie with most of my remaining sour peach slices (Allen's version of Maynards Fuzzy Peaches, which I buy by the bagful from <a href="https://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/Products/All/Allan-Peach-Slices-642">Bulk Barn</a> for race fuel). He had himself a nice little sugary snack on the trail, and confirmed what I'd suspected: that there was no detectable difference between the brands, at least in this highly unscientific test. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxZdf2B9s0IdJA9ubI2C1jm8Susyp-uH6SFSUsZDQKDUD1KrQV3FAyrWLig8Umpbffm0OgR7qmM9ul5DL2v6BsQRDTzwMnYxbZnXhlTDNGyymFmWCOlLHvOcThIUebp_3kOcnw0jgz-q8vFN1zmdF9gTN4_qBQ960topJgQavmdgbdEqMwSNW-CtKBsk/s1200/PXL_20231015_101931064.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="741" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxZdf2B9s0IdJA9ubI2C1jm8Susyp-uH6SFSUsZDQKDUD1KrQV3FAyrWLig8Umpbffm0OgR7qmM9ul5DL2v6BsQRDTzwMnYxbZnXhlTDNGyymFmWCOlLHvOcThIUebp_3kOcnw0jgz-q8vFN1zmdF9gTN4_qBQ960topJgQavmdgbdEqMwSNW-CtKBsk/w248-h400/PXL_20231015_101931064.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connoisseurship takes many forms</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't doing any better at avoiding the stupid little stump, but I was still moving - as a matter of fact, on my 92nd lap (in which I would reach 100mi), I told Dion that I didn't want to stop afterward, as I thought I could milk that cup of coffee for one more before I'd need to go down for another nap. We confused everyone at the aid station: they had my 100mi sticker ready for me, and I just cruised on by after picking up one more fresh bottle of water to see me through! I did have to pause on the trail, though: I was on the trail out of the forest when the urge to pee struck, and I knew I would never make it up the hill and to the portajohn, so I actually stopped and peed on the big fallen tree while Dion diplomatically hung back and looked anywhere else. I did have the decency to step off the trail a bit, but that caused problems when I had finished and pulled up my tights: my feet had become entangled in the weeds and raspberry canes that grow between the trail and the big open field, and I almost faceplanted when I went to take a step! </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K80Tlr-NdlVaLuf3CdEskr0DDLcgOpn3SaSSWgFdqMDix6oeB0M-0cqdAqGCQXLMNpcFlN1wGziDINXCWodyx1jBvu5VEsMVokrtMm1mQF6a3DVcER0fysqK3Hd6Yrz8IQR-i9M47SFfjG6I1i9BmdvIbWBS8hy_m1-S53Z35pNpcdbpWbv5k6GOv4w/s1200/PXL_20231015_002735017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K80Tlr-NdlVaLuf3CdEskr0DDLcgOpn3SaSSWgFdqMDix6oeB0M-0cqdAqGCQXLMNpcFlN1wGziDINXCWodyx1jBvu5VEsMVokrtMm1mQF6a3DVcER0fysqK3Hd6Yrz8IQR-i9M47SFfjG6I1i9BmdvIbWBS8hy_m1-S53Z35pNpcdbpWbv5k6GOv4w/w289-h400/PXL_20231015_002735017.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What I get for being a feral trail creature, right?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I did manage to stay upright, and trudged up the giant hill once more. Reaching the Chowhouse, Dion offered to stay while I went for a nap, but I didn't want to risk him getting drowsy for his long drive back to Hamilton, as it was now about quarter past three in the morning. I gave him a big hug and thanked him profusely for coming to pace me: I so appreciated his company, especially since Merlin had stopped around 10pm, meaning there was only one other runner on course (Ron), and we were moving at similar speeds but on different parts of the loop so I'd seldom see him for more than a moment. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbQH3lOPcPtFNlPJnw_0iUC-HLAbGUJ9lHsJ-vmbunchyuV-FPdIJJyVdUFK44MRM27E8-S16YQ71DKpkT0mlYg_hUJFL2W-EU-Bm4pTwCPqmTVoThuZ2ffoXlQ_SescqLZYoYW05nXJb8RD9SqgH5BCODiUn8ULwSyDZjjpbUW0dEXA8MRYwInfkCOg/s613/map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="517" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJbQH3lOPcPtFNlPJnw_0iUC-HLAbGUJ9lHsJ-vmbunchyuV-FPdIJJyVdUFK44MRM27E8-S16YQ71DKpkT0mlYg_hUJFL2W-EU-Bm4pTwCPqmTVoThuZ2ffoXlQ_SescqLZYoYW05nXJb8RD9SqgH5BCODiUn8ULwSyDZjjpbUW0dEXA8MRYwInfkCOg/w338-h400/map.jpg" width="338" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In spite of the out-and-back, we wouldn't even necessarily see each other every lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>When I headed into the Chowhouse after bidding Dion goodnight, Tank had my sticker for me as I folded myself into a camp chair at 3:20am, at 93 laps (just over 163km).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHh1eGEFCS7RxbvECeB9h6PQt9NJOO4Y-bQ2MJFkJWldGMPRFpLhBTIH7yackJNXEzTfa5-TVYgdTYo35apm_p5jY9O146TQOCYFxS1uieT4wd_ebSoobSKe-uALh7dtXzT67XyBNHvSBbLrUstwaxdFd1L6VchAzT39UWMn4NmBRJvVK7YXJMxplgyqA/s1200/PXL_20231015_072201577.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHh1eGEFCS7RxbvECeB9h6PQt9NJOO4Y-bQ2MJFkJWldGMPRFpLhBTIH7yackJNXEzTfa5-TVYgdTYo35apm_p5jY9O146TQOCYFxS1uieT4wd_ebSoobSKe-uALh7dtXzT67XyBNHvSBbLrUstwaxdFd1L6VchAzT39UWMn4NmBRJvVK7YXJMxplgyqA/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_072201577.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd finished my 100mi lap around 41h53m - by comparison, <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/11/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">it took me 48.5hrs to complete 92 laps when I did the 72hr in 2021</a>, so a little more than 6.5hrs faster this time</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Tank stroked up the propane heater and I made another bowl of soup to get some hot food in me, but not before taking part in a little tradition.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQI5SxE9pTXXEHDfCtfDyPGCZjraYENjqlCmlXptgszlIQzdTT-l6cUBISCof4vBs_mJ64nwLRPk-2P35l1WrFYtsz5IzTkNVLw6Hsz33lDwHp_09R_yPMNBMk-uPokY1w9812kNvOwiwOQfnk2DF8tAk5cEgSVEXNHqVJi1qgIYEQx2xyx7wTOaEblg/s1200/PXL_20231015_072526907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1200" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlQI5SxE9pTXXEHDfCtfDyPGCZjraYENjqlCmlXptgszlIQzdTT-l6cUBISCof4vBs_mJ64nwLRPk-2P35l1WrFYtsz5IzTkNVLw6Hsz33lDwHp_09R_yPMNBMk-uPokY1w9812kNvOwiwOQfnk2DF8tAk5cEgSVEXNHqVJi1qgIYEQx2xyx7wTOaEblg/w400-h216/PXL_20231015_072526907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/11/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">100mi butter tarts</a> are awesome.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Tank did joke about how I could just pack up and head home now, as I'd got the 100 miles I'd wanted. I wasn't very receptive to the humour, though, telling him coldly that I had come to run 48hrs, not 100 miles. I understood he meant no harm, but that sort of talk could easily dissuade someone experiencing a low point or with less sense of purpose from continuing, and I don't need that kind of negativity when already exhausted. It was 4:20am when I finally got my head down, Tank once again shutting off the propane tank to kill the lantern and heater before heading to the car for one last nap himself. I set an alarm for 1 hour, which I hoped would give me 3 hours left of on-course time. I'd been averaging around 23mins per lap with Dion, so I knew my odds of making 100 laps - the goal I'd set for myself the day before - were pretty poor. Nonetheless, I'd get my head down for a bit, then get up and give it my best go.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZLrywYlrrqflN0SlKXR1B-fgDwOkhu6Lg8Spbmod5YrWxNI7tAPvd9lTiv1iKCC9IqbB3EAxv06mHMoykCjqHYMeK7DywzhUtYYy6-mTSYBv_BSVGFSEmguX-XHh0bKnhf7MC-nOqn__55t-xORCoMUTY9GhzIYSZgDzvegafi-7tyX_YzVbRkMI_YM/s1080/Screenshot_20231015-053926.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="1080" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ZLrywYlrrqflN0SlKXR1B-fgDwOkhu6Lg8Spbmod5YrWxNI7tAPvd9lTiv1iKCC9IqbB3EAxv06mHMoykCjqHYMeK7DywzhUtYYy6-mTSYBv_BSVGFSEmguX-XHh0bKnhf7MC-nOqn__55t-xORCoMUTY9GhzIYSZgDzvegafi-7tyX_YzVbRkMI_YM/s320/Screenshot_20231015-053926.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully without getting rained on again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Up at 5:20am, I put on my stormtrooper tights and another fresh pair of shoes - the widest ones I owned. I ate another muffin as I threw on all the same warm gear I'd worn through the night, as the temperature hadn't changed much and I knew I'd be cold from having been inactive. Stepping out into the still-dark morning, I had to head for the aid station tent to absorb some warmth (and another hard boiled egg) before setting off properly almost on the stroke of 6am.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZ2PoAGhVPVNOwTetCCvaR0BgZle5zjQm6txSIovYHHz-etNfDLL899U-KAuUyCc__j3AA5aTB5zERKXM6-3-9ra2x3PnPHKMoABLad8N9UtRe99SZCMlW3wVSgoUgIn1OEhfxQKIW9ulPTT40xhx1wHv3hhh9tldb0EAGlJM6tqMUT-fYcEzL0sMXg/s1200/PXL_20231015_101946138.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCZ2PoAGhVPVNOwTetCCvaR0BgZle5zjQm6txSIovYHHz-etNfDLL899U-KAuUyCc__j3AA5aTB5zERKXM6-3-9ra2x3PnPHKMoABLad8N9UtRe99SZCMlW3wVSgoUgIn1OEhfxQKIW9ulPTT40xhx1wHv3hhh9tldb0EAGlJM6tqMUT-fYcEzL0sMXg/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_101946138.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not even remotely light out yet</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I actually felt a bit guilty when I found out that Ron had decided he'd had enough, and was packing up with 104 laps completed for his 72hr-minus-20-ish-hours-off - that meant if I'd just be content with my 100miles-plus-one-lap, all of my friends could just pack up and go home...but I wanted to see what I could accomplish in 48hrs, and that was definitely more than the 93 loops I'd racked up so far.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrfvo0bb5oNppSsKdN4318s_kerz1YB7zszNvHorOoXXXj62dqxRALbpYv-aO6a96-YDoyEL6_iPztpE1x_m5Tk9Av1n284aBGuIGupeApoLz3XpZOCNSni0h7SeyVwevAJxV0R3L0QxkmphwtPZnMayf5ktvFxCoFYfbUwqqk-sC2ksLOvQ_le7k3AU/s1200/PXL_20231015_100225782.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrfvo0bb5oNppSsKdN4318s_kerz1YB7zszNvHorOoXXXj62dqxRALbpYv-aO6a96-YDoyEL6_iPztpE1x_m5Tk9Av1n284aBGuIGupeApoLz3XpZOCNSni0h7SeyVwevAJxV0R3L0QxkmphwtPZnMayf5ktvFxCoFYfbUwqqk-sC2ksLOvQ_le7k3AU/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_100225782.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You get a dot in each corner for the first 4 laps, then an X for the fifth, then move on to the next square</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>The snooze had helped my back reset a bit, and the wider shoes were definitely more comfortable on my long-suffering feet. The hill unfortunately had not shrunk while I napped, but admittedly that did help me warm up as I climbed it.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVMBEds2znbisMOwQ6DwmC4U3-JhUleJbi8bQ3AjcE9PDa-Ija1GpM30QcFCgQI6nxReyi_1z9l8jjq-r53o7y8ypU8PeSwQVVe4fBVKPNlU8u2bqZRbuDve4xIOgvoNQn9p8GdqXPyLPqeJM1mHemOS0n4uYK8GYIz0WxC9tFLDkcq5BMRy4ECXE70w/s1200/PXL_20231015_104947648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVMBEds2znbisMOwQ6DwmC4U3-JhUleJbi8bQ3AjcE9PDa-Ija1GpM30QcFCgQI6nxReyi_1z9l8jjq-r53o7y8ypU8PeSwQVVe4fBVKPNlU8u2bqZRbuDve4xIOgvoNQn9p8GdqXPyLPqeJM1mHemOS0n4uYK8GYIz0WxC9tFLDkcq5BMRy4ECXE70w/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_104947648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sky was a deep navy to the north</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>It wasn't until 7am that daylight began to filter through the increasing cloudcover: the top image in this post shows that there were still some stars in the morning, but they rapidly disappeared as some weather began to blow in.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOfFe5M4B8lCmzhGNdA041oJBf-yxV_flZ0qnETIEuayihGElPofli_bfm6V30G3i1rUzfkbDur3TtySwxrO5znFMqFjlJ0m5X-pfhmxl-Hn78gIoF8xt1s9tE_xBnLNM17dsnOUXUnBbPn0tZzD-YQw8qkomNhUJrKJuKDc_F6C6sFlfjlGd5kP_vec/s1200/PXL_20231015_105609507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOfFe5M4B8lCmzhGNdA041oJBf-yxV_flZ0qnETIEuayihGElPofli_bfm6V30G3i1rUzfkbDur3TtySwxrO5znFMqFjlJ0m5X-pfhmxl-Hn78gIoF8xt1s9tE_xBnLNM17dsnOUXUnBbPn0tZzD-YQw8qkomNhUJrKJuKDc_F6C6sFlfjlGd5kP_vec/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_105609507.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really hoped it wouldn't rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br />I couldn't believe how long the darkness persisted, really - each lap I'd hope that I could ditch my headlamp and waist light at the end, but it would still be so dark in the forest that I'd end up keeping them.<br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGD0GW44PoZfhvL4KFSlYrNCsNRmMeTT3hX0aN2_6KCZbVKkWl1meEfM8UFs9lqvrEO3rn85mP7XcmL-v9P0DG0JlcgFdi00l7l1LofY3fisnWtH7fZJnhR7fNdwD4w3Sru8X_EdIXK4K893BNWiH0eVpxnHUJY4GlWc6Anj3-8Di-KJfhfMgRcrx9D8/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1200" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGD0GW44PoZfhvL4KFSlYrNCsNRmMeTT3hX0aN2_6KCZbVKkWl1meEfM8UFs9lqvrEO3rn85mP7XcmL-v9P0DG0JlcgFdi00l7l1LofY3fisnWtH7fZJnhR7fNdwD4w3Sru8X_EdIXK4K893BNWiH0eVpxnHUJY4GlWc6Anj3-8Di-KJfhfMgRcrx9D8/w400-h348/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was still this gloomy out at 7:15am! </td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was fully 4 laps - bringing me to 97 completed (170km) - before I felt confident enough that the dawn had penetrated the Endor loop enough for me to see without my lamps.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKc68aH34ZHhDG8IbjY5iLV0qiXRrz2baqOwimzs-WcAxDy5tD67R9WZtSPSC0YcbvHcfu-UhHsbHo5Ai-MzQasCfhADsx8nLSJrqiBmcl7SKy9JCzTq24Wxnf0eyVQHtiPYGSiCubvENRE9z04sGN-jO7Zh6zhUnx2P5OMad9v7Oq0J2zh_oMazAniU/s1200/PXL_20231015_113144519.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKc68aH34ZHhDG8IbjY5iLV0qiXRrz2baqOwimzs-WcAxDy5tD67R9WZtSPSC0YcbvHcfu-UhHsbHo5Ai-MzQasCfhADsx8nLSJrqiBmcl7SKy9JCzTq24Wxnf0eyVQHtiPYGSiCubvENRE9z04sGN-jO7Zh6zhUnx2P5OMad9v7Oq0J2zh_oMazAniU/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_113144519.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't help that it was sprinkling rain on and off</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Almost into the last hour - about 7:45am - I stopped to change things up: I doffed the headlamp, toque, insulated jacket, waist light, and fleece skirt and threw on my original hat plus the stormtrooper sweater I'd been saving, then stuffed a cookie in my face and headed out.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2nmauwT71F9XyKJ2DY_xH4tAX1roVDPPo42oJg5ZI35E9bv0MYk2jnCu2BGGHAjgWb4t9FA6RBR9e9wXbU6z0jsRiXSQZS7_ZEZRRkQeMX5s3amQtPzz5T3DtmFgkB4SEZ02UCytt1yAibjHSe9AHJyoHNpJZn92l3uG4Ty3s0xC5cxtY90EPkUAzkc/s1200/PXL_20231015_114509699~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2nmauwT71F9XyKJ2DY_xH4tAX1roVDPPo42oJg5ZI35E9bv0MYk2jnCu2BGGHAjgWb4t9FA6RBR9e9wXbU6z0jsRiXSQZS7_ZEZRRkQeMX5s3amQtPzz5T3DtmFgkB4SEZ02UCytt1yAibjHSe9AHJyoHNpJZn92l3uG4Ty3s0xC5cxtY90EPkUAzkc/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_114509699~2.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've assumed my final form!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The clouds broke apart on lap 98, giving us a lovely sunrise over the fields.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwd1BBLy211xD-Apmi4xXEF3wAYytAtWG8didaPwGAtJkAtMt9PaaJHlOX-uWs5XLSytwy_qEpnf0TlewHaj5ujATzva-G2j5LRc6iKKWwx4FZLqzn4VEqAaZ46pACzyl0TSFRzcd6ty49h45ULXpGS16WaxfWFSgOiDKlUK8seB-2-3hyphenhyphenWiju64pQ1r4/s1200/PXL_20231015_114721816.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwd1BBLy211xD-Apmi4xXEF3wAYytAtWG8didaPwGAtJkAtMt9PaaJHlOX-uWs5XLSytwy_qEpnf0TlewHaj5ujATzva-G2j5LRc6iKKWwx4FZLqzn4VEqAaZ46pACzyl0TSFRzcd6ty49h45ULXpGS16WaxfWFSgOiDKlUK8seB-2-3hyphenhyphenWiju64pQ1r4/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_114721816.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking across the plateau from the long downhill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBWNERFfW1FvIcZq9wyic6tyAiaiJpNA5jYi1RCAUISf_2XVsDlREwf99N6343TAZMTp8viVZFvoygjfgTsnibqJZC5YS9RIK4nX87aDQoWVYorg-cJL9IZnX2yREuG9SfkVR1pyxh-7Lr1xzHi49LYcynG_k_V9r6wyH5WT2w-psiHw9rg3cy8xxUFk/s1200/PXL_20231015_115354344.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBWNERFfW1FvIcZq9wyic6tyAiaiJpNA5jYi1RCAUISf_2XVsDlREwf99N6343TAZMTp8viVZFvoygjfgTsnibqJZC5YS9RIK4nX87aDQoWVYorg-cJL9IZnX2yREuG9SfkVR1pyxh-7Lr1xzHi49LYcynG_k_V9r6wyH5WT2w-psiHw9rg3cy8xxUFk/w400-h225/PXL_20231015_115354344.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angry-looking clouds beyond the other field</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I spent the latter two-thirds of lap 98 tapping the puck lights that Gary had laid out on the course with my pole to turn them off, as I finally put it together that they were no longer needed. It definitely took me a bit of extra time, but I didn't figure I needed to rush: I didn't think I'd made more than one additional lap, and I had nearly an hour to complete the two. As I came off the Endor loop, I saw Gary and Tim walking the course with a duffel bag, picking up the lights and course markings. They actually asked me if I'd be ok without them: I told them I was pretty sure I could find my way, as I'd done the loop a couple of times.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqedD_q2pioQls6cv7FkK0402GE2hW5xMhXPxN9ZqBMY9_wBqgqdjjKTwho7Gbc0b8vISgywr5uAqDGPezso2-AEiz2rAIjoX1UREkbocN90wafRrc1zgS9oYOpo2LTJE8uivvfNMz-anHgRcXMpZUqu3L6YBnMURJEZJ1jYAIDVKwSB7fzYqOc3sHc8/s1200/PXL_20231015_120818530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqedD_q2pioQls6cv7FkK0402GE2hW5xMhXPxN9ZqBMY9_wBqgqdjjKTwho7Gbc0b8vISgywr5uAqDGPezso2-AEiz2rAIjoX1UREkbocN90wafRrc1zgS9oYOpo2LTJE8uivvfNMz-anHgRcXMpZUqu3L6YBnMURJEZJ1jYAIDVKwSB7fzYqOc3sHc8/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_120818530.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing this picture, though, makes me understand why they'd ask - I'm not sure I've ever looked more fatigued</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I had about 50mins left when I reached the start/finish - telling Clay I had one more in me, then I'd be done as I passed - and the sun was actually making an attempt at shining.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLGTaosPkthTEc5_5U4c_0NTTGDvi2dQ9ssMNWwTXX4wAQ1L1r8nQc4UGZ_IOzDpylS-gpiV7f6aU9Y3VG13q0dairrKtjEDLv_GI-0HhK5uGFuC1E68w-XSr1qQGNP8CZUFXSTGn6rL_ccZN_mg43WFWYoJbQXN8o0PCSSmgmoJMm62byO94vLCwhAY/s1200/PXL_20231015_120806792.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLGTaosPkthTEc5_5U4c_0NTTGDvi2dQ9ssMNWwTXX4wAQ1L1r8nQc4UGZ_IOzDpylS-gpiV7f6aU9Y3VG13q0dairrKtjEDLv_GI-0HhK5uGFuC1E68w-XSr1qQGNP8CZUFXSTGn6rL_ccZN_mg43WFWYoJbQXN8o0PCSSmgmoJMm62byO94vLCwhAY/w274-h400/PXL_20231015_120806792.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, I decided I would, too</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I headed down the long downhill, I wondered: what would happen if I tried to open up my stride a little bit? So, I gave it a whack...and realized that it was possible, but exhausting. Still, I didn't have much left to go, so I kept pushing while the sun rose above the treeline.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnwJfhR3kLwJeTCrlelPmhofWriZy_lugzNwK5KGFT1m7oZ_b4UzkiCHixiiTQDApkMwAEUlnbPL4ATxhfc3dHHTax1D-jLPLPk0yH1r19GnOU8iOJ4Fujv5Mndyx13lbZMkBur-rbGzgARy_lTgOHzWFH9SOL8fWMp8KauK-IFbPHiGASPV8hwujnH0/s1200/PXL_20231015_121105686.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnwJfhR3kLwJeTCrlelPmhofWriZy_lugzNwK5KGFT1m7oZ_b4UzkiCHixiiTQDApkMwAEUlnbPL4ATxhfc3dHHTax1D-jLPLPk0yH1r19GnOU8iOJ4Fujv5Mndyx13lbZMkBur-rbGzgARy_lTgOHzWFH9SOL8fWMp8KauK-IFbPHiGASPV8hwujnH0/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_121105686.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this photo, right down to the square of reflected sunshine on my chest from my phone screen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Friends, I am here to tell you that after more than 47 hours on course and having averaged about 25min per lap since rising from my last nap, I managed to lay down a <b><i>twenty minute loop</i></b> for my 99th! I yelled to Tanker "I'm not leaving a half hour on the table - one hundred is HAPPENING!" and then just stalked the heck out of there.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fvms5obltKDItJtik0ZyzyXjnAkPrOqhFVLLPYtTf1gcvyHxGIpunQanJp-eQNo2y36d6X6iZFocVv_bK-V-6QOLDy7IsvSbTl1ElaniFEsTEScCAQzeWthS8nrLDVnP0oxra9D6cnN4SKaQZsBitV1UMxGlAEAaJSpzQPX_DJKMRLfNQcp-vMCA5Rk/s1200/PXL_20231015_121114023.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="834" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fvms5obltKDItJtik0ZyzyXjnAkPrOqhFVLLPYtTf1gcvyHxGIpunQanJp-eQNo2y36d6X6iZFocVv_bK-V-6QOLDy7IsvSbTl1ElaniFEsTEScCAQzeWthS8nrLDVnP0oxra9D6cnN4SKaQZsBitV1UMxGlAEAaJSpzQPX_DJKMRLfNQcp-vMCA5Rk/w278-h400/PXL_20231015_121114023.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had a mission to complete</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was a little less quick on this lap, as I had to stop for a minute in the Endor loop: I desperately needed to pee again, and none of the muscles required to hold it were in any shape to respond. So, I watered a carefully chosen tree (there are a lot of sticky, sappy ones out there!), then continued to hoof it along.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGSFRK3JoMTn1RIhlMWEg8lPL9UXJG9Pmdx12PNWWLsYtPM6RqTrT4oVHtzLhCpPXCVe3DIqP6h6Ipjzm_-um-Rlg5Mvzds_bNZl6crJrrp-UQn09sBtbphBD1ye3y-33pGf5v6a_ZjokEZwaIqmSjEJ7V8hNAK_5YaGMP1Xsb0VKGIv3LpJ7GcFoGr4/s1200/PXL_20231015_120610348.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGSFRK3JoMTn1RIhlMWEg8lPL9UXJG9Pmdx12PNWWLsYtPM6RqTrT4oVHtzLhCpPXCVe3DIqP6h6Ipjzm_-um-Rlg5Mvzds_bNZl6crJrrp-UQn09sBtbphBD1ye3y-33pGf5v6a_ZjokEZwaIqmSjEJ7V8hNAK_5YaGMP1Xsb0VKGIv3LpJ7GcFoGr4/w225-h400/PXL_20231015_120610348.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Including one last ascent of that heckin' hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I reached the very gentle downhill past the Chowhouse and to the final corner, I broke into a run one last time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXEJ3vJUjqI" width="320" youtube-src-id="JXEJ3vJUjqI"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can see how ugly that was in this video shot by Clay</div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(And Tim is hilarious - I had less than 10mins left!)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFda1u41-bOKNWOuiGRbV0f-AHL5JEEmN_Ft13q5uBgisl-iTynKo8rZvqWQJb_BnjmVH3w4iDCwoYNRRx_2T275cn-hc-9dt5fS4NLJPGzwSic59SIReJYk9-M_PihmZisUtlumpLeM8dr4IV2Z9HCvVuZPjwNtRABOBHcPLShBpO1QqN7CU4jiueGE/s1200/troop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFda1u41-bOKNWOuiGRbV0f-AHL5JEEmN_Ft13q5uBgisl-iTynKo8rZvqWQJb_BnjmVH3w4iDCwoYNRRx_2T275cn-hc-9dt5fS4NLJPGzwSic59SIReJYk9-M_PihmZisUtlumpLeM8dr4IV2Z9HCvVuZPjwNtRABOBHcPLShBpO1QqN7CU4jiueGE/w265-h400/troop.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the poise and grace of a three-legged water buffalo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Official total: 100 laps - 109.2mi - 175.8km</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>1st out of 1 participant in the 48hr</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12327004977">Garmin data is here</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Clay waited at the finish to give me a high five, while Dree rang a cowbell and Tim cheered, and Tank came to give me a hug and a little friend with whom to celebrate.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhtInKb4tLcYiXLmsUXvVNWdxwbtDnsSQMRbJ8-AKjWTWPqBvnmOgGtanPARdQ5Gw8I8XWiOTxkBmkhFvgVvPWkGdVO8rZW7jAgWFFqRKT_06AJhvMuzCAXOG4A9ZZ579s19WRVRYABsUfEcEruHBKCC9ytzEQksWUSXHQKczlOu7SBMAqMXdC2xNSNE/s1200/stormy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhtInKb4tLcYiXLmsUXvVNWdxwbtDnsSQMRbJ8-AKjWTWPqBvnmOgGtanPARdQ5Gw8I8XWiOTxkBmkhFvgVvPWkGdVO8rZW7jAgWFFqRKT_06AJhvMuzCAXOG4A9ZZ579s19WRVRYABsUfEcEruHBKCC9ytzEQksWUSXHQKczlOu7SBMAqMXdC2xNSNE/w238-h400/stormy.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start/finish was already mostly packed up</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm not necessarily happy with how much time I spent off course - between my naps and my spells of sitting while drinking coffee or tea or making and eating bacon and eggs, I was not moving for fully 12 hours out of the 48 - but I am pleased that I was able to push in the last couple of laps to make my goal. As I told Clay afterward, I guess stormtroopers don't <i>always</i> miss their target!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMrAoA1RPL10jSYNtYvzNkRuzntLZMRGUXzU5UpB0WEbUDOrLXcT4cksIWo0JejjnboXPT1KjiEs9V1HZzTwqnmI3kkdzMgc13BRD7hcqh-YQCVRKars0prhOAs9eirnAVW5WbTU6Ybj_0J4XSLppxl1Ire3jCenT9Ylz5furWfxLdjOfotVYI6-8Vk8/s1200/PXL_20231015_125224875.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1200" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMrAoA1RPL10jSYNtYvzNkRuzntLZMRGUXzU5UpB0WEbUDOrLXcT4cksIWo0JejjnboXPT1KjiEs9V1HZzTwqnmI3kkdzMgc13BRD7hcqh-YQCVRKars0prhOAs9eirnAVW5WbTU6Ybj_0J4XSLppxl1Ire3jCenT9Ylz5furWfxLdjOfotVYI6-8Vk8/w400-h236/PXL_20231015_125224875.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final scoreboard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So now, having completed the trilogy at Three Days in the Park and done two 100mi or longer races within a 10 week span, I think I'll set my sights on volunteering for 2024.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3llBq7IS6HLNdFV-elGJIScW6BbEiuUuqHG2cpPyJ3_Ohmr1UQYAg6xmHmpBrsuegbswgEx9M7cX57i4YWWQnZKYOEd1U48EwbPxlKH9ZcsTml_yulm8e7CBuMMJSqIThvFVNYuogf6B3xGpz6cXHMK_7UrLqD-AA_IoCAWe9lmyk4115DJlC0K-mGw/s1200/PXL_20231015_125821740.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3llBq7IS6HLNdFV-elGJIScW6BbEiuUuqHG2cpPyJ3_Ohmr1UQYAg6xmHmpBrsuegbswgEx9M7cX57i4YWWQnZKYOEd1U48EwbPxlKH9ZcsTml_yulm8e7CBuMMJSqIThvFVNYuogf6B3xGpz6cXHMK_7UrLqD-AA_IoCAWe9lmyk4115DJlC0K-mGw/w256-h400/PXL_20231015_125821740.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because the folks who make races happen are the real troopers!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Clay for another great event; to Gary for his incredible hard work and creativity with the lighting; to Rich and Dion for coming to share laps and listen to me whinge; to Dree for sharing laps, bringing tea, and being a stellar volunteer; to Tim for coming out to keep the rest of the volunteers company and provide good humour; and most of all to Tank for your endless patience with the cranky toddler I become when I run, and your relentless support and hard work so that I can wander in the woods and eat candy. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqHgxmlEsYEYrpwKfLjuYiBIIZSlVo2K3gs5rLWUbDyoEqll6LrpGX0eip08AmLgIO543fi3XOMgV55U4bOb3v0I0a2aC9R7DBOHL5N7o3MfsWa0X0nRLIZGhPnHBy2hx94gp2Up-5arZB2X055hxZiY8pY6f5KJ3L8wGqX1rQf1M2TVTWOnNtDDU6QQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_125918086.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqHgxmlEsYEYrpwKfLjuYiBIIZSlVo2K3gs5rLWUbDyoEqll6LrpGX0eip08AmLgIO543fi3XOMgV55U4bOb3v0I0a2aC9R7DBOHL5N7o3MfsWa0X0nRLIZGhPnHBy2hx94gp2Up-5arZB2X055hxZiY8pY6f5KJ3L8wGqX1rQf1M2TVTWOnNtDDU6QQ/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_125918086.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard things are always easier to do when you're surrounded by love</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div></div>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-17639058397031041442023-12-01T20:31:00.002-05:002023-12-01T20:32:25.626-05:00By my fingertips<p> Stuff is really hard right now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu3qTFJtksvCHrvLVbW4AoKaAEP5BYa8sfzdw4G1j7zhsUfmqOpC0s7BtAeDyQAYEZc7eht5gUmeCnqeSpmdGtwV34yvcA5VL_2OeC2v9aTciFEBjEy39xAZXhQ6US1ofPhmJmgpxEV0eUa1arW6XSMfeCJrLUFjR2AU5E1YYBUgIMqZdLoSOF3eyNs4/s1200/PXL_20231125_161409688.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTu3qTFJtksvCHrvLVbW4AoKaAEP5BYa8sfzdw4G1j7zhsUfmqOpC0s7BtAeDyQAYEZc7eht5gUmeCnqeSpmdGtwV34yvcA5VL_2OeC2v9aTciFEBjEy39xAZXhQ6US1ofPhmJmgpxEV0eUa1arW6XSMfeCJrLUFjR2AU5E1YYBUgIMqZdLoSOF3eyNs4/w400-h225/PXL_20231125_161409688.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's some sunshine, but it all feels uphill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I big part of it is that I've been crazy busy at work, but even once I get away from my desk I'm still pretty swamped. The 100 runs in 100 days challenge started in mid-November and will go through late February, except also starts December 1st and will go to mid-March.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQn543NUt8AP83fuRPIgi1cYw3AvCyKfjIDpe9wxx2KA6xIfkD4g2kOOsKCkQPb8nAO4C6XMJKoMLm9l4MJbKlOCtSPrX5mWLD-xShZ5EHPFQMNUoijRyfyB9a6hHY80B3yL4T89bV7oRO-riKmv9m4Lq6HyPdRLT_5PmtcHKnMbhfdCy5zWoQVMbCB0/s1200/PXL_20231125_181954333.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQn543NUt8AP83fuRPIgi1cYw3AvCyKfjIDpe9wxx2KA6xIfkD4g2kOOsKCkQPb8nAO4C6XMJKoMLm9l4MJbKlOCtSPrX5mWLD-xShZ5EHPFQMNUoijRyfyB9a6hHY80B3yL4T89bV7oRO-riKmv9m4Lq6HyPdRLT_5PmtcHKnMbhfdCy5zWoQVMbCB0/w225-h400/PXL_20231125_181954333.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So the double run days will continue for awhile</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Add in that I now seem to end up playing hockey 3 times every weekend, and it's a little bit exhausting.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7alk5t-XxvTHP3EOm2Z2qvhEXf_rgVEZs96UU4U31Tir880xhdQj6MzrrwAIL-DajuxpHxCcnWWLpZ6k0ee11pBtKU0E0uBE7YeFGy3COueci2tYbKtKR06fuVnC3uPuWGDFpwNDAbZ0RXJMpbYAEaNQ-5GLGx5XA4gqMVHSHh82Hl8hcTJhvKFxmw1s/s1200/20231126_203255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="1200" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7alk5t-XxvTHP3EOm2Z2qvhEXf_rgVEZs96UU4U31Tir880xhdQj6MzrrwAIL-DajuxpHxCcnWWLpZ6k0ee11pBtKU0E0uBE7YeFGy3COueci2tYbKtKR06fuVnC3uPuWGDFpwNDAbZ0RXJMpbYAEaNQ-5GLGx5XA4gqMVHSHh82Hl8hcTJhvKFxmw1s/w400-h226/20231126_203255.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though it's quite a lot of fun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So in order to relax, what do I do? Of course I hit the climbing gym for the first time in 4 years after work on Wednesday with a couple of my colleagues.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNrILeOMpgtSef5iBU0DQ1cQiCAjCexbn3TKEJ_YQ5RUbJCCpZLlVAytR1WPIB40FS_RDozIVScmCX9FuRRBgIgDzzMQO4NNAaiBT9ezxG28_jjYX7wRSqVq6cjjV9F5RKMkLsqJdaW53d67cqmcrCc0spzL_TCMZA0_1WU-I0fpKn0RxuVhpVYMpeik/s1200/PXL_20231130_005432390.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNrILeOMpgtSef5iBU0DQ1cQiCAjCexbn3TKEJ_YQ5RUbJCCpZLlVAytR1WPIB40FS_RDozIVScmCX9FuRRBgIgDzzMQO4NNAaiBT9ezxG28_jjYX7wRSqVq6cjjV9F5RKMkLsqJdaW53d67cqmcrCc0spzL_TCMZA0_1WU-I0fpKn0RxuVhpVYMpeik/w400-h225/PXL_20231130_005432390.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, I could still move the next day!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S3CMUBg9HWU" width="320" youtube-src-id="S3CMUBg9HWU"></iframe></div><br /><p>Between end of fiscal quarter yesterday and a really aggressive month-end close target that started today, I've had no time to write the race reports that have now been hanging for more than a month.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwotL4F9g8v_45xEGUbqptq0GvwtPzue64kcovt8KzBGUKbSBuzlcO2rDUTRQzOKSA8P3ALEeJIhjw4Q3MY3Uk_YJ0iu6L2yLKtC4o9rbm_9yCKA9s0ybG7lzT67aCzXGWz9dwc11VaLKbqO7y98J8n6SSgjHULePIfBquhkEiF82BoITtAexZ0P8OHOk/s1200/PXL_20231128_225142605.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwotL4F9g8v_45xEGUbqptq0GvwtPzue64kcovt8KzBGUKbSBuzlcO2rDUTRQzOKSA8P3ALEeJIhjw4Q3MY3Uk_YJ0iu6L2yLKtC4o9rbm_9yCKA9s0ybG7lzT67aCzXGWz9dwc11VaLKbqO7y98J8n6SSgjHULePIfBquhkEiF82BoITtAexZ0P8OHOk/w400-h225/PXL_20231128_225142605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've barely even had time to make snow angels!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I will get to them - I really will - but I need a little breathing space.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8n065rmg7AfaMo6H7ZLY4AXN_TngpODJkvrjCqg4eU95488tQt4-KF5moPSCeC2XwlgXXzwTPMiEs3YDCp9AAINQrQSgkxdwCU95axOLzHLGtq5_WMwEACBuJkF7X0gsn7qEgr2LCV9mc3SKNPpGMw-sdpPYGzjUQz66D7WRhtoxV6X2g64y3rRAS9w/s1200/PXL_20231126_193331532.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8n065rmg7AfaMo6H7ZLY4AXN_TngpODJkvrjCqg4eU95488tQt4-KF5moPSCeC2XwlgXXzwTPMiEs3YDCp9AAINQrQSgkxdwCU95axOLzHLGtq5_WMwEACBuJkF7X0gsn7qEgr2LCV9mc3SKNPpGMw-sdpPYGzjUQz66D7WRhtoxV6X2g64y3rRAS9w/w400-h225/PXL_20231126_193331532.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least I'll have plenty of material to write about over the winter!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Hope you all have a relaxing weekend, and I'll see what I can crank out next week..</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mmq92eOSMh8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Mmq92eOSMh8"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Apart from a couple of saves</div><p><br /></p>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-86682439036279408682023-11-17T20:30:00.008-05:002023-12-08T23:35:59.756-05:00Three Days in the Park 48hr - Friday, October 13th, 2023 - Part 1<p>When you've already done the <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/10/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">72hr</a> & <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">24hr</a> at the (unofficial) Stahr Wahrs Ultra, of course you've gotta go back and complete the trilogy!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB6X1XxWpK39AnjPBp9t5kxWNgS9r_CR4BLJfny0qkgfZCW06ztw-3lY6kAk2xBXq5gjf5LcvDt6cfn_-6AcuRkwQVtqOJCzWxqOwsgMpQW-MsQdrX8iysOeNjjIBk_ZIosSmqeF8zySAJzBlKnLwBzpKSeo0TJkJ4eRecs8373waQSI6Am2DZMCjvhg/s1200/PXL_20231013_175449193.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB6X1XxWpK39AnjPBp9t5kxWNgS9r_CR4BLJfny0qkgfZCW06ztw-3lY6kAk2xBXq5gjf5LcvDt6cfn_-6AcuRkwQVtqOJCzWxqOwsgMpQW-MsQdrX8iysOeNjjIBk_ZIosSmqeF8zySAJzBlKnLwBzpKSeo0TJkJ4eRecs8373waQSI6Am2DZMCjvhg/w400-h223/PXL_20231013_175449193.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've also never done a 48hr, so wanted to see what it was like</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I wasn't necessarily in ideal shape for it - I was only 10 weeks past <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/08/tally-in-valley-trail-race-100-mile.html">Tally in the Valley 100mi</a>, had <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/09/cest-bon.html">messed up my back pretty badly in early September</a>, and I'd just spent 7hrs on quite rugged trails two weeks ago at <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/10/monster-of-mazinaw-trail-race-30k.html">Monster of Mazinaw</a>. I was out walking with Tank on Thursday evening, and commented that it wasn't exactly encouraging that my SI joints were complaining loudly while just ambling along on a 12 minute stroll around the block. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CErD6ELLO2MbKdZw3o18iNNjzfRV53f4AFVgNgs5cF9qQC8DEPKcSnCrDi_sKfqqejLkgKT23cpfEJjxNXRM9WYjAfIH01aWm_xxJuMGC1_oiMxvdYq0LqZ6gv_VQOMAdBknrNcbAOGwE_qapqK0iPUMw0YdzERU5d1MPfMJ0mL78C9fmcxFCSrzUe4/s1200/PXL_20231013_112212641.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CErD6ELLO2MbKdZw3o18iNNjzfRV53f4AFVgNgs5cF9qQC8DEPKcSnCrDi_sKfqqejLkgKT23cpfEJjxNXRM9WYjAfIH01aWm_xxJuMGC1_oiMxvdYq0LqZ6gv_VQOMAdBknrNcbAOGwE_qapqK0iPUMw0YdzERU5d1MPfMJ0mL78C9fmcxFCSrzUe4/w400-h210/PXL_20231013_112212641.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someday I might start something big & stupid without a pre-existing injury, but today was not that day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Panic had set in during the preceding days, but I was fairly serene when I rose at 5:08am to get myself dressed and eat my big honkin' bowl of oatmeal in the dark. I decided that any attempt to tape things together was probably just foolish, so I didn't bother: they'd have to just fall apart on their own.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsKZPOSsG7C39OX0Q3Gh8xswie4n6-29X91PjGrRktArmUy_gRkIeUy5oHAPS46F0XbWz6pqzNoCWsJqNB7sHDLeYB9xHzNMi0DVKnK_IpEzuUSwfIZCKLHJeCRt0M66FJdEnZUgSSXJaTMbrDBMdQSPbaUteGJ2rsDQghrhCoyVcZgliKEwpofgtwio/s1200/PXL_20231013_104002491.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsKZPOSsG7C39OX0Q3Gh8xswie4n6-29X91PjGrRktArmUy_gRkIeUy5oHAPS46F0XbWz6pqzNoCWsJqNB7sHDLeYB9xHzNMi0DVKnK_IpEzuUSwfIZCKLHJeCRt0M66FJdEnZUgSSXJaTMbrDBMdQSPbaUteGJ2rsDQghrhCoyVcZgliKEwpofgtwio/w240-h400/PXL_20231013_104002491.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did wear some calf panties with my knicks, though, partly because they were theme-appropriate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We got Tank his usual T.Ho's breakfast along the way to the old waste management site that serves as race headquarters - hot, cooked food would be in short supply for the next couple of days - and set about putting up the shelter that would be kitchen, livingroom, and sleeping quarters for me until Sunday.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_Z3Q9AvufVga-F7mk-p_NZ1iJ-CV20Rx1u7DrMa2JUvMTlAGuhsQMDJSZWw4gzxrJDvqEqZamyNJ15Yr1IAY8F9sAVAYkkT4-5Yq9-pr2U0bwHYlDXj2dCl3PztQimfJXY8CTratgmyDjPiLZ1oe4x0Bg0Ntmn5u2A3O3SYStdMMtVZpNPT1O7b4C94/s1200/PXL_20231013_123922487.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_Z3Q9AvufVga-F7mk-p_NZ1iJ-CV20Rx1u7DrMa2JUvMTlAGuhsQMDJSZWw4gzxrJDvqEqZamyNJ15Yr1IAY8F9sAVAYkkT4-5Yq9-pr2U0bwHYlDXj2dCl3PztQimfJXY8CTratgmyDjPiLZ1oe4x0Bg0Ntmn5u2A3O3SYStdMMtVZpNPT1O7b4C94/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_123922487.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cot with a stack of pillows to put my legs up while I nap; a chair with a big, plush, waterproof blanket to wrap myself up in; a 104L plastic bin full of clothing; a cooler; the propane stove, lantern, and heater; and a stool holding my cleaning supply caddy full of candy, cookies, and other bits.<br />Oh, and Admiral Ackbar to warn me away from sitting down.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had expected to see a couple of friends, but it seemed day 1 would end up being pretty lonely: Ron was the only competitor in the 72hr, and he'd had a very bad night with hypothermia. He did a handful of laps while I set up and got ready for the start, but he was having trouble warming up even in the brilliant sunshine. The other friend of mine who had registered for the 48hr had to bail, so I was the only entrant for that event.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Glj_y20DJdH-Ret1s8ltoBfdpJpYcB4yBJrjZK_JsNWasdENp4KbWRxKKXd6P79i7xQ4hWGFXxbKZh8W2ZdXA3_EzYi-hLUeIhcEHNV4RrCQ4tcLmKXJdRxWicxz0VZiYatvV6jeS3Rgk_jw_9kHR2wmjYxKJcsEHls7a586VANGfWaEkfAIgZZ0-qc/s986/FB_IMG_1697227853955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="986" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Glj_y20DJdH-Ret1s8ltoBfdpJpYcB4yBJrjZK_JsNWasdENp4KbWRxKKXd6P79i7xQ4hWGFXxbKZh8W2ZdXA3_EzYi-hLUeIhcEHNV4RrCQ4tcLmKXJdRxWicxz0VZiYatvV6jeS3Rgk_jw_9kHR2wmjYxKJcsEHls7a586VANGfWaEkfAIgZZ0-qc/w400-h271/FB_IMG_1697227853955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Run Director Clay joked "Can I get all the 48hr participants over for the pre-race meet- oh, right"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I used the portajohn with a few minutes before the start, and stripped off the layers of warm outerwear I'd worn in the chilly - about 3c/37f - morning to set up, leaving me in just my costume with a stolid wind vest to keep my core warm.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5pLBTKvc4Mq5FKQUH_kKAEjfPY3tSjMr-PRqimolWnIGao8J5X8g82OtEnTvtlCa7-sHMyprI1uatXfZskcoiIJXkhfhPiR01ik3KjP3G-aKoJR6Xy-2fnhf8sktxCOeIlbLmEYj40hP_GHjy9yfCYAUplxH3AqF23KQA0a7D8NVJwpzeuJNHQ6-AKQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_125918086.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5pLBTKvc4Mq5FKQUH_kKAEjfPY3tSjMr-PRqimolWnIGao8J5X8g82OtEnTvtlCa7-sHMyprI1uatXfZskcoiIJXkhfhPiR01ik3KjP3G-aKoJR6Xy-2fnhf8sktxCOeIlbLmEYj40hP_GHjy9yfCYAUplxH3AqF23KQA0a7D8NVJwpzeuJNHQ6-AKQ/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_125918086.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Tank already looks tired, and I know he was probably more worried than I was about all that could go wrong with this mad little venture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When 9am struck, Clay sent me off at a trot to go find out. I carried my phone with me on that first lap, and some candy in my pocket, but no water bottle. It was time to explore the loop, making my 195th lifetime circuit of it since October 2021.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDzfErUGemqEtQOBAUxJWXqh0d2NSI4GGhfrErm5et5C8_xWZ1GtsJonK1xrgq6wxGhN-qyUy6dMBIP2mN0ZBQwBZDj8pBPU0VRKSbQeB_eiqPKHNLFlnd-f3ZFzEo0YHJMR6EnFzVnodfx0x9_qQKPCVOpySbRvVAJu8DXhrqIV03_8d0YqHNl1Fz8g/s1200/PXL_20231013_130131577.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="841" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDzfErUGemqEtQOBAUxJWXqh0d2NSI4GGhfrErm5et5C8_xWZ1GtsJonK1xrgq6wxGhN-qyUy6dMBIP2mN0ZBQwBZDj8pBPU0VRKSbQeB_eiqPKHNLFlnd-f3ZFzEo0YHJMR6EnFzVnodfx0x9_qQKPCVOpySbRvVAJu8DXhrqIV03_8d0YqHNl1Fz8g/w280-h400/PXL_20231013_130131577.jpg" width="280" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Down the long decline at the edge of the waste management site</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The combination of sun and rain over the summer had the same effect on the Borderlands section as everywhere else around KW: weeds grew like mad, engulfing trails. Clay had done a great deal of work with a weed whacker (and possibly a machete) to find the route once more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0pXT1CL3FFPw3sc28oOZxak54ShxgIpclAPbOgL0sxgsYzuqTJ9soJUOtG53AlW9TEAYJtd0jseGxxC-TLYgo-_PYAUG94UcpFai9X5EU3Jc1NOxb9ZzRCW2PR-bdVM8Lv7pW2ECJFmtszYG-24Npe_lBeI8Iy6D9Ra1O3cPwOh8fWMsld3TstB0STo/s1200/PXL_20231013_130250496.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0pXT1CL3FFPw3sc28oOZxak54ShxgIpclAPbOgL0sxgsYzuqTJ9soJUOtG53AlW9TEAYJtd0jseGxxC-TLYgo-_PYAUG94UcpFai9X5EU3Jc1NOxb9ZzRCW2PR-bdVM8Lv7pW2ECJFmtszYG-24Npe_lBeI8Iy6D9Ra1O3cPwOh8fWMsld3TstB0STo/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_130250496.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It wasn't quite as pristine as previous years - there were some tough 6'-8" stems sticking up out of the ground at each end of this section that weren't awesome to run through</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Right turn at the end of this bit of trail, then along beside the big open field - not green this year, but rather full of the stubs of cornstalks - with a new feature for the course.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlql4DjZBuqSRVuPITMywRW0ZaVnGVl2K3ZZNCFFM8JLc49AKAUDLPtoaPH86FUiY5ZikCMBl0NnpyoKSXcQ43qVN3PR264c21MSZ-W1KS7CvktmGwNC5-ksVQzvuNeFc_5iIxhLmwp4BtLtrJemv-5nOtSvfVhJrymyhHp5HcWwhPRMLskBTJQ2MUSg/s1200/PXL_20231013_130508899.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZlql4DjZBuqSRVuPITMywRW0ZaVnGVl2K3ZZNCFFM8JLc49AKAUDLPtoaPH86FUiY5ZikCMBl0NnpyoKSXcQ43qVN3PR264c21MSZ-W1KS7CvktmGwNC5-ksVQzvuNeFc_5iIxhLmwp4BtLtrJemv-5nOtSvfVhJrymyhHp5HcWwhPRMLskBTJQ2MUSg/w264-h400/PXL_20231013_130508899.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a bit too big for me to feel safe jumping over, and right in the middle of a runnable section - this would definitely slow me down over the several dozen laps I hoped to cover</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Up one of the bonus hills into the forest, past the random bench, then down stump alley.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWteFw_-WFV8wWmPh3gDIT6tr0VH6zaUv9NQlIK7XD5IzMNTMg9ZFVpjo13zo57TNsckMrGCHxcRjk9WscrebFGGedtWJz-quXLl7ZU9G7lQn951vCJD2tIDFCNu34SS2VM5PoM5BVQIW-kIUJ2r1AzWPMe8ELiPh-zJyQ2hI22uM45zaC2MSOe0hdJjs/s1200/PXL_20231013_130543754.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="930" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWteFw_-WFV8wWmPh3gDIT6tr0VH6zaUv9NQlIK7XD5IzMNTMg9ZFVpjo13zo57TNsckMrGCHxcRjk9WscrebFGGedtWJz-quXLl7ZU9G7lQn951vCJD2tIDFCNu34SS2VM5PoM5BVQIW-kIUJ2r1AzWPMe8ELiPh-zJyQ2hI22uM45zaC2MSOe0hdJjs/w310-h400/PXL_20231013_130543754.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, Clay had already been out to paint them hi-viz orange</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Left turn at the arrow sign into the Endor Loop - the most beautiful part of the course, winding through pine forest and hardwoods with birdsong emanating from every direction.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2UDR8dkxF__waxkcnxUGpvERWg-v_LKaGBHoyM62-w5uUBw9N9KG_1My1M7YKfVwbur5f_1H26pANc1eSrocL38ezPJS-Zo4MyIVmk3n4G85LBHGDWjnRYtzs10TBgVRO1jmofUUaCWJYgWmyyyHAPxK8K5Q4lnIq2f_B2MnA8xTuQzpak0bLH8U_F4/s1200/PXL_20231013_130659273.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2UDR8dkxF__waxkcnxUGpvERWg-v_LKaGBHoyM62-w5uUBw9N9KG_1My1M7YKfVwbur5f_1H26pANc1eSrocL38ezPJS-Zo4MyIVmk3n4G85LBHGDWjnRYtzs10TBgVRO1jmofUUaCWJYgWmyyyHAPxK8K5Q4lnIq2f_B2MnA8xTuQzpak0bLH8U_F4/w256-h400/PXL_20231013_130659273.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is wonderfully soft underfoot, and mostly flat or gently downhill, making it lovely to run</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The course markings are always excellent: pin flags plus directional arrows, including ones bordered in electroluminescent wire that would be lit up after dark.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrjgNOi3nV_cJDOls96iXhsDOVDwgQAjT1gqE5OxtvRlDZq2Qa_TtcFlKUzxckWe2T6NrqibUZHtu52TZtsobyqjiBQwvEHJ0g7yhizJz7IEfHI5j7SrlIP9BJF-D4XZ31R27xtvfBA_S2Ph9WWqqVjjcIpPmjv75dSVQxCsvcKxc3Zgg01UMXRX-NoY/s1200/PXL_20231013_130737635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="929" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrjgNOi3nV_cJDOls96iXhsDOVDwgQAjT1gqE5OxtvRlDZq2Qa_TtcFlKUzxckWe2T6NrqibUZHtu52TZtsobyqjiBQwvEHJ0g7yhizJz7IEfHI5j7SrlIP9BJF-D4XZ31R27xtvfBA_S2Ph9WWqqVjjcIpPmjv75dSVQxCsvcKxc3Zgg01UMXRX-NoY/w310-h400/PXL_20231013_130737635.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All of the above are pictured here, at the southernmost turn of the course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The last leg of the Endor Loop is the most technical section of the whole course, really, with roots and stumps and twists and turns of a very narrow trail through the trees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qe4b0oOVeA3wMo54N5eJltMnEQccLorPP4xU8rOez16VA2xFtADs7OmvEX0OzKYnzOjguPpfmnWgUkCfV1t_YNDbD14WdtzaLAiYbM2ISJiAjprgL3k07RTNP-i-z0eogTmW67-NhYQck8mkP82WdURNKmEAwpj4mlsnfQjJxkCpEn0byrMeVTiHd10/s1200/PXL_20231013_130741168.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qe4b0oOVeA3wMo54N5eJltMnEQccLorPP4xU8rOez16VA2xFtADs7OmvEX0OzKYnzOjguPpfmnWgUkCfV1t_YNDbD14WdtzaLAiYbM2ISJiAjprgL3k07RTNP-i-z0eogTmW67-NhYQck8mkP82WdURNKmEAwpj4mlsnfQjJxkCpEn0byrMeVTiHd10/w270-h400/PXL_20231013_130741168.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And - if you're lucky - the most beautiful glints of sunlight</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Of course it can't all be rosy - the bonus hill to end the Endor Loop has always been a bit of a tricky one, as it is quite steep and requires a step over of two fallen trees at the top.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQML1LnzIsJCktEGVSQByVs1A4F3GyoGoyAXCli3HgbZgCrCGdCRrQODphL_HvTMaZXEMVPVdt-DXN1yrlkzDroRQbJ8HHr5adiJovsNfi7SGWpC4NQDBy0qjg0pPbANzPZrBXC7eFBlPQpzTwVKLB18t3CWTVwy4RYMSRZ0q-cchyphenhyphen-TuMBW7-59SlJk/s1200/PXL_20231013_130841738.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQML1LnzIsJCktEGVSQByVs1A4F3GyoGoyAXCli3HgbZgCrCGdCRrQODphL_HvTMaZXEMVPVdt-DXN1yrlkzDroRQbJ8HHr5adiJovsNfi7SGWpC4NQDBy0qjg0pPbANzPZrBXC7eFBlPQpzTwVKLB18t3CWTVwy4RYMSRZ0q-cchyphenhyphen-TuMBW7-59SlJk/w230-h400/PXL_20231013_130841738.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least I'd have a few hours before I'd need to worry about it getting slick in the rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Back up Stump Alley, because it was so much fun the first time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2AB1wt8r8ZUW-4pej4dJ-skEaZkAQE6b3arpiXBScVewjRHA085wtxfxSDlbymWJiI1m62nUv4v-kDrmeEDZFzQ-rKSY6X1WnM99rU41OYbqN6cJSIcIKINf32llU2nSxq8X0SvBX7djS972ES-u3UxZauTS6Wk_OU06-ZsUOklvrTb2t_ZcbVTSc6c/s1200/PXL_20231013_130916682.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA2AB1wt8r8ZUW-4pej4dJ-skEaZkAQE6b3arpiXBScVewjRHA085wtxfxSDlbymWJiI1m62nUv4v-kDrmeEDZFzQ-rKSY6X1WnM99rU41OYbqN6cJSIcIKINf32llU2nSxq8X0SvBX7djS972ES-u3UxZauTS6Wk_OU06-ZsUOklvrTb2t_ZcbVTSc6c/w270-h400/PXL_20231013_130916682.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am always amazed when I make it through here without going sprawling - a bit of paint being no match for my natural clumsiness</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Out of the woods again, to confront the deadfall again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7CQ0PUoB-dPaoQ0WK2DF2fJVgQ4S1JhXtgRsFHKNjoKBYSOJDBNrbBoVxpKrHrNh39NEATO5Qwrzk0he2WciJIhbmKwdw_6_AUpgnYeQXbeUvVr_y2E9cg7tnjUH_cxj17PojI74fpKKp2o84xKTQd8Ebe3UDxyONoBftyl1y3nBEU2IVzKC4Ul828o/s1200/PXL_20231013_131000528.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="786" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7CQ0PUoB-dPaoQ0WK2DF2fJVgQ4S1JhXtgRsFHKNjoKBYSOJDBNrbBoVxpKrHrNh39NEATO5Qwrzk0he2WciJIhbmKwdw_6_AUpgnYeQXbeUvVr_y2E9cg7tnjUH_cxj17PojI74fpKKp2o84xKTQd8Ebe3UDxyONoBftyl1y3nBEU2IVzKC4Ul828o/w263-h400/PXL_20231013_131000528.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly uphill past it in this direction, which makes it harder to get running again after stepping over</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Past the big open field - I'm so used to it being verdant, a sea of ultra-green among the autumn colours - glorious nonetheless in the morning sun.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEu8pa2Q_axmUA-BOIDPwTQVF72deVmCMV23T-Sorgo5JPe2Vb94G94cVgE1rQpbV48bESJUO8RrXNdLay2CkK1ZOzvo6fFRTV2ZcqnaJwLAT-RIO8iozT8dWWczFC4PUz36odjjv1Fo0xJ6qCObNSPMvqBx065DZuYTs3J1p-lJ5Yt9avyihXJUfjx4/s1200/PXL_20231013_131004428.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEu8pa2Q_axmUA-BOIDPwTQVF72deVmCMV23T-Sorgo5JPe2Vb94G94cVgE1rQpbV48bESJUO8RrXNdLay2CkK1ZOzvo6fFRTV2ZcqnaJwLAT-RIO8iozT8dWWczFC4PUz36odjjv1Fo0xJ6qCObNSPMvqBx065DZuYTs3J1p-lJ5Yt9avyihXJUfjx4/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_131004428.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our local star has so seldom been a feature at this event, that I would take every opportunity to document its appearances</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now, down the steep slope of the first bonus hill, to the foot of the main climb.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQzakmXdtuc0L3bo3FUY4EshB3jgNTDbQwupnebBz2Yn5eqlB5cmiWdAPjjtwOY5A1LiZtauZX53uR37jnqGCsRMdd4C82WhS5I-AcBNR1hchPAKydCasJsqpyy3up39phh8QqTtTnG0OaT0eSGTwW82727fwM3AfihJuO7zZYlzIWf_vLJFTGXXO6cE/s1200/PXL_20231013_131118604.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQzakmXdtuc0L3bo3FUY4EshB3jgNTDbQwupnebBz2Yn5eqlB5cmiWdAPjjtwOY5A1LiZtauZX53uR37jnqGCsRMdd4C82WhS5I-AcBNR1hchPAKydCasJsqpyy3up39phh8QqTtTnG0OaT0eSGTwW82727fwM3AfihJuO7zZYlzIWf_vLJFTGXXO6cE/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_131118604.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lower portion - first to get slippery when things get wet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqo2X98yaadC8bLjOwmpvMGSjgumYarfD-99ukBBD1NNiMbr4i_gnTrcCpasKONvD_BcZ12h3DoVVNkgUwHzFAXWxXir56eoLUAHAHb_cn2T5-cZiPXXJDr6hDHpSRmcT_sJmHpDZaFueAv-0y-bJVZb8Vgz87dDLaQuCZQgHJDSjHavkV5UaMJGl1kU/s1200/PXL_20231013_131125724.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqo2X98yaadC8bLjOwmpvMGSjgumYarfD-99ukBBD1NNiMbr4i_gnTrcCpasKONvD_BcZ12h3DoVVNkgUwHzFAXWxXir56eoLUAHAHb_cn2T5-cZiPXXJDr6hDHpSRmcT_sJmHpDZaFueAv-0y-bJVZb8Vgz87dDLaQuCZQgHJDSjHavkV5UaMJGl1kU/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_131125724.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It continues very steep for past the pine trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESx7o9L8sVrPnjkyeKhNVoSNwlQbZ7aa18HUlSIFT72gDZhrjcGbeww-gNRAHbE9dCC5SlovFeXdzX5RAFSTHZ3Q73J3OhWJ2Pu5IFLpEwV5UTccGntget7PF3rhLEkm6OonWumHhqy2jfVfidwotSu-IZ-HaPseRsQs9eP5Fgg4ne1VDVllXz8pMKME/s1200/PXL_20231013_131141577.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESx7o9L8sVrPnjkyeKhNVoSNwlQbZ7aa18HUlSIFT72gDZhrjcGbeww-gNRAHbE9dCC5SlovFeXdzX5RAFSTHZ3Q73J3OhWJ2Pu5IFLpEwV5UTccGntget7PF3rhLEkm6OonWumHhqy2jfVfidwotSu-IZ-HaPseRsQs9eP5Fgg4ne1VDVllXz8pMKME/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_131141577.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flattening out enough to be properly walkable, but still uphill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Where the singletrack meets the doubletrack at the not-exactly-top of the hill, you get a spectacular view west across the field beside the first downhill, and the gorgeous fall foliage in the trees beyond.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLZv-aevNN1I4ZdgQ1yylOuGE29sLRKa_Qs3x2b_CZcOMFKZwouPz0OjgeHmbQdebGelzzp8bQ4Oj_bUVhlOgldy6hrXZ5dE9eFE0YG5l3Cd5zdC6kk5Tvgj1rfYOD_YFrN7eLb6x07fMZrL_9OUdr7jOBIZmchu9jKFskqQBTQmskP6mfjI9YsdKNX0/s1200/PXL_20231013_131214210.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLZv-aevNN1I4ZdgQ1yylOuGE29sLRKa_Qs3x2b_CZcOMFKZwouPz0OjgeHmbQdebGelzzp8bQ4Oj_bUVhlOgldy6hrXZ5dE9eFE0YG5l3Cd5zdC6kk5Tvgj1rfYOD_YFrN7eLb6x07fMZrL_9OUdr7jOBIZmchu9jKFskqQBTQmskP6mfjI9YsdKNX0/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_131214210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure whether the leaves or the hill do more to take your breath away</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Continue on the doubletrack north toward base camp</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OGbfrnj9M5ieY0Q7Qr0yHVAAPWuT6LGX-2JduOxFyHLYbq97r-IdBGG7ZCC3A0sl3pxPlvWULP2XStykHJq3lA3Hb0KRkIhwkcD1jAnzyHQSSUuVi_lwCQXwiWHxpHyjNS_fzF-UTbJPTMqLPXsk3nTWAhg_5S_jEbJQAwzLcVHb9836mYdIqLP7uSA/s1200/PXL_20231013_131208602.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OGbfrnj9M5ieY0Q7Qr0yHVAAPWuT6LGX-2JduOxFyHLYbq97r-IdBGG7ZCC3A0sl3pxPlvWULP2XStykHJq3lA3Hb0KRkIhwkcD1jAnzyHQSSUuVi_lwCQXwiWHxpHyjNS_fzF-UTbJPTMqLPXsk3nTWAhg_5S_jEbJQAwzLcVHb9836mYdIqLP7uSA/w266-h400/PXL_20231013_131208602.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still - you will note - going uphill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eventually it will flatten out, then even give you the slightest downhill as you reach the corner to start it all over again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GOVxW7yq_SYShI62quhyphenhyphengkytYN700nTYhPlECd8AJIohZyw1Z_2A7Q-L-GhXXknlMSrkrk6L5jpWEo_vDBJu1p-dMq9BOCINx3HCnnr0q7Cgqp3es_hl1EKB_FxeT2RnSlQsfOnPdQpLs-FlKU2CeaZ-xmACXRCwSpiWSOuvJk0jaJCN98kjYkxC00Y/s1200/PXL_20231014_135758480.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GOVxW7yq_SYShI62quhyphenhyphengkytYN700nTYhPlECd8AJIohZyw1Z_2A7Q-L-GhXXknlMSrkrk6L5jpWEo_vDBJu1p-dMq9BOCINx3HCnnr0q7Cgqp3es_hl1EKB_FxeT2RnSlQsfOnPdQpLs-FlKU2CeaZ-xmACXRCwSpiWSOuvJk0jaJCN98kjYkxC00Y/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_135758480.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's the aid station semi-hidden by a tree, and our car and tent on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Eew_eZDSJFDZI4HwVUKMOFy0bksaLZpzBaXz29MjqxLb3T4j3b31B44PvABwHl0amXA2gP2jDQufynO7G1lwiuGP-tppTNrcCyNXeQCXPqOdYytruk0_NFU0VBwlq9Yj7VxVLXJ0WaTexObo56XzoCBQIFImqwoy0kjM09mLiZuRynjvVmalbb7yAg/s1200/PXL_20231013_131341945.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1005" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0Eew_eZDSJFDZI4HwVUKMOFy0bksaLZpzBaXz29MjqxLb3T4j3b31B44PvABwHl0amXA2gP2jDQufynO7G1lwiuGP-tppTNrcCyNXeQCXPqOdYytruk0_NFU0VBwlq9Yj7VxVLXJ0WaTexObo56XzoCBQIFImqwoy0kjM09mLiZuRynjvVmalbb7yAg/w335-h400/PXL_20231013_131341945.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..with my sweetheart ready to provide support every lap.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I knew going in that a goal of 200km was unrealistic: everything would have to be perfect for me to make that happen, considering I only did <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">121km in 24hrs in excellent conditions in 2022</a>. The absolute minimum I would accept would be 92 laps, which is just over 100mi: that would mean completing <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/08/tally-in-valley-trail-race-100-mile.html">two 100mi+ races in 10 weeks</a>, but I was cognizant of the fact it took me <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/11/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">48.5hrs to make 100mi at 3DIP in 2021</a>. I wondered, though, if I kept the naps to a minimum and just kept running as long as I could...was 100 laps possible? </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbL8uT27u1FYcfN3JfNLNSr4nYMbzHp7bBaK8V1vXax9vCpS4ujQF7Q9eelfJ5RPDmwMbL7I_Jq762K76P6UQj_SD0E1DVYvnfpnoZIkGGyVWsXW5AzPvX2pwJRgnzrGJcYaFBRLn67iiuSJa2h_5UaOwnewpJ4rY0VXRw6h4m6sZAzezEcnUNuWVCOY/s1058/FB_IMG_1697227853955.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1058" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbL8uT27u1FYcfN3JfNLNSr4nYMbzHp7bBaK8V1vXax9vCpS4ujQF7Q9eelfJ5RPDmwMbL7I_Jq762K76P6UQj_SD0E1DVYvnfpnoZIkGGyVWsXW5AzPvX2pwJRgnzrGJcYaFBRLn67iiuSJa2h_5UaOwnewpJ4rY0VXRw6h4m6sZAzezEcnUNuWVCOY/w400-h264/FB_IMG_1697227853955.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Only one way to find out</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I did the first few loops with my heavy wind vest under my storm trooper dress, and got quite sweaty very quickly even with zipping it down. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6d3xSIjpIlGdo2eowajHC2VKXLyBY9AscAQTEMuNELNB3EhsqYhz8lVJgaO5owy7YMFody_icXeL-MySXghO8R03qfNkByk_H80TaHGbEQhiRldlvHWDsg8hwa1x2lMvZup4POhtgRpExIZsfymMm8NtZXqdkKz8qzGOK5JzKruaN54TW7DJUfOb4Gc/s1200/PXL_20231013_130728977.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6d3xSIjpIlGdo2eowajHC2VKXLyBY9AscAQTEMuNELNB3EhsqYhz8lVJgaO5owy7YMFody_icXeL-MySXghO8R03qfNkByk_H80TaHGbEQhiRldlvHWDsg8hwa1x2lMvZup4POhtgRpExIZsfymMm8NtZXqdkKz8qzGOK5JzKruaN54TW7DJUfOb4Gc/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_130728977.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though the sun took quite awhile to reach down below the plateau of the field</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was able to extricate it from under the dress and ditch it with Tank as I switched up bottles, alternating between one of water and one of Skratch electrolyte drink, and finishing a bottle about every 4 laps (call it approximately 500ml of fluid per hour). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUfUwJaB5vJoUVUmG1Rtq9k2v0MT6FUq6BA9GL8iPjavvR0IAuGtqPLaElRcG0M2DZt2g-S7ay1eZxygGvol9D0bJPhf4t0NdoGBN_duaTIqxi27YB5hRNBTIZCCUqsVswaV4anP0C3p-TI6OGLs_WcAT2lfcw00K-dT3YZ_ezMO6vR1S4I3pFSfcpCQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_131224038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUfUwJaB5vJoUVUmG1Rtq9k2v0MT6FUq6BA9GL8iPjavvR0IAuGtqPLaElRcG0M2DZt2g-S7ay1eZxygGvol9D0bJPhf4t0NdoGBN_duaTIqxi27YB5hRNBTIZCCUqsVswaV4anP0C3p-TI6OGLs_WcAT2lfcw00K-dT3YZ_ezMO6vR1S4I3pFSfcpCQ/w306-h400/PXL_20231013_131224038.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were still a few flowers lingering in the sunny spots</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Ron did a handful of laps but made plans to head out - he just wasn't feeling well after his cold night. He disappeared from the course within the first 90mins to nap in his tent while Barb - who had been out walking some laps with him as I started - pulled up a chair near the course, and proceeded to nap herself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHv_r63vShQdM2BRAGpu-5yxFSyf6WZD5uvdcDPIsY03P_nkkZrhVtsKUcskKWkuHk8JSHUUrQVr7aN1IQFFEIAgm_lL_29qbFSbZly2b6GoBE-VY3REQ-Knt0_eu3ncOvOSK2YcthaKhRGEkrPFJiYyjrBbGkVEx1gIR7mJDC3jWX-fkIvZaPZ0DU_M/s1115/PXL_20231013_125028993.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="981" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHv_r63vShQdM2BRAGpu-5yxFSyf6WZD5uvdcDPIsY03P_nkkZrhVtsKUcskKWkuHk8JSHUUrQVr7aN1IQFFEIAgm_lL_29qbFSbZly2b6GoBE-VY3REQ-Knt0_eu3ncOvOSK2YcthaKhRGEkrPFJiYyjrBbGkVEx1gIR7mJDC3jWX-fkIvZaPZ0DU_M/w353-h400/PXL_20231013_125028993.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An early Friday lap by the Gehls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I expected I'd now have the course to myself, but though I didn't see anyone else running I certainly wasn't alone out there. Twice in the first couple of hours I encountered people with off-leash dogs, both of whom jumped up on me and left muddy paw prints.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0kRcDrqdVgCtfhKiMGKj4RHbFA0lBS-3qpxF4yH9CCYwezyktgKd1ihDuXH_EDvZEvl5WSklQlsc71QEW_wqX09uaVkAS82s3HzVfe7GfeLqpT6ujs0Qrc68bsmkWcx_rXuftTl_f8-KFHHgbyszjNJ4B9YbY-zt-jgYDiNQCNG4DHGpWOvFKMa214w/s1200/PXL_20231013_155835206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0kRcDrqdVgCtfhKiMGKj4RHbFA0lBS-3qpxF4yH9CCYwezyktgKd1ihDuXH_EDvZEvl5WSklQlsc71QEW_wqX09uaVkAS82s3HzVfe7GfeLqpT6ujs0Qrc68bsmkWcx_rXuftTl_f8-KFHHgbyszjNJ4B9YbY-zt-jgYDiNQCNG4DHGpWOvFKMa214w/w251-h400/PXL_20231013_155835206.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I suppose this is what I get for wearing white after Labour Day - how gauche of me</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The other creatures that abounded on the course? Caterpillars. Dozens upon dozens of fuzzy caterpillars, wandering all over the trail. Both wooly bears (the ones that are usually brown at both ends with a black band in the middle; some people claim you can tell how long winter will be by the width of that black band), and other, less colourful but equally hairy critters.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDJYCqg4HDDckO8dLVoiie6OULEdWS-DGLua5VBIlMJq9fdxsrDkHTgU7Fu3q5VLfdnVyGz5R22EMasRpjAy-gUkT-2sQgFHBbWMi6_NMq-tbmWlQgT2rM7lr7BkFF6d3afDDO8DtgDcom8shv19k-Ds6bfn8J6VQMlYW6QVrQZCypJoYLb48a7AtrSw/s1200/PXL_20231014_155257353.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1200" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDJYCqg4HDDckO8dLVoiie6OULEdWS-DGLua5VBIlMJq9fdxsrDkHTgU7Fu3q5VLfdnVyGz5R22EMasRpjAy-gUkT-2sQgFHBbWMi6_NMq-tbmWlQgT2rM7lr7BkFF6d3afDDO8DtgDcom8shv19k-Ds6bfn8J6VQMlYW6QVrQZCypJoYLb48a7AtrSw/w400-h363/PXL_20231014_155257353.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really had to watch my step, or risk a fuzzy squelch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I had a bit of a conundrum: in order to tell Tank (who is the real MVP of these things) what I wanted him to have ready for me for the next lap when I'd finish a loop, I'd end up waking up Barb from her nap, about which I felt awful - she's an amazing lady, who supports Ron in races the same way Tank does for me. At the same time, I couldn't very well just forego talking to Tanker: he needed to know whether the next bottle should be filled with water or Skratch, or if I needed salt tabs, a refill of one of my little pouches of candy, or additional clothing. I'd basically have something to tell him about every lap as I ran past or paused briefly to swap bottles, and I'm not particularly good at being quiet when I'm running.</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2VC6wOYKWIHZ7aJhQ3VY7RXhzsDC6_uKk8HQsQ48y_Bdd498YRGl2PbDDN7OK-zfoE9mJ1RhIaSRDyXzVeyCxdkGEQbPaiIYO9WVMulELgRI6FcyxIE81-3Sf4XUsuamVxs6ETdcM2GOgeVtkNP6iQIGpn_5wkrHr0vSSXoLhwFog-5ovKm8-LhBLnI/s1200/PXL_20231013_161657090.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia2VC6wOYKWIHZ7aJhQ3VY7RXhzsDC6_uKk8HQsQ48y_Bdd498YRGl2PbDDN7OK-zfoE9mJ1RhIaSRDyXzVeyCxdkGEQbPaiIYO9WVMulELgRI6FcyxIE81-3Sf4XUsuamVxs6ETdcM2GOgeVtkNP6iQIGpn_5wkrHr0vSSXoLhwFog-5ovKm8-LhBLnI/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_161657090.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..as anyone who's ever been to the same race as me can attest.<br />Even my <i style="font-weight: bold;">signs</i> are loud!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Around the 3-hour mark I completed my 12th lap (close to a half-marathon at just over 21km), and I was already starting to hurt: my back was holding up ok so far, but my hips and the little muscles around my pelvis that keep it stable were feeling a bit worked, and my legs were beginning to complain of ill usage. Worse still, the inside of my left knee - above the kneecap - would twinge painfully if I wasn't careful to keep my knee from moving inward as I climbed the big hill. It was fine if I focused on pushing it outward, but as I got more tired it became more difficult to do consistently. I invited Tank to come walk a lap with me, throwing my wind vest back on to do so in order to keep warm.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPpgCffDzEZ9Zx_Yp6enFEP5qSXIx1DHmWuahlzo3qHQQncfyZksF4OP80L821N5fzzyJ9R2J2yzq79C6vSLbDzY8w0YA0Ld3dC3iGq-W-HDKOlbFsRJcrBgWhEecQiLmT_wNFD7MhFjnI3fX6SQ8cAogfa5nNiZpnuogitKGgNOA8rnaI-LPOv0UqGs/s1200/PXL_20231013_161555626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPpgCffDzEZ9Zx_Yp6enFEP5qSXIx1DHmWuahlzo3qHQQncfyZksF4OP80L821N5fzzyJ9R2J2yzq79C6vSLbDzY8w0YA0Ld3dC3iGq-W-HDKOlbFsRJcrBgWhEecQiLmT_wNFD7MhFjnI3fX6SQ8cAogfa5nNiZpnuogitKGgNOA8rnaI-LPOv0UqGs/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_161555626.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun had mostly disappeared behind high cloud, with lower-lying puffs blowing through</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This also gave me the opportunity - now that I wasn't pressing myself to run - to closer examine some things on the trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GfQGWOZvzhOk_ef5tgcGYzbsuLYIqce7tE4P5dPslCxnN7557bMhFKviCC6zMvGTqTI7u6a2bO0lEg9ylcTro7ntFAUUbyyb7cLUCs4NTmLiRQmJ_8KRNJGTZxsHS0uhuz_jGf4AeKiQC6ZDAeORY29tOE6CZQafCifwEpmgYdx6KYMQByy_uMnyV8w/s1200/PXL_20231013_160808236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1200" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GfQGWOZvzhOk_ef5tgcGYzbsuLYIqce7tE4P5dPslCxnN7557bMhFKviCC6zMvGTqTI7u6a2bO0lEg9ylcTro7ntFAUUbyyb7cLUCs4NTmLiRQmJ_8KRNJGTZxsHS0uhuz_jGf4AeKiQC6ZDAeORY29tOE6CZQafCifwEpmgYdx6KYMQByy_uMnyV8w/w400-h308/PXL_20231013_160808236.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like neat fungus on rotting fallen trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSvURhxZvsVHqEUyw9-hUO1wXoyA3CCq7INXs36QrMKN9g2naoQS8TvH2QZfMRtJAYQDk2FfgV4QVVOMRP1L4QHQ6XUxSdzc1PiUTarmjRcScyqKFY2Dp5sU3dpucNoMUv0M-auQgfHO-BHH_RrNegjeNl4O3405pYloe1AmZbsFQaOpDumRVNUXps4/s1200/PXL_20231013_161243509.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="775" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObSvURhxZvsVHqEUyw9-hUO1wXoyA3CCq7INXs36QrMKN9g2naoQS8TvH2QZfMRtJAYQDk2FfgV4QVVOMRP1L4QHQ6XUxSdzc1PiUTarmjRcScyqKFY2Dp5sU3dpucNoMUv0M-auQgfHO-BHH_RrNegjeNl4O3405pYloe1AmZbsFQaOpDumRVNUXps4/w259-h400/PXL_20231013_161243509.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and this feather - likely from a goldfinch - that had just turned up in the Endor loop on the previous lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was nice to share the course with my sweetheart for a bit, though neither of us particularly enjoyed climbing the hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wbuIjruTAB98hm2GdwJFUMX0CaVQNXqbeHw1puIuih59dIRwwq2THf8cU09NfpVJArrzPWDKgxVxcOW_QxLAMHIq655nkNx56RkJ40wNcUX2lVjHCY_31X3EVme5rvtKXgnjbrBN3vaSInVjAqB6Ftk7ZPAa8TOiuA1gRigqN2TnU5rd68vmRdiGsZA/s1200/PXL_20231013_161443677.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wbuIjruTAB98hm2GdwJFUMX0CaVQNXqbeHw1puIuih59dIRwwq2THf8cU09NfpVJArrzPWDKgxVxcOW_QxLAMHIq655nkNx56RkJ40wNcUX2lVjHCY_31X3EVme5rvtKXgnjbrBN3vaSInVjAqB6Ftk7ZPAa8TOiuA1gRigqN2TnU5rd68vmRdiGsZA/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_161443677.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think he'd kind of forgotten what a beast it can be</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I dropped Tank back at his chair by the start/finish, and started running again. I won't say that walking a lap helped much: I was able to coax my legs back to some semblance of life, but despite it being very early in the "race", I knew the decline had begun. I kept my vest on despite moving at higher effort, and watched as the light turned strange.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMNKVPLOQuMkQsZdtV-SW3wUpTKZjJG4fNgjaGyONbk_DxnN36__JYiIfifodpjaDCmgnVQrD9QUXcELm3UGO-8qalN92uJNKHs0Djcagdw0s3UBlruNWjUlh_ODgBSjcruSdnm_OVxLNkDTu7uSKpbCJWfxD8mUjl7ZB3gqvMZuYdJ1JX3KGnlUqtyQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_175255862.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMNKVPLOQuMkQsZdtV-SW3wUpTKZjJG4fNgjaGyONbk_DxnN36__JYiIfifodpjaDCmgnVQrD9QUXcELm3UGO-8qalN92uJNKHs0Djcagdw0s3UBlruNWjUlh_ODgBSjcruSdnm_OVxLNkDTu7uSKpbCJWfxD8mUjl7ZB3gqvMZuYdJ1JX3KGnlUqtyQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_175255862.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pockets of blue intermixed with multiple levels of cloud - I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By early afternoon some new issues - which were probably preventable, had I been smarter - began to arise. I'd failed to lube some areas before the start, and by 30k I could feel some unwelcome friction between my cheeks, so to speak...and it wasn't chapstick I needed. It's probably a good thing there was no-one else on course, as I was not shy about pulling out my <a href="https://medi-dyne.com/collections/2toms/products/2toms-sportshield-1-5-oz-roll-on">SportShield</a> and ensuring everything was liberally coated, in the wide-open door of my tent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-T7Z0imYXHRAR_JIVJXJ1L6d45mlmHdmmC73YT0z2UHEJIC9-llQbEKhFdzO8vpkPr8AXIQzLJ69z0FXO-Xhl8JPwUNBxnEHpi5_r-t6PFsQJPsV-a8NsvrYfENB_7UyEbpK-QFq8RYWkiTUzl8yWQafIy5C5vWDuWgjbgLLmjwGgFuaU3SNYt4wdkQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_175320653.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-T7Z0imYXHRAR_JIVJXJ1L6d45mlmHdmmC73YT0z2UHEJIC9-llQbEKhFdzO8vpkPr8AXIQzLJ69z0FXO-Xhl8JPwUNBxnEHpi5_r-t6PFsQJPsV-a8NsvrYfENB_7UyEbpK-QFq8RYWkiTUzl8yWQafIy5C5vWDuWgjbgLLmjwGgFuaU3SNYt4wdkQ/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_175320653.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd rather be comfortable than ladylike</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Ron and Barb packed up their stuff and left, though I had my suspicions I hadn't seen the last of them. It took me about 6hrs to cover the first 40k, fueled entirely by cookies and candy: sour peach slices, gummy worms, a few Oreos to switch things up, and a bunch of water, Skratch, and a couple of salt tabs. The sun came out again, and Tank got warm enough to be down to just a t-shirt for awhile.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nNVGiClbiXFi2rxfaRyXt0NmkXEvTJoBYkA-quHQn5zZMmrbTykFtcMUTgv24DwOyiB5LrsOVNlVaXSEh5aCGc-rcQlSIndBv9Rt0ipBowbA8RcS63e84xzI_BMwI5PgXzTqOiOEYJUEi1kbzyUwXPYZAc62dQKKG9yq_kT5BQAxg5NqjHV2oZubumI/s1200/PXL_20231013_180939822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nNVGiClbiXFi2rxfaRyXt0NmkXEvTJoBYkA-quHQn5zZMmrbTykFtcMUTgv24DwOyiB5LrsOVNlVaXSEh5aCGc-rcQlSIndBv9Rt0ipBowbA8RcS63e84xzI_BMwI5PgXzTqOiOEYJUEi1kbzyUwXPYZAc62dQKKG9yq_kT5BQAxg5NqjHV2oZubumI/w254-h400/PXL_20231013_180939822.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We both take the Stahr Wahrs Ultra thing pretty seriously</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I took my phone out with me and filmed the latter two-thirds of the Endor loop, plus the bit of main trail out of the woods (and up Stump Alley) - want to see how beautiful it is?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XineboPYyWU" width="320" youtube-src-id="XineboPYyWU"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'd apologize for all the heavy breathing, but that was hard work!</div><br /><p>I also decided to shoot the way up the big stinkin' hill, just for giggles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ve_izQOsyXo" width="320" youtube-src-id="ve_izQOsyXo"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">You get some weirdly epic-sounding music instead of me breathing on this one</div><br /><p>I didn't carry my phone with me the whole time, but I did take it out for a couple of laps here and there. I'd keep finding interesting things that I wanted to photograph, as I ran less and walked more. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhF2UdzYR53XpbJw0L2iMPxoFxOlqhgIqLE5DW83FBQ9jDwoX8lQgpE-mxBylvMgKEf1Bp2DgGaeu0VEoMWv1JsaThE25cUp6cXGCL1ohnsJqc_YRxj2aLUbgjUu_uvEdI8rM74ULQbTlEnD0oNMYJnjR7G8Ef7RErxakIFqu7XKMbh7cgObVBsMJ0-Q/s1463/PXL_20231013_175931027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfhF2UdzYR53XpbJw0L2iMPxoFxOlqhgIqLE5DW83FBQ9jDwoX8lQgpE-mxBylvMgKEf1Bp2DgGaeu0VEoMWv1JsaThE25cUp6cXGCL1ohnsJqc_YRxj2aLUbgjUu_uvEdI8rM74ULQbTlEnD0oNMYJnjR7G8Ef7RErxakIFqu7XKMbh7cgObVBsMJ0-Q/w400-h400/PXL_20231013_175931027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fern-like moss and teenytiny fungus on a fallen tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyeYN6t5Fw7v9kJRwyAHp58LtsOYnPBMCQR5kqBDXUCDKy3FiHbs4Cj0II-UZd20BLT2BmX7UrQUvhTcQN99KbPQuJ_VUrV83rc0p06NVePbFoEwDBSrcDGCwtocmxZusQu9FwKTQrLyjkp5jZUuJQ7NFqZlgMlsctudp6Q1HBwV6BBHUII97-LCUbQ8/s1200/PXL_20231013_201353780.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1200" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyeYN6t5Fw7v9kJRwyAHp58LtsOYnPBMCQR5kqBDXUCDKy3FiHbs4Cj0II-UZd20BLT2BmX7UrQUvhTcQN99KbPQuJ_VUrV83rc0p06NVePbFoEwDBSrcDGCwtocmxZusQu9FwKTQrLyjkp5jZUuJQ7NFqZlgMlsctudp6Q1HBwV6BBHUII97-LCUbQ8/w400-h363/PXL_20231013_201353780.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This thing, which I'd seen clinging to some grass near the top of the hill - I wasn't sure what it was, but some searching later told me it's a praying mantis egg case</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk58zA7t1lTxbkMk_H286v58H2Bbyqx16t7idB6M5vHLGFb4A8LK1rMCwn7H0HnBIMOpwYxx9kfTRKCpeXSi1HmO6J4LqpZcBqYQjGNuDjdm439t6Xk0DUB_Zr4C8es1bLk3w9tYBHNv2ALJGPF8tmAZBro3AGE5a6dvd-heIGwF_mTi3iU1zbfU2nIE/s1200/PXL_20231013_201444169-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk58zA7t1lTxbkMk_H286v58H2Bbyqx16t7idB6M5vHLGFb4A8LK1rMCwn7H0HnBIMOpwYxx9kfTRKCpeXSi1HmO6J4LqpZcBqYQjGNuDjdm439t6Xk0DUB_Zr4C8es1bLk3w9tYBHNv2ALJGPF8tmAZBro3AGE5a6dvd-heIGwF_mTi3iU1zbfU2nIE/w251-h400/PXL_20231013_201444169-EDIT.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bright bit of juniper alongside the trail where the hill flattens out, that reminded me of a flame</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Tank came out for another lap with me around 4pm, while I walked an entire lap and ate a blueberry muffin.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KCCbKcnL6ClHFOLTPR4dX9aEwMcUpPXQvPID6bbvAEbnFibzcDapdHTD7o3Nq3CJa7FFad6IQTNTtitnZLzZRRwEOsv0243ctpCAC1XKTWvoZK-8B9qEUbreJb_epz4B8aqgL5b29qjNdJ5cZp8uw2UUpYKLj-IxRtZR_TaDmb2RmSIClgq4w8up6MM/s1200/PXL_20231013_195821115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="755" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KCCbKcnL6ClHFOLTPR4dX9aEwMcUpPXQvPID6bbvAEbnFibzcDapdHTD7o3Nq3CJa7FFad6IQTNTtitnZLzZRRwEOsv0243ctpCAC1XKTWvoZK-8B9qEUbreJb_epz4B8aqgL5b29qjNdJ5cZp8uw2UUpYKLj-IxRtZR_TaDmb2RmSIClgq4w8up6MM/w251-h400/PXL_20231013_195821115.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was the first solid thing I'd eaten since oatmeal at 6am</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Clay had also been out putting up signs, which are always such a delight on the course. Here's a condensed tour:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJAjFbvo5JqKbyRWJ6h7CCAG22AaDntr_XIlqeBzN_2XSA2o-RWie3GqBBYoWVlHui-eR8yBcL1vZGooqSpCc8PvpHRmHF6VUGyXqmtRIr-p3lTXh3tXBzAVUcgzB6DC_HI_OLtQDN5Np3dBxRuVxULLb-CNE4jOprnk5KuRRTJ6iOipklACadPlwhXI/s1200/Clipboard1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJAjFbvo5JqKbyRWJ6h7CCAG22AaDntr_XIlqeBzN_2XSA2o-RWie3GqBBYoWVlHui-eR8yBcL1vZGooqSpCc8PvpHRmHF6VUGyXqmtRIr-p3lTXh3tXBzAVUcgzB6DC_HI_OLtQDN5Np3dBxRuVxULLb-CNE4jOprnk5KuRRTJ6iOipklACadPlwhXI/w400-h336/Clipboard1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start of the course / The entrance to the Borderlands</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqiJJS_8LALkLJSr95PXOkMIIxUZWI1fhyphenhyphen_Z80T9EbvBtEFQqzeJCgeJQv2veariYstl2fA4vJMMVj9hzk-nFckRIv8Ri3FBhm5-JiBoHASxvx3Y_CfXfp5n6mjxx-XG0MMbofqEJzLvoarG5difc-T-R4RvWfI4REnV4X-An7o-jbpS3wdm-ZW-qt_4/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1200" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqiJJS_8LALkLJSr95PXOkMIIxUZWI1fhyphenhyphen_Z80T9EbvBtEFQqzeJCgeJQv2veariYstl2fA4vJMMVj9hzk-nFckRIv8Ri3FBhm5-JiBoHASxvx3Y_CfXfp5n6mjxx-XG0MMbofqEJzLvoarG5difc-T-R4RvWfI4REnV4X-An7o-jbpS3wdm-ZW-qt_4/w400-h356/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front and inside of the sketchy outhouse - I asked Clay if that was O<b><i>bidet</i></b> Wan in there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70Yqt8v2ux6Vo9cyV08ZfCN2dm8ses7FrNlBarLQ7vHtaJ6U4cJG47kN_X0DHa4ofXqTUa9AYOy6OYapnfeAojDV_YEbhev-gaw3QYyb7N11-h56dEzV-CryZKA2bFOCHO8D-xNcadMieK4Z7wChn5yX_yTu7hwkP3ScVGj-m8y_qLcyLsWWgA9GYaxg/s1500/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1500" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70Yqt8v2ux6Vo9cyV08ZfCN2dm8ses7FrNlBarLQ7vHtaJ6U4cJG47kN_X0DHa4ofXqTUa9AYOy6OYapnfeAojDV_YEbhev-gaw3QYyb7N11-h56dEzV-CryZKA2bFOCHO8D-xNcadMieK4Z7wChn5yX_yTu7hwkP3ScVGj-m8y_qLcyLsWWgA9GYaxg/w400-h225/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The irony of the "There are no hills here" just after the Bonus Hill sign</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillwowax8nwB7F7n1hneawL-lBESBXdJ8PEt-B-3vMjL3zq8_j6bl9MnfbIfg0X4tWWOu2YRhTwzeVL0zvZvcBm46HNTpVxdnFff8F9KkqKrx1Vo1P8p-9wyhMJvUyrZNMxS4lXV_BCq1Pj7E399YuGi3PofdjB0RuXif8YodpTWo_KJJw5DTOnzzgToI/s1200/PXL_20231013_200029528.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="830" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEillwowax8nwB7F7n1hneawL-lBESBXdJ8PEt-B-3vMjL3zq8_j6bl9MnfbIfg0X4tWWOu2YRhTwzeVL0zvZvcBm46HNTpVxdnFff8F9KkqKrx1Vo1P8p-9wyhMJvUyrZNMxS4lXV_BCq1Pj7E399YuGi3PofdjB0RuXif8YodpTWo_KJJw5DTOnzzgToI/w276-h400/PXL_20231013_200029528.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was ready to kick Clay for putting the idea of zombies in my head when I was out there by myself in the night..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JJ5tkmSYESPXn7SkwhIrfwlNbwiOTg1rflv2Zr5zZz-HWxmrhwrfKWELC1zQSf07_LqOAiX_HowcRVw8EBkPK2v7moCXm54v9hzPEbC8gRB8FDSUU0khb5hCBzzavSccO8CDcw6X9Gty3T2NNokpoc3RKp_tR1Gmi0wgPtLnhhAPp6cLdl-Xuhlcr6A/s1200/PXL_20231013_200106449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JJ5tkmSYESPXn7SkwhIrfwlNbwiOTg1rflv2Zr5zZz-HWxmrhwrfKWELC1zQSf07_LqOAiX_HowcRVw8EBkPK2v7moCXm54v9hzPEbC8gRB8FDSUU0khb5hCBzzavSccO8CDcw6X9Gty3T2NNokpoc3RKp_tR1Gmi0wgPtLnhhAPp6cLdl-Xuhlcr6A/w251-h400/PXL_20231013_200106449.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one felt premature: while it's still the same trail, the stump-riddled portion wasn't for another couple of hundred metres</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYStZtITQMIdGPSacv-fKSxlu6rJDqVfJyjEthaq9PrJAaa6AiUjs_JcRBHXLF8stLSpoK2LtRhHE_6rEA67dzIOwTfCzgjwTWhGnvd_YEDw_PyNPtepAN84ucb08OqrTXaGSgFBy_RBHIr9556zwbHTO7j0yNLp-083vqWe1yFTWOedlPOlt969XVLM/s1200/PXL_20231013_200215837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYStZtITQMIdGPSacv-fKSxlu6rJDqVfJyjEthaq9PrJAaa6AiUjs_JcRBHXLF8stLSpoK2LtRhHE_6rEA67dzIOwTfCzgjwTWhGnvd_YEDw_PyNPtepAN84ucb08OqrTXaGSgFBy_RBHIr9556zwbHTO7j0yNLp-083vqWe1yFTWOedlPOlt969XVLM/w291-h400/PXL_20231013_200215837.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You and me both, Han - I figured it was only a matter of time before I fell trying to step over the tree</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeZ0QT-Y9n5PRdR4vxNMHD8yEnstLytMgeDBOlvyzG77K4skB3ObxwTTZ4O4-YFiq8JZnxDzMH-ZDFAIllugvA_zK0vjiMDvgs2KXYbPmSeipyQ-zi6pvz1TMoJRnUJEvIxZWLlDMkAE9gIKA-zdJVlZPjcY3zM9jwV1x93ieIfLBfI-8Kw1Irm0rrmk/s1500/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1500" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeZ0QT-Y9n5PRdR4vxNMHD8yEnstLytMgeDBOlvyzG77K4skB3ObxwTTZ4O4-YFiq8JZnxDzMH-ZDFAIllugvA_zK0vjiMDvgs2KXYbPmSeipyQ-zi6pvz1TMoJRnUJEvIxZWLlDMkAE9gIKA-zdJVlZPjcY3zM9jwV1x93ieIfLBfI-8Kw1Irm0rrmk/w400-h250/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around the Endor Loop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX1XQWgbPLHJuz8cu8KfT4VCumK8IQ9Z6KJmdjusODmZS_cf2dG0BnyQJcpM7E391rggpcSUpjS0O-BtuEauHgSwXGdv_6wBiKKm2Si6AblFvkLdMhrQhyk5SOAUfVmoCAx9Exra1SsA0HwYxMGIryccT6X09cHB5T1C7UgXHeFP35WMpvY2gD9jyO6A/s1200/PXL_20231013_200711290.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="767" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX1XQWgbPLHJuz8cu8KfT4VCumK8IQ9Z6KJmdjusODmZS_cf2dG0BnyQJcpM7E391rggpcSUpjS0O-BtuEauHgSwXGdv_6wBiKKm2Si6AblFvkLdMhrQhyk5SOAUfVmoCAx9Exra1SsA0HwYxMGIryccT6X09cHB5T1C7UgXHeFP35WMpvY2gD9jyO6A/w256-h400/PXL_20231013_200711290.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irony: once this sign appeared, I walked this section every single time (save once, for reasons that will become clear later)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgXFkpUKDifDjywShjb9MwOtr2ppyinY0Mt2-ZIiak7NVSANWIXrG7i6zAlR5x6DVdXt5wQe7o6GUMyd1KK4tE6ycEg7YX60sFJbT1t7DkuzucIgRAoet1y79HYavrODNGmJQyVjfCiCDPUF5Q2ymWIKq0VwyZCoyNnVG1Z6BtNDCU49AYVWW-Zu4By4/s1200/PXL_20231013_200835606.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbgXFkpUKDifDjywShjb9MwOtr2ppyinY0Mt2-ZIiak7NVSANWIXrG7i6zAlR5x6DVdXt5wQe7o6GUMyd1KK4tE6ycEg7YX60sFJbT1t7DkuzucIgRAoet1y79HYavrODNGmJQyVjfCiCDPUF5Q2ymWIKq0VwyZCoyNnVG1Z6BtNDCU49AYVWW-Zu4By4/w244-h400/PXL_20231013_200835606.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was one at the bottom of the big hill as well, but I didn't get a shot of that until much later on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>The weather was holding so far - the day had warmed up from just over the freezing mark to quite a pleasant running temperature, and it had stayed dry into late afternoon - but the forecast wasn't looking great.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTojpf9yrxKayqF1acH7SgAZKdIHgpGOzIpZ_JkZNy5z7KBcWcj2t_Uxlc8P6NnX8v0H2MxQiVYs5MlAzvbZGnfchPFv7jS3xtHZl7n9LXUQoAHFjFCTw04aYH8_rqsqfiOOlERSYt3ReaO3fV-nxneIXuBQ6jmyNDAZT3qxD7Gg23ZmmqiVQK2FFOP4/s1604/weath.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1604" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTojpf9yrxKayqF1acH7SgAZKdIHgpGOzIpZ_JkZNy5z7KBcWcj2t_Uxlc8P6NnX8v0H2MxQiVYs5MlAzvbZGnfchPFv7jS3xtHZl7n9LXUQoAHFjFCTw04aYH8_rqsqfiOOlERSYt3ReaO3fV-nxneIXuBQ6jmyNDAZT3qxD7Gg23ZmmqiVQK2FFOP4/w400-h250/weath.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't anticipate we'd see the eclipse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div><div>With very little solar energy filtering through the clouds and my legs protesting more and more, I needed a little extra to keep me warm, and I was happy to have the extra pockets that the Boba Fett jacket I'd made for <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">last year</a> offered. </div><div><br /></div><div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN1DiqSPBSen4NaJXyay5tdXWKNYmgHQI4hkiZQ9mDVxYE3Eav5G61Yc1Rshs5CyV6b14ND0x3g-5Pj1orblw7fYDYJ949Twa6Bxeo_gfEyR-akiRL-nFPcDFVXbJHnD2Ss5KljSLxr9vMnhyphenhyphenXmUsSl8AzYIUnxONbYM49UPwbxnfMrOEVf4ph9IotG0/s1200/PXL_20231013_205131298.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmN1DiqSPBSen4NaJXyay5tdXWKNYmgHQI4hkiZQ9mDVxYE3Eav5G61Yc1Rshs5CyV6b14ND0x3g-5Pj1orblw7fYDYJ949Twa6Bxeo_gfEyR-akiRL-nFPcDFVXbJHnD2Ss5KljSLxr9vMnhyphenhyphenXmUsSl8AzYIUnxONbYM49UPwbxnfMrOEVf4ph9IotG0/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_205131298.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind vest only has one not-very-useful pocket, and the pockets of the knicks I was wearing under my dress were pretty small</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Before I reached the 50k mark - just before 8hrs - the sun faded to just a bright spot in the clouds.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnmWSLIX0YbIKg91vMdr-OrBV5U99O6Nxd8rVHlV5Tzh7UHQCxA7iwz3CaxbQojYtLXLHum2SjwDMfuXd4EeD4naZx9x_yolUheiiJSIyY5qEo9YPSfygX8hNmyDi4EltXT1g-hcJg9kTgU1Fa3_oZY1tmLRk53b8jTaiVhW84NSXcX6c_fE-S5Rw2Ec/s1200/PXL_20231013_195245531.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="860" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMnmWSLIX0YbIKg91vMdr-OrBV5U99O6Nxd8rVHlV5Tzh7UHQCxA7iwz3CaxbQojYtLXLHum2SjwDMfuXd4EeD4naZx9x_yolUheiiJSIyY5qEo9YPSfygX8hNmyDi4EltXT1g-hcJg9kTgU1Fa3_oZY1tmLRk53b8jTaiVhW84NSXcX6c_fE-S5Rw2Ec/w286-h400/PXL_20231013_195245531.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It always seems to go part time when this event rolls around<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>Speaking of those knicks: I had never actually worn them for more than about 8km at a time before, and as I passed 9 hours a sensation I'd begun to notice became really uncomfortable. Something about the way they moved - possibly as I dried out now that I wasn't sweating much anymore, as running was only happening in a few select spots anymore - was chafing my saddlery regions. Badly.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4sBqm5VeSFJpKkKYaLX-YJxgKjAXCOR8K55eIp005NWzOASwEa4hNJ02h9DjvKyU9DbGkMtBA42CD8Q4ACw7BVkxtgrKZR3CaglUXNtz-H2jP_4bwbh5q0yNnSXIWkpUSD4Tf0gOyA2If7llAwuzo4Y1hI4BUwet7FVJ8p2Q1cVb0gQvkaAND3stsiQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_210440703.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="714" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4sBqm5VeSFJpKkKYaLX-YJxgKjAXCOR8K55eIp005NWzOASwEa4hNJ02h9DjvKyU9DbGkMtBA42CD8Q4ACw7BVkxtgrKZR3CaglUXNtz-H2jP_4bwbh5q0yNnSXIWkpUSD4Tf0gOyA2If7llAwuzo4Y1hI4BUwet7FVJ8p2Q1cVb0gQvkaAND3stsiQ/w238-h400/PXL_20231013_210440703.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe it was all the high stepping?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Whatever the cause, my vertical smile was definitely unhappy. I tried some more lubrication, which made things a little more comfortable, but I worried how unpleasant future portajohn stops were going to become.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4PGfJOjEelHZfI9uqGPO1670M70Ao47D9yUuTVqdyQ5hrWFvaxcR4sqJGVFVzOC374qXxa8LLqfyxi3HtBXWzTs9GJTWABld3_sRZ8axj4sjF78fR_rjok9VAFxiO-ZFmSzHiQHXA0ny3o99_-Lf9g2yJtv9ae9RIibmdHWA04sBp6nxN0HBL6BmtnU/s1200/PXL_20231013_211117561.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1200" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4PGfJOjEelHZfI9uqGPO1670M70Ao47D9yUuTVqdyQ5hrWFvaxcR4sqJGVFVzOC374qXxa8LLqfyxi3HtBXWzTs9GJTWABld3_sRZ8axj4sjF78fR_rjok9VAFxiO-ZFmSzHiQHXA0ny3o99_-Lf9g2yJtv9ae9RIibmdHWA04sBp6nxN0HBL6BmtnU/w400-h331/PXL_20231013_211117561.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While a beacon of hope to runners everywhere, they're not exactly known for the softness of their supplied paper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>It's not like I could stop eating and drinking, either - the truth about ultras is that they're an eating contest with some light exercise thrown in, and all of it requires a lot of fluids for digestion and general hydration.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MyAZVk-NBsRvA-NSvSv8M7SA39WK8eYeScoa1tQRZRRRvMuj74MP2avhDjbnpQVPQWr48Amu17BCUPItBZQa8bkVPEtKZNl9CndgO5e5uOcLxSXt5hZ1f9pqMzpoLuSemz788pbXOXs0imGMU0s-Ethvbu59jvpTcSo7ulMjpXuvGVLh7pi1z-9DYFs/s1200/PXL_20231013_211742907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MyAZVk-NBsRvA-NSvSv8M7SA39WK8eYeScoa1tQRZRRRvMuj74MP2avhDjbnpQVPQWr48Amu17BCUPItBZQa8bkVPEtKZNl9CndgO5e5uOcLxSXt5hZ1f9pqMzpoLuSemz788pbXOXs0imGMU0s-Ethvbu59jvpTcSo7ulMjpXuvGVLh7pi1z-9DYFs/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_211742907.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those gummy worms won't wash themselves down</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Oh, speaking of the gummy worms: I've done a lot of running with them this year, but most of it had been in warm weather (like <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/08/tally-in-valley-trail-race-100-mile.html">Tally</a> and <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/10/monster-of-mazinaw-trail-race-30k.html">Monster of Mazinaw</a>, plus any number of summer training runs). I absolutely love their flavour - I get the <a href="https://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/products/all/gummi-squirmies-708">Dare Gummi Worms from Bulk Barn</a> which are a mix of 3 varieties of citrus - and my weird idea is that the gelatin (which is a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-vs-gelatin">degraded form of collagen; the most abundant protein in the human body</a>) in them may provide some joint health benefits while the shorter amino acid chain than collagen makes it easier to digest. Even if that's all rubbish, they're yummy, easy to carry (I can fit 16 worms - which is almost 450cal - in a little pocket-size silicone pouch), easy to digest, provide a good hit of calories and carbohydrates, and are way cheaper than any purpose-made running "nutrition" products. However, that gelatin - which is not in my other favourite running candy (fuzzy peaches/sour peach slices) - also apparently makes them a little tough to chew when the weather turns cold. <a href="https://www.bulkbarn.ca/en/Products/All/Allan-Peach-Slices-642">Peach slices</a> are gummy-fied with cornstarch instead, and the difference in squishability became very apparent as the day's meagre warmth began to fade. As a result, I had my last gummy worms around 5:15pm on Friday - that's the photo above - and moved on to easier-to-munch foods for the remainder of the event.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9YMLsVZa87dWJ1Ey-3wkqpDlxdCO5HoQ9Xv1PsddPIpKGb0p6-vYQ-lvujr8N8KGnbxMvWNzo7qLaTn5TcJYZSnOwyYFQv_kj9N8KQqPQjpxz4IIFeBG7g12ebCKvBTDPih-sr1tvaprNweO0zk94vxFhqbxSMimItzyhZDlGZOYUFd40Dtj5A0xPfs/s1200/PXL_20231013_213945840.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9YMLsVZa87dWJ1Ey-3wkqpDlxdCO5HoQ9Xv1PsddPIpKGb0p6-vYQ-lvujr8N8KGnbxMvWNzo7qLaTn5TcJYZSnOwyYFQv_kj9N8KQqPQjpxz4IIFeBG7g12ebCKvBTDPih-sr1tvaprNweO0zk94vxFhqbxSMimItzyhZDlGZOYUFd40Dtj5A0xPfs/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_213945840.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It also took me nearly 8 hours to realize that the tree that had been of great concern <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">last year</a> - due to a giant crack through which you could see daylight - had fallen some time in the past 12 months </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Into the last hour of daylight, I formulated a plan: my friend Rich was coming by to share some laps with me from 7pm to 11pm, and I prefer to be off course during twilight as I find it easier to let my eyes adjust from light to dark conditions all at once. I was also getting hungry: the kind of belly-growling hunger that can't be appeased by candy or cookies. I'd also need to change some clothing up to keep me warm as I headed into the night, as I was running less and less each lap now, and it was supposed to start raining by 6pm.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4ibaHN2DGEkh8K4_9tQtffA02Fjr_azlPQamtty_5BwpB1Q2uFLVOLORZdmMxSaAQT7ax1sR8VF8czxYpmTUkdpAmbYC2TLRrtliP98ywWfUi5nLQWqHv_9qJJce5mx3oR3WYvwlVGnF6APECt8Vv4pLX9P5kpzXpvD5wS1xszd6KXSplRgV8xBfG6c/s1200/PXL_20231013_215319081.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4ibaHN2DGEkh8K4_9tQtffA02Fjr_azlPQamtty_5BwpB1Q2uFLVOLORZdmMxSaAQT7ax1sR8VF8czxYpmTUkdpAmbYC2TLRrtliP98ywWfUi5nLQWqHv_9qJJce5mx3oR3WYvwlVGnF6APECt8Vv4pLX9P5kpzXpvD5wS1xszd6KXSplRgV8xBfG6c/w400-h225/PXL_20231013_215319081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a few minutes to six, we got a tiny bit of sunset-like sky with cloud blowing in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I figured I'd do a couple more laps, then come in and sit down for a little bit: I'd made a couple of big, meaty sandwiches the night before that were hanging out in our cooler in the Chowhouse, and I figured that could be dinner to quiet my hungry belly, plus I could sort out my headlamp, waist light, and warmer/weather protective clothing before Rich arrived. Then things got a bit weird. </div><div><br /></div><div>I finished a lap, and Clay asked me if I'd seen a couple of motorcycles. I said no, and he said something about "oh, I guess they just kept riding along the field". As I headed back out again, though, I could see dirt bike tracks on the trail, and messaged Tank to tell Clay as much. He responded telling me that I was charged with letting the riders know they were trespassing, so I hustled to try to catch them, seeing their tracks heading into the Endor loop and hearing motors in the distance.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF_jXmj5x3n_oWGVBOP5VUe81GjtBcYK_8HPmWcWmxuxbCozyU3ygZQVE97z90K4DKhvob9bdsl1g4-bqyFhi1HenKz0CzRskfC38I0NlQ-I4Dsy0xbukk9mqlhrb_Vt1nl3Ed0hnhw78fOSdYP5oLvgct8wwlYIVZfuhXFxaWKV9t8FNqzo60BnAgYQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_215347699.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="832" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF_jXmj5x3n_oWGVBOP5VUe81GjtBcYK_8HPmWcWmxuxbCozyU3ygZQVE97z90K4DKhvob9bdsl1g4-bqyFhi1HenKz0CzRskfC38I0NlQ-I4Dsy0xbukk9mqlhrb_Vt1nl3Ed0hnhw78fOSdYP5oLvgct8wwlYIVZfuhXFxaWKV9t8FNqzo60BnAgYQ/w278-h400/PXL_20231013_215347699.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their knobby tires had torn up the trail horribly</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Remember I said I only actually ran the section with the "No Time for Walken" sign once after it went up? This was the loop, after 9 hours on the trail: I thrashed myself to catch up, though it turned out I needn't have rushed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln1-oDVIKnB6Jou8kmyGqLFx3eTcC-8iUwl5mBgR9csvqYo-mR6ZuvGOZP7R1dKveUeygSmFG-OjwNV-0rH-7kG8UJ8OBDODfPqzyyLZyhsjxrnFJMGY8VnFQE1JMth4AJP7VAagXU94Zhjx6SgavE0kQb9Je43aehlzj6SsVGdLz0qFmwTGg3N8oX2U/s1200/PXL_20231013_215703614.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="853" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjln1-oDVIKnB6Jou8kmyGqLFx3eTcC-8iUwl5mBgR9csvqYo-mR6ZuvGOZP7R1dKveUeygSmFG-OjwNV-0rH-7kG8UJ8OBDODfPqzyyLZyhsjxrnFJMGY8VnFQE1JMth4AJP7VAagXU94Zhjx6SgavE0kQb9Je43aehlzj6SsVGdLz0qFmwTGg3N8oX2U/w284-h400/PXL_20231013_215703614.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They'd encountered a spot of bother</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I approached the exit of the Endor loop - where, as you'll recall, you have to step over a pair of logs at the top of a Bonus Hill - I found one of the bikes at the bottom of the hill, and the other stuck at the top, unable to make it over the logs. It was (as anyone would suspect) a pair of young boys, most likely brothers as the bikes looked identical, and as I surmised their situation I opened conversation with "It's almost like this trail wasn't designed for dirt bikes"</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuPEfVKjvQmerqMZmwd9Otwb2kIoZr1gPhOzcgZXANwTuAGYm5o-9Q2GxEIeTxQdeoWBvGVViWh97suT7zXWGcFHi5psOCDQVwrHWpEokzNoQjyvtL8NiqdWXWtDmXGrEojIkbmkcO5MTwiZcZeTxQpHyblTfZJD5XxXIX445XJ_4cXIrxZYkMDMMUDQ/s1200/PXL_20231013_215713925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuPEfVKjvQmerqMZmwd9Otwb2kIoZr1gPhOzcgZXANwTuAGYm5o-9Q2GxEIeTxQdeoWBvGVViWh97suT7zXWGcFHi5psOCDQVwrHWpEokzNoQjyvtL8NiqdWXWtDmXGrEojIkbmkcO5MTwiZcZeTxQpHyblTfZJD5XxXIX445XJ_4cXIrxZYkMDMMUDQ/w360-h400/PXL_20231013_215713925.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure my sarcasm was fully appreciated</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I went on to tell them "You're trespassing on private property, and the permit holder has called by-law. I'd suggest making your way out of here sooner than later." as I hiked up the hill, stepped over the logs, and then ran up the trail through Stump Alley. If nothing else, it was supposed to start raining any moment, and the sun would be setting at 6:43pm - less than 45mins from when I came across them. On my next lap, I saw more tracks in the soft dirt of the trail: this time exiting the Endor loop from (what I consider) the entrance to it, and heading south on the main trail. I guess the kids must have got the stuck bike turned around, and they both rode the Endor loop in reverse to the main trail, then headed for the trailhead to the south of the tract to avoid any law enforcement that might have arrived at the gate (near the portajohns) by which they'd entered. They don't need to know that by-law was never called!</div><div><br /></div><div>With the course now clear and without enough time for another lap before the sun dropped below the horizon - my quads were feeling pretty shot after the "extra" running I'd done trying to catch the dirt bikers - I figured 60km (34 laps) in nine and a half hours was enough to earn me a seat, a change of clothes, and a sammich.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYiA6_f7mC9R2yMcW2_hmPwf8UU_sKgJCseyUTcxqJ6uSLwUiWkRFOz48tHDJwvOP-DxfeWufIWFTMMIZ5XnkEzXlJ9R2H531otvRi9SbjRxP9VzOJDUwnBS72iVF6-8TjDhaSK_FMfkTHgH_2ZqYZ5jKWddqrcSJl8oSM2PF9zY6FTc6dt8TLxFJGTA/s1200/PXL_20231013_224513532.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYiA6_f7mC9R2yMcW2_hmPwf8UU_sKgJCseyUTcxqJ6uSLwUiWkRFOz48tHDJwvOP-DxfeWufIWFTMMIZ5XnkEzXlJ9R2H531otvRi9SbjRxP9VzOJDUwnBS72iVF6-8TjDhaSK_FMfkTHgH_2ZqYZ5jKWddqrcSJl8oSM2PF9zY6FTc6dt8TLxFJGTA/w225-h400/PXL_20231013_224513532.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In precisely that order - I also wrapped myself up in this plush waterproof blanket to keep me warm and protect my chair from sweaty runner butt</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The sandwich was undeniably tasty and more or less filled the gap, but in future I'd try to make sure I had something hot to eat for dinner, as the cold sandwich just left me wanting the comfort of a cooked meal. In retrospect I could have heated up some broth to go with the sandwich, but I wasn't necessarily at my best and brightest then - especially since I was dealing with some nasty cramping in my butt while I sat, as the stabilizer muscles around my pelvis complained of inhumane working conditions. I did, however, come up with what I thought was a relatively ingenious strategy to keep myself warm and dry (enough) in the impending rain: I threw on a longsleeve base layer shirt with a grid fleece interior, and layered on a sweater that also has a grid fleece interior, then tossed on a windproof, water-resistant light jacket over the whole business.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjUnQcZ8adlu9nwHcy2dYab3tYDj1fxYWMEBLSBX2kSi4suvtuHhot4WPRjbwF1GVB04vmWoNKVcGK_RUtNIDsUtrm0KaUkVOaU9_nyJ9tP3KVJm9bbiyl7xGsbG2oGCI7-oQyH1Ex8sJE3Hf7KUVzFTRzgqVO05f2FpTehEmk9c7UBRrlRWSvwBnkFg/s1200/PXL_20231014_050807692.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjUnQcZ8adlu9nwHcy2dYab3tYDj1fxYWMEBLSBX2kSi4suvtuHhot4WPRjbwF1GVB04vmWoNKVcGK_RUtNIDsUtrm0KaUkVOaU9_nyJ9tP3KVJm9bbiyl7xGsbG2oGCI7-oQyH1Ex8sJE3Hf7KUVzFTRzgqVO05f2FpTehEmk9c7UBRrlRWSvwBnkFg/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_050807692.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A weather-resistant hat (with foam front for headlamp comfort), a dry tubular gaiter over my ears, headlamp, waist light, and fleece skirt completed my stylish ensemble</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>My theory was that the two layers of grid fleece would preserve a dry air space next to my skin, even if I started to sweat or the rain penetrated my jacket: both inner layers would be trying to pull moisture away from my body and trapping warm air between the squares of the fleece. Remember, kids: it's not the insulation of a jacket or sweater that keeps you warm, it's the envelope of still air warmed by your body that actually does it - you just need to keep the wind out, and use loft to increase the size of the airspace as needed for colder temperatures.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlU48Z8xbI-OkiM2WncB7WtLrDF_3CBKZ0KXwltPIyfLsXNuE5i8AeTHtqSgs3H6uHLE_i9fjvxw4TMrNvww1AHFdZEkQGX6Pj6_tfNEVLHKGwcFMDmKcr_a7PsY4C-lqXw0A2asLHGt1nWLXo_5NDr4uBklPhlkED8g7P5MSp8L_h8farCOUkikUeXg/s1200/PXL_20231014_001659399.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlU48Z8xbI-OkiM2WncB7WtLrDF_3CBKZ0KXwltPIyfLsXNuE5i8AeTHtqSgs3H6uHLE_i9fjvxw4TMrNvww1AHFdZEkQGX6Pj6_tfNEVLHKGwcFMDmKcr_a7PsY4C-lqXw0A2asLHGt1nWLXo_5NDr4uBklPhlkED8g7P5MSp8L_h8farCOUkikUeXg/w258-h400/PXL_20231014_001659399.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's possible I spend a little too much time thinking about this stuff</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>By the time I was ready to go, about a half hour had elapsed and daylight was gone: I had needed Tank to fire up our propane heater in order to strip down to the skin from the waist up without freezing, as there would be no point in putting on dry clothes if I left the wet sports bra on to pull heat directly out of my chest. I wandered out of the Chowhouse just after 7pm to start a lap, then realized that my friend Rich had arrived with perfect timing!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroXWwm1teMGcR5o9JXm_vIwZCrlJDmKzdoxWYrcU2cvMWA3mnh0QVbdRFHFLIa_QfT42oSXWGiEUf_oMxHvmYxWNHXRoxNIiGnwQH1me_fOV2DwIrvvvHSG1cyZ1tVBI-LlqBJ9RkXU_9BXWaTuN4vx4l5RenOGaXROifeAK2CppJk71iecnfCQ1WM5s/s1200/PXL_20231014_001710759.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroXWwm1teMGcR5o9JXm_vIwZCrlJDmKzdoxWYrcU2cvMWA3mnh0QVbdRFHFLIa_QfT42oSXWGiEUf_oMxHvmYxWNHXRoxNIiGnwQH1me_fOV2DwIrvvvHSG1cyZ1tVBI-LlqBJ9RkXU_9BXWaTuN4vx4l5RenOGaXROifeAK2CppJk71iecnfCQ1WM5s/w234-h400/PXL_20231014_001710759.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had checked in at the aid station tent and was ready to rock, so away we went!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Gary had arrived after finishing work, and gone 'round the course putting out lights as apparently my friend Brad had some issues becoming disoriented in the Endor loop at night (which I can totally see: the first section is pine forest, which makes it difficult to track a trail as there's little ground cover apart from a layer of pine needles with lots of open space between the trees) in 2022 - part of the reason he'd left early. </div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpbByh4dYLSypfOrtE70kHXClib-th96XXWGcVM61bcpyELc_dQ5_uhTxtqbmbVXwYdtgFD9ig5rKlHr62-JV8yt1lmz6RPTy_mdBmejnK3Rsol8vOWHJ9p4ZPD8tmRemGiZ082hGoOaCBXZ5sdLuTzxjNCUqqqs_jE10okwWxk5rzihcUrv5i9UQheU/s1200/PXL_20231014_052012664.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="818" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXpbByh4dYLSypfOrtE70kHXClib-th96XXWGcVM61bcpyELc_dQ5_uhTxtqbmbVXwYdtgFD9ig5rKlHr62-JV8yt1lmz6RPTy_mdBmejnK3Rsol8vOWHJ9p4ZPD8tmRemGiZ082hGoOaCBXZ5sdLuTzxjNCUqqqs_jE10okwWxk5rzihcUrv5i9UQheU/w273-h400/PXL_20231014_052012664.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So Gary put out puck lights, with the next one always visible as you look up the trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I wasn't running much now - my left foot had become quite painful, and my quads were utterly destroyed from the downhills - but I'd still manage to run the steep decline from the woods to the foot of the big hill. It actually felt less stressful on my body to run it than to walk it: I suspect due to the steepness of the hill leading to an exaggerated knee bend on my trailing leg as I'd step down while walking, putting a lot of stretch on the anterior chain as my foot traveled behind my body. When I'd run, my back foot would just leave the ground instead, so my knee wouldn't flex as much and my hip flexors and quads wouldn't have to stretch as much.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiotFVpCfx31r0SRj1-9njI7C7mAroAec4JODSTAt6QGCTd_gYnXW8VWfZYQ30Ff5cD9sLNIqgDshm2xM5a5l-HJcspJPQviZC-Zr7Um7MRsZAVv20N_M81iXkH8pZVD_BiUnd7En4MJMqV_hEd-Is3Jhp9LEATfmMUBCTLzXK9y5WSxsM25G0HM9FeA/s1200/PXL_20231014_055408167.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiotFVpCfx31r0SRj1-9njI7C7mAroAec4JODSTAt6QGCTd_gYnXW8VWfZYQ30Ff5cD9sLNIqgDshm2xM5a5l-HJcspJPQviZC-Zr7Um7MRsZAVv20N_M81iXkH8pZVD_BiUnd7En4MJMqV_hEd-Is3Jhp9LEATfmMUBCTLzXK9y5WSxsM25G0HM9FeA/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_055408167.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd immediately need them to pull my knees up to climb the big stinkin' hill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I noticed on the first couple of laps with Rich that he dropped behind me a bit in the Endor loop - pausing for maybe 15sec each time. I had no idea what that was about, and he didn't say anything: just caught right back up to me (which was no great feat, as I was only running that one downhill out of the woods). On our third lap as we neared the same spot, I gasped as I looked down at the trail and spotted something:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBLTijqrVPwpg2hQxD7MVujdsb3Fg0D9orowl6-_4-Z944q3gtYJ-ikEZnoVhUxU3ZrxMSNLaUYaetorWz2VuZ1YV2akgWWwXv85PJCvFJqqzRfCJG4FQqKyQduyM8TeumxOVrvSgauR9feHijXGNIWHRMxeyF3g-qIMNMaZztld7d9TWzOaehulGkTQ/s1200/PXL_20231014_064529805.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBLTijqrVPwpg2hQxD7MVujdsb3Fg0D9orowl6-_4-Z944q3gtYJ-ikEZnoVhUxU3ZrxMSNLaUYaetorWz2VuZ1YV2akgWWwXv85PJCvFJqqzRfCJG4FQqKyQduyM8TeumxOVrvSgauR9feHijXGNIWHRMxeyF3g-qIMNMaZztld7d9TWzOaehulGkTQ/w289-h400/PXL_20231014_064529805.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A original 1977 Kenner stormtrooper action figure!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Rich immediately started to laugh as I picked it up, utterly baffled by its appearance on the trail. He only kept me in suspense for a moment, then said "I thought you'd like that!" Apparently he'd seen my stormtrooper costume in my insta stories earlier that day, and went rummaging in his basement as he knew he had this little guy kicking around down there, and figured it should go to someone who'd appreciate it. The first time he'd dropped behind me on the trail he'd been planting it up against the No Time for Walken sign, but I hadn't spotted the white stormtrooper against the white sign, so on the second lap he moved it to the middle of the trail! I was gobsmacked by his generosity, and promised to give him a good home - he now sits on the shelf beside my desk, with some Star Wars Universe friends to keep him company.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtrWXQNTg3SdAq2FYCVaxKFrUwjzv42x4nGrceZ9jSWQFRdwFcTIBv7PJ9-DnK-o1WaB0FlCsgRmX-jqIXMiNtgiHf1xnYPUDIV9tR_H7kWlq9TXhGR0IESrSYmWrc_IqyssUcsDsPMCCJQ1HpZKGWhiz8iX3XkL4k2dCGo8u0hd3rJFPsyhKnuo9WEQ/s1200/PXL_20231117_225423974.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtrWXQNTg3SdAq2FYCVaxKFrUwjzv42x4nGrceZ9jSWQFRdwFcTIBv7PJ9-DnK-o1WaB0FlCsgRmX-jqIXMiNtgiHf1xnYPUDIV9tR_H7kWlq9TXhGR0IESrSYmWrc_IqyssUcsDsPMCCJQ1HpZKGWhiz8iX3XkL4k2dCGo8u0hd3rJFPsyhKnuo9WEQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231117_225423974.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partly as a reminder to be grateful for the wonderful people I have in my life</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I dropped lil'Stormy off at the Chowhouse with Tank, and then we proceeded on with a few more laps. I was still feeling pretty good and the rain held off, and I find Rich so easy to chat with that the hours really flew! Around 10:30pm Tank let me know he was going to head to our vehicle for a 30min nap, which would mean him getting up around the time Rich planned to head out - I wished him a good snooze, having just passed 75km. I was still eating and drinking plenty, sharing some of my homemade sea salt maple crisp rice squares with Rich as we walked along.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c7ZqK-k05x6lGTc2yOlFYcaUy2bx88MpSTa7osz7Bmz4KlRM763kQ8-FTsv1fdL27DFlT6IA-qstPMP_HGa4wSaFutJn-ux6LBbmuzBzNUMMoJmDuF4qhbiD1BbGS4-nxrDaT49qHQ64aLHO-aa5jNTpyfGB63woQvdn9wuGt5cCFGMLx65KUxawpZo/s1200/PXL_20231014_051844279.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8c7ZqK-k05x6lGTc2yOlFYcaUy2bx88MpSTa7osz7Bmz4KlRM763kQ8-FTsv1fdL27DFlT6IA-qstPMP_HGa4wSaFutJn-ux6LBbmuzBzNUMMoJmDuF4qhbiD1BbGS4-nxrDaT49qHQ64aLHO-aa5jNTpyfGB63woQvdn9wuGt5cCFGMLx65KUxawpZo/w293-h400/PXL_20231014_051844279.jpg" width="293" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stepping over the deadfall twice each lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I finished my 45th lap - as close as makes no odds to 79km - around 11:10pm, and bade Rich farewell. I'd see him again the following weekend at the new race he had started on the old <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/11/horror-trail-run-6-hour-saturday.html">Horror Hill</a> course, and I'll tell you all about how that went in a future post! Tank wasn't up yet, so I made sure my lap was marked at the aid station tent, then just kept on moving. I was still running the downhill out of the woods to the foot of the main hill, but nothing else at this point.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Y_OVTlz0zUcAxp3WH0sj2XqS-9TJizL7fg007x9Xmmh5pKWIDzGWZg26uDeEMFYDy905elnSmo7ZADMaJNJi3ZqWKQiEsA_SJvRNIFVCsY-hNC2_E4mNXJ84I-5xqdMLtTEuGcslfZa2KHO6-rtVtns8r2yd0LFjnlQVJPcmS38hBM5isN-nbDwhNI/s1200/PXL_20231014_052250886.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="842" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Y_OVTlz0zUcAxp3WH0sj2XqS-9TJizL7fg007x9Xmmh5pKWIDzGWZg26uDeEMFYDy905elnSmo7ZADMaJNJi3ZqWKQiEsA_SJvRNIFVCsY-hNC2_E4mNXJ84I-5xqdMLtTEuGcslfZa2KHO6-rtVtns8r2yd0LFjnlQVJPcmS38hBM5isN-nbDwhNI/w281-h400/PXL_20231014_052250886.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partly for my own safety: I was getting more tired and clumsy, and it would have been easy to trip and hurt myself, with no-one else on course to find me or help me, and I had left my phone with Tank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I came in from a lap around 1am, thinking of grabbing my earbuds and throwing on some music - it's not like I'd need to hear anyone trying to pass me - but I suspected that Tank had my phone in his pocket in the car where he was still sleeping. I knocked on the window, startling him awake, then opened the door and requested my phone: he obliged, asking the time (which I told him), and I closed the door again, wondering whether or not he'd actually get up. I headed over to the aid station to grab a bottle of water and as I was marking my lap and the water pickup in my notebook, Gary (the only other person awake, as far as I could tell) mentioned that it was nice the forecast hadn't come true. Having seen no sign of stars, I knew there was fairly solid cloud cover, and remarked that we weren't in the clear yet. Wouldn't you know it: a mere <i style="font-weight: bold;">one minute</i> after stepping out of the aid station to start another lap, the first of the rain began to fall. I honestly could have fought Gary right then.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6djN4W4F4RwZ_HGqw1X2HZCNbrpc831AbqMu9R8cEZZYJqh21mf4gg4RY_7iy8jajF8oOEeUFT2bYC4gGerFreCu8P3AyBtMYoGntG7sY2bah25Hmoimgy7e2iWHZtgFjU26VLtd7LrQcpR4akJatcTEoLYkh377EJEIM1jtFBRVkZw2Gjq6SymAR1c/s1200/rain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6djN4W4F4RwZ_HGqw1X2HZCNbrpc831AbqMu9R8cEZZYJqh21mf4gg4RY_7iy8jajF8oOEeUFT2bYC4gGerFreCu8P3AyBtMYoGntG7sY2bah25Hmoimgy7e2iWHZtgFjU26VLtd7LrQcpR4akJatcTEoLYkh377EJEIM1jtFBRVkZw2Gjq6SymAR1c/w400-h258/rain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and it would just keep coming.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="text-align: center;">Side note: this is the notebook to which I refer; I've used the same one for all <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/10/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">3 years</a> <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">at 3DIP</a> - Tank helps me record what I eat and drink, and also when I pee, so if I'm not feeling right we may be able to figure out the cause. That might be that I'm retaining a ton of fluid (drinking but not peeing), or haven't eaten enough, or have stopped drinking enough, based on the time my last food/drink/portajohn stop was recorded. We record my laps as well, making sure it agrees with the scoreboard in the aid station, and any other relevant details like salt tab intake, nap times/durations, milestone lap times, or anything else I think should be remembered.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjrACIb9zz4eXhMnxigT8uo0lHOjMpqC6_Y0F2p1SFyYF9piW6JPcN6klIPFMoUvTDEYo3fhl75ZhsxaLrqCgMvr8lJf-uUDrWReSxKqSaSDodsAYKk52Y-MNu8x6pdZOBkN7Oychuco6X7M2E08kK8c921ytfxO57ftg4cga3bXv04PUUrZZa9KQKmI/s1200/PXL_20231117_235009328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1200" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjrACIb9zz4eXhMnxigT8uo0lHOjMpqC6_Y0F2p1SFyYF9piW6JPcN6klIPFMoUvTDEYo3fhl75ZhsxaLrqCgMvr8lJf-uUDrWReSxKqSaSDodsAYKk52Y-MNu8x6pdZOBkN7Oychuco6X7M2E08kK8c921ytfxO57ftg4cga3bXv04PUUrZZa9KQKmI/w400-h260/PXL_20231117_235009328.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Including a bunch of notes about random things to include when I write these reports!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The rain wasn't terribly heavy, but it soaked everything, weighing down shoots and branches that had previously been well off the trail - thin strands of raspberry creeper now whipped at my legs, and a sodden branch on the Endor loop managed to neatly bypass the brim of my hat and deposit its load of rainwater in my right eye, the edge of the leaf gently scraping my eyeball as it did so. While I was carrying my phone now, I never did actually hook up my earbuds or play any music; I'm just so in the habit of spending time in my own head that I rather forgot about it. I had also stopped running entirely: my knees had begun to build a painful pressure as I'd run down the hill out of the woods, and it had become unbearable by the time the rain started, more than 16hrs into the race. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLPqYBy-BF3YBycaeaq0q1qjia6Ez7BlOiQR_UAPoTD26laHq3R7qqfpg5NPb3ftHBOwQxgs70Ddqh_a_QQ2lE0vEDs19eJSkNYLLk5YvYu8D0aOCRrKM20Tj-CWCS6G4xPKBcItv-2tnIdlKh4iKsTq655L6vxJUSEPG11RO4EOm-wA0X0PGN4Otdd8/s1200/PXL_20231014_050926712.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLPqYBy-BF3YBycaeaq0q1qjia6Ez7BlOiQR_UAPoTD26laHq3R7qqfpg5NPb3ftHBOwQxgs70Ddqh_a_QQ2lE0vEDs19eJSkNYLLk5YvYu8D0aOCRrKM20Tj-CWCS6G4xPKBcItv-2tnIdlKh4iKsTq655L6vxJUSEPG11RO4EOm-wA0X0PGN4Otdd8/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_050926712.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still moving, though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By 2am, Tank finally appeared outside our vehicle, and I asked him to get a pot of coffee on - I was getting weary, and after my 53rd soggy lap (93km), I came into the Chowhouse to sit for a few minutes and drink a hot mug of Tank's delicious brew.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBKV5wxIqkORrAag9MMM_BtYh0-GOp-luVz0wvCuojq2P_6VtZXbdCbCUCUOycIuPSXHrPPDb7bqsVTeodrik-1qjRPeAwu3xe4lJBR2emxCVknxh60agLq4v79DLvGq1h_ZFwahJGcbl6tyNUkZUykTyYuO7H5qONveA6sTVbJ3y1aFCg_3XiY9_5vM/s1200/PXL_20231014_062706103.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBKV5wxIqkORrAag9MMM_BtYh0-GOp-luVz0wvCuojq2P_6VtZXbdCbCUCUOycIuPSXHrPPDb7bqsVTeodrik-1qjRPeAwu3xe4lJBR2emxCVknxh60agLq4v79DLvGq1h_ZFwahJGcbl6tyNUkZUykTyYuO7H5qONveA6sTVbJ3y1aFCg_3XiY9_5vM/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_062706103.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the notebook open behind me, ready to record my cup of coffee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This put me in dangerous proximity to an object whose allure had grown greatly in the past few hours:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOcm3X_a3ACoSxiJ2XGWOSWyAbBTIPvKQFYig8bDnkAcLgDKKizX0ncZKDBH8vN4B6qjgwngg3JEUKI3XClu1lveyXXyc39-pt94KL-gfrylm2lU5iKnVS5BCebvmqT2OohkW8rqT7OALoiXiYj0PYB2jfZPKrR7KYnla7eN21IrsApfLYpUATTO4Bg0/s1200/PXL_20231014_062503492.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOcm3X_a3ACoSxiJ2XGWOSWyAbBTIPvKQFYig8bDnkAcLgDKKizX0ncZKDBH8vN4B6qjgwngg3JEUKI3XClu1lveyXXyc39-pt94KL-gfrylm2lU5iKnVS5BCebvmqT2OohkW8rqT7OALoiXiYj0PYB2jfZPKrR7KYnla7eN21IrsApfLYpUATTO4Bg0/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_062503492.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cot, with its stack of pillows to put my feet up, and cozy blankets ready to snuggle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I wasn't quite willing to give in yet, though: one of the things I rued about the 72hr I'd done here in 2021 was that I went for a nap very early (around 10pm the first night), and I wanted to try to make it at least 20hrs before I laid down this time - see if I could push through enough so that my first nap would take me through to daylight. I drank my coffee, ate a muffin, and had a couple of squirts of <a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/11/energizer.html" target="_blank">vitamin B12</a> spray, then freshened up by brushing my teeth.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfcHqpNf0cV8e0Pa2wkdswT5GMw4YEdMSgUpS6-Sqduxwp9A1GnTaaNLYpvc7UPyL19zZy6ichcVqxisL9oTN9aarJ95DdedLBr7PEJqa6llsgK_8Zw8MhGS2KFtMUwWj8SdpoQoEDdBIM0p49eLqFSQO0aFSVpJXiyV2G-f-ZuoizEgNktInfdVZMsk/s1200/PXL_20231014_065605457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfcHqpNf0cV8e0Pa2wkdswT5GMw4YEdMSgUpS6-Sqduxwp9A1GnTaaNLYpvc7UPyL19zZy6ichcVqxisL9oTN9aarJ95DdedLBr7PEJqa6llsgK_8Zw8MhGS2KFtMUwWj8SdpoQoEDdBIM0p49eLqFSQO0aFSVpJXiyV2G-f-ZuoizEgNktInfdVZMsk/w242-h400/PXL_20231014_065605457.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's nothing better than getting that coating of fuzz out of your mouth to help you push on!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Time definitely slipped away on me while I was in the tent, though: it was just after 3am - 40mins! - before I stepped back outside, the rain still pattering on the tent roof as I headed off to start another lap. I made 100km - 57 laps - before 4:30am, startling a poor, bedraggled little skunk on the Borderlands on that lap. I felt awful for the wee thing - it couldn't have been more than a few months old, by the size of it - as it seemed very confused by all this wet, and reluctantly scuttled off from the dry-ish spot it had found below a giant pine tree beside the trail as I passed. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ht7W-FlNivjVByhCKgsnm6qtrYg-744_D1LmTtkAqakSWxjzU2aE0-u-rMh3PUlDxRdiQXuJzk2onASJLxxrvRInKF9kiNp6hXhZQQzPvxKdJF1_NoworvmFfPEKutBrFeR7xxSNRxDkJV17Ll1nq6kPF1ofrRltf-VKx7cbkW4jdchFYdfFG8rKJvA/s1200/PXL_20231014_053158077.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1153" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ht7W-FlNivjVByhCKgsnm6qtrYg-744_D1LmTtkAqakSWxjzU2aE0-u-rMh3PUlDxRdiQXuJzk2onASJLxxrvRInKF9kiNp6hXhZQQzPvxKdJF1_NoworvmFfPEKutBrFeR7xxSNRxDkJV17Ll1nq6kPF1ofrRltf-VKx7cbkW4jdchFYdfFG8rKJvA/w384-h400/PXL_20231014_053158077.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was grateful to have heated tents to which to retreat when I needed - the poor little critter had no such luxury</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I put in another 3 laps without seeing any further wildlife (I did hear some coyotes yipping off in the distance), but I was getting drowsy; the coffee's effects had dissipated, and I was concerned that I might stumble and do myself harm, if not just lay down on the trail and snooze. The rain had made the bottom of the big hill slick, and my feet slipped as I tried to climb it on each of my last 3 laps. It was time to eat, sleep, and regroup: I'd asked Tank to put the kettle on when I'd finished my 59th loop, and when I came in from my 60th (105km) at 5:35am I used the boiling water to make a bowl of instant noodle soup, to which I added some chunks of precooked chicken from the cooler.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIBbjd0-gmstuAkVa5KwUBT_0ktOauZETkkyZlWVKov9wGouHYfojWVA8bWpfVHj7AibWuuDo6ZKz1lElXeAR4H-wBbpgaOh8RTR7Qv78cZFEvwWs4ZkMsQeAZ-zD8bngNxLd2LOpNi-ea5WdYZEzMsymiXV8X04TqJaXhsD9dG2yQVxPuqrP-MK8c0A/s1200/PXL_20231014_101622998.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="727" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfIBbjd0-gmstuAkVa5KwUBT_0ktOauZETkkyZlWVKov9wGouHYfojWVA8bWpfVHj7AibWuuDo6ZKz1lElXeAR4H-wBbpgaOh8RTR7Qv78cZFEvwWs4ZkMsQeAZ-zD8bngNxLd2LOpNi-ea5WdYZEzMsymiXV8X04TqJaXhsD9dG2yQVxPuqrP-MK8c0A/w242-h400/PXL_20231014_101622998.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see some of the irritation in my right eye from the hanging branch earlier, and the fatigue all over my face</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tank got the propane heater running to keep me warm, but my layering strategy had worked to perfection as the rain hadn't been very heavy: I also hadn't been running, so sweat hadn't been much of a factor, but the knicks were a bit damp (and still rubbing a bit unpleasantly) so I changed them out for a pair of tights before settling myself on the cot at 6:30am - it had taken me just shy of an hour to eat the soup and change, partly due to further butt and hamstring cramps - for a nap, with Tank shutting off the propane tank before he headed off to the car for a nap of his own, killing and Coleman lantern so they wouldn't run unattended. I awoke to daylight and the sound of rain continuing to fall at 8am, after 90mins of not-really-sleep, but at least some rest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSV5figsEeOyu6MRK21YpsJGWJNSbQGjJbSoB6eiP83g0FWTWrYXeXGjnpmXSpRB39bo2xW-FXXWzihzlLfNtcOEUWz5h9VfCFG6mSBvPT8pI2vR4smyXZYIRU34dhrhGn2_qypnBJOXq1zeMOc7aziPJfMTwA9Dv_8xTWFhyphenhyphenqZOQQi8Sdnb3Bfe86z0/s1200/PXL_20231014_120156196.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSV5figsEeOyu6MRK21YpsJGWJNSbQGjJbSoB6eiP83g0FWTWrYXeXGjnpmXSpRB39bo2xW-FXXWzihzlLfNtcOEUWz5h9VfCFG6mSBvPT8pI2vR4smyXZYIRU34dhrhGn2_qypnBJOXq1zeMOc7aziPJfMTwA9Dv_8xTWFhyphenhyphenqZOQQi8Sdnb3Bfe86z0/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_120156196.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could be better, but could be a lot worse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It took me 20mins to get my now-muddied shoes on and have a peek at the weather, while shoving another muffin in my face.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYzV1yzWVUKdpxW72Q4u6xwyyf4oc1eBT9yo5gPrFJ4qcmgg2Qs3F3wflV4JF2wpvRJPesozknGAcf8tcv1ChI1XDzX62BqyIkHMHZoGBccGv0bxyrKSNy22sv_tiKcMme2iPbTWy9AZWsyJUscHwJ8P62wD5v8o81Di9U_qhjGrui3WbtAJzTz4TxHY/s1200/more%20rain.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1200" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYzV1yzWVUKdpxW72Q4u6xwyyf4oc1eBT9yo5gPrFJ4qcmgg2Qs3F3wflV4JF2wpvRJPesozknGAcf8tcv1ChI1XDzX62BqyIkHMHZoGBccGv0bxyrKSNy22sv_tiKcMme2iPbTWy9AZWsyJUscHwJ8P62wD5v8o81Di9U_qhjGrui3WbtAJzTz4TxHY/w400-h261/more%20rain.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It didn't look very promising</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I donned my fleece skirt and weather-resistant jacket again, then grabbed a pole to help me up the slippery hill and headed out to see what the morning would bring. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5mVKSnK_AOSJ2jvNCzgmVi4d2XIYkfJ-OZJB0VcdGUqeYC4hfFksyklSxi9uanO7zn9qa_wUndxl4TZiWoJbjnZL6j8BQmGNCJxdO-Irw8jGftGszN7EylSuCBPHlQQvvyDW21xJHEDnqHstTt9Gnn0x5tkTgMeRRG-PgxbtBE9ugqJaTGlNjtsWSl0/s1200/PXL_20231014_125039866.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5mVKSnK_AOSJ2jvNCzgmVi4d2XIYkfJ-OZJB0VcdGUqeYC4hfFksyklSxi9uanO7zn9qa_wUndxl4TZiWoJbjnZL6j8BQmGNCJxdO-Irw8jGftGszN7EylSuCBPHlQQvvyDW21xJHEDnqHstTt9Gnn0x5tkTgMeRRG-PgxbtBE9ugqJaTGlNjtsWSl0/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_125039866.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colour of the day was "grey" so far</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Fortunately, the forecast proved wrong, at least for my little slice of the earth to the north of the town: the rain only lasted about 10mins into my first lap before blowing away on a freshening breeze. I did, however, encounter something a bit disturbing at the entrance to the Borderlands trail. Remember how I'd said I'd heard coyotes in the night? Well, they're a frequent feature of this particular tract, and it seems they may have found their way into a nearby chicken coop - the evidence of which they'd left just beside the trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyXkwxI_SKCbJI1S83zi1Oh0Ltcu51ciBirTKyKDKzO35Zc47QcykwfqWC5DNRkoj9Bs8nqzw-zO6RN2CJuxe0fQw8wCAL1-HK1NKA52VONS1NDWuaefkycfFZkqlxFSAnVCe9Qh96PvK2-a2er_Q0tVZkPqy3YEb6fdWw3ZCp7gu02b67Wq5t7je3us/s1200/PXL_20231014_125247036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1200" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyXkwxI_SKCbJI1S83zi1Oh0Ltcu51ciBirTKyKDKzO35Zc47QcykwfqWC5DNRkoj9Bs8nqzw-zO6RN2CJuxe0fQw8wCAL1-HK1NKA52VONS1NDWuaefkycfFZkqlxFSAnVCe9Qh96PvK2-a2er_Q0tVZkPqy3YEb6fdWw3ZCp7gu02b67Wq5t7je3us/w400-h358/PXL_20231014_125247036.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you find this pic disturbing, <i style="font-weight: bold;">imagine how I felt seeing it live</i>, straight out of bed and 23hrs deep into a 48hr race!<br />I was quite happy I was off course when it was deposited there, and that I encountered it in daylight</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I never actually thought I'd have to tell a race director "there's a gnawed-off chicken arse on the trail" -and that, my friends, is a direct quote - but there I was, and had to repeat myself because Clay understandably had not comprehended what I was talking about the first time. I grabbed my phone from the Chowhouse after that lap (I'd left it behind when I got up) and took the above photo, messaging it to him to show him exactly what I meant. I also sent it to Tank, poor lad: he was awoken by his phone going off and that pic with the words GUESS WHAT? in his face. In my defense, I fully expected him to answer with CHICKEN BUTT, because that's just the kind of marriage we have. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LwhDB-9Xp7sIMP6R2-6rRt5KosC_MhMCQEcxG97LycIM-8qoouNIaUdKuEA54EFif_XP2pkw9QeUkAImsVksdwspZw6eHLKkXjkhvtlc37aVtoSQLvJB_VQVc918Y4jJrm-Z0UjwEDe4CCH7Pak5-W090ak-cNNdKk-drB9N9PdJcr0HKJWX_zpRTMo/s1200/PXL_20231014_125111351.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_LwhDB-9Xp7sIMP6R2-6rRt5KosC_MhMCQEcxG97LycIM-8qoouNIaUdKuEA54EFif_XP2pkw9QeUkAImsVksdwspZw6eHLKkXjkhvtlc37aVtoSQLvJB_VQVc918Y4jJrm-Z0UjwEDe4CCH7Pak5-W090ak-cNNdKk-drB9N9PdJcr0HKJWX_zpRTMo/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_125111351.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea how he puts up with me, either.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>While I was out there engaging in some grim photography and turning off all the puck lights (as Gary was napping since before sunrise), a familiar face turned up again: Ron was now back, intending to see how far he could get in the remaining 24hrs. I had done 62 laps (just under 109km) and was partway through my 63rd as day 1 ended and day 2 began...and the rest will have to wait for another week!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tzQqQv3bE5krYhANwDXDx1iWxzw104ab1l3ayip0DD01vBX_mZRicuOuNMJco_-6EUomQ-2Rx3vEuVkOI63K5w8ktJOhcysDZCddX6PFFBGwN4EGNjWOSyOuxpXDAe1dxftWLqWnIi14Z5ltWsxJPJxp3gTYk7BJHmqnXVsJDgDxl9dVFLS2EkFdSYo/s1200/PXL_20231014_130841888.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tzQqQv3bE5krYhANwDXDx1iWxzw104ab1l3ayip0DD01vBX_mZRicuOuNMJco_-6EUomQ-2Rx3vEuVkOI63K5w8ktJOhcysDZCddX6PFFBGwN4EGNjWOSyOuxpXDAe1dxftWLqWnIi14Z5ltWsxJPJxp3gTYk7BJHmqnXVsJDgDxl9dVFLS2EkFdSYo/w400-h225/PXL_20231014_130841888.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ain't I a stinker?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><a href="https://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/12/three-days-in-park-48hr-friday-october.html">The conclusion is (finally) here</a>!</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-78767744085404844542023-11-03T23:54:00.003-04:002023-11-03T23:55:26.302-04:00No, not Algonquin<p>While certain assumptions are often made when you say you're going camping in an Ontario Provincial Park near Huntsville, Algonquin is <i style="font-weight: bold;">not</i> the only option.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHsndGpeNbHibzDaqm1rb9DLxrqP8z_hicaPpFJNK36bq4yI8-ltQxkyGfqWx8GPzPflzNG2DiD0VkiHObWcCTHhJEo-xS4r0tlvRtohjBx_zUVM-o0B1-VxkjIxqkAg-BlPF89AiJBrvZ1dER6pdYKkctikHdU2EQKzAkQkTArFzIev5DnSkXdg8C2Q/s1200/PXL_20231026_173622982.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHsndGpeNbHibzDaqm1rb9DLxrqP8z_hicaPpFJNK36bq4yI8-ltQxkyGfqWx8GPzPflzNG2DiD0VkiHObWcCTHhJEo-xS4r0tlvRtohjBx_zUVM-o0B1-VxkjIxqkAg-BlPF89AiJBrvZ1dER6pdYKkctikHdU2EQKzAkQkTArFzIev5DnSkXdg8C2Q/w400-h223/PXL_20231026_173622982.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there'd be a solid fight to determine which is more beautiful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>While I grant you that Algonquin is a gem - our oldest and largest park, since 1893 - its younger, smaller brother is absolutely lovely, and it was to <a href="https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/arrowhead">Arrowhead Provincial Park</a> that we headed last week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wa7POca2hyphenhyphenhJg48UWAmZ7bfuBv40lPh6_VpFaty2MIevXsSpVayXS4_nXz8vlJroXQSCioPcgZFDJQVDXlC5g_8zAjsVcKyqcHMEUv5cMUuBe7qBXmnyWYYHSD_pcyFusnf6I8dGFkDFCeatYzhTXZwUc66JsZ3uU09r0rpHX7Zd5-8KGdCFB731abI/s1200/PXL_20231023_220821725.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wa7POca2hyphenhyphenhJg48UWAmZ7bfuBv40lPh6_VpFaty2MIevXsSpVayXS4_nXz8vlJroXQSCioPcgZFDJQVDXlC5g_8zAjsVcKyqcHMEUv5cMUuBe7qBXmnyWYYHSD_pcyFusnf6I8dGFkDFCeatYzhTXZwUc66JsZ3uU09r0rpHX7Zd5-8KGdCFB731abI/w400-h225/PXL_20231023_220821725.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our site in the East River campground - the only one open at this time of year - was massive and secluded, surrounded by forest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As a paperless park, our online reservation and pre-check in were all we needed to head to our site on Monday afternoon. We arrived too late to get firewood as the park store had closed at 4pm, so we did the 15min jaunt into Huntsville to pick up wood from the Canadian Tire, getting back just before dark. It had been a sunny but cool day, and turned into a chilly night.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2SJfn3GZZdde7WKWT3TIxA10ngFfeqH6MTFGLYh-xzrgCfeQgiwHLWhPTzfc1yZgn84a8730HHYCa8_sAkd3XxAlE-MQBysz8WsdfLMEEXwxCwDoE7_7osUjFfsTGBQk4MHN33vxMQa71xTyHpj-7X6disujKkzgIkDQ1vcEXUzZ2rwONZqRj2NHTBI/s1200/PXL_20231023_231618698.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2SJfn3GZZdde7WKWT3TIxA10ngFfeqH6MTFGLYh-xzrgCfeQgiwHLWhPTzfc1yZgn84a8730HHYCa8_sAkd3XxAlE-MQBysz8WsdfLMEEXwxCwDoE7_7osUjFfsTGBQk4MHN33vxMQa71xTyHpj-7X6disujKkzgIkDQ1vcEXUzZ2rwONZqRj2NHTBI/w283-h400/PXL_20231023_231618698.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which we combated with warm clothes and hot apple cider by the fire</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was frustrating to find out that the water taps were all shut off for the season (they were in the process of blowing out the lines while we were there), and that the comfort station nearest the tent sites - whose proximity had been a driver of my site selection - was also shut down for winter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJp1klVyH_YkMA8vR1IJYoxFF6VjHFIp-u79_riqNCrU0vlNdBEIbpASDy7799DSL6C2LgbDz65W6rEuUUaBCZuTNAxQgpneb-egBa4xYrbJFzA25dTpdE8BWpJaf5OLbn011Q1ea7Zj_qguTUhyM25Os2u8M7MZxsmHfgD6H_A1M17_AdvPTkgBDvkk/s1200/PXL_20231023_211855029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="811" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJp1klVyH_YkMA8vR1IJYoxFF6VjHFIp-u79_riqNCrU0vlNdBEIbpASDy7799DSL6C2LgbDz65W6rEuUUaBCZuTNAxQgpneb-egBa4xYrbJFzA25dTpdE8BWpJaf5OLbn011Q1ea7Zj_qguTUhyM25Os2u8M7MZxsmHfgD6H_A1M17_AdvPTkgBDvkk/w270-h400/PXL_20231023_211855029.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flush privies were all closed, too - this meant the closest washroom facility to us was about a kilometer from our site</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The information about this had been buried in the endless park policies in our reservation email, which - entirely my fault - I had neglected to read in full. To the park's credit, after I complained about not being informed (before I found the fine print), they did send out an email to all permit holders to advise of the current state of affairs. Also to the park's credit, what they term a "mini comfort station" is an <i style="font-weight: bold;">awesome</i> facility for cold-weather camping! Instead of the usual men's & women's sides, there are 5 unisex 1-person washrooms, each of which has its own heater.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4v9H8DHhtQipSQqQkh5DGzL2AH6ouwWLp-BYRo5z-YSipgtlcDC2TjulkU7bCQe7YLk_4v3fnuwU0rBf77rCE22E-BaYJfLgvgnAjTQJXQN1pV_521SpCNyZBTcfUrjqfGSW1UX2AFWXhfdKwn-HJdV2FKmiCI9Y9hMyaDmxwT2D6M0FFTedLDd9a_w/s1200/PXL_20231026_175406610.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4v9H8DHhtQipSQqQkh5DGzL2AH6ouwWLp-BYRo5z-YSipgtlcDC2TjulkU7bCQe7YLk_4v3fnuwU0rBf77rCE22E-BaYJfLgvgnAjTQJXQN1pV_521SpCNyZBTcfUrjqfGSW1UX2AFWXhfdKwn-HJdV2FKmiCI9Y9hMyaDmxwT2D6M0FFTedLDd9a_w/w334-h400/PXL_20231026_175406610.jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's it on the left side, occupying the whole lower wall; if I'm not mistaken, it's a water radiator supplied by a tankless water heater up on the wall above the toilet, which also provides almost-instant hot water to the faucet for hand washing.<br />They even hang the toilet paper over the radiator, so it's nice and warm on your tush!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The other thing this building offers - almost unique among Ontario Parks, but a huge asset to tent campers like ourselves - is a dish washing station. Now, I've seen outdoor ones at SƩpaq Parcs in QuƩbec, but this was a dedicated indoor scullery, also with its own tankless water heater and radiator.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgBr4NAlcbrSp77kT15oK-ALcAUyM2Vdmn4_Dx__61sJlMKoRbVdlgn7Ie9T-P7tV1HxwypoA2oXc03yl6UHaO5dxb-4xxtD0KM-_BihH7a29OfY4w-6lsZ4WKS26ktyxlQGFLjgxa-CNga9DxzL_PuQ2NhkT0gyV0kVJrUgq1XQNctmAEkrQFRaPjMA/s1200/PXL_20231024_173928744.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgBr4NAlcbrSp77kT15oK-ALcAUyM2Vdmn4_Dx__61sJlMKoRbVdlgn7Ie9T-P7tV1HxwypoA2oXc03yl6UHaO5dxb-4xxtD0KM-_BihH7a29OfY4w-6lsZ4WKS26ktyxlQGFLjgxa-CNga9DxzL_PuQ2NhkT0gyV0kVJrUgq1XQNctmAEkrQFRaPjMA/w249-h400/PXL_20231024_173928744.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an outlet for charging things right by the door, too, and someone had even left a bottle of Dawn dish soap in there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The same building has 3 shower stalls as well, but I have no experience with them; I'm comfortable with being a little grubby while camping. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmnO_IETaYMWY7cnwvejjVpoVuCZLQ_W9WMC2qR7oTFnrEiFSI27V8GzsYC_6-CRrS9WluZTkjwZ_9nm6OPwabsjCpyGUAIwNqVAytA5LcSlATDe-kqKKwXxl0CBdBt_Ro2Nn88v9Ju6fqm-CidXnrGSyn7fooZeYsNRb4l4VzMLKTiIBu11QSZm_I4Y/s1200/PXL_20231023_230013369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="823" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmnO_IETaYMWY7cnwvejjVpoVuCZLQ_W9WMC2qR7oTFnrEiFSI27V8GzsYC_6-CRrS9WluZTkjwZ_9nm6OPwabsjCpyGUAIwNqVAytA5LcSlATDe-kqKKwXxl0CBdBt_Ro2Nn88v9Ju6fqm-CidXnrGSyn7fooZeYsNRb4l4VzMLKTiIBu11QSZm_I4Y/w274-h400/PXL_20231023_230013369.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not like I was sweating, especially when the rain started Monday evening...at 5c/41f</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We weren't happy that we'd have to drive to the washroom (even I - dedicated as I am to human-powered transport - balk at the idea of walking 10-15mins each way for a bathroom), but there was nothing we could do about it. We rose just after 8 to a wet morning, with our tent soaked inside and out: the cold night had led to a lot of condensation on the interior despite our best efforts to vent it in the rain. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjAW1XCAWGsGji6AZsM0DM4dM47uVQUjzlD7yiTv7MIHb39yLTt9UTlMqJ54VGjxRQHG3Sd7AS_zIRN20xEIt0v2zntiTGR9e_V4kVwCaOpZDCHpRmhmmonZi6wpq12XBnZ-um-tyuE84dp5g2xjjbJq4DjJxbQQwwQ4BP3IqrAMFphwPW4uW_ayT6DY/s1200/PXL_20231024_120412398.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjAW1XCAWGsGji6AZsM0DM4dM47uVQUjzlD7yiTv7MIHb39yLTt9UTlMqJ54VGjxRQHG3Sd7AS_zIRN20xEIt0v2zntiTGR9e_V4kVwCaOpZDCHpRmhmmonZi6wpq12XBnZ-um-tyuE84dp5g2xjjbJq4DjJxbQQwwQ4BP3IqrAMFphwPW4uW_ayT6DY/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_120412398.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No use birching about it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tanker made a pot of coffee, which we poured off into insulated travel mugs to go for a bit of a stroll. I'd seen on the park map that our site was close to Stubbs Falls, and I wanted to go check them out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QA7EGCf9UDN-WTpu9JPgZTtczxXhFaDl_1qc6-nQDzuXKFYOchruoJM5KdU-ir8vTWv7x_ho6OZwv6ov2AncEulrNDJ6QZQSTJLhgsg7hkOuZ23gVqMBe4v3gm-FbHIE8AExhIMCT3wPPMPnYQ98-3sfjs9bn9_kZbzP8Mx-_cxmlClmI-Cdbgt5IhY/s1200/PXL_20231024_142054422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9QA7EGCf9UDN-WTpu9JPgZTtczxXhFaDl_1qc6-nQDzuXKFYOchruoJM5KdU-ir8vTWv7x_ho6OZwv6ov2AncEulrNDJ6QZQSTJLhgsg7hkOuZ23gVqMBe4v3gm-FbHIE8AExhIMCT3wPPMPnYQ98-3sfjs9bn9_kZbzP8Mx-_cxmlClmI-Cdbgt5IhY/w225-h400/PXL_20231024_142054422.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we walked the half kilometer from our site, coffees in hand</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On approach, we saw stairs and a bridge, thinking this would be somewhat like Chutes Provincial park.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJraemHnOyTgEeJ5sbtajdIdWADV0rChhg8cb9T8P_vqmfN8Ako3jKDNswB_6Jq1Prnc3AOVy5u7MceURXns3WHZfIQvFcrz0A0AZCiBMoa8bXy_jzeBrweQbb724_7sIJ9ANITXV_rjltwpnfXa1gWwO0MBP2lBlOEKmlvu6EzCWEK2iB6HfpvhTbYs/s1200/PXL_20231024_142326384.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJraemHnOyTgEeJ5sbtajdIdWADV0rChhg8cb9T8P_vqmfN8Ako3jKDNswB_6Jq1Prnc3AOVy5u7MceURXns3WHZfIQvFcrz0A0AZCiBMoa8bXy_jzeBrweQbb724_7sIJ9ANITXV_rjltwpnfXa1gWwO0MBP2lBlOEKmlvu6EzCWEK2iB6HfpvhTbYs/w256-h400/PXL_20231024_142326384.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which was encouraging, because we both love that place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>From the bridge I was awestruck - not just by the falls, which are not quite as impressive as Chutes but have a similar character, but by the incredible size of the glacial erratics on the river's banks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVU12y5H2k4ceDvkKe_ZlJGcChpsXCqhPU0VetsatHhgbo72Ei_BuxD-piB5Nhj1mv9aCF1xF_2iC0_XGmLSCh8RhxtpVCH1RTzoUtHbPZZKGhle5togBmS08MKELhd7HFXGsWzybWeVOTc0YyG8CI1mRgaSmouUevPGNCQFYkY5YGEiQaVku0lnqvBVw/s1200/PXL_20231024_142505958.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVU12y5H2k4ceDvkKe_ZlJGcChpsXCqhPU0VetsatHhgbo72Ei_BuxD-piB5Nhj1mv9aCF1xF_2iC0_XGmLSCh8RhxtpVCH1RTzoUtHbPZZKGhle5togBmS08MKELhd7HFXGsWzybWeVOTc0YyG8CI1mRgaSmouUevPGNCQFYkY5YGEiQaVku0lnqvBVw/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_142505958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a sucker for big heckin' rocks</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had brought along a little loaf of chocolate chip banana bread that I'd cut into chunks as a snack with our coffee, so we munched on that as the river thundered below us.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVPJr0tfP4UYEWEfPnH7cgXgyLDayxjqvldgW34omaC6gyBt9TvaFtEC5-EWlfnhyRSerYr6rNs7YdONvqLgOxnfaqFnV_Mzf2UMRWh-q8c-Kd70oyizns-r3YLg0FQuGUPpiUhvRobmjaJ8tag1hcdZa6ggTLaN9VxOMwRBjPcdrpuX7XMinl8GWEQ/s1200/PXL_20231024_142829738.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVPJr0tfP4UYEWEfPnH7cgXgyLDayxjqvldgW34omaC6gyBt9TvaFtEC5-EWlfnhyRSerYr6rNs7YdONvqLgOxnfaqFnV_Mzf2UMRWh-q8c-Kd70oyizns-r3YLg0FQuGUPpiUhvRobmjaJ8tag1hcdZa6ggTLaN9VxOMwRBjPcdrpuX7XMinl8GWEQ/w251-h400/PXL_20231024_142829738.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd definitely be ok with starting every day like this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We had immediately seen that it was possible to meander around nearer the falls, so once we finished our snack we departed from the bridge to explore a bit more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XzV5gMSjG5sczeKFp7upBQxGE2rO9kqCTEWBKUmcInbpJDMf4mgHa5htk5-8ZtztJYuq56g6KYQaEt9kCZz4MCQANP8SlsGCMirazLCOzTO-YS65SblTswqO4cjfnmGkgxSGV5VrQqJ036rM1hXsoglvgdDjqK0PAqS-3eEjUpICSSIbHeU-MPykHPU/s1200/PXL_20231024_143029806.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5XzV5gMSjG5sczeKFp7upBQxGE2rO9kqCTEWBKUmcInbpJDMf4mgHa5htk5-8ZtztJYuq56g6KYQaEt9kCZz4MCQANP8SlsGCMirazLCOzTO-YS65SblTswqO4cjfnmGkgxSGV5VrQqJ036rM1hXsoglvgdDjqK0PAqS-3eEjUpICSSIbHeU-MPykHPU/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_143029806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a trail that does a loop around a ~1km stretch of river, with bridges - including the one we'd just crossed - at either end, that we'd need to walk later on.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Tank was braver than I was on the wet rock beside the foaming cataract midway down the falls.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvnNzIAGMro8n_eKGNSYWeX4M5NvQCoTrUvF__boxg_EiRuUfHA8RBZC0z2lQ3sRgf06avXHUkUFw36dpz9db4Mm_mtAmAIYqEGK59yicOgKpCNJyOPsKYSl_i4RdaRsYq54Vj-x0eU7TOa3EaKlJQR9TDdcruM7AvC5jTmWGUIAl5HljYVlAv1OVnmY/s1200/PXL_20231024_143339705.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvnNzIAGMro8n_eKGNSYWeX4M5NvQCoTrUvF__boxg_EiRuUfHA8RBZC0z2lQ3sRgf06avXHUkUFw36dpz9db4Mm_mtAmAIYqEGK59yicOgKpCNJyOPsKYSl_i4RdaRsYq54Vj-x0eU7TOa3EaKlJQR9TDdcruM7AvC5jTmWGUIAl5HljYVlAv1OVnmY/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_143339705.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm a bit timid when slipping might mean plunging into fast moving, icy water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I did eventually pick my way out far enough to get some decent photos, though.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyEoebtLkZQmShFy8umQCsLgWwKjogtOECs5_Yq7m7z3ybVnWUVW0BvTNKjK6rKircvmFXze-LqjghLdViRe7lW9gFR1e6kV2oG0fdj1kHTXbBHNguejOrM8Rq1jL6eUx0S3NQ8AnLF7aoaiu-VKsWySuKYRxtPsFqGpf6q6Jlkz2ribSxWfgS_FYrsQ/s5394/PXL_20231024_143816989.PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="5394" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyEoebtLkZQmShFy8umQCsLgWwKjogtOECs5_Yq7m7z3ybVnWUVW0BvTNKjK6rKircvmFXze-LqjghLdViRe7lW9gFR1e6kV2oG0fdj1kHTXbBHNguejOrM8Rq1jL6eUx0S3NQ8AnLF7aoaiu-VKsWySuKYRxtPsFqGpf6q6Jlkz2ribSxWfgS_FYrsQ/w400-h119/PXL_20231024_143816989.PANO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can click on this panoramic to see it bigger.<br />Go ahead - I'll be here when you get back</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We spent almost an hour just listening to the rushing water and enjoying our coffee.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChJN0aTZimocqfrccOz90K8LSdDGl_D_ur1fqUCCT4kbTXWWla-v_oDMeNObTP8f0E4IPOUc_AukvYGbcUHoa4ZABJKVqjRlqxpkQrJXBp-63jfW9v07q2jlIxNW4NVVp0bTX7H47C6QVa6y9ad_bqx_uWLRdA_s_wfwgzC0lNA5T0BZWUOGtjKMnAa0/s1200/PXL_20231024_143908273~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChJN0aTZimocqfrccOz90K8LSdDGl_D_ur1fqUCCT4kbTXWWla-v_oDMeNObTP8f0E4IPOUc_AukvYGbcUHoa4ZABJKVqjRlqxpkQrJXBp-63jfW9v07q2jlIxNW4NVVp0bTX7H47C6QVa6y9ad_bqx_uWLRdA_s_wfwgzC0lNA5T0BZWUOGtjKMnAa0/w225-h400/PXL_20231024_143908273~2.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good travel mugs should be considered a necessity for any cold camping trip - keep that coffee nice and hot!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When we started to make our way back to our site, we did so via the ring of giant boulders.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXgmYWhU1L_fJmxk5Ag-9nU_H7Tgr4FyvHQi1FzyKIScMcKBj7nsjUgQ8HTfj3CgFx_tkKIfh9dO0y7E8XxPy7lIwxNXYsRMqcX3c_K0yDU1ZR7W72ilumGE1IkEDB6qBY5lM0uCJ8rvzRWvM97UBaEWNwhvRSk1UZdT05PagBrURT9dzu7c9Gqb6Npw/s1200/PXL_20231024_145149776.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXgmYWhU1L_fJmxk5Ag-9nU_H7Tgr4FyvHQi1FzyKIScMcKBj7nsjUgQ8HTfj3CgFx_tkKIfh9dO0y7E8XxPy7lIwxNXYsRMqcX3c_K0yDU1ZR7W72ilumGE1IkEDB6qBY5lM0uCJ8rvzRWvM97UBaEWNwhvRSk1UZdT05PagBrURT9dzu7c9Gqb6Npw/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_145149776.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanker for scale</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Returning to camp, I cooked up a mass of bacon while Tanker toasted bread over the other burner.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyFEi4svnp0C4JZkjjWxAilmtT-Et0a61ZHR9Pk8MMTkvueLo7WlX77xhf0SvzmKPd4iAai3UDNisibJbkGb5rQacTOWufS1subzDVzXFQ1jXi38rIcs6T4PJjv-eqKKAPuNNTAJgVCppNd8snDHmZgtc5TSEBoA2kt8UpOiWBaVKEF61SRWycYZ7z70/s1200/PXL_20231024_163729940.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyFEi4svnp0C4JZkjjWxAilmtT-Et0a61ZHR9Pk8MMTkvueLo7WlX77xhf0SvzmKPd4iAai3UDNisibJbkGb5rQacTOWufS1subzDVzXFQ1jXi38rIcs6T4PJjv-eqKKAPuNNTAJgVCppNd8snDHmZgtc5TSEBoA2kt8UpOiWBaVKEF61SRWycYZ7z70/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_163729940.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually pan-toast bread products while camping, but forgot before I got the bacon going</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It wasn't a precise science, but definitely good enough for a pair of huge bacon sandwiches to fuel us up.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljU9OwQ1T5rGjjzDPnH94Uf61Ab5TvD7eumpLk8krWGX5vRkfxnSuvUlloHAPlQ_g9kUeWaZm01nFLPxwNYWhyQR2mRKI7-p5ngTlWSJGoQ-4jNgkj06iWsWVB1FFF7O3YOHpDsPZFjYA3tnguen7n2dWqTyt38pnXABYVTF0f3FbnYIwZInGMNvcyek/s1200/PXL_20231024_164731204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1200" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljU9OwQ1T5rGjjzDPnH94Uf61Ab5TvD7eumpLk8krWGX5vRkfxnSuvUlloHAPlQ_g9kUeWaZm01nFLPxwNYWhyQR2mRKI7-p5ngTlWSJGoQ-4jNgkj06iWsWVB1FFF7O3YOHpDsPZFjYA3tnguen7n2dWqTyt38pnXABYVTF0f3FbnYIwZInGMNvcyek/w400-h293/PXL_20231024_164731204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today was supposed to be the "nice" (i.e.: least rainy) day, and there was lots we wanted to see</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>First on the list didn't even count as a hike, because there's a parking lot a scant 10 metres away from the destination - the Big Bend Lookout. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKDfS_X0auXeZ-Qc99wL1mp_TTyR7v6wsMXdUODWSAKNv9av5reD_cr4H1x19berP2Iv32QI3W_BrAijgMXupc478XKIjQiEbx1G_q1praAwhL4kPvZ7LdM2lRnLnZkvdNWxnPKhaE1ZjQG8H4JG-l_ppMIsQ9hUL2DWxrY-UIjf49n2ytyMORgTNSlU/s1200/PXL_20231024_180849287.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKDfS_X0auXeZ-Qc99wL1mp_TTyR7v6wsMXdUODWSAKNv9av5reD_cr4H1x19berP2Iv32QI3W_BrAijgMXupc478XKIjQiEbx1G_q1praAwhL4kPvZ7LdM2lRnLnZkvdNWxnPKhaE1ZjQG8H4JG-l_ppMIsQ9hUL2DWxrY-UIjf49n2ytyMORgTNSlU/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_180849287.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rain had begun again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The Big East River's sandy banks are constantly shifting with the variable current, forming huge bends that meander like a bit of dropped string - some eventually become oxbow lakes (C-shaped lakes formed from cut-off former bends), but this particular curve has stood the test of quite a bit of time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8PkNHQQtxz8Vt09OacGEYN35gK4Lj4U8UqzqFyL2doVUnLKVCuX9DVXZDxQP9ubc2pIJPMAGxdDtMQhFYlD5L9FOsN1h3th1Y_P7_dOZlYwFc9zaIgKpJkRS-dynWsZABo8WDSqmuNkJgBnfaGayo7DfEUfwUOeNVkB7HeeZK5XcvMtR65oVw4tn_Ps/s1200/PXL_20231024_180901629.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8PkNHQQtxz8Vt09OacGEYN35gK4Lj4U8UqzqFyL2doVUnLKVCuX9DVXZDxQP9ubc2pIJPMAGxdDtMQhFYlD5L9FOsN1h3th1Y_P7_dOZlYwFc9zaIgKpJkRS-dynWsZABo8WDSqmuNkJgBnfaGayo7DfEUfwUOeNVkB7HeeZK5XcvMtR65oVw4tn_Ps/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_180901629.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Does what it says on the tin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We read the informational plaques at the lookout while liquid sunshine sprinkled down on us.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FO7DUZpoC3Em409mpJan-uV6k0qockmgsw-HBpGY3bXnVPq11sv7Y9YxSNbZXVA55g6XAG9_BdgLSuKYqin4AviLN4-1mG74aJE7YMlSz0pWCEwsWSt__A5BRNs1lyNN3P8qrD3go17GrkWHQdHJt6nevliIu63eTzQ8Dl2QB_3vGfsG_aB1gLY4lII/s1200/PXL_20231024_181205894.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FO7DUZpoC3Em409mpJan-uV6k0qockmgsw-HBpGY3bXnVPq11sv7Y9YxSNbZXVA55g6XAG9_BdgLSuKYqin4AviLN4-1mG74aJE7YMlSz0pWCEwsWSt__A5BRNs1lyNN3P8qrD3go17GrkWHQdHJt6nevliIu63eTzQ8Dl2QB_3vGfsG_aB1gLY4lII/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_181205894.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fogging the trees in the middle of the bend</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Next up, we drove clear to the other end of the park to walk a couple of the park's trails: first the Homesteader Trail, which was bright with fall foliage.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOiFaqEAgbAJr7LIDs3h-JeUOIlPlpoMsGabSXYGKuGc_e7sS287ox8GEVsPOGs7tyjqMlDgdXnK-bTpGORPFRDwWBCG774NNSxFSFwnrhE0GnUgJFNfNkZQrP50ACd07sztCj55cLfCbcjH5EdLTMesNUYq9IXBIPIN3N-IFmupidLHZ2r7bgSbN04E/s1200/PXL_20231024_184042681.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="732" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOiFaqEAgbAJr7LIDs3h-JeUOIlPlpoMsGabSXYGKuGc_e7sS287ox8GEVsPOGs7tyjqMlDgdXnK-bTpGORPFRDwWBCG774NNSxFSFwnrhE0GnUgJFNfNkZQrP50ACd07sztCj55cLfCbcjH5EdLTMesNUYq9IXBIPIN3N-IFmupidLHZ2r7bgSbN04E/w244-h400/PXL_20231024_184042681.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..some of which hid ankle-threatening roots, rocks, and washouts among the rolling hills</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We paused for a cookie once we'd completed the circuit, then - as the rain tailed off and the skies lightened a bit - we struck out on the Mayflower Lake Trail.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZzFlnesnaN_mAO9BaCure6YRHMwOl8oxtllwLgc2owXnOzi4-pVXe8k1-cjjyAhhINrkiX1GxgOgLxM9LxXSgTizcBGG12-ljk-sSvrIgWIohCGWl8u9w5NIHAdw-OT0r0NPexw3GYJgM2JsCfM3C2sBANbHljLkXtBkWmyh23LiNyzEdhWKzwBElsU/s1200/PXL_20231024_193312335.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZzFlnesnaN_mAO9BaCure6YRHMwOl8oxtllwLgc2owXnOzi4-pVXe8k1-cjjyAhhINrkiX1GxgOgLxM9LxXSgTizcBGG12-ljk-sSvrIgWIohCGWl8u9w5NIHAdw-OT0r0NPexw3GYJgM2JsCfM3C2sBANbHljLkXtBkWmyh23LiNyzEdhWKzwBElsU/w225-h400/PXL_20231024_193312335.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More roots buried in fallen leaves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBUrqeKGqeVaTD-C615oXGA5GV3eERO4GXeOmm95DIGG17Tz0egViaoPkMsnFCDZe5VZOhk_z7e38ImtU5ERADecgrDmR6oCIlUyne0i0vgXZVVx_mlZNv1Ms3_79zVmI1KabV3bRpyvsnEej5QWZTdJeOHna7wfvrmJY8iPLAF4sZDwzp3XxzfNVnRA/s1200/PXL_20231024_193410017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="739" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBUrqeKGqeVaTD-C615oXGA5GV3eERO4GXeOmm95DIGG17Tz0egViaoPkMsnFCDZe5VZOhk_z7e38ImtU5ERADecgrDmR6oCIlUyne0i0vgXZVVx_mlZNv1Ms3_79zVmI1KabV3bRpyvsnEej5QWZTdJeOHna7wfvrmJY8iPLAF4sZDwzp3XxzfNVnRA/w246-h400/PXL_20231024_193410017.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boardwalk could use some work</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>There were more hills, and a little more technical terrain in the middle third of the trail.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_mEcj9kcalzSvvM7v6FhuDwcaQ4jIsfjnAcff8vis667BHzDNY20OZEFJgV9ZGX5R6SMdrFhaGpHbpV1lEFyazLDC25O1efCZwt1lxO8YBsAklTrTT2bdWTi5EcI_RnjyjFSymtftcVHbky4AI_zsQtdoc0QFCH8qXZDbHvFbcR5mEDcYWOTGSCOsLU/s1200/PXL_20231024_194843069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="721" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_mEcj9kcalzSvvM7v6FhuDwcaQ4jIsfjnAcff8vis667BHzDNY20OZEFJgV9ZGX5R6SMdrFhaGpHbpV1lEFyazLDC25O1efCZwt1lxO8YBsAklTrTT2bdWTi5EcI_RnjyjFSymtftcVHbky4AI_zsQtdoc0QFCH8qXZDbHvFbcR5mEDcYWOTGSCOsLU/w240-h400/PXL_20231024_194843069.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though after this there was a long section of open field with gently descending singletrack through the small shrubs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Soon we found ourselves back at the trailhead, on the shore of Mayflower Lake.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDeYPTzsh5ejKkCsQuriekVu9ujaQizjMWOSM7wVrM0PP1Lji1Nkc1XQn5zwWPAngVR7wd9QIUM-Y1qj1ZA9S2mn0I97xrmA33gtyu4t6UmeOkXWEZerTt7WhPB2E2rP2CHvQQUlwxHlb5yR2YudpY8eCPNGD7S2jZTCn4fdex4VgeWr74O7DRSRIMhg/s1200/PXL_20231024_200339561.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDeYPTzsh5ejKkCsQuriekVu9ujaQizjMWOSM7wVrM0PP1Lji1Nkc1XQn5zwWPAngVR7wd9QIUM-Y1qj1ZA9S2mn0I97xrmA33gtyu4t6UmeOkXWEZerTt7WhPB2E2rP2CHvQQUlwxHlb5yR2YudpY8eCPNGD7S2jZTCn4fdex4VgeWr74O7DRSRIMhg/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_200339561.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We came <i style="font-weight: bold;">this close </i>to seeing actual sun</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Mayflower Lake is stocked with trout, and Tanker had brought his rod, eager to do some fishing. As we headed back toward camp, we stopped at the main beach so he could scout some potential fishing on Arrowhead Lake.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATOVMqgmriGnf_JgB6pVP46tVcb8u83ZAfPQ_EK9V8oXsut0H9ibc_G0nbyR3agSEEUKRWxJG3k2kcOXcrR5QuRDDAeVMba-jLaybc-ZcJgEYJW5nC2HTbrP4dTlnlen1P53w6kJ75vh6I4CkPWdQr5iUODv-oElcYsJCJDAvelezL-buxBKaYnHFNB8/s1200/PXL_20231024_201806872.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATOVMqgmriGnf_JgB6pVP46tVcb8u83ZAfPQ_EK9V8oXsut0H9ibc_G0nbyR3agSEEUKRWxJG3k2kcOXcrR5QuRDDAeVMba-jLaybc-ZcJgEYJW5nC2HTbrP4dTlnlen1P53w6kJ75vh6I4CkPWdQr5iUODv-oElcYsJCJDAvelezL-buxBKaYnHFNB8/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_201806872.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He'd been interested in the point on the left</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Upon examination, it turned out this whole part of the lake was all sandy, gently sloping beach bottom - not at all idea for fishing unless you have waders, which Tank does not. So, he tried looking at another likely spot nearby.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lRX-frBPcHGPd5To1HsnydFTEJXz9qXjaoq-AZTIeHfLTZfaSB8kcPD8DHa6bg_ZY5sL_8bVLoAcAymt5R4rpaSO2fefd3GJijubzH6UoVSXC0rDwksEgGQO_QYv1x00dSU3DHW90h9-X6KQ2oGmydzIOuSZ9a3DwTgQR_tj04Vn9qvDMJQ0l0ypdhE/s1200/PXL_20231025_190705074.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lRX-frBPcHGPd5To1HsnydFTEJXz9qXjaoq-AZTIeHfLTZfaSB8kcPD8DHa6bg_ZY5sL_8bVLoAcAymt5R4rpaSO2fefd3GJijubzH6UoVSXC0rDwksEgGQO_QYv1x00dSU3DHW90h9-X6KQ2oGmydzIOuSZ9a3DwTgQR_tj04Vn9qvDMJQ0l0ypdhE/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_190705074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bridge - part of the main park road - spans the point where Arrowhead Lake drains into the East River</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>With a swift current and a steeply sloped bank below the water, Tank thought this would be a perfect little tranquil spot for him to cast, so we made plans to come back the next day. Back to camp, I heated up a big pot of butternut squash soup for us to share, then started the fire and set our hiking boots by it to dry out.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAug0n2gR1XTnm4ZBN4cDcCfzqvFziSPsunojnnhO2vobVPRaCMZHhhefF-z_loFQeg6zfImEpSDoT2phsyqBYYE-OTh7asVxVEUozM-rnPirZSUyUFP8B8QV-ouRa5Ha9BtuqDLMJzP5E5YXTOVdNI9ruRMyNm1znyui2Si76af_b7v9v9v3DsbYxP_U/s1200/PXL_20231024_215550169.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1200" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAug0n2gR1XTnm4ZBN4cDcCfzqvFziSPsunojnnhO2vobVPRaCMZHhhefF-z_loFQeg6zfImEpSDoT2phsyqBYYE-OTh7asVxVEUozM-rnPirZSUyUFP8B8QV-ouRa5Ha9BtuqDLMJzP5E5YXTOVdNI9ruRMyNm1znyui2Si76af_b7v9v9v3DsbYxP_U/w400-h361/PXL_20231024_215550169.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'd picked up some firewood from the park store earlier, but it was very wet - we were lucky we still had the excellent wood from Huntsville to help it burn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Another cold night - and even damper than the one before - had me snuggled into my giant insulated poncho by the fire to stay warm, but at least we finally caught a glimpse of the moon through the trees!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzRmTlMaH7H8nZSJ9Asf4OvKmNKM0kGpeBgb78WS-23_MS17i2gL-JVxwepgWUxmyaSmerCoj1lnhG_VrQIIrY4LQyP1lMhwU39bwT4WQM2oFYKY_2_2H3w9jkmv4Zxw3-P601KV7HSeaMtzCQgqen3OBLBUEtiUBBI-8L0V4Zj8sXep3_4rY5_vJ-o/s1200/PXL_20231025_021249279.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdzRmTlMaH7H8nZSJ9Asf4OvKmNKM0kGpeBgb78WS-23_MS17i2gL-JVxwepgWUxmyaSmerCoj1lnhG_VrQIIrY4LQyP1lMhwU39bwT4WQM2oFYKY_2_2H3w9jkmv4Zxw3-P601KV7HSeaMtzCQgqen3OBLBUEtiUBBI-8L0V4Zj8sXep3_4rY5_vJ-o/w349-h400/PXL_20231025_021249279.jpg" width="349" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't see a single star the entire trip</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We retired pretty early - the rain falling heavily again overnight, and condensation once again dripping from the inside of the fly down into the tent body. I awoke at 8am and checked the forecast.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpG4rckdnL-a590Of7Rg5-2hw_oRiH8FsDj97lb5Hv1f5Bs5dSRFfEQX4P0Y8YHLcyT_hDBXltfg4PhFhFv-J9ZD2-OuJGZiKcIwyXc_d0TweTxkD73e9MpG1BZxRH4UBvwyWhzepd7EWT5N-9O7Fr_xEnuxr6NdZCzs8pGxrRtHZZeyKXnEXV9Tk4Pw/s1200/Screenshot_20231025-081114.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="651" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpG4rckdnL-a590Of7Rg5-2hw_oRiH8FsDj97lb5Hv1f5Bs5dSRFfEQX4P0Y8YHLcyT_hDBXltfg4PhFhFv-J9ZD2-OuJGZiKcIwyXc_d0TweTxkD73e9MpG1BZxRH4UBvwyWhzepd7EWT5N-9O7Fr_xEnuxr6NdZCzs8pGxrRtHZZeyKXnEXV9Tk4Pw/w217-h400/Screenshot_20231025-081114.png" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which was less than awesome</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>While it would certainly be warmer, the wet would continue...basically forever. We had reserved our site to stay through to Friday afternoon, but after some discussion we decided that Wednesday would be our last night in the park. The tail end of Hurricane Norma was sweeping through Thursday afternoon and expected to make things even wetter, so we resolved to see and do the rest of what we wanted, then just head home before we ended up swimming.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw3C3wazgd3kq4EVab5unhyphenhyphenqxD03Xvi9qMVnFLpNfJXLdUYGYGvBCx8YPuwMMxl_GqA6HTkLrjEpD2mJfbjSq9JQBCqATT5YlTqAwTlRZpPg-m6S1uz70ttJW3eYj8u4r7wQaDaPXOulYV6T413-tasCGizcxllDTa5ndD132Mo1qbREnd8_vIlwL1ic/s1200/PXL_20231025_141632536.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibw3C3wazgd3kq4EVab5unhyphenhyphenqxD03Xvi9qMVnFLpNfJXLdUYGYGvBCx8YPuwMMxl_GqA6HTkLrjEpD2mJfbjSq9JQBCqATT5YlTqAwTlRZpPg-m6S1uz70ttJW3eYj8u4r7wQaDaPXOulYV6T413-tasCGizcxllDTa5ndD132Mo1qbREnd8_vIlwL1ic/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_141632536.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which meant a big breakfast, as we had a big day planned!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>After cinnamon raisin french toast and sausage, Tank brewed up a second pot of coffee and we headed out on foot to walk the Stubbs Falls trail, going counter-clockwise so we'd approach the falls from the other side of the bridge this time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hPwFppbABUMV8e45nto3NW2P6hzSIMk1SLhPQDHF-tminouvp02B5yaf5okEKOatZvdg9g3LQo93c-0avv_QY_fLb05vFMQpDDwI27Pjn6yTxOJ_pOL_1GhaVzF532NpUtPmIdLD1mGrpjMrFWBCBRS3z5oew__MOu6dS2vf6QahsajhKltkitIM4Jw/s1200/PXL_20231025_153252129.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="731" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hPwFppbABUMV8e45nto3NW2P6hzSIMk1SLhPQDHF-tminouvp02B5yaf5okEKOatZvdg9g3LQo93c-0avv_QY_fLb05vFMQpDDwI27Pjn6yTxOJ_pOL_1GhaVzF532NpUtPmIdLD1mGrpjMrFWBCBRS3z5oew__MOu6dS2vf6QahsajhKltkitIM4Jw/w244-h400/PXL_20231025_153252129.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the East River - the trail follows its course through the campground bearing its name</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Across the big main bridge at the end of Arrowhead Lake, then the trail dives into the forest.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y0s3We_4Ghfb-pT673I8uRT1GsQ1wskDHCnGVH5JmPS0V-ybsfun2Wlvzrw1JehsHua_zeIT0EB71wjrLPjShmZAtgIczsSr1AYsYcy3k_Ak6eOwYF_whZyqf4y9hUuWx7NRLNY-4sm9HMUYwSWCCVWBz0J9XliTxj7Jcn6GoM9dn1luTCNhO-t7niM/s1200/PXL_20231025_155923539.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y0s3We_4Ghfb-pT673I8uRT1GsQ1wskDHCnGVH5JmPS0V-ybsfun2Wlvzrw1JehsHua_zeIT0EB71wjrLPjShmZAtgIczsSr1AYsYcy3k_Ak6eOwYF_whZyqf4y9hUuWx7NRLNY-4sm9HMUYwSWCCVWBz0J9XliTxj7Jcn6GoM9dn1luTCNhO-t7niM/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_155923539.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little less flat and buffed out on this side, but still an easy walk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Soon the roar of water could be heard in the distance, and we came to the stairs on the far side of the bridge from the campground.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwLSpTMk5ReGSZouLo2hUO-kWs6qAhH5voO1C_bLKGRsZm0Jm08DASeL_Bok9K6L8r96_n4PO4_4xsOKt7_wKrXYT6DbeLQpxTFxE59Q7p1CEhvZ23HFQhENWkDzAYf31cmY6_RDGKRkJXLF79DHeyzFJYfhDHrvA1cLhYTw6AmhOqFAFciQ4NFRqpqk/s1200/PXL_20231025_162027923.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwLSpTMk5ReGSZouLo2hUO-kWs6qAhH5voO1C_bLKGRsZm0Jm08DASeL_Bok9K6L8r96_n4PO4_4xsOKt7_wKrXYT6DbeLQpxTFxE59Q7p1CEhvZ23HFQhENWkDzAYf31cmY6_RDGKRkJXLF79DHeyzFJYfhDHrvA1cLhYTw6AmhOqFAFciQ4NFRqpqk/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_162027923.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The noise was noticeably louder after heavy rain overnight</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyr5fZ21YhBgryrdihBjhicyWpOXDQ8MbNWeIrKeOQCxmv_6Hgm25m8wsoT0-ycaAnhKjlkG6gPRFeeZQEAF0PW9BQcB8DQdrAPjJxHftHLqr35lyeCTp9ICMBl9mRK6zCxMcmtM6pBCOyBJW1mkBnCkc1wIE8Efd8XQyxQoUxtQHOmjeCv2DhebimyM/s1200/PXL_20231025_162255745.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyr5fZ21YhBgryrdihBjhicyWpOXDQ8MbNWeIrKeOQCxmv_6Hgm25m8wsoT0-ycaAnhKjlkG6gPRFeeZQEAF0PW9BQcB8DQdrAPjJxHftHLqr35lyeCTp9ICMBl9mRK6zCxMcmtM6pBCOyBJW1mkBnCkc1wIE8Efd8XQyxQoUxtQHOmjeCv2DhebimyM/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_162255745.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out on the rock - even wetter than Tuesday morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Back to our site again, I'd had enough digestion time (and it had warmed up enough) that it was time to send Tank off fishing. Me?</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnS4f77dtLQquOPlXlktGw9qZG5Z_dHoEVgg7TFWGgQHhWuGuQbO0GuofvYWgPqRyl6ouG5Rkbf2pULvbda7TssEHn9uWwnj8dcMySV3VeY2LVT7d1yt2QME1bvfwxceEOgUBuPcTYJUAZuU_SdTmAqUqW0LXq3HcppVvVLNTEj1_AvTEUcH7yfV59Qg/s1200/PXL_20231025_182448307.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="831" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnS4f77dtLQquOPlXlktGw9qZG5Z_dHoEVgg7TFWGgQHhWuGuQbO0GuofvYWgPqRyl6ouG5Rkbf2pULvbda7TssEHn9uWwnj8dcMySV3VeY2LVT7d1yt2QME1bvfwxceEOgUBuPcTYJUAZuU_SdTmAqUqW0LXq3HcppVvVLNTEj1_AvTEUcH7yfV59Qg/w278-h400/PXL_20231025_182448307.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll never guess what I did</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>From the main bridge at Arrowhead Lake, I set off on the trail bearing the same name, counter-clockwise once again.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EFx37GcNmtth5grBx-lPuyYs-mfrnm-PjRBK6ivZpx4_ey5z-oLMLTCY05VqCN1R1Sg33Ksf-13Qc-TjQBu5dgN45DXmMU-Vz-4qvaVp508FQU7R5ubB6e0_AYX-LAkyz3EjuxrevBjYD2DRFIDY3EJIlQiQA8RZKo7r7PPf9KATE1YhCjhVxhEyA9M/s1200/PXL_20231025_175513297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2EFx37GcNmtth5grBx-lPuyYs-mfrnm-PjRBK6ivZpx4_ey5z-oLMLTCY05VqCN1R1Sg33Ksf-13Qc-TjQBu5dgN45DXmMU-Vz-4qvaVp508FQU7R5ubB6e0_AYX-LAkyz3EjuxrevBjYD2DRFIDY3EJIlQiQA8RZKo7r7PPf9KATE1YhCjhVxhEyA9M/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_175513297.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a cycling trail, and very well maintained - I've seen park roads narrower and more technical than this!</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The fall colours were delightful, but I'd hoped for something a little more...trail-like. So, I did something I'm not proud of, and selectively ignored some signage I found at the far side of the lake.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCLkB9EJA7AtWIgYpPLAkZDlJKlBdkW90uqkzToHiuwcoMz0zm52UxkaEZqyfef6zpXdiVmeuCwpHqYcHzFbjMUGwbiIH_ZpbQzG6q0e8MVjKDkn7Fg7ITAnWZmzKUxDFNfjJzSHRyiHuCX-oeyU_DvW0xpIrRxdYp-IWWkDw2Jgzd7ufn-UUngU6Ces/s1200/PXL_20231025_180201688.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwCLkB9EJA7AtWIgYpPLAkZDlJKlBdkW90uqkzToHiuwcoMz0zm52UxkaEZqyfef6zpXdiVmeuCwpHqYcHzFbjMUGwbiIH_ZpbQzG6q0e8MVjKDkn7Fg7ITAnWZmzKUxDFNfjJzSHRyiHuCX-oeyU_DvW0xpIrRxdYp-IWWkDw2Jgzd7ufn-UUngU6Ces/w400-h250/PXL_20231025_180201688.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You mean the area around the white sign? I'll be sure to avoid it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In my defense, as I passed the barrier the sun came out, so I felt like the universe was encouraging me to go explore the Beaver Meadow Trail.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-bc19rEyphwKCKVPiXAN2Th00seFxyf1Hacdna4mnNAGdTNwZtteebav03DpZn-VA0wYimgemh8VxXRT_a4a9RRK-PGvK7mDuTsZAdjDfFFiFCe32iOtVYxJRNkNygml_si5jo9i0iJi_LjZlIRxb7sR_cOxTek_F5wbLZjJxcixGUcT0SnWV0SavEQ/s1200/PXL_20231025_180651597.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-bc19rEyphwKCKVPiXAN2Th00seFxyf1Hacdna4mnNAGdTNwZtteebav03DpZn-VA0wYimgemh8VxXRT_a4a9RRK-PGvK7mDuTsZAdjDfFFiFCe32iOtVYxJRNkNygml_si5jo9i0iJi_LjZlIRxb7sR_cOxTek_F5wbLZjJxcixGUcT0SnWV0SavEQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_180651597.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which is <b><i>gorgeous</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I quickly found out why the trail was closed, though: if I'd thought the Mayflower Lake Trail's boardwalks were in need of repair..</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_XTcRiyKAa3KWubp1BSBZvwDDPFjclDMOqEjNtoR8o8vXn_um-vaoesiypWUD_dP_q5IJh02qwlUHYEPf-r4oGO54CS2IZHUgdCdDmZ-vpF80htYOERG5f3_jKHTb4JqIcPhe6M6Bk-sSpOEI-Idt-TqWalGxrDEcian8hx0Y0Hka8-ruvST-GiJ6xE/s1200/PXL_20231025_181318915.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="709" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_XTcRiyKAa3KWubp1BSBZvwDDPFjclDMOqEjNtoR8o8vXn_um-vaoesiypWUD_dP_q5IJh02qwlUHYEPf-r4oGO54CS2IZHUgdCdDmZ-vpF80htYOERG5f3_jKHTb4JqIcPhe6M6Bk-sSpOEI-Idt-TqWalGxrDEcian8hx0Y0Hka8-ruvST-GiJ6xE/w236-h400/PXL_20231025_181318915.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If there was ever a thing that would have me walk gingerly instead of running, this is it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>There was also some pretty significant deadfall on the trail in a few places.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxFJ9lx3bJ7sg56kHLPvWhJM5xz1ZstuXpy88QyT7qayA9DXj8fRCZcFIz4ybMMCsK1viYXGKo0n8kGcqkrRGaHYq0NkCyt0f4nQPH_uryZ1dqwWTxFYjlpAizha0Rx7JWlh9GX4PUvtQEC0xbenlGaf6zROgFJHBjRA6nGHxB5468fehdth8Vh2nvlg/s1200/PXL_20231025_181459213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="790" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxFJ9lx3bJ7sg56kHLPvWhJM5xz1ZstuXpy88QyT7qayA9DXj8fRCZcFIz4ybMMCsK1viYXGKo0n8kGcqkrRGaHYq0NkCyt0f4nQPH_uryZ1dqwWTxFYjlpAizha0Rx7JWlh9GX4PUvtQEC0xbenlGaf6zROgFJHBjRA6nGHxB5468fehdth8Vh2nvlg/w264-h400/PXL_20231025_181459213.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The topmost of the lower branches was above my waist, so I had to creep under the trunk off to the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The blue skies and sunshine really highlighted what a gorgeous trail this is - I'd say it's the jewel of the park.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidML5J7hSja-rMMSVIgkVbaf645xX4F-rCZXnj-hfrxiGz8PZvR8pQcm2T7mx1iNzfWtXbfbbD8pxWL9R0UVC9jJi3GEfdPyiEJ32T1yTPrrS8ldB_Mxq001CXFNqI5iNRQygUsIt73od9l65ChkRiAQ58S2W3AgmovuqMq9m1j7ZHgN4w3JKekh2XByk/s1200/PXL_20231025_182120057.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidML5J7hSja-rMMSVIgkVbaf645xX4F-rCZXnj-hfrxiGz8PZvR8pQcm2T7mx1iNzfWtXbfbbD8pxWL9R0UVC9jJi3GEfdPyiEJ32T1yTPrrS8ldB_Mxq001CXFNqI5iNRQygUsIt73od9l65ChkRiAQ58S2W3AgmovuqMq9m1j7ZHgN4w3JKekh2XByk/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_182120057.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With more big heckin' rocks!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I even found something unlikely this late in the season:</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNu-ue9u-vFcgrm_Heh2YIloYy2kGCPbC1Aya_uLRLWXXU8PZWNEpVo68Xc_QA0JkiLu8DC38skZUmlGlmq1ySCRRZHf-ZnAmxeFss_s4ySAv2ygZDrOOKHqkHqEhp-rWnmIoEkOYeKKRY1VurRPa3a34WXPBjbOpHj0hXxZ0sqzTTzY0Xs1Ws_iiHJ8/s1200/PXL_20231025_182208297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1082" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNu-ue9u-vFcgrm_Heh2YIloYy2kGCPbC1Aya_uLRLWXXU8PZWNEpVo68Xc_QA0JkiLu8DC38skZUmlGlmq1ySCRRZHf-ZnAmxeFss_s4ySAv2ygZDrOOKHqkHqEhp-rWnmIoEkOYeKKRY1VurRPa3a34WXPBjbOpHj0hXxZ0sqzTTzY0Xs1Ws_iiHJ8/w361-h400/PXL_20231025_182208297.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrowhead plants!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>There were also more sketchy boardwalks - with planks nailed or simply laid down in the direction of travel, to help avoid the missing and broken boards that run widthwise.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-t7pNE4yE2FriW0Fp3hTsqaeKx8MjHnFKbkDhQTyJpPnHuBkEVPB136nz5JAoP1yLaWgASBUSG-tFwc-IwoqSgyDvUFQ69IdIsSS5M3ASw8qF-JtcasS26ywBFqGOZEoum9gVoriEds9C1F9bWwlCXKZaC0TjQF6HdIu998c-gr2Bp8ydQXbQFWDGPU/s1200/PXL_20231025_182739216.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-t7pNE4yE2FriW0Fp3hTsqaeKx8MjHnFKbkDhQTyJpPnHuBkEVPB136nz5JAoP1yLaWgASBUSG-tFwc-IwoqSgyDvUFQ69IdIsSS5M3ASw8qF-JtcasS26ywBFqGOZEoum9gVoriEds9C1F9bWwlCXKZaC0TjQF6HdIu998c-gr2Bp8ydQXbQFWDGPU/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_182739216.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I fully agree this should be closed to the general public until the infrastructure is repaired, particularly as cell service is meagre at best in the campground area, and nonexistent out here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>I - as a feral trail creature with lots of experience in sketchy spots - was doing ok by walking a lot to avoid hurting myself on the roots and rocks submerged in the drifts of fallen leaves, but even I wondered if I'd need to turn back when I came upon this.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD_yvRZM1RxPqVJp9m2KHq-0t4xqU8jeKEKyBt5AVKbDkHAKcLdhxIZvpTbiegIHjSebWEB7AjLfqZftlX7_iX0gt0FtjcMWhf57pF7PpH6MA7euD1E5m41aeAxI-WcM0EBbeUbz8ob0mIvwK5kArBKdoHqoLrYe5zeL2dMA-_NA6IN7foVWWEUoUevQ/s1200/PXL_20231025_183410468.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1092" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSD_yvRZM1RxPqVJp9m2KHq-0t4xqU8jeKEKyBt5AVKbDkHAKcLdhxIZvpTbiegIHjSebWEB7AjLfqZftlX7_iX0gt0FtjcMWhf57pF7PpH6MA7euD1E5m41aeAxI-WcM0EBbeUbz8ob0mIvwK5kArBKdoHqoLrYe5zeL2dMA-_NA6IN7foVWWEUoUevQ/w364-h400/PXL_20231025_183410468.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This fallen conifer blocked access to yet another boardwalk</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I approached, I could see that the waist-high trunk was thickly covered in out-jutting branches that would brook no direct passage. The right side was totally blocked by the same branches and impenetrable underbrush, so I headed to the left to see if I could get 'round the top of the tree. I found more tangles of underbrush.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT01JOhwiv-xHCoNzC-06nTMXXPkmxJJgrv0ejqGbVN-EQE-5HXqfnjiYPCwubwuaR8xhpCx2IvD_iHJfYUkdJmcCOX-p9vTn1FB8ESkscCpNJc7J9NzeJxMH2UxCeP5gmx0WoeCuhEhf4I3Utr7hHaa82usWHTa6iJLfJuI3pHMq_lsdix2Rpi_x2YOk/s1200/PXL_20231025_183448811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="756" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT01JOhwiv-xHCoNzC-06nTMXXPkmxJJgrv0ejqGbVN-EQE-5HXqfnjiYPCwubwuaR8xhpCx2IvD_iHJfYUkdJmcCOX-p9vTn1FB8ESkscCpNJc7J9NzeJxMH2UxCeP5gmx0WoeCuhEhf4I3Utr7hHaa82usWHTa6iJLfJuI3pHMq_lsdix2Rpi_x2YOk/w253-h400/PXL_20231025_183448811.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not promising, but my only real option</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I picked my way through carefully, as roots and fallen branches snaked along the ground - I tested my weight each step, not knowing if they might give way under me, either plunging me into the marshy ground that warranted a boardwalk (as I'd had to come alongside it to get past the fallen pine), or possibly tearing skin or breaking bone as I fell through. Fortunately no such ill fate befell me, and I was able to scramble up onto the boardwalk.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhiQ8I8ylHftBAmg25hFrOpAVqhzb67HtjN_GDqJYE5im0a8tUOHbnY4n8kws1WmQignKb80XlYO31V-GY9LQNB9M55JqQxS5jwowX8ITXULxA8bsE0ZixoZRfdYHq83NFaUIIlQJF8e5DqJPEetVAYkeMlY6YFEJw2o2B7Py7RJYBZNF7afdPpQenrE/s1200/PXL_20231025_183518657.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhiQ8I8ylHftBAmg25hFrOpAVqhzb67HtjN_GDqJYE5im0a8tUOHbnY4n8kws1WmQignKb80XlYO31V-GY9LQNB9M55JqQxS5jwowX8ITXULxA8bsE0ZixoZRfdYHq83NFaUIIlQJF8e5DqJPEetVAYkeMlY6YFEJw2o2B7Py7RJYBZNF7afdPpQenrE/w240-h400/PXL_20231025_183518657.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which was probably in the best shape out of all of them</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I soon came to the rocky bluff I'd seen in the trail description, towering above me with more bright maples at its peak.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIJ5W7TKlenoEL9xHEKh629YMj9400l9AaV4WOrxu2rb2TAfldJ_PPZHhYVGhJ_mNIW1LMu8wSbgdFVIKq9z96dLSP8tRRoB2y1Da7cZVHBhnwUfnaioDS012JX5pbl9OOrFo-sgy2SiaKccyb3RiHxTChcIMyciG4ZBZo4log3A5J6sxGNOay1GGjw8/s1200/PXL_20231025_184346106.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIJ5W7TKlenoEL9xHEKh629YMj9400l9AaV4WOrxu2rb2TAfldJ_PPZHhYVGhJ_mNIW1LMu8wSbgdFVIKq9z96dLSP8tRRoB2y1Da7cZVHBhnwUfnaioDS012JX5pbl9OOrFo-sgy2SiaKccyb3RiHxTChcIMyciG4ZBZo4log3A5J6sxGNOay1GGjw8/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_184346106.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scale is impossible to convey in a photo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Another mile, and I was relieved to rejoin the Arrowhead Lake Trail, with noone about to scold me for me trespass.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5vk5QZ-EiVS_cS-neS7WSWbASYEVcoeNClP5iVq5YpW9p1Z_wDa0I3VeokQb2ZpErfKBtAQ2-__5BJLKZKry2R6Y7OvQUOIgbwgaa4fOHDY_ai7SJEYDWpPk67K0osD4wNDT6Ug6adSWDyD-sEjCp3HFSQfr7w9fBjxRpOZ2rN5jA0iWdIhtqpEeD0w/s1200/PXL_20231025_185131255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1049" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc5vk5QZ-EiVS_cS-neS7WSWbASYEVcoeNClP5iVq5YpW9p1Z_wDa0I3VeokQb2ZpErfKBtAQ2-__5BJLKZKry2R6Y7OvQUOIgbwgaa4fOHDY_ai7SJEYDWpPk67K0osD4wNDT6Ug6adSWDyD-sEjCp3HFSQfr7w9fBjxRpOZ2rN5jA0iWdIhtqpEeD0w/w350-h400/PXL_20231025_185131255.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I'll just tell on myself here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Soon I had caught sight of the lake once again, as I headed toward and then through the edge of the Roe campground.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iZZBRXZCHsvEILB2ndVN29ke1SqlhaVUFIE71vw9Tj3iS0KGA3BaqUMpHaJuBrrkaCMpf0rFGwxXrZDjxs-559Ndc-dmZStsx-qK2qMu8Ut91za3cXK8Lozj8R-4DvmKK5MaSmzKMiF622GVs3k3xoRdoEoNDdGKDBl3xHLiHOT6WSyg8q2eCKT_iYA/s1200/PXL_20231025_185845315.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iZZBRXZCHsvEILB2ndVN29ke1SqlhaVUFIE71vw9Tj3iS0KGA3BaqUMpHaJuBrrkaCMpf0rFGwxXrZDjxs-559Ndc-dmZStsx-qK2qMu8Ut91za3cXK8Lozj8R-4DvmKK5MaSmzKMiF622GVs3k3xoRdoEoNDdGKDBl3xHLiHOT6WSyg8q2eCKT_iYA/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_185845315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mix of hardwood and pine forest is just lovely</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Just about exactly 8km from when I set off, the trail spat me out near the point we'd gone to scout as a fishing spot the day before, with the bridge in view beyond.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX58-IDaNsuROjfl7pTVL-4VDqpViAyTeYX-rm2yG9MEIQF74ssp1EexbzN6GBn3VjZQqM2uJfwwDAYMAAid0lbtOZYuvhJcC8Cxz0kJL5kbH7Iq-vt3IEZrZwrlTlqAPkUCTqL4qX_YnX_12b4eIkk4EcyasmInxyftUG19AhHN23fiLK169vFKc_keg/s1200/PXL_20231025_190552371.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1200" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX58-IDaNsuROjfl7pTVL-4VDqpViAyTeYX-rm2yG9MEIQF74ssp1EexbzN6GBn3VjZQqM2uJfwwDAYMAAid0lbtOZYuvhJcC8Cxz0kJL5kbH7Iq-vt3IEZrZwrlTlqAPkUCTqL4qX_YnX_12b4eIkk4EcyasmInxyftUG19AhHN23fiLK169vFKc_keg/w400-h393/PXL_20231025_190552371.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost back to my honey</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In the hour and a half I'd been gone, Tank hadn't had so much as a nibble on his hook, but was a happy lad nonetheless.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ss3rPnVOiWMeODs8xsV8r89mf-nOaIPMjdCkGyTldSaVw5dMo1w4o_nBJe2XKL1jGR5K_GxA8XpesNSp_EARn6IXZgEBxyjoFgE33nAE4usS_ZRndagZ0jSpsvFGnhUHk8XJQ4sHJ7uszF8qukIDRKVWAUfAY3v0OEBYhTlXiEWBX750BNDLdwpMRfg/s1200/PXL_20231025_190743981.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ss3rPnVOiWMeODs8xsV8r89mf-nOaIPMjdCkGyTldSaVw5dMo1w4o_nBJe2XKL1jGR5K_GxA8XpesNSp_EARn6IXZgEBxyjoFgE33nAE4usS_ZRndagZ0jSpsvFGnhUHk8XJQ4sHJ7uszF8qukIDRKVWAUfAY3v0OEBYhTlXiEWBX750BNDLdwpMRfg/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_190743981.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As he always is when he gets a few casts in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We'd seen some people in the water the day before, and the afternoon had got quite warm, so I decided I'd try a bit of a wade. I grabbed dry shoes, socks, and a towel from the car, then headed down to the soft sand beach.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nFRRDTxUcX-zFdVh0WhfikMIaHV58GdKP3Dvwv0DJdm8GZ47eNNPYa_DHQD9SsdOhjC9UA1D3FGAGarl8MVLRF2azy1HLLXpG15NR-Xief_fcEnfbvfFf_8txmapMos36xwvxzoyosbszql2_R29W28wyxzekyyhowroQCzgbT7OvBVf4bHQY0sqltM/s1200/20231025_152923.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nFRRDTxUcX-zFdVh0WhfikMIaHV58GdKP3Dvwv0DJdm8GZ47eNNPYa_DHQD9SsdOhjC9UA1D3FGAGarl8MVLRF2azy1HLLXpG15NR-Xief_fcEnfbvfFf_8txmapMos36xwvxzoyosbszql2_R29W28wyxzekyyhowroQCzgbT7OvBVf4bHQY0sqltM/w400-h180/20231025_152923.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holy HECK that was cold!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Then we headed back to camp so I could change out of my wet running kit, and into a nice cozy wool dress and hot bowl of soup.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrzqboH5m_0kPJFoyO9d-FHUsa_3Lik74t_Ey776Vkdy-lDcxwBb-HDCWX89T1v9kGxKcNTOmYjiNkhj0hvLzvDF673X_gGGP3-pmItskqsw8zSRhuNvy2ZepTvmUK8PHsdrjrTpRK_UGl9UWFX6Iwoaz61qMcUfBSZ-kHpi4qakvKnjOIdZcjpl2WDw/s1200/PXL_20231025_201415518.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrzqboH5m_0kPJFoyO9d-FHUsa_3Lik74t_Ey776Vkdy-lDcxwBb-HDCWX89T1v9kGxKcNTOmYjiNkhj0hvLzvDF673X_gGGP3-pmItskqsw8zSRhuNvy2ZepTvmUK8PHsdrjrTpRK_UGl9UWFX6Iwoaz61qMcUfBSZ-kHpi4qakvKnjOIdZcjpl2WDw/w225-h400/PXL_20231025_201415518.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was only 4:15pm but already starting to cool off again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Of course, since we were leaving the following day and there was one more trail we hadn't seen, we headed out again for a little late-afternoon hike.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSXCcBN930iRSIJafhQ8iL5hdoidb-YdgrBfIc-C_iVZaU-oBiQLJXuWkkkvE_va-LBqW_y7TVwwVK2GfHrm9MSOe2SsAIaiPjQo-ym96SjNWGL38Neq45rDwemtAYJHq7WQUQXn-h_F5K7Mfn0Nd2ajsMCZJ3ikQaUwaLtFKl8n-wj7x250n2WVCTvQ/s1200/PXL_20231025_210024380.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSXCcBN930iRSIJafhQ8iL5hdoidb-YdgrBfIc-C_iVZaU-oBiQLJXuWkkkvE_va-LBqW_y7TVwwVK2GfHrm9MSOe2SsAIaiPjQo-ym96SjNWGL38Neq45rDwemtAYJHq7WQUQXn-h_F5K7Mfn0Nd2ajsMCZJ3ikQaUwaLtFKl8n-wj7x250n2WVCTvQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_210024380.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last <b>summer</b> trail, that is - there are many more ski trails that open for winter in the park, along with its famous ice skating trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>The Lookout Trail took us over two ridges divided by a ravine, and of course had a dramatic viewpoint.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9LRzj63DxT9EGXWAJKEraYvW-TLyZGOQDbdNUJWMo3A40tiW6P8xgImm1TBoSmqYPO987W10PWg-N318aMNfv69XQGb5hvUx3Wd8mFbpt8jQXiuaGycAMr5UdGYlIheB3o5qSd9xRreLG3Kw-87CiqzxoUWkQYEZEEPGHL8aAKtGpZwhQDxyYMWEb3s/s1200/PXL_20231025_210623617.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9LRzj63DxT9EGXWAJKEraYvW-TLyZGOQDbdNUJWMo3A40tiW6P8xgImm1TBoSmqYPO987W10PWg-N318aMNfv69XQGb5hvUx3Wd8mFbpt8jQXiuaGycAMr5UdGYlIheB3o5qSd9xRreLG3Kw-87CiqzxoUWkQYEZEEPGHL8aAKtGpZwhQDxyYMWEb3s/w400-h225/PXL_20231025_210623617.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This park is definitely good at accurate nomenclature</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We finished up just before sunset, then drove into Huntsville to pick up more dry wood for a cozy fire on a much milder night.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcax7sAcvbj68jRLqIIcQf4VwE_fwj3GoSMY6wuw7M1n7mc8nuUMplbujwucXLae2X1R_smHcwA9Q5m2dZvHE_YZY1nquKs85fHZsMa-Sp6XS3SAwg2jscH2NYwMsD0Sv17_maQdH4B-eCQXFfNFzvOPvTvFJeR00gO9pq8CPTyzdOOsEl-GLH97CCy8/s1200/PXL_20231026_013411496.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcax7sAcvbj68jRLqIIcQf4VwE_fwj3GoSMY6wuw7M1n7mc8nuUMplbujwucXLae2X1R_smHcwA9Q5m2dZvHE_YZY1nquKs85fHZsMa-Sp6XS3SAwg2jscH2NYwMsD0Sv17_maQdH4B-eCQXFfNFzvOPvTvFJeR00gO9pq8CPTyzdOOsEl-GLH97CCy8/w251-h400/PXL_20231026_013411496.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I only needed a vest over my dress to keep me toasty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Things had dried out a bunch with the sunshine and warm weather Wednesday, and we'd hoped to pack up camp without further rain, but a deluge overnight and more condensation left everything thoroughly soggy come Thursday morning even after the rain had stopped.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUDaoQ6zMET6E90-JdunLU9tqUd0ixo4qDnFj-POFh6MbMBZnZoXh_VMt5Y_bbOXQgG9-lT2CZ60rWYKGMUMXvomTMV0dl-O_gifXOc3INXMPax84aZaUmIQQe82P54nbDw8AqTjUBypTCx6cRMCEcsGlC6-5rSz5rBBNQVtqsPdJwx_Mm9qYs2YBI-g/s1200/PXL_20231026_162332352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUDaoQ6zMET6E90-JdunLU9tqUd0ixo4qDnFj-POFh6MbMBZnZoXh_VMt5Y_bbOXQgG9-lT2CZ60rWYKGMUMXvomTMV0dl-O_gifXOc3INXMPax84aZaUmIQQe82P54nbDw8AqTjUBypTCx6cRMCEcsGlC6-5rSz5rBBNQVtqsPdJwx_Mm9qYs2YBI-g/w400-h225/PXL_20231026_162332352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moisture from the inside of the fly on the mesh tent body - we'd need to set everything up to dry out when we got home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We struck camp after a solid breakfast of sausage, eggs, and bagels, but Tank had brewed a second pot of coffee for our travel mugs so we could take them along for one last visit.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymkIljf9KlhL30SfvJZekAZ7Hh0RNUWzsbI6iS97u8oVbBPw974rXhkMJIBI9ismZBY5htQaeepno3ZfDWuehvLYsujqOYweRQBm6PNbwcnCtnXMs8UMNGBkoIlpoFNTzH6Y-XvCw1jZBoLNwq1oN3k0uEz_a7UttsyDG6e0INVo1FhDfO9UDQvUTb0E/s1200/PXL_20231026_173854264.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgymkIljf9KlhL30SfvJZekAZ7Hh0RNUWzsbI6iS97u8oVbBPw974rXhkMJIBI9ismZBY5htQaeepno3ZfDWuehvLYsujqOYweRQBm6PNbwcnCtnXMs8UMNGBkoIlpoFNTzH6Y-XvCw1jZBoLNwq1oN3k0uEz_a7UttsyDG6e0INVo1FhDfO9UDQvUTb0E/w225-h400/PXL_20231026_173854264.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We really enjoyed Stubbs Falls</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I took the little trail down to the bottom to have a look as a gentle rain began to fall once more.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHm_HuHuTMLTjnt5IA8wevYTAEGJFc7GuNhviTBYNEbS2myom0kl2Ajcl-AbK4eVnORZf4FjXctmYtsSmh5UEQQTN4ON3VuQ13NwITnimO6fjOtdIGw81ZDZZM3ekQpYDKW9P0_O5Tmqr-jlX9i9tR3lNUIJcSVv3O4UCOck4q6Da_XAx5jC4Eq7KreNQ/s1200/PXL_20231026_173142555.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHm_HuHuTMLTjnt5IA8wevYTAEGJFc7GuNhviTBYNEbS2myom0kl2Ajcl-AbK4eVnORZf4FjXctmYtsSmh5UEQQTN4ON3VuQ13NwITnimO6fjOtdIGw81ZDZZM3ekQpYDKW9P0_O5Tmqr-jlX9i9tR3lNUIJcSVv3O4UCOck4q6Da_XAx5jC4Eq7KreNQ/w400-h225/PXL_20231026_173142555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The torrent of water was the strongest yet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We only stayed a few minutes this time, but Tank ventured out to the cataract's edge once again</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yUfWonHiAKFX2mb5IvlhVDw2aFRsFsWVdg1CWomTBbHwioEmgdBMcAzr192aVdTM2KaSV-Ocl0lVmcyoRNGZILIPq0c2HHr2W9r7NRPCIa8TAMvKZerZ9lmbExZOKRVqE7upZRLILZL7TOAe_0Rhqsbh3V9L1zIlDx2EvNEN-z7b6Rf_1SNorfu6sIw/s1200/PXL_20231026_173521252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5yUfWonHiAKFX2mb5IvlhVDw2aFRsFsWVdg1CWomTBbHwioEmgdBMcAzr192aVdTM2KaSV-Ocl0lVmcyoRNGZILIPq0c2HHr2W9r7NRPCIa8TAMvKZerZ9lmbExZOKRVqE7upZRLILZL7TOAe_0Rhqsbh3V9L1zIlDx2EvNEN-z7b6Rf_1SNorfu6sIw/w400-h225/PXL_20231026_173521252.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a beautiful place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was a bit more conservative, but did come out onto the water-smoothed gneiss once again.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42uY1Xe-o8ZOoCRQJNU4Gyb2RNqugQKA-99YaA4wFep9uvSF4iupSMZcRWLy10xjCUz2LyzbUYdLwusm6hhFmMwWVfMtN8_j-AOuAbaX7KzP5JR_hkChso0UFjSOxjxzKo3R62IIQjn9n7VYI6A4_0UYIq3ICKuTIknHtNbBL2h61G-JpddPnnB0nwM8/s1200/20231026_134041.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42uY1Xe-o8ZOoCRQJNU4Gyb2RNqugQKA-99YaA4wFep9uvSF4iupSMZcRWLy10xjCUz2LyzbUYdLwusm6hhFmMwWVfMtN8_j-AOuAbaX7KzP5JR_hkChso0UFjSOxjxzKo3R62IIQjn9n7VYI6A4_0UYIq3ICKuTIknHtNbBL2h61G-JpddPnnB0nwM8/w400-h180/20231026_134041.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the cold, wet weather I had 100% compliance with the "no pants before coffee" rule</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Our final stop before leaving the park was the beach area near Tank's fishing hole, just for one last look at Arrowhead Lake</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPe_X_4hkZ9WrxRzuhwhhmA98L7oRNWwJfZppI1eCu5ARY1CTYQIoDgLZpaQTvDijBNwRHK3-4lbVdSudBHkPiyc-igTHqrG53TK4PHJMbOJ_l16RToUd7uDj_JZk5xSeCXJouOhLWgGzZ8CntFLV3rxofi9D6y1h9_ENaAScJdRMQNXUgK_S_9zuZB4/s1200/PXL_20231026_175743272.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPe_X_4hkZ9WrxRzuhwhhmA98L7oRNWwJfZppI1eCu5ARY1CTYQIoDgLZpaQTvDijBNwRHK3-4lbVdSudBHkPiyc-igTHqrG53TK4PHJMbOJ_l16RToUd7uDj_JZk5xSeCXJouOhLWgGzZ8CntFLV3rxofi9D6y1h9_ENaAScJdRMQNXUgK_S_9zuZB4/w400-h225/PXL_20231026_175743272.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its fall colour backdrop now muted by the ever-increasing rain</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>It seemed we'd escaped just in time: as we hit Highway 11 and headed south, the rain increased and a fog rolled in, making it difficult to see in some places.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3jowdgd0RcLbxefNbzu46NXz8BYpJJRnfP-Gx8XTLfD5kdMY-KPW7hSfvx70588ECoZzA8rXTJdO2bonEwtjaiTnukeaKZCQLfssxlgApAM4NdRQsiyiARpezjX5ByHYhXW6Nc3RjaeaXCqILq_aLeEHfvVBbTcszXu4n12bxuh4goxPwskLspzXt4Y/s1200/PXL_20231026_185440338.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3jowdgd0RcLbxefNbzu46NXz8BYpJJRnfP-Gx8XTLfD5kdMY-KPW7hSfvx70588ECoZzA8rXTJdO2bonEwtjaiTnukeaKZCQLfssxlgApAM4NdRQsiyiARpezjX5ByHYhXW6Nc3RjaeaXCqILq_aLeEHfvVBbTcszXu4n12bxuh4goxPwskLspzXt4Y/w400-h225/PXL_20231026_185440338.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If we'd stayed for the scenery, we might have been disappointed</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We made it home safely to our warm, dry bed, having really enjoyed our time in the park - no small thanks to the staff, who were absolutely wonderful during our stay. Next time we go, we'll have to try it in the snow with our skis and snowshoes!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTndXFruxyBhKT_7BwHpGX7MNhJRxqkxDjKxD2frR46cjvcl-PGKF6dFY669bnzr5RQNPnCCS5I-tw-MvF2eL66H2DcduduLdYdjh_DJtJTlSYs47Bpu8l9O2KQOULjR130ylAqjPidJIgxmmXdMdYz7-1JiRhjhrsMU8TupVeVA0fxhiaozwFZssr8pU/s1200/PXL_20231024_144104673.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTndXFruxyBhKT_7BwHpGX7MNhJRxqkxDjKxD2frR46cjvcl-PGKF6dFY669bnzr5RQNPnCCS5I-tw-MvF2eL66H2DcduduLdYdjh_DJtJTlSYs47Bpu8l9O2KQOULjR130ylAqjPidJIgxmmXdMdYz7-1JiRhjhrsMU8TupVeVA0fxhiaozwFZssr8pU/w400-h225/PXL_20231024_144104673.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And maybe even get to see these frozen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I swear I will get 'round to the 2 race reports I have pending, but tomorrow it's Beav time!</div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-24208392389163528292023-10-20T20:24:00.000-04:002023-10-20T20:24:08.660-04:00Slacking<p> I know I've been really lax about getting blog posts out lately</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pOW_jUe5J5FLxXCsnKK2krDNBup0KuLg2tRYqHwtpH-P1bGV7OnktbVb8uIU4mJCGL_lwSwreUquawzvJWBjfmHW5wdlZjjc5-gA3XUsUgyY5JbrRVNjsiCEv_7D2Y00epaMc6-ut08G406gfHc8ZuDCFlbk2XfhJq03cvK09a4GIcjvj7VaYjUiGTA/s1200/PXL_20231015_120329549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pOW_jUe5J5FLxXCsnKK2krDNBup0KuLg2tRYqHwtpH-P1bGV7OnktbVb8uIU4mJCGL_lwSwreUquawzvJWBjfmHW5wdlZjjc5-gA3XUsUgyY5JbrRVNjsiCEv_7D2Y00epaMc6-ut08G406gfHc8ZuDCFlbk2XfhJq03cvK09a4GIcjvj7VaYjUiGTA/w400-h223/PXL_20231015_120329549.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I do have some excuses</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Some stuff has gone down, and I definitely want to tell you all about it, but I've been busy and exhausted and have an early morning for some more fun stuff, then we're away next week for some much-needed breathing space.</p><p>I promise I will return, with stories to tell.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_gkqpHYSCPfcHC0LhDa0osqOyi6F8E4OprwZgAG8XuS5F92ZpYRr1fWjDT__8OIAg5CWOJ_neg1kOZZg8Y6nNw5aiFt_qYK3GLWjDW7YbVHAtzlssJEvUD_9gWssaEXo1xKNcmeE4tf_J10vlUsX6xWMxdVrRBRqoWwruG8LYko3QoEmGc7CgKvY1ws/s1200/PXL_20231014_154028520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_gkqpHYSCPfcHC0LhDa0osqOyi6F8E4OprwZgAG8XuS5F92ZpYRr1fWjDT__8OIAg5CWOJ_neg1kOZZg8Y6nNw5aiFt_qYK3GLWjDW7YbVHAtzlssJEvUD_9gWssaEXo1xKNcmeE4tf_J10vlUsX6xWMxdVrRBRqoWwruG8LYko3QoEmGc7CgKvY1ws/w225-h400/PXL_20231014_154028520.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More than a hundred miles' worth, and even more to come</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Be patient, and be well!</p>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-66762035960066134512023-10-07T00:34:00.002-04:002023-10-07T09:25:41.632-04:00Monster of Mazinaw Trail Race 30k - Saturday, September 23rd, 2023<p>Turns out FOURTH time is the charm.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bJ8Z6MzPkfhTT3BRLmNqgLXL1mCgZNh_ONIEe8RO90Rr1NXuIvzG0TpoGKkaAHShAAiL3NfmzrfsWdhRlmA9dwNrBrazgAbQ62oJJlYitLqCfudQIBBeA8a-3HGzn6w478Mvv_MGIu9zj5UY0AcWNe0vlw9jVuvwBFJnyjPk0tcDM_y59klBW_W7noo/s1200/PXL_20230922_191542808.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bJ8Z6MzPkfhTT3BRLmNqgLXL1mCgZNh_ONIEe8RO90Rr1NXuIvzG0TpoGKkaAHShAAiL3NfmzrfsWdhRlmA9dwNrBrazgAbQ62oJJlYitLqCfudQIBBeA8a-3HGzn6w478Mvv_MGIu9zj5UY0AcWNe0vlw9jVuvwBFJnyjPk0tcDM_y59klBW_W7noo/w400-h223/PXL_20230922_191542808.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though - be warned - the race did not actually offer any views of stunning Mazinaw Rock!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After a no-go due to Covid in 2020 & 2021, then horrible storm damage in 2022, this year finally brought us the opportunity to go traipse around beautiful Bon Echo Provincial Park in the last dregs of summer 2023! As is our wont, Tank and I headed up a couple of days early, arriving Thursday afternoon to set up camp in lovely sunshine.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YAaIDSSOpAKgRuS9TlAK8wHQKvVC87bEzrsvxqEks86VQOxYKcC8SHXPyRlIynAPzalTCDefquHrKbDRyPuNspMwfvnrfnukP6rHYpn5hnSBH7g7ccpBYL27TDDbgV22h7gzTNt2AVk08hyQ35QGtNWoldIyPbPtog9muwHw1njfrJq8d2XZdxygrg4/s1200/PXL_20230921_210227900.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4YAaIDSSOpAKgRuS9TlAK8wHQKvVC87bEzrsvxqEks86VQOxYKcC8SHXPyRlIynAPzalTCDefquHrKbDRyPuNspMwfvnrfnukP6rHYpn5hnSBH7g7ccpBYL27TDDbgV22h7gzTNt2AVk08hyQ35QGtNWoldIyPbPtog9muwHw1njfrJq8d2XZdxygrg4/w400-h250/PXL_20230921_210227900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big tent & kitchen shelter at our site right by the Sawmill Bay comfort station - races call for a bit of glamping!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Once camp was set up, we strolled up to the boat launch to stare at the awesome face of Mazinaw Rock and eat the sandwiches I'd made up for our lunch before we left.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgtrPaO7hRCs3V9hqtdCa3mflXJffqPCjW_n8zARwLNSfNzFvrmkldzwGSqfW4PrIMzVZvbb5m50ea2T8SStozjTvoN1fG4x3Z0LeLnGGFsampO848v0R7ldQ-YsS7tywood536qK1MxlxsKraVW9Xm3SkRt2zooRt2yMV7AMvmJKYaO2iPS_c3MmL_c/s1200/PXL_20230921_202120811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgtrPaO7hRCs3V9hqtdCa3mflXJffqPCjW_n8zARwLNSfNzFvrmkldzwGSqfW4PrIMzVZvbb5m50ea2T8SStozjTvoN1fG4x3Z0LeLnGGFsampO848v0R7ldQ-YsS7tywood536qK1MxlxsKraVW9Xm3SkRt2zooRt2yMV7AMvmJKYaO2iPS_c3MmL_c/w400-h225/PXL_20230921_202120811.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This bench is one of my favourite places in the whole wide world</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Photos will never do this view justice, but I've done the best I can to capture the scope of the 100m/300' tall cliffs that stretch for a mile north from The Narrows.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm-ZP8YBA9PHx_wS0jC-IwR9_JN21bxYz4x39eOyQ0C5Zj-jgcpgsQyYyf38-gR7NhduOLRewmd6i7_R1NzO2XCHnkC-rpsx2tgCJDhQo75sHUwAQ71RwRw7lMPfpU-bAu9PAejmsI5dONQzkUjRcKQHrCfizsHWAU8QBGGNgZjGnIw-fW_WjnpTAIrI/s2000/PXL_20230921_202450896.PANO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="2000" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcm-ZP8YBA9PHx_wS0jC-IwR9_JN21bxYz4x39eOyQ0C5Zj-jgcpgsQyYyf38-gR7NhduOLRewmd6i7_R1NzO2XCHnkC-rpsx2tgCJDhQo75sHUwAQ71RwRw7lMPfpU-bAu9PAejmsI5dONQzkUjRcKQHrCfizsHWAU8QBGGNgZjGnIw-fW_WjnpTAIrI/w400-h201/PXL_20230921_202450896.PANO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic photo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now for some scale: the red speck at the bottom of the rock face about 2/3 of the way to the right of this photo is a full size kayak.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDAnLEdC7fK756mxaKl5eiAT9r3v-o2xXu0MBLLDk8_I4xJPn8G8N6tLtkGhjdz0_u6LJ-VhFAdpUgoN2rrCfpN44np3i5pigPrMuStBQmN6svB3YWUVmiPPP0IqhotTyiJudJmFxp6WxRk1QnGCbV64xdl9UIcqBJdxCQmwlgn6K757ZNzYOyaJZ5mU/s1200/PXL_20230921_203944128.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDAnLEdC7fK756mxaKl5eiAT9r3v-o2xXu0MBLLDk8_I4xJPn8G8N6tLtkGhjdz0_u6LJ-VhFAdpUgoN2rrCfpN44np3i5pigPrMuStBQmN6svB3YWUVmiPPP0IqhotTyiJudJmFxp6WxRk1QnGCbV64xdl9UIcqBJdxCQmwlgn6K757ZNzYOyaJZ5mU/w400-h225/PXL_20230921_203944128.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's really just mind boggling how huge this cliff is</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As the evening drew in, we lit a campfire, toasted some marshmallows, and went back to the boat launch to take in the stars over the rock.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIm2zRYcpaAkFK0WceD0km1cS20r0TlXqm6LhRfOk1ld5MTui6t-Sy0T6_HY0wk0vLmRX3csLdx7pI_Q_XnJINTyVChS0gPMDK59BtE4VgDU70BJVW8HKd_PDV1Gpy926WZXxWOdhoqKN2CfKQgEB_N4yky5tGs9BuIpRbqeibiWTELh0oLhVZw2aB_I/s1200/PXL_20230922_001835416.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="874" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIm2zRYcpaAkFK0WceD0km1cS20r0TlXqm6LhRfOk1ld5MTui6t-Sy0T6_HY0wk0vLmRX3csLdx7pI_Q_XnJINTyVChS0gPMDK59BtE4VgDU70BJVW8HKd_PDV1Gpy926WZXxWOdhoqKN2CfKQgEB_N4yky5tGs9BuIpRbqeibiWTELh0oLhVZw2aB_I/w291-h400/PXL_20230922_001835416.NIGHT.jpg" width="291" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the face reflected darkly on the glass-smooth water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It got pretty chilly out, but I had come prepared!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWyFKdh8zCKAEY7qMBmmT3ad_Jy4Gyqi6-ITfWCP-7YK-LwpTivM9GbsjujBEbNPNyVTw3bBU_QYNreJH8k9DmrJ7FakIQDw3ZnbdBrJnEH6ODFJxwNlM_1TzKbq0rjVyQNm71O0diTVXtqIbek_nJo9msWOnvO8mkzphZkghfOR53Ww620rmToZZxqo/s1200/PXL_20230922_004518245.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="764" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWyFKdh8zCKAEY7qMBmmT3ad_Jy4Gyqi6-ITfWCP-7YK-LwpTivM9GbsjujBEbNPNyVTw3bBU_QYNreJH8k9DmrJ7FakIQDw3ZnbdBrJnEH6ODFJxwNlM_1TzKbq0rjVyQNm71O0diTVXtqIbek_nJo9msWOnvO8mkzphZkghfOR53Ww620rmToZZxqo/w255-h400/PXL_20230922_004518245.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..with a fleece Mandalorian onesie!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We turned in fairly early, with a plan - when we'd camped up here last year (keeping our reservations even though the race had been cancelled), we had got ourselves out of bed at dawn to watch the sun rise over Mazinaw Rock. I woke Tank at 6:30am (and 4c/39f!), then toasted us up a bagel to split while he brewed a pot of coffee and poured it, plus some oat milk, into a thermos. We grabbed our coffee mugs and trudged back to the boat launch, to find the lake completely engulfed in mist drifting from the north. While it was nearly impossible to see Mazinaw Rock itself, the rising sun behind it made the coolest effect I think I've seen in years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrtLaqaWYF7hbPezSYkmUyVX6GCXAKOpe7srnBQWb9Kz0RUz1kZ-YQ6zUQJWXfiIuVsRCM8McfN6s7SQ2bSUNZPsTwX4POr18hqntVn1DUdsTBL1DJrwbC1aPndKCk_tjnLI3SiZGG4650s3xypjnza4bisSL5A1PqLwiJOywuSg3KZHoOcotvYVLWUc/s1200/PXL_20230922_112903068.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrtLaqaWYF7hbPezSYkmUyVX6GCXAKOpe7srnBQWb9Kz0RUz1kZ-YQ6zUQJWXfiIuVsRCM8McfN6s7SQ2bSUNZPsTwX4POr18hqntVn1DUdsTBL1DJrwbC1aPndKCk_tjnLI3SiZGG4650s3xypjnza4bisSL5A1PqLwiJOywuSg3KZHoOcotvYVLWUc/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_112903068.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was literally projecting the treeline onto the mist as it rose</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We sipped our coffee in the cold morning air as the sun climbed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOGho7KS8K7GwrsbinrqPBXKEEKsDVawbShAaILsAacg083rwwh1Ih5hIZi8C9E_fC2BYry3_2Kdr39MkytdRlMkGUr7LAT-wYXEKVYBsujdRbw10-Xn7YTbSvYBbfe6_Ns47lwomV16niUNtL63yL-bs6k48cpHvS7lVyHkIEXhAVBxi5uBWOcu3c7E/s1200/PXL_20230922_114026908.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOGho7KS8K7GwrsbinrqPBXKEEKsDVawbShAaILsAacg083rwwh1Ih5hIZi8C9E_fC2BYry3_2Kdr39MkytdRlMkGUr7LAT-wYXEKVYBsujdRbw10-Xn7YTbSvYBbfe6_Ns47lwomV16niUNtL63yL-bs6k48cpHvS7lVyHkIEXhAVBxi5uBWOcu3c7E/w225-h400/PXL_20230922_114026908.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grateful for my puffy jacket and mittens, especially since I wasn't wearing pants</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The mist drifting in began to thin a bit as the sun gained height.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ncr-Zq80QoVFikwouHz8F6OIpKOI4uOjlx1uxAzN53KyNnU37qjquSLJOPKiijTtv9YM0FZEpFQAN63rPsBYoSvY6leZlaZvBf2P_MznR6oy2nyOQZY5XkSPPL0N_NaIMHUqwZZvCptSbFm3lgEFL23FkN1piRhdr9GheNNT25vJPdXqFKzJE9LkG0w/s600/ezgif-1-f1f9e4ebfd.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ncr-Zq80QoVFikwouHz8F6OIpKOI4uOjlx1uxAzN53KyNnU37qjquSLJOPKiijTtv9YM0FZEpFQAN63rPsBYoSvY6leZlaZvBf2P_MznR6oy2nyOQZY5XkSPPL0N_NaIMHUqwZZvCptSbFm3lgEFL23FkN1piRhdr9GheNNT25vJPdXqFKzJE9LkG0w/w400-h225/ezgif-1-f1f9e4ebfd.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was barely a puff of wind</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon the bright disc of the sun was revealed, looking like a shiny dime suspended in the clouds.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Juij90UxRfI2cmP7CFoEdQYgIfx18BsC03-F-1hW2NbO-O1m5qi5afseuvBeSwXGIHRXg0PZ30pIumpaNnfHQgoG020T9M9AH3v4tas0XHAaYMYNF7TElUN2J_XbXozPQ1v8BpXxVtBCfP5_7TxYLCoFBdCKuFbWXJuZYHgsh1uoqXRwMQTZNtOcu4/s1200/PXL_20230922_114408101.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Juij90UxRfI2cmP7CFoEdQYgIfx18BsC03-F-1hW2NbO-O1m5qi5afseuvBeSwXGIHRXg0PZ30pIumpaNnfHQgoG020T9M9AH3v4tas0XHAaYMYNF7TElUN2J_XbXozPQ1v8BpXxVtBCfP5_7TxYLCoFBdCKuFbWXJuZYHgsh1uoqXRwMQTZNtOcu4/w400-h241/PXL_20230922_114408101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still, the rock remained shy in its misty cloak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It wasn't until after 8am that the fog revealed blue sky behind it, and the true shape of the cliff it had concealed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_HsNoVFUpH5dUUh9U-VtEAkM1tFJPxwDJ3_LHg8Dh6Ies_-GUl3c7JCCb6dhEM6CD26KbRWfnN2jhEYTXcdX-Qsxrd197kY0Z2mHwqNdGLESH3bkIWjLmFKvIBcRDspBkdOPIagOuRzOR2gqWQMszLhoPcHtuNpU3yO92ttW-ZNpBhNdrdj-qxKQUms/s1200/PXL_20230922_120551731.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_HsNoVFUpH5dUUh9U-VtEAkM1tFJPxwDJ3_LHg8Dh6Ies_-GUl3c7JCCb6dhEM6CD26KbRWfnN2jhEYTXcdX-Qsxrd197kY0Z2mHwqNdGLESH3bkIWjLmFKvIBcRDspBkdOPIagOuRzOR2gqWQMszLhoPcHtuNpU3yO92ttW-ZNpBhNdrdj-qxKQUms/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_120551731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we drank in the view - along with the rest of our coffee - and then headed back to the site</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Before a race is no time to neglect carbohydrate intake, so I made us up a mess of french toast and bacon for brunch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtZEnMDmqWUQrDYSPiBGhhQv2wh15Cl9UIROXSAyiKNKZnh98IAvwvqxD9Gp8tU48nA_cPjrHIv4_MzwAvBDIg0OBG5mIIiuC7hAPX4m_W-Fz5USxdxqc_ko-OruGmk3V1nk-uqxHK2g2W1Y3jh3CGdWfc_GCezaI6W56-48uHT48evU9qISqpaluM_U/s1200/PXL_20230922_134342248.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGtZEnMDmqWUQrDYSPiBGhhQv2wh15Cl9UIROXSAyiKNKZnh98IAvwvqxD9Gp8tU48nA_cPjrHIv4_MzwAvBDIg0OBG5mIIiuC7hAPX4m_W-Fz5USxdxqc_ko-OruGmk3V1nk-uqxHK2g2W1Y3jh3CGdWfc_GCezaI6W56-48uHT48evU9qISqpaluM_U/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_134342248.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using cinnamon raisin bread for flair, and drowning it all in maple syrup</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By the time dishes were done, the mist had burned off and the day had warmed up, so we walked over to the lagoon to see about the one thing that is an absolute must-do at Bon Echo: I hadn't wanted to bother with bringing Tank's kayak or my paddleboard up with us, as I didn't want to have to load them onto the roof of our car after the race, or unload them and stow them in the garage when we got home. Fortunately, the paddle centre at the park offered both kayaks and paddleboards (plus canoes) for rent, so we paid the $50 fee for my laziness ($25 per kayak or paddleboard for a 4-hour period), and off we went.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSzr3YuKM6l0Y1ltiCcVq54lB6iohBQZfVmmZ207xNANzpZw2dJ4HfLOTqsIYyHW_fPzaKjNFQulsRjRCAg2xM0zLUs4J_gjIlJq_wxHHZzdg5Gf-OdVxj2nJ4M0AqQtbLa0FpV3yBUPovK1Xz5h2qVRJcTyIwfc6sWi-b5AvYoqLohG3BsHt_96Tl7k/s1200/PXL_20230922_161855682.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSzr3YuKM6l0Y1ltiCcVq54lB6iohBQZfVmmZ207xNANzpZw2dJ4HfLOTqsIYyHW_fPzaKjNFQulsRjRCAg2xM0zLUs4J_gjIlJq_wxHHZzdg5Gf-OdVxj2nJ4M0AqQtbLa0FpV3yBUPovK1Xz5h2qVRJcTyIwfc6sWi-b5AvYoqLohG3BsHt_96Tl7k/w225-h400/PXL_20230922_161855682.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A far cry from my lightweight foam board, but the vessel wasn't the point</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We headed out through the mouth of the lagoon and through The Narrows just past noon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCM7Lxkuk5Z9_21BFQeqz9J5y094D4JjnhGW_oovu_mx45BOvgq3WWCH9J9kbYfLABVaqqF0ThRgqtKLUiv4IRgwZXEkFEJ5RyOl2SAAGR_BPBDJm_Gi7t9Gnvq9-li8maM3ujiNOWxUIqYfohRbfcewMn04z879tqjADXJia-5kKFe-kC5ijMeCkyPY/s1200/PXL_20230922_162938051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCM7Lxkuk5Z9_21BFQeqz9J5y094D4JjnhGW_oovu_mx45BOvgq3WWCH9J9kbYfLABVaqqF0ThRgqtKLUiv4IRgwZXEkFEJ5RyOl2SAAGR_BPBDJm_Gi7t9Gnvq9-li8maM3ujiNOWxUIqYfohRbfcewMn04z879tqjADXJia-5kKFe-kC5ijMeCkyPY/w225-h400/PXL_20230922_162938051.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank contemplating the rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We quickly found some of the ancient pictographs that are one of the incredible attractions and part of the cultural history of the park.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGTcszHaCyxxJC5X6XbHMay_8hk7tECSNY9z2x6UYEnrzZtM7T1g8GN0FIW_u4OqvH6lVzdtlo2xF3zIypUqNQKTP0QO-y-fpkiZnj5OF0lkjNs8LIc24LDJJlYZR97nLHWkWRXbbsooH6B64McTAR3OUbmboZTQ8l0zq1u7SpUH5Ys8lZG8p95IA-aw/s1200/PXL_20230922_163050663.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="1200" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGTcszHaCyxxJC5X6XbHMay_8hk7tECSNY9z2x6UYEnrzZtM7T1g8GN0FIW_u4OqvH6lVzdtlo2xF3zIypUqNQKTP0QO-y-fpkiZnj5OF0lkjNs8LIc24LDJJlYZR97nLHWkWRXbbsooH6B64McTAR3OUbmboZTQ8l0zq1u7SpUH5Ys8lZG8p95IA-aw/w400-h281/PXL_20230922_163050663.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indigenous people painted these images untold centuries ago, paddling along the rock just as we were doing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There's a sense of wonder that never dulls when faced with such a massive and ancient place.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2jOeDtF8ZKSNEf3Er260WrYMGojZ7hKHTBS8jFtkH0q5IWZZ7GysB45xCyzxHF_bqrxk9gGTmN_B7m83ODz4vAV_4d2zQZiram0fsAfEm57P6dYsUHvS3sOzx96PUvPatFPX_T_CoMbqXfoSOHmTG2VklEFK9UsQ9EMGQw6JOppfa91Y3MqGaLsb2NA/s1200/PXL_20230922_163502877.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2jOeDtF8ZKSNEf3Er260WrYMGojZ7hKHTBS8jFtkH0q5IWZZ7GysB45xCyzxHF_bqrxk9gGTmN_B7m83ODz4vAV_4d2zQZiram0fsAfEm57P6dYsUHvS3sOzx96PUvPatFPX_T_CoMbqXfoSOHmTG2VklEFK9UsQ9EMGQw6JOppfa91Y3MqGaLsb2NA/w225-h400/PXL_20230922_163502877.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mazinaw Rock truly dwarfs anything in its presence</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The breeze freshened, and a bit of chop began to rise, so we turned around just past the last big shoulder of rock to beat upwind back to The Narrows.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuRpw2c12PkA2EqVQu2rPvrsV_4VSD-2OdHCYdFXXrXrcSP-uuVF48OvGSW9UADAQ3fd0K1jAXwlATTbqtgqay_zGv0p_X9yQZsviRbWKM2dluDVh-V-_oZz184gETBsMSy7M02xDccYtJOewP1HUAQWuB_ZBuD7J0vu1MVvkNaEmlmR5CyfH-zczg8U/s1200/PXL_20230922_170156673.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuRpw2c12PkA2EqVQu2rPvrsV_4VSD-2OdHCYdFXXrXrcSP-uuVF48OvGSW9UADAQ3fd0K1jAXwlATTbqtgqay_zGv0p_X9yQZsviRbWKM2dluDVh-V-_oZz184gETBsMSy7M02xDccYtJOewP1HUAQWuB_ZBuD7J0vu1MVvkNaEmlmR5CyfH-zczg8U/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_170156673.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank easily outpacing me, as my board paddled with all the grace and speed of a waterborne cinderblock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Coming back through The Narrows, we found South Mazinaw Lake quite choppy, so headed straight for the dock opposite the lagoon and tied up our craft - <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12083147260">we'd paddled about 3km in an hour</a>, just lazily drifting along for most of it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCSwbrfNUUpghQDEIl5JHSsVNZuO0jh4Y9bSq4o8TMvdj5rIbYitOt1wE68Ve8hpwBqOsH3T6w_FlryBoSKy_rbUrJO35dItN_oBa51wMoM4j3Sk4kX58vMgjfg6I-4_RpK7SCVa6SF0B8R6HbqR1DlcbYDEvEQXmOAl5J-h46qMWDMV4Zo_mk_t7hJg/s1200/PXL_20230922_184632906.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1200" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCSwbrfNUUpghQDEIl5JHSsVNZuO0jh4Y9bSq4o8TMvdj5rIbYitOt1wE68Ve8hpwBqOsH3T6w_FlryBoSKy_rbUrJO35dItN_oBa51wMoM4j3Sk4kX58vMgjfg6I-4_RpK7SCVa6SF0B8R6HbqR1DlcbYDEvEQXmOAl5J-h46qMWDMV4Zo_mk_t7hJg/w400-h239/PXL_20230922_184632906.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12083147260" style="text-align: left;">We'd paddled about 3km in an hour</a><span style="text-align: left;">, just lazily drifting along for most of it. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We pulled dry bags out of the hatch in Tank's kayak, revealing socks and trail shoes for each of us, plus a towel to dry our feet. Having changed up footwear and stowed our PFDs, we started up the stairs to begin the Cliff Top Trail hike.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzhcrVgLZSBVlIUyYPTacP1Dsj2AcPBfyerPLymkXQyvdT_IGP6ElI3Bd8LLf6w4wug9FefWgiLxVYIcQxnXJjxVG20pSZayOgoLX8FrJmDMM0MZnQIlikEdKGNfyi2g_0WauOKqr0FsIuk3lq9ZmXmjwOWMieOEsbPrkXgFYv08RAo1Jcnsppah4k4k/s1200/PXL_20230922_173303027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzhcrVgLZSBVlIUyYPTacP1Dsj2AcPBfyerPLymkXQyvdT_IGP6ElI3Bd8LLf6w4wug9FefWgiLxVYIcQxnXJjxVG20pSZayOgoLX8FrJmDMM0MZnQIlikEdKGNfyi2g_0WauOKqr0FsIuk3lq9ZmXmjwOWMieOEsbPrkXgFYv08RAo1Jcnsppah4k4k/w250-h400/PXL_20230922_173303027.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's only accessible by water - you must paddle yourself, or take the ferry to enjoy this beauty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There are two main staircases, and interpretive signage along the trail (just numbers on posts - you need the trail map from the store or gatehouse to read all the points of natural and cultural history), plus 3 lookout platforms.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw3fvLfBMEMv8lEz3RPfgvQQWw3kiWg0cZSdwOF05G-SOn1gi9ttYrrpbDXqQuXH_370erBdvnrpNtCMFo_m92pQu8niHxh_7u-iOuVZY6ch0pZBleKykckGay1ppv3aTWHgZDAzl9eXa_7Hei4sishhYIWNRcyLzJShOjEWHWL36Fv9-lNJqApTRpYw/s1200/PXL_20230922_174551142.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWw3fvLfBMEMv8lEz3RPfgvQQWw3kiWg0cZSdwOF05G-SOn1gi9ttYrrpbDXqQuXH_370erBdvnrpNtCMFo_m92pQu8niHxh_7u-iOuVZY6ch0pZBleKykckGay1ppv3aTWHgZDAzl9eXa_7Hei4sishhYIWNRcyLzJShOjEWHWL36Fv9-lNJqApTRpYw/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_174551142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across to the lagoon from which we'd paddled</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The trail gets a bit rooty and rocky, which is why we had brought socks and sturdy shoes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEoFwtP8NQwz-KWAPFySy8QNoxCOj58B5MK1KHPZrygAK3TzXSTIlkXMC1fCIaDdkGMmVkTlKVcTzKX6Dpp5_F-W69hGVwDJYeP6F_frDh0rZ9trfkyuu9Nm6jEbdbEh5wf78aJEgxHKj3vsCPsvouBp8HgEwRWVjcCH8MfF47B7Vq4KzWHip1GZX8Ac/s1200/PXL_20230922_174928873.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="722" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEoFwtP8NQwz-KWAPFySy8QNoxCOj58B5MK1KHPZrygAK3TzXSTIlkXMC1fCIaDdkGMmVkTlKVcTzKX6Dpp5_F-W69hGVwDJYeP6F_frDh0rZ9trfkyuu9Nm6jEbdbEh5wf78aJEgxHKj3vsCPsvouBp8HgEwRWVjcCH8MfF47B7Vq4KzWHip1GZX8Ac/w241-h400/PXL_20230922_174928873.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not impossible in flip flops or water shoes - lord knows we've seen enough people do it - but certainly not ideal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The trail is only about a mile long, but you're advised to expect it to take about an hour, which is <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12083148054">about how long it took us</a> (with a few minutes spent sitting on a bench at the biggest one of the lookouts to eat the sandwiches I'd packed along for a picnic lunch).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchzzmfhUjeIi3gwXLyw21MDojRHnEOh1AtPz_k5AVJEfqvPWS2LrHoaGiIHrtBJ7el0nVRexB1_vscp8SAtantNjeBt_H4yz5msAnj9RYc7-dLZUt4Mrp_wiTDDtnH09VrFtzJIq5FTWErubXG_pV35YqTr6thTL6YoniRV10p9l1uxc2XnmO4_6tjR0/s1200/PXL_20230922_175827177.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="823" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchzzmfhUjeIi3gwXLyw21MDojRHnEOh1AtPz_k5AVJEfqvPWS2LrHoaGiIHrtBJ7el0nVRexB1_vscp8SAtantNjeBt_H4yz5msAnj9RYc7-dLZUt4Mrp_wiTDDtnH09VrFtzJIq5FTWErubXG_pV35YqTr6thTL6YoniRV10p9l1uxc2XnmO4_6tjR0/w274-h400/PXL_20230922_175827177.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this point I could honestly publish a coffee table book filled with photos and call it "Beautiful places I have eaten a sandwich"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tank and I are kind of blocking the view there, so I'll give you a better look.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWq_drHDdLVKfDRyKUnpjqhpkb3hQkrOX5TFhE_0MAQh_FUIEiKkxUyvlGgMH1fel6Ghy-y_fl_NXoIu5PWgew14K3lQQZFUmMibMXVqOa5-48dWnybBdj2-jkhvCRZjCpL0Zl6htmrw8Webw1Autl_ap3hoR-A0kyshD7mfrYnrhDkkedEM37fWnva8/s1200/PXL_20230922_175627075.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWq_drHDdLVKfDRyKUnpjqhpkb3hQkrOX5TFhE_0MAQh_FUIEiKkxUyvlGgMH1fel6Ghy-y_fl_NXoIu5PWgew14K3lQQZFUmMibMXVqOa5-48dWnybBdj2-jkhvCRZjCpL0Zl6htmrw8Webw1Autl_ap3hoR-A0kyshD7mfrYnrhDkkedEM37fWnva8/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_175627075.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Mazinaw Lake stretching off into the distance</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There's a bit of a rockery up on the cliff, and - people being people - some interesting stacking has occurred.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSK9fn_M8jWFeFxaJZcSItM6__k0gECw5vxEMtuNKbB5BbUAAPornD8PVvkczf9x-weuQYbPJybRa8Nutz1NRumJOMEg2uRzM_-yxS4votM5fI6AD3zxi-1irLy5qK35vFKLqbgM_kofdTN41e-fU7UMgWZcCqkkhq3KexXxAKa3vcyxNlsmpk5PNNro/s1200/PXL_20230922_181002199.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1200" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqSK9fn_M8jWFeFxaJZcSItM6__k0gECw5vxEMtuNKbB5BbUAAPornD8PVvkczf9x-weuQYbPJybRa8Nutz1NRumJOMEg2uRzM_-yxS4votM5fI6AD3zxi-1irLy5qK35vFKLqbgM_kofdTN41e-fU7UMgWZcCqkkhq3KexXxAKa3vcyxNlsmpk5PNNro/w400-h248/PXL_20230922_181002199.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of them are quite delicately perched</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We took one last, good look at the lake shining in the sun.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4yR3E7ppuV9H_m9onjPQvpxUViNvxFDcasxRk3To_sUSBCpnj0IAC2XqsefQuY72zkv_CtSjifRKm_pbcVlkHOaEG8OPyc5RUn-8UDxnSwNxat1d_vQW5qVoHVQZVWXhyphenhyphenS68_BhyphenhyphenjWyphn53wshBL5XXr7FFnYMaFvcp8qpZcul_WvAVJ858He0vPUY/s1200/PXL_20230922_181303331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4yR3E7ppuV9H_m9onjPQvpxUViNvxFDcasxRk3To_sUSBCpnj0IAC2XqsefQuY72zkv_CtSjifRKm_pbcVlkHOaEG8OPyc5RUn-8UDxnSwNxat1d_vQW5qVoHVQZVWXhyphenhyphenS68_BhyphenhyphenjWyphn53wshBL5XXr7FFnYMaFvcp8qpZcul_WvAVJ858He0vPUY/w400-h225/PXL_20230922_181303331.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was such a beautiful day!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>..then down the staircases back to the docks and our waiting watercraft.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXvXBDjlGqwCwR4N-t7ni1vwx5htfog9MWCXlw5VbSnZvLqAwW_06jOG4Juj8hJ8YWpIpOpNJlmxMXahogwWf6RpNyfWVUtNMIXLp4anqH7UElMEfygyJY-QGQOH6NWnxr7DYYmsZvr_3WfXFmk7QZZ7bZvyIvAoWKoTmf88EDg7MiF3WafolEq1mBgM/s1200/PXL_20230922_183152307.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="805" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUXvXBDjlGqwCwR4N-t7ni1vwx5htfog9MWCXlw5VbSnZvLqAwW_06jOG4Juj8hJ8YWpIpOpNJlmxMXahogwWf6RpNyfWVUtNMIXLp4anqH7UElMEfygyJY-QGQOH6NWnxr7DYYmsZvr_3WfXFmk7QZZ7bZvyIvAoWKoTmf88EDg7MiF3WafolEq1mBgM/w269-h400/PXL_20230922_183152307.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stairs help protect the delicate ecology of the trail from damage caused by the thousands of annual visitors</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We had thought about swinging past the main beach and day-use area to check out any race setup going on, but having already paddled and hiked an hour, I thought it might be better not to wear myself out too much the day before the race. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVep6zSl98cg1BXHAke-tsMHB7GDy9apVt-Ovfjvh_8b1ufMhnDX8D5mH71gdd_ggzWqlHAImqrUSR4hIOowmC3DI8EMK0b9g3oRWD57NwWKP_v_UgDWCtYv2nurmAQN2PcFVgUFTaONtzyohMoW4YW4oJicENBZ4qi7GbZQCQAxwX-5dcQjcEllEdFBo/s1200/PXL_20230922_185046639.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="1200" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVep6zSl98cg1BXHAke-tsMHB7GDy9apVt-Ovfjvh_8b1ufMhnDX8D5mH71gdd_ggzWqlHAImqrUSR4hIOowmC3DI8EMK0b9g3oRWD57NwWKP_v_UgDWCtYv2nurmAQN2PcFVgUFTaONtzyohMoW4YW4oJicENBZ4qi7GbZQCQAxwX-5dcQjcEllEdFBo/w400-h333/PXL_20230922_185046639.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So instead, we just <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12083148312">paddled the few minutes across to the lagoon</a> to return the board and kayak</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We walked the Shoreline Trail from the lagoon back toward our campsite.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeGcdp7QN2_VHQ0ttqLpJSKF7la-U60rcXIVuldSsdGPbbadlPw_HkVYJjDDJYI9IAZu32Bp-kzU2sB5fDPLZ0TQFPnvjSUu2dXq-TiItebkgnEtXo1wn7BcLm1WLo8e5236vrMsrf1DlwbvnytCYjv5txfRHrpuF_9K4t8OWjWJz4UJYu2H6Mm7h2vQ/s1200/PXL_20230922_190503293.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="721" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggeGcdp7QN2_VHQ0ttqLpJSKF7la-U60rcXIVuldSsdGPbbadlPw_HkVYJjDDJYI9IAZu32Bp-kzU2sB5fDPLZ0TQFPnvjSUu2dXq-TiItebkgnEtXo1wn7BcLm1WLo8e5236vrMsrf1DlwbvnytCYjv5txfRHrpuF_9K4t8OWjWJz4UJYu2H6Mm7h2vQ/w240-h400/PXL_20230922_190503293.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's delightfully rooty and rocky, and - while I understand why the park did not want it included in the race, as it's a major walking route for campers - I was a little disappointed I wouldn't be running it the next day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This took us out to The Narrows, with its incredibly dramatic view looking north along Mazinaw Rock.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp5Rty64Ujxad7jjfVDty6n1s1UKpSW7DdhUma7vP__YQEcDByc56PG2buoKx-N5dgayzURdJneTr7jscS2H7m0vzKm_wPAPnpf8Ho1TAm1adkLR_y2Wg1A7mxvJtt7eRyPfGjqefErvLRiEND_IiqtUpbvfWMvCmrF2ioKbHQUtI-jI3e31EoOwAjsc/s1200/PXL_20230922_191126305.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp5Rty64Ujxad7jjfVDty6n1s1UKpSW7DdhUma7vP__YQEcDByc56PG2buoKx-N5dgayzURdJneTr7jscS2H7m0vzKm_wPAPnpf8Ho1TAm1adkLR_y2Wg1A7mxvJtt7eRyPfGjqefErvLRiEND_IiqtUpbvfWMvCmrF2ioKbHQUtI-jI3e31EoOwAjsc/w400-h249/PXL_20230922_191126305.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a couple of benches out on the point, as this is an incredibly popular spot in the park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We stopped off at Greystones - the park store and cafƩ - to pick up some <a href="https://fluidcoffee.ca/">Fluid Coffee Roasters</a> beans, and I snagged myself a sharp new cap with an elegantly embroidered rendition of Mazinaw Rock.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NqUFYanfDMxld8dDQi8XMPDnbPT-gJiBkfb10s1q-9j6sNdtPvaXsIGVSDyhyphenhyphenh_D4DpONjfzyd3ngqffsxoYs7Vq2XF21MTNSWx_DuoCF2jzfsTvpEMt8XXOAU5WGFAvBvVPfenU0-LHWEeoaN-c-A6Qt_psxkTfpJhXV0KSDWmeBnGJlOj_1McRq7Q/s1200/PXL_20230922_194440905.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NqUFYanfDMxld8dDQi8XMPDnbPT-gJiBkfb10s1q-9j6sNdtPvaXsIGVSDyhyphenhyphenh_D4DpONjfzyd3ngqffsxoYs7Vq2XF21MTNSWx_DuoCF2jzfsTvpEMt8XXOAU5WGFAvBvVPfenU0-LHWEeoaN-c-A6Qt_psxkTfpJhXV0KSDWmeBnGJlOj_1McRq7Q/w249-h400/PXL_20230922_194440905.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purchases at the store support <a href="https://bonechofriends.ca/">The Friends of Bon Echo</a>, who collaborate with the Ministry of the Environment to preserve the ecology and history of the park</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Race kit pickup was from 5pm-7pm at the day use area, at the farthest end of the park from our campsite, so we drove over there to grab my stuff just as it opened.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECbfSOCoj1PYuxVL1uAvCMj47deCVEXRZQsXui6Pibovho1k06jb1UUzsJlpl2qbPuGXBDi9DfK0kV9cg_CGaTjjFc_O8rB3Px0WfQtpspTmifomaE6TsKaOsQofFG6zpg2P4vvoNVppWf5hr72244oaL23N1vt6DbudewjPCGESGG303jbpowVBroqM/s1200/PXL_20230922_222039582.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1200" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECbfSOCoj1PYuxVL1uAvCMj47deCVEXRZQsXui6Pibovho1k06jb1UUzsJlpl2qbPuGXBDi9DfK0kV9cg_CGaTjjFc_O8rB3Px0WfQtpspTmifomaE6TsKaOsQofFG6zpg2P4vvoNVppWf5hr72244oaL23N1vt6DbudewjPCGESGG303jbpowVBroqM/w400-h248/PXL_20230922_222039582.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tank - good lad that he is - helped set up the finish chute and some other race infrastructure.<br />Me - being a lazy POS - stood around and chatted with people.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was just thinking about heading back to our campsite (as I was starting to get chilly, despite having changed from my paddling kit into dry clothes and a hoodie), when I got a wonderful surprise - unbeknownst to me, a friend I've known online for years was running the 10k, and came with her kid to pick up kit. It was fantastic finally getting to meet Kirsten in person!</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx04npSYYNfFrLVOBlum0-CFvAF506My0Sul3meimmO_vx16Nm1Xin6DqLZi8Hgsv7OBjbnw9-P3WrsLaP3nbAYJqewPT8AxRbbSg7HRIJZNw1x6tGULLdF8QlmOvUZaHPQQ-4vt1HlpzA6dxHSDVepj-w7WBfGH4p1RoP6Nl-leoMv9rbeF9ma24u4XM/s1200/PXL_20230922_224944113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="699" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx04npSYYNfFrLVOBlum0-CFvAF506My0Sul3meimmO_vx16Nm1Xin6DqLZi8Hgsv7OBjbnw9-P3WrsLaP3nbAYJqewPT8AxRbbSg7HRIJZNw1x6tGULLdF8QlmOvUZaHPQQ-4vt1HlpzA6dxHSDVepj-w7WBfGH4p1RoP6Nl-leoMv9rbeF9ma24u4XM/w233-h400/PXL_20230922_224944113.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And we both not-exactly-bullied her teenager into registering for the 10k as well - A. is a great kid!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The race kits themselves were pretty amazing - we each got a lovely soft t-shirt (in unisex or women's cut), tubular neck gaiter, and re-usable 1L water bottle with the race logo, plus a pocketknife with the Happy Trails Racing logo.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LatRKI1GgUjavMgnOJQYHeiR01Y_o25Ge7yoTmzTbNHaQ9e0IQlHDV0-pjize-AcwEdEeqFDQJgpFQ1QNp1Eb8njc7YdBko7rgeInh8cSqit32gMWHwwqEkabnraz-qvEW13zNHS9JnNvxwGpNAXt_QuBJtuURGFczdxenEwBtFIG-cCbaJU6kcxTxI/s1200/PXL_20230929_160658777.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LatRKI1GgUjavMgnOJQYHeiR01Y_o25Ge7yoTmzTbNHaQ9e0IQlHDV0-pjize-AcwEdEeqFDQJgpFQ1QNp1Eb8njc7YdBko7rgeInh8cSqit32gMWHwwqEkabnraz-qvEW13zNHS9JnNvxwGpNAXt_QuBJtuURGFczdxenEwBtFIG-cCbaJU6kcxTxI/w400-h300/PXL_20230929_160658777.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what happens when you have to wait multiple years for a race to actually take place!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It started to get dark not long after kit pickup ended, with us back at our site for some not-exactly-chicken fried rice and another fire. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_wfp0S6Ps5KFo2LLO_tGYasPovbRDXneFxyDuzVzAD0Wixck0ECLxeePPe0myGjjbjmjgidl4xn72vrKSvn1Id8SXcO6iIrzVrgjcTp7cysm_fUI8sqIAKPgHWMzvJqV_3bji0CIXvsX_55vx18iXcCdjKNZsKvS-4Ayvxizq7YZFl1JI-eKOmOrDa4/s1200/PXL_20230923_002654089.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1161" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_wfp0S6Ps5KFo2LLO_tGYasPovbRDXneFxyDuzVzAD0Wixck0ECLxeePPe0myGjjbjmjgidl4xn72vrKSvn1Id8SXcO6iIrzVrgjcTp7cysm_fUI8sqIAKPgHWMzvJqV_3bji0CIXvsX_55vx18iXcCdjKNZsKvS-4Ayvxizq7YZFl1JI-eKOmOrDa4/w388-h400/PXL_20230923_002654089.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(it was turkey sausage fried rice)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>They were a bit fainter this evening due to the haze of smoke from campfires - the park was booked absolutely solid for the weekend - but the stars still put on a beautiful show above the rock.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoBOp3WWy8d47EWIhTmhzp0EA2ZbCzH98VZ4RmEnSVYhpDiCmOvmuoibEHp9pNwHOl2a51XKVWat_7whnAmPhIwYw7ofyv35uJSgYVT-k6p7vbaBgGI7kySPcOeMKU8gxnoUUdFknZzeVhQ0dOv5NbverP8JXr5lYoBWYH7zvGrLFHeR359M_btuCIJo/s2293/PXL_20230923_013030064.NIGHT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2293" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoBOp3WWy8d47EWIhTmhzp0EA2ZbCzH98VZ4RmEnSVYhpDiCmOvmuoibEHp9pNwHOl2a51XKVWat_7whnAmPhIwYw7ofyv35uJSgYVT-k6p7vbaBgGI7kySPcOeMKU8gxnoUUdFknZzeVhQ0dOv5NbverP8JXr5lYoBWYH7zvGrLFHeR359M_btuCIJo/w264-h400/PXL_20230923_013030064.NIGHT.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really love the "night mode" camera on the Google Pixel 6</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The overnight low was predicted to be 11c/52f, but it was already down to 9c/48f by the time I rolled into my cozy down sleeping bag (having trust issues with weather forecasts pays off; if I'd believed the predictions, I'd have been chilly under a quilt instead of snugly ensconced in the much warmer bag), and when I awoke in darkness it was even colder.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrtEYYh0eSRUR6yChLReEl3u36E4UQoY2Gms5LrM3f2kef70LwfOCkah0CG9hMAliZROkyXsOuZazu2tg4NQQXBHvE3VnMtUFVVJjp_l22Rz4gZ4oy5jlGbCRPDNNmPVJpOLLb0GPSuVZdWQPA-OzP4rFxMeaA9dmwAWqdR_BkfpGFqzOogD1Qb05BS8/s1080/Screenshot_20230923-060057.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1080" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrtEYYh0eSRUR6yChLReEl3u36E4UQoY2Gms5LrM3f2kef70LwfOCkah0CG9hMAliZROkyXsOuZazu2tg4NQQXBHvE3VnMtUFVVJjp_l22Rz4gZ4oy5jlGbCRPDNNmPVJpOLLb0GPSuVZdWQPA-OzP4rFxMeaA9dmwAWqdR_BkfpGFqzOogD1Qb05BS8/w400-h285/Screenshot_20230923-060057.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">41f, feels like 39f</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I made myself a cup of tea and a bowl of oatmeal in the cool morning air, then called Tank to rouse him from his sleeping bag.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtbaJtrIiZnSTycpiNFKMVUdUiDcmWULW0gRKyFdmUzcZXOT8_gIQUBWp2yF2RrVgiZAKFpkCtGkVl3Stn_2Acqf1LTc2hOc6PJoYGbT_njtEIy5NQof1vtyA83rmrDmlq3aKSXfIQmLvguZ0j06PQbqg4rAvLxVxUPKUvsChlmXJfDsfYJASky5bQ9w/s1200/PXL_20230923_103928394.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtbaJtrIiZnSTycpiNFKMVUdUiDcmWULW0gRKyFdmUzcZXOT8_gIQUBWp2yF2RrVgiZAKFpkCtGkVl3Stn_2Acqf1LTc2hOc6PJoYGbT_njtEIy5NQof1vtyA83rmrDmlq3aKSXfIQmLvguZ0j06PQbqg4rAvLxVxUPKUvsChlmXJfDsfYJASky5bQ9w/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_103928394.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I sat and ate, grateful for the warmth emanating from the propane stove and lantern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Since Tank was working at aid station at the trailhead of the Shield Trail - just 3km into the course- and there was an early start option at 8am for the 60k runners, we figured that meant Tank needed to be set up at his AS by around 8:20am...which meant I'd have to either walk over myself, or take a <i style="font-weight: bold;">really</i> early ride over to the day use area. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8S4RIqK6UPutNTMkB0_Tcyku2w9QTvzqFVw1b3FuEzzmDHbH2xIeY3JCooN_KCHb3kYOYer91SXpS1W6L5D1h4ftccL7BGEtv-6HN9dk1-HKvOseFuiuJ-Nzv87vPEUPG11xIzkcDzHuMUaz9RXgh6l9lSf6H2hAZFgOyL1225cFUAxOUHUvZcgd52Y/s1200/PXL_20230923_114655061.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8S4RIqK6UPutNTMkB0_Tcyku2w9QTvzqFVw1b3FuEzzmDHbH2xIeY3JCooN_KCHb3kYOYer91SXpS1W6L5D1h4ftccL7BGEtv-6HN9dk1-HKvOseFuiuJ-Nzv87vPEUPG11xIzkcDzHuMUaz9RXgh6l9lSf6H2hAZFgOyL1225cFUAxOUHUvZcgd52Y/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_114655061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I elected for the latter, with Tank dropping me off at 7:45am before heading out to get himself sorted</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It wasn't a super pleasant morning to have bare legs - I was in a fairly tiny skirt, and hadn't even bothered with calf sleeves because I only planned to run 30km - so I was grateful to have a hot cup of coffee and my <a href="https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6000-965/honcho-poncho">Honcho Poncho</a> to keep me from shivering.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pm2MxIDNx0gFQiSv_2Z-KdcHhei4p8F7ehXLBXwnd9BQgnlx3kpdjAbc_GroukI0XDBu6l58bppk0Zxh0Vp6LkkaBT0HpJ0yCZJ6SmOn3h-KJ_eynLpHIQ6O_7M7U1Pc5n1GB1FjgnOTxmtz9yD9TSFCviGH7voXev5rjMEMEfr3hqQxysTLMGw9XeY/s1200/PXL_20230923_121432079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pm2MxIDNx0gFQiSv_2Z-KdcHhei4p8F7ehXLBXwnd9BQgnlx3kpdjAbc_GroukI0XDBu6l58bppk0Zxh0Vp6LkkaBT0HpJ0yCZJ6SmOn3h-KJ_eynLpHIQ6O_7M7U1Pc5n1GB1FjgnOTxmtz9yD9TSFCviGH7voXev5rjMEMEfr3hqQxysTLMGw9XeY/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_121432079.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's one of the most extra things I've ever bought, but holy smokes I love it to pieces and would replace it in a second if it were lost or damaged beyond repair</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>No-one actually ended up taking the early start (despite one fellow who'd said he was going to do so), but runners started arriving just after 8am. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3HP6nb7h59HP1IhR5YjwKN5iOHO4UQtEltPuYd6yWw5AgmJOdwErVO86bHGFAVsfZDOhc0TTJwe2tRAOi9JViAVjyuj2xCHECuZV9xd1Sd4JWnQXjG1Mg3LpLZPFdQ2oEZbSZrnb8BlqBWv2vpKFlC1IwZWu1PrVBMBEC62kpLD6IgUTLq0Df2K4uwU/s1200/PXL_20230923_121522559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="747" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3HP6nb7h59HP1IhR5YjwKN5iOHO4UQtEltPuYd6yWw5AgmJOdwErVO86bHGFAVsfZDOhc0TTJwe2tRAOi9JViAVjyuj2xCHECuZV9xd1Sd4JWnQXjG1Mg3LpLZPFdQ2oEZbSZrnb8BlqBWv2vpKFlC1IwZWu1PrVBMBEC62kpLD6IgUTLq0Df2K4uwU/w249-h400/PXL_20230923_121522559.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With every surface still soaked in dew</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>With around 30mins to race time, I took a walk over to the washroom facilities at the north end of the day use area (that I believe also service the nearby yurts, where most of the Happy Trails organizers were staying) to reluctantly pack up the Honcho Poncho, put on my little race vest and stuff its pockets with candy and cookies from the small duffel bag I'd brought with me, and generously lubricate all the things I thought would rub. I got back not long before the pre-race announcements, filled my hand bottle (leaving a soft bottle in my vest empty, as Race Director Jeff said it was only about 3-5km between aid stations), and found some friends!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7bWeg2edKk88nOdjNuxwRve2CQX41cU5mZAagvnvsqgGspJ-DosGB3sAClCqvZki2sJi_lSDi_szk7iBtAuC7f_e97UjlqsOQY05Olk6OxMwdBv4y6E9jrWyQMsprrs8xMuwxTw6NkqTQvuE19XRedWjTYxIuESQk1Hut-lOuuBCF-Muz6ZQMmRuWzQ/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1200" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7bWeg2edKk88nOdjNuxwRve2CQX41cU5mZAagvnvsqgGspJ-DosGB3sAClCqvZki2sJi_lSDi_szk7iBtAuC7f_e97UjlqsOQY05Olk6OxMwdBv4y6E9jrWyQMsprrs8xMuwxTw6NkqTQvuE19XRedWjTYxIuESQk1Hut-lOuuBCF-Muz6ZQMmRuWzQ/w400-h364/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I knew Nat & Dee were also running the 30k</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The actual starts were supposed to be 9am for the 60k, 9:30am for the 10k, and noon for the 30k, but a lot of people wished to start the 30k at 9am - myself, Nat & Dee among them. I believe the noon start may have been a way to allow people to race without having to spend the previous night in the park (as there isn't much accommodation in the immediate area; Bon Echo is kind of in the middle of nowhere), but it wasn't a super popular option. Those taking the early start would not be eligible for awards, but I knew I was no threat to the podium: I planned to just hang with my friends and take ridiculous amounts of photos, hopefully finishing in sufficiently good condition to play in my league hockey game the following evening!<div><br /></div><div>Jeff explained the course - which had rather evolved from the pre-race email sent on Monday, Sep 18th - and then we were off!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0PCvFmsx0VGkUaIw3pPoxKhJKF7-7y4yRpriJs9FfwwaMF5xM57ad42p04Ljn2K5R_eeeWKbh-IyDUQl4qkpm6idLcj_aKKwW5nyko4p8wUZYdcxPzAiUNsxMcidxVqICKkG2gawDn_MvobynTDnv038ml_ulbT41Ors27UBMmekV5QAMJ0uQ-I6r8g/s1200/PXL_20230923_130226865.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0PCvFmsx0VGkUaIw3pPoxKhJKF7-7y4yRpriJs9FfwwaMF5xM57ad42p04Ljn2K5R_eeeWKbh-IyDUQl4qkpm6idLcj_aKKwW5nyko4p8wUZYdcxPzAiUNsxMcidxVqICKkG2gawDn_MvobynTDnv038ml_ulbT41Ors27UBMmekV5QAMJ0uQ-I6r8g/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_130226865.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through the pet exercise area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Across a small footbridge, then onto the lovely Bon Echo Creek Trail. I've said before that this is probably the most pretty for the least effort in the park, and I stand by that assessment.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e5LhZFYdDG84wTzLgjm1YOEW6l8UlItmX2EoN8qTpC5ZfA9XYbFQxDzeYDAmylYuV4iAJrDlT7ylAVom-7ZoFrp3gzdnZvDgPliFkE2i9zO8y23YfMe7vIRQ0uJnCpCI1KY7LuGOEXgZnuICh_yiWkFajie0ipckRcUC92imaqrQa0E3iFgWvlKJgAI/s1200/PXL_20230923_130901093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e5LhZFYdDG84wTzLgjm1YOEW6l8UlItmX2EoN8qTpC5ZfA9XYbFQxDzeYDAmylYuV4iAJrDlT7ylAVom-7ZoFrp3gzdnZvDgPliFkE2i9zO8y23YfMe7vIRQ0uJnCpCI1KY7LuGOEXgZnuICh_yiWkFajie0ipckRcUC92imaqrQa0E3iFgWvlKJgAI/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_130901093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some rooty bits and gentle undulations, but largely runnable and beautiful views - especially with the fall colours beginning to explode!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvb3vuReL9TjrPQoSyysaL3Eg2cDW0SBx4F0DNw2anlN3kyyFUenBMaIFwRJrzq6JbHhwNdC7ERazCiiUEmVavdBHqUvEhBnz6S0NTYmqrpbW9t8ELc17NzHtc8DmffsqZtWPtOCfjRM5Rc1B5lTPzDNcmbUQEYNx7SXpE2x_IcvDJrooXxn5Oogv1S4/s1200/PXL_20230923_131202820.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvb3vuReL9TjrPQoSyysaL3Eg2cDW0SBx4F0DNw2anlN3kyyFUenBMaIFwRJrzq6JbHhwNdC7ERazCiiUEmVavdBHqUvEhBnz6S0NTYmqrpbW9t8ELc17NzHtc8DmffsqZtWPtOCfjRM5Rc1B5lTPzDNcmbUQEYNx7SXpE2x_IcvDJrooXxn5Oogv1S4/w295-h400/PXL_20230923_131202820.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dee & Nat emerge from the trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The Bon Echo Creek Trail ends at the road to the day use area, which you follow to the main park road, then make a bit of a left-right jog to head into the woodyard and past the enclosure where firewood and kindling for sale in the park are stored.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5PN4Ap2NjSDToQWZYxTD5O-0bCgD6jhDQhEhFYqUOUYU6FV0QlWAqjI-JOcgOP6_fLdpN89g5qbMOSFcjQ3xvP9bKUHftiYef8YfQpRbeecFgAPhLA1Rzk-7OLCYwYP2rC5qz8KAy3qyKFzGXO27VlcvoXqWZ9OePNfbTba8o3044USGRsSAudsAY4Q/s1200/PXL_20230923_131356744.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5PN4Ap2NjSDToQWZYxTD5O-0bCgD6jhDQhEhFYqUOUYU6FV0QlWAqjI-JOcgOP6_fLdpN89g5qbMOSFcjQ3xvP9bKUHftiYef8YfQpRbeecFgAPhLA1Rzk-7OLCYwYP2rC5qz8KAy3qyKFzGXO27VlcvoXqWZ9OePNfbTba8o3044USGRsSAudsAY4Q/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_131356744.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pond and wetland are on the north side of the main park road, with the sugar maples flaring brilliant red</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmak9GyIUe8fqpgLtEAKukeJvEy_F_ip-4q31efFgNmIv3KMxqaTMEddQfmmEM8ainF89surXIsX979WLPfBGIwZatj26Gz6CuZR1_MQBrE9GCbZpz44nb60ekts5_oi-LLZTtjVojMvrTU-hNSoV40zpfPCMXQ0baXi8ze0Gx-3GlFoFqbIthWyIa1s/s1200/PXL_20230923_131535316.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="933" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmak9GyIUe8fqpgLtEAKukeJvEy_F_ip-4q31efFgNmIv3KMxqaTMEddQfmmEM8ainF89surXIsX979WLPfBGIwZatj26Gz6CuZR1_MQBrE9GCbZpz44nb60ekts5_oi-LLZTtjVojMvrTU-hNSoV40zpfPCMXQ0baXi8ze0Gx-3GlFoFqbIthWyIa1s/w311-h400/PXL_20230923_131535316.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Struggling to keep up as we approach the wood enclosure</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Race Director Jeff had told us all that the trail past the woodyard had only been cut for us two days before the race - so we wouldn't have to run on the main park road - and we "won't love it". I'd say he was both right and wrong on that count.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv9InmGH5tSo8HkO-eTNKASLkVfza1e4XlP8ZuJxUyI8-M2UOlp9YO_eccqOzrTOjpDubkKVsYNvvYyztqIBh4Hw5JgayY4wCh37IOoZaveTBrhVAZ4A3Jvz7-7sDnK2-nuuJneNLCffxfsajotb4oKmFVWg7WQ7skQkpBe7M1t6Fsth7Ar-sV20ITu4/s1200/PXL_20230923_131657197.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv9InmGH5tSo8HkO-eTNKASLkVfza1e4XlP8ZuJxUyI8-M2UOlp9YO_eccqOzrTOjpDubkKVsYNvvYyztqIBh4Hw5JgayY4wCh37IOoZaveTBrhVAZ4A3Jvz7-7sDnK2-nuuJneNLCffxfsajotb4oKmFVWg7WQ7skQkpBe7M1t6Fsth7Ar-sV20ITu4/w259-h400/PXL_20230923_131657197.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did love: being on trail instead of road, and the beautiful green ferns</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmilJqGCsf0-LKz0iUsRLW1NlabP7xKEs3xibMrxdT8zl-0NqT3SFKQDuhTzZAJmDxfKD0wId-GQ3nYX6z9qdfmPCDwjtibva1ipy3Kb0eoTx1pFLaTpS9DBZrH6JSwnkJnnmQQXQEdR-RcFiNAMU2LXbawsRBKubNLOuDbPzomNlVQZVFkfONkzqqY8U/s1200/PXL_20230923_132126415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmilJqGCsf0-LKz0iUsRLW1NlabP7xKEs3xibMrxdT8zl-0NqT3SFKQDuhTzZAJmDxfKD0wId-GQ3nYX6z9qdfmPCDwjtibva1ipy3Kb0eoTx1pFLaTpS9DBZrH6JSwnkJnnmQQXQEdR-RcFiNAMU2LXbawsRBKubNLOuDbPzomNlVQZVFkfONkzqqY8U/w265-h400/PXL_20230923_132126415.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did not love: the roots that concealed potentially ankle-destroying holes, and general un-runnable-ness of it all</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It's only about three quarters of a kilometer in length, though, so no matter your feelings you don't have to sit with them very long before you hit the dirt road that takes you under Hwy 41 toward the more remote areas of the park.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0P3wXlL09xWTVtaiadMqUuXzPTUqookxXkbR0Jhq9Q-17YJg5IseCajLMxyzw7OkjoU9ZzGXEyyyXgXyApT4pf8Uhtnw-3wq7riceA8fBT2AUpj1Y2_V90VDTCvBFcjTogrzUx6BlcZq2VX133RJTskxtD4XluVMQBQ3IsLPwFltmtz1VSmyFwMZnlg/s1200/PXL_20230923_132248411.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="859" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0P3wXlL09xWTVtaiadMqUuXzPTUqookxXkbR0Jhq9Q-17YJg5IseCajLMxyzw7OkjoU9ZzGXEyyyXgXyApT4pf8Uhtnw-3wq7riceA8fBT2AUpj1Y2_V90VDTCvBFcjTogrzUx6BlcZq2VX133RJTskxtD4XluVMQBQ3IsLPwFltmtz1VSmyFwMZnlg/w286-h400/PXL_20230923_132248411.jpg" width="286" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here, again, I struggled to keep up with Nat & Dee - I've only run in short little bursts of a minute or two with walk breaks in between lately, but they were very consistent when not on technical ground!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Just the other side of the Hwy 41 bridge is the trailhead for the Shield Trail, which Tank and I had hiked last year when we camped in the park. At its base was the first aid station, which runners would see 4 times on the 30km course (twice for the 10k, and 8 times for the 60k...which was 2 laps of the 30k).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcPAjtUh6yVcNRAGCl3iXqTW5kqECazpQW-2vcdeO3zSg5D_a5GOeRMUJD0x4mUhxiZf5sAOVAlwbU__P0J6bWYurihNQmwxW1A_DaeH5aw7f7u31XcZpxUZK7yltPizbHgX8XahUF2Z-LNWj4TT7V5MZglnoLZaXgDNK8-iMe3e4WHU6mFsRgngTrX4/s1200/PXL_20230923_132428024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1200" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcPAjtUh6yVcNRAGCl3iXqTW5kqECazpQW-2vcdeO3zSg5D_a5GOeRMUJD0x4mUhxiZf5sAOVAlwbU__P0J6bWYurihNQmwxW1A_DaeH5aw7f7u31XcZpxUZK7yltPizbHgX8XahUF2Z-LNWj4TT7V5MZglnoLZaXgDNK8-iMe3e4WHU6mFsRgngTrX4/w400-h297/PXL_20230923_132428024.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey, I know that guy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I had only had a few sips off my hand bottle, so I didn't bother stopping to fill, despite knowing that when Tank and I had hiked the Shield Trail last year it had taken us two full hours to complete the 4km loop (partly because I'd stop to take pictures of every bit of fungus, neat roots and rocks, and the storm damage). The trail begins with a long climb up mixed gravel and grass doubletrack</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa8YTOwty30Jq54sbu3yaWQqCSrSQ4j5q9M5bwrQ8bgn-2L69j6uvhesZLMINUM9T8zpSo81UjELtc4hH7ifmmJWD42A2pU895PbGyPDq8ClNom2AN8MqakwCt1HauPK30jW2jWVdImCmOwrOFLghryFtdGqBvbwmb4ondW64xMr7HA0l6Gyarw1XliM/s1200/PXL_20230923_132506199.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxa8YTOwty30Jq54sbu3yaWQqCSrSQ4j5q9M5bwrQ8bgn-2L69j6uvhesZLMINUM9T8zpSo81UjELtc4hH7ifmmJWD42A2pU895PbGyPDq8ClNom2AN8MqakwCt1HauPK30jW2jWVdImCmOwrOFLghryFtdGqBvbwmb4ondW64xMr7HA0l6Gyarw1XliM/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_132506199.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nat got away on Dee and I as she just kept running up the hill - I took the opportunity to start eating some gummy candy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHwrkHSDpRiSR-AcvVb8KB1GXcvpYAUN5BM77U4tuxm7-b0zJXydexA0H7uUbR9tofNBYUFlqsPiBwhU8GCHVDa_njbYLbjIr41t9n-e4Zf9Y0BzsCeZhP2wo1xBNflOok0A6U5zsTi9SawXZu72YuxzfMJS2CEByI8YO-x2Nhj7R0Ns_RvDWsKYM2GI/s1200/PXL_20230923_132918785.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHwrkHSDpRiSR-AcvVb8KB1GXcvpYAUN5BM77U4tuxm7-b0zJXydexA0H7uUbR9tofNBYUFlqsPiBwhU8GCHVDa_njbYLbjIr41t9n-e4Zf9Y0BzsCeZhP2wo1xBNflOok0A6U5zsTi9SawXZu72YuxzfMJS2CEByI8YO-x2Nhj7R0Ns_RvDWsKYM2GI/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_132918785.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We caught up to Nat as it got a bit more rocky near the top</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We passed the first entrance to the Shield loop - Race Director Jeff had originally intended for everyone to go clockwise on their outbound lap of the trail, then counter-clockwise on the inbound lap, but felt it might be too confusing so signed it all for clockwise while also telling us we had the <i style="font-weight: bold;">option</i> to go the other way on our return - then turned right at the second opening, and I really hope that no-one kept going on the doubletrack that is for park maintenance vehicles only!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjXODkWWyoTfreXhFUEymRvNJIavROk_rz4n4d8NUlPNd0ZfYxDZh6u6BX6nVVv18qti_YNJZO_lpHTq0_Rh-SyIQjQo6slsOMUwQLP6ODTupFa-JRfrW-58d_Yf2zXOII_5M0muZjwTUZJWkjimTZQCnfvPF4bQ3njZmIiqVkQnD-pikeRBaAp9XE1w/s1200/PXL_20230923_133129146.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjXODkWWyoTfreXhFUEymRvNJIavROk_rz4n4d8NUlPNd0ZfYxDZh6u6BX6nVVv18qti_YNJZO_lpHTq0_Rh-SyIQjQo6slsOMUwQLP6ODTupFa-JRfrW-58d_Yf2zXOII_5M0muZjwTUZJWkjimTZQCnfvPF4bQ3njZmIiqVkQnD-pikeRBaAp9XE1w/w264-h400/PXL_20230923_133129146.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sign greeted us at the entrance to the loop, and I knew it was no lie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm a little more comfortable than my companions on technical trail, so after letting some other runners through I ended up in the lead of our little pack.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSUe7unLvSQCpgPquCwi_4esadiIGFEhaaM7HBN7toTTOabmwjkX1sPF5E_HWHZzeLXbhXc3vg1_AIJ8ocv6RgAy7NUTdXNLKfj9Ev1g8LtUkr0YUaZ3tF-Z7AXxIhR8R5IPgtXpJyhINkYeAZpbsgo026KV4EYWj6fB2SPdV7hOmP-1z46TzQWxfaEA/s1200/PXL_20230923_134059535.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="749" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSUe7unLvSQCpgPquCwi_4esadiIGFEhaaM7HBN7toTTOabmwjkX1sPF5E_HWHZzeLXbhXc3vg1_AIJ8ocv6RgAy7NUTdXNLKfj9Ev1g8LtUkr0YUaZ3tF-Z7AXxIhR8R5IPgtXpJyhINkYeAZpbsgo026KV4EYWj6fB2SPdV7hOmP-1z46TzQWxfaEA/w250-h400/PXL_20230923_134059535.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunshine was gorgeous, but it was still pretty cool in the shade</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvFCzLMxLjJRlZkPDtb9Ld4d0PZi7aAwuVQy0AVFGmWTUmodKtJhBF3IZe-RbzzEaxyhCbPRTtZm8kyFOvULk2lFlCLqOWiBI_i6KhR37HTzjp3JK47nW60HpJ9kkHzAviEzZmmW2hLRw26qx427Ye0HW8yeYdn9afxTO2k5NcrVsI2FQprM9MNMmBA/s1200/PXL_20230923_134154016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvFCzLMxLjJRlZkPDtb9Ld4d0PZi7aAwuVQy0AVFGmWTUmodKtJhBF3IZe-RbzzEaxyhCbPRTtZm8kyFOvULk2lFlCLqOWiBI_i6KhR37HTzjp3JK47nW60HpJ9kkHzAviEzZmmW2hLRw26qx427Ye0HW8yeYdn9afxTO2k5NcrVsI2FQprM9MNMmBA/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_134154016.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock-strewn downhill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The hardwoods give way to pine forest for awhile, and I ran a bit to get ahead of my friends so I could...umm...contribute to the humidity levels of the forest.. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9wAz1xoJ61jyufvSdufX7XIPECqQMJ3K_DbIZgcbrDETlRmMS4QxvtWg6NOXRN9J90dfndCDoS9suIPJbWtUhRqmMkf65c48ZdzsYqz1uYKboqT6M9sgZNFmoSoAbZhb42gawEKNGcnn9xvR62WCEYhLJ36BXuEH4W4x_0XDR21V35IruDY0e2h3TFw/s1200/PXL_20230923_134527206.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9wAz1xoJ61jyufvSdufX7XIPECqQMJ3K_DbIZgcbrDETlRmMS4QxvtWg6NOXRN9J90dfndCDoS9suIPJbWtUhRqmMkf65c48ZdzsYqz1uYKboqT6M9sgZNFmoSoAbZhb42gawEKNGcnn9xvR62WCEYhLJ36BXuEH4W4x_0XDR21V35IruDY0e2h3TFw/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_134527206.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and help prevent wildfires!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The trail can be quite wet at times (and not just from feral runners peeing on it), so there is a boardwalk to help you cross a marshy spot.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp72wcGJDpqAHDrWIuYTqkCA2Ha3jzjE_ukYJT4tt8u3wwWPcmMSJ8_iBUGBbJY-qoI1bzglrPChMVaPXvtHQYNqHfVjDx0Stnp4R2VD6_PJX7v4k_j9HodE9r4PlDtz3F241MGtehqzhfWnqDBVNXrwp38-ytn8M5JrssLLokSow_dXpVMGhdZKMKLA/s1200/PXL_20230923_134655837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="829" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp72wcGJDpqAHDrWIuYTqkCA2Ha3jzjE_ukYJT4tt8u3wwWPcmMSJ8_iBUGBbJY-qoI1bzglrPChMVaPXvtHQYNqHfVjDx0Stnp4R2VD6_PJX7v4k_j9HodE9r4PlDtz3F241MGtehqzhfWnqDBVNXrwp38-ytn8M5JrssLLokSow_dXpVMGhdZKMKLA/w276-h400/PXL_20230923_134655837.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More for ecological reasons than to keep your feet dry</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There are some whalesbacks of stone, too, that can be quite slick when wet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVx6iSIpswdlE2T3LClUb57_TfVVwfkqNQPIO_mRY2t_QDYUjNhvJw6gzG74jAv7A-WPs1SVrJKKeL1Sr2W0v2uvE24Ys_7WDyZjU5oed9OBWXhTCIAkTf8oT4il7_cAgo0tvpbfmHkNTbp3b9XubNSQe8k19ZQjgzSP8GMeH5hb5XaBiG-uFOVGuN3A/s1200/PXL_20230923_134827302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="705" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuVx6iSIpswdlE2T3LClUb57_TfVVwfkqNQPIO_mRY2t_QDYUjNhvJw6gzG74jAv7A-WPs1SVrJKKeL1Sr2W0v2uvE24Ys_7WDyZjU5oed9OBWXhTCIAkTf8oT4il7_cAgo0tvpbfmHkNTbp3b9XubNSQe8k19ZQjgzSP8GMeH5hb5XaBiG-uFOVGuN3A/w235-h400/PXL_20230923_134827302.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one has the massive root structure of a blown-down tree - a victim of the storms of 2022 - at its head</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There is quite a lot of evidence of storm damage throughout the Shield Trail, though it was far from being the hardest hit area of the park.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bXDfgTI-oumn2ZiObUhCDdTxT6mvMmBcVrjkjn9lwThXSDmiYS_SOb0fTtqDPJGDhr8ubotje_WVgNPcBVV9YXVMctXfDtyTHOhA6hYoEQTbTTEtRTiED2Ry9ZCSn6_grIai4M9wStTFj3ZC136mTSkeWB44_ieOoABZsSgnKxwxCaNg8QZIKvnsDWY/s1200/PXL_20230923_135054231.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bXDfgTI-oumn2ZiObUhCDdTxT6mvMmBcVrjkjn9lwThXSDmiYS_SOb0fTtqDPJGDhr8ubotje_WVgNPcBVV9YXVMctXfDtyTHOhA6hYoEQTbTTEtRTiED2Ry9ZCSn6_grIai4M9wStTFj3ZC136mTSkeWB44_ieOoABZsSgnKxwxCaNg8QZIKvnsDWY/w295-h400/PXL_20230923_135054231.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'd see much worse as we got deeper into the course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Conditions on the trail are highly variable depending on how much rainfall has occurred recently - we were lucky it had been quite dry, though not so much as to lead to a fire ban in the park. Nonetheless, as you reach the furthest point of the ~4km Shield Trail loop, Bon Echo Pond does intrude a little into your path.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKN3ZqnYaz67yHmyCk1NjRrXAF4bBNum0CZRuhMC5nEg2pDD3cW9ED2Fy-dyq8KHI_rPNuff3_D8Smya6wfM9xA5kmG5AraTKVTm1tGjjix1bGw8-m8YUkLJ0Q56G8kN13nsHnQXWigJDwDRe2H_bDm9MeZ7m76HNMh00WE_vHO6K7C8faGJVtpc_VCY/s1200/PXL_20230923_135143115.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKN3ZqnYaz67yHmyCk1NjRrXAF4bBNum0CZRuhMC5nEg2pDD3cW9ED2Fy-dyq8KHI_rPNuff3_D8Smya6wfM9xA5kmG5AraTKVTm1tGjjix1bGw8-m8YUkLJ0Q56G8kN13nsHnQXWigJDwDRe2H_bDm9MeZ7m76HNMh00WE_vHO6K7C8faGJVtpc_VCY/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_135143115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of boggy soil on this day - it was rather underwater the last time I'd seen it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The view across the lake though?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI67gr57HKcRVJ199plNpKJq2rl6dXGGX5Rwd7ECOu9nx7pGp2qJped9aYgx0rmAR7aKudbGXLCe72X4vVTRd2-XJj8IumPeOPTnztw_H3uN8ZW1tKH2rvLj540vGy_RJWyjeratHc1PQel8ZtavBHxEwj87NU9A-VguH-xxTN3h0vynXjX8w8NmCssEo/s1200/PXL_20230923_135325262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI67gr57HKcRVJ199plNpKJq2rl6dXGGX5Rwd7ECOu9nx7pGp2qJped9aYgx0rmAR7aKudbGXLCe72X4vVTRd2-XJj8IumPeOPTnztw_H3uN8ZW1tKH2rvLj540vGy_RJWyjeratHc1PQel8ZtavBHxEwj87NU9A-VguH-xxTN3h0vynXjX8w8NmCssEo/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_135325262.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*chef's kiss*</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>You spend more than a kilometer of the course skirting along the water's edge, first of Bon Echo Pond and then..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8CaGHndkrjuL_xAUvcBjzDDSAJVFcxA3xqkc63OTCnWBQwkNESj_K82fnmAYSQjaZxE8J3JCMUkIKIWWmJhSavzcWkPOi8V1D0QHjX0av0qUffuNOspOaimFCT7p7_cIdkDJUxJggoJa-_qwoffDXsDtLJfhpru3QufqpMDIvumo3CpbvchXS_IQdtk/s1200/PXL_20230923_140308022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="741" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8CaGHndkrjuL_xAUvcBjzDDSAJVFcxA3xqkc63OTCnWBQwkNESj_K82fnmAYSQjaZxE8J3JCMUkIKIWWmJhSavzcWkPOi8V1D0QHjX0av0qUffuNOspOaimFCT7p7_cIdkDJUxJggoJa-_qwoffDXsDtLJfhpru3QufqpMDIvumo3CpbvchXS_IQdtk/w248-h400/PXL_20230923_140308022.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..after a decent climb over a ridge..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>..you'll spend some time traversing a hill that borders Bon Echo Lake, once again through a pine forest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V-O6vuk0tvodsRD35QhV5EfTjHsnnLKni-waAklGldtbJQ-n2-eB5PtGEAmjB53WCf1FabCXeHFrsh_uQcp96IzZ9WByv0s3I5ugwSy2IOQMTvhGyqyd1MMX7q4VMQr6J6vUFxd5J0kJZFoGbZmDF005aaqUp6j4AHsh1mR8b9vGGv3WSLiXP0kDA8g/s1200/PXL_20230923_140826694.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3V-O6vuk0tvodsRD35QhV5EfTjHsnnLKni-waAklGldtbJQ-n2-eB5PtGEAmjB53WCf1FabCXeHFrsh_uQcp96IzZ9WByv0s3I5ugwSy2IOQMTvhGyqyd1MMX7q4VMQr6J6vUFxd5J0kJZFoGbZmDF005aaqUp6j4AHsh1mR8b9vGGv3WSLiXP0kDA8g/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_140826694.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It can be a little sketchy in places</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Of course, this is also where Kendra - the daughter of another runner, who volunteered to take photos on course when photographer extraordinaire Sue Sitki unfortunately was unable to make it due to a last-minute injury - set up, so some running for the camera had to happen.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1pyeigLkPQNh1LOrDpX3FvlrMvv4qHGCVYDUckrM2PGxlDphQLOWHC1t_ovIWuJFD9uH4jExLE6dMtSkdad6LICIWcvhUS2thPvH2hbymwWwdOzK2MFTHuYznqphXgNy_xI7DF8sClLNuJKBtjG5B-USxSaye6Y1SrsMGZn5GO9asbDKp1ekp9V-P04/s999/K%20Monster%20of%20Maz%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="999" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1pyeigLkPQNh1LOrDpX3FvlrMvv4qHGCVYDUckrM2PGxlDphQLOWHC1t_ovIWuJFD9uH4jExLE6dMtSkdad6LICIWcvhUS2thPvH2hbymwWwdOzK2MFTHuYznqphXgNy_xI7DF8sClLNuJKBtjG5B-USxSaye6Y1SrsMGZn5GO9asbDKp1ekp9V-P04/w400-h400/K%20Monster%20of%20Maz%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd started with a gaiter around my neck and some dollar store "leg warmers" on my arms to ward off the morning chill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The side-sloped, needle-carpeted section continues for awhile.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU7kFWoePEAB6dGh1QZXXB23T8aS7i6z8QyaqIrTxZb_oyFCu4y_bIVfhNlwdTmaJxpw6lE6HlXf16AyRNZA-sHIEZNVJmIoFMta4bh5JkFeKlzymL4LWqo62ZxWUZFAVnymlpLyPn1IqRfBDiqDajMNP6So8IlED23R39XxhMaEmxqpEJSOL0oXpM4M/s1694/PXL_20230923_140959253.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRU7kFWoePEAB6dGh1QZXXB23T8aS7i6z8QyaqIrTxZb_oyFCu4y_bIVfhNlwdTmaJxpw6lE6HlXf16AyRNZA-sHIEZNVJmIoFMta4bh5JkFeKlzymL4LWqo62ZxWUZFAVnymlpLyPn1IqRfBDiqDajMNP6So8IlED23R39XxhMaEmxqpEJSOL0oXpM4M/w284-h400/PXL_20230923_140959253.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was starting to regret not having filled my hand bottle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eventually it gives way to another hardwood-shaded climb over another ridge, as you begin to head back in the general direction of the doubletrack, away from the lake.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCSM0hRXng4W5SgE3ojH411udOpQArWtSOjfZ0vurIyDZUpjuxNkbRKA_Lc0wkCK2d6T_tJcalbxTBBceibzZqoSBBnSYIIDyQcFhWaHASJ7bIekaRGxTJYtukgcL0i23QyWsSbcfJA4SJI1eZFeVnnvWpFb8cgCMxI6INOPIEKDfFOIbwR2TdwQzL8E/s1200/PXL_20230923_141332369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="748" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCSM0hRXng4W5SgE3ojH411udOpQArWtSOjfZ0vurIyDZUpjuxNkbRKA_Lc0wkCK2d6T_tJcalbxTBBceibzZqoSBBnSYIIDyQcFhWaHASJ7bIekaRGxTJYtukgcL0i23QyWsSbcfJA4SJI1eZFeVnnvWpFb8cgCMxI6INOPIEKDfFOIbwR2TdwQzL8E/w249-h400/PXL_20230923_141332369.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's precious little flat ground on this trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you think the slow going is over, I have bad news - it's more likely to get worse before it gets better. The last section of the trail in the clockwise direction is like one big rock garden, often obscuring anywhere else to put your feet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWM0JalDwV37U77mlMDDn5ami1sW84ms75QhCMib0jBtR_JkRmVzZCCATbHzEGgOYhCsOr72-RVCqeJahZMPppJ_d9wHTtEDC9_dDs74rrRJr6BkV4Veodk1WGfeTYD7THImEjCyICGQw5Org4o7TEaos8eNED7Yvfw8bVQ_C4SDbjLD9vTBqOa1NbvA/s1200/PXL_20230923_141434824.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="751" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoWM0JalDwV37U77mlMDDn5ami1sW84ms75QhCMib0jBtR_JkRmVzZCCATbHzEGgOYhCsOr72-RVCqeJahZMPppJ_d9wHTtEDC9_dDs74rrRJr6BkV4Veodk1WGfeTYD7THImEjCyICGQw5Org4o7TEaos8eNED7Yvfw8bVQ_C4SDbjLD9vTBqOa1NbvA/w250-h400/PXL_20230923_141434824.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For those of us without mountain goat blood, it warrants some caution</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKugCpIPbINg0kKvvjWf5YLWc2wmLYUM3T5vHy9l8NXjobHm2HYndOJnefDOaOPVNJObB0_MJoQWi7-jQRkkJ9dNsNvy7vF1lB0xDsGRVeX4M8m31VPW6UcDcCati89meZuaGiL5PERybv5K75RxwBXUn8iE2HhnN11p4KThHdH2DmmdpKw5eXd8fmNU0/s1200/PXL_20230923_141607914.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="835" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKugCpIPbINg0kKvvjWf5YLWc2wmLYUM3T5vHy9l8NXjobHm2HYndOJnefDOaOPVNJObB0_MJoQWi7-jQRkkJ9dNsNvy7vF1lB0xDsGRVeX4M8m31VPW6UcDcCati89meZuaGiL5PERybv5K75RxwBXUn8iE2HhnN11p4KThHdH2DmmdpKw5eXd8fmNU0/w279-h400/PXL_20230923_141607914.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was grateful for companions who were willing to take things slow with me</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The technical nature of the course should make this a good compliment to the Haliburton Forest trail races - either using this race as a training run to get accustomed to rugged trails and longer times between aid stations (particularly when the full backpacking trail opens up and the course can take its final form), or using the 26k or 50k at Hali as a training run for the 30k or 60k here, though depending on your recovery 50k at Haliburton 2 weeks beforehand might be too much. My companions had both done the 26k on September 9th, 2023 - their first really technical race - and both Nat and Dee were adamant that they were happy to have had that experience before coming to Bon Echo for Monster of Mazinaw.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiufn-uo2vRDRNzZNEQeqTCgzkSF_pRTKi4j-MS7hegsjJVIzaFpg3w9kui9UMIL9TVxK9kVIUm0SlmE5X0dxMvt_YdhwmzPqD5NP4nkRPgQNqFb6wEJo8gTJ1lZx51rxbTvYwWrLSzWfuLQh9a2N-XFl26xiTS-Ge8JyJ0VaeNJX_qJFIWWAcQFyBzPU/s1200/PXL_20230923_142218671.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="762" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiufn-uo2vRDRNzZNEQeqTCgzkSF_pRTKi4j-MS7hegsjJVIzaFpg3w9kui9UMIL9TVxK9kVIUm0SlmE5X0dxMvt_YdhwmzPqD5NP4nkRPgQNqFb6wEJo8gTJ1lZx51rxbTvYwWrLSzWfuLQh9a2N-XFl26xiTS-Ge8JyJ0VaeNJX_qJFIWWAcQFyBzPU/w254-h400/PXL_20230923_142218671.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stood aside to let all the speedy 10k runners - who had started half an hour later, but for whom the Shield Trail was the far point of their race - past us</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Successful negotiation of the technical portions rewards you with a delightfully sunny and runnable stretch of flat trail, absolutely festooned with wildflowers on both sides.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_2lhqHc7hbU98fe-C698CgIzelnGwPmZoeB5Gyw7MDAlz4cMUmdnVBqP1wjpVlHkSK1vcNuQ1ovFuHbC987lVM0dyLyglFmEjpF6ArzedhrQ1cT0-c3xHDcHvmmSSba6v37wufuJymHtKTy2_Cfso7WtCJjiGsVhX2XSWDvUBIEvEzqNuGs9m-vfUlI/s1200/PXL_20230923_142603114.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="711" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_2lhqHc7hbU98fe-C698CgIzelnGwPmZoeB5Gyw7MDAlz4cMUmdnVBqP1wjpVlHkSK1vcNuQ1ovFuHbC987lVM0dyLyglFmEjpF6ArzedhrQ1cT0-c3xHDcHvmmSSba6v37wufuJymHtKTy2_Cfso7WtCJjiGsVhX2XSWDvUBIEvEzqNuGs9m-vfUlI/w238-h400/PXL_20230923_142603114.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a blue sky above to contrast the gold and auburn of autumn, and the sun chasing away the morning chill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>You arrive back on the doubletrack - where Dee & Nat needed to pause to water some trees, and for some odd reason I needed to go again - with a bit shorter downhill than you originally climbed, but it's quite runnable and leads back to the aid station.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEQ1rFVBee-hqL2l69eaH9VG505WEzePceYKgrPJa7HkwQx38SzbD1NLcsb9CTcq10ZhitsYeaMezzrZ6i-tFYX3Tgm-_M2bsNnjwfMipRWBMPYUneArDT76aaB7z4N7Lwh_DC6yE_eBour9FSagj3eIOXdlA7mgnU4h3ikUmFJsBn5imD93hVn8kYpo/s1200/PXL_20230923_143200319.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="911" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEQ1rFVBee-hqL2l69eaH9VG505WEzePceYKgrPJa7HkwQx38SzbD1NLcsb9CTcq10ZhitsYeaMezzrZ6i-tFYX3Tgm-_M2bsNnjwfMipRWBMPYUneArDT76aaB7z4N7Lwh_DC6yE_eBour9FSagj3eIOXdlA7mgnU4h3ikUmFJsBn5imD93hVn8kYpo/w304-h400/PXL_20230923_143200319.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good thing, too, as I'd had to start rationing my last few sips of water</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I filled both bottles this time (Skratch electrolyte drink in my vest bottle), so I wouldn't run out again before the water drop. The next leg is a long stretch of rolling dirt road - the way to all of Bon Echo's backcountry campsites, on both Joeperry Lake and the Abes & Essens backpacking trail, as well as the front-country Hardwood Hills campground. None of these had been accessible when Tank and I camped in September 2022: the gate past the Shield Trail had been closed, blocking off the road completely.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0FeJMK14NzeG_VeZ4D2b_6wXZYHNNLLgJ-82oEh-rpgnm0BdRrXyCChfs3JmXdd32j3YAbqWLrxoCJ3nfAFpCJSxXEmjVBS_trmGu2_Y6NT_bfAnYI9uI0svix6A6IRf5_nO0aSNSilIh0PtcXsK-8MWIaD6PllXLnc23AQEiRpZPRjUEWECYYrcRxg/s1200/PXL_20230923_143246444.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="751" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0FeJMK14NzeG_VeZ4D2b_6wXZYHNNLLgJ-82oEh-rpgnm0BdRrXyCChfs3JmXdd32j3YAbqWLrxoCJ3nfAFpCJSxXEmjVBS_trmGu2_Y6NT_bfAnYI9uI0svix6A6IRf5_nO0aSNSilIh0PtcXsK-8MWIaD6PllXLnc23AQEiRpZPRjUEWECYYrcRxg/w250-h400/PXL_20230923_143246444.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This year it was wide open, and Nat ran away from Dee and I again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was starting to get quite warm as I huffed and puffed trying to catch up, so I decided it was finally time to ditch the arm warmers after gulping down a salt tab.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszqJ1SkYG6N9H4MZb13V7FFx_BpU2sTt9x7-IyvUXcJxcIKvVoRu4GwRDeKWzpzPfOMu4VFW_mWEHqyV6OTV8FASP8VQmOGsqtuzjzrsQkq1d3cE6M2uFW3WGE5Hkj8CpSJJfzFGTvDEPqyAqN7D84xwzGo95asRLYeqLyLoEcUoGEiPywaSdCKhaf9M/s1200/PXL_20230923_144027642.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszqJ1SkYG6N9H4MZb13V7FFx_BpU2sTt9x7-IyvUXcJxcIKvVoRu4GwRDeKWzpzPfOMu4VFW_mWEHqyV6OTV8FASP8VQmOGsqtuzjzrsQkq1d3cE6M2uFW3WGE5Hkj8CpSJJfzFGTvDEPqyAqN7D84xwzGo95asRLYeqLyLoEcUoGEiPywaSdCKhaf9M/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_144027642.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wished I'd thought to do so at the aid station so I could just toss them to Tank - it was awkward to try to stuff them in the back of my little vest (the only place I had space, since I was carrying ~1,400 calories of food plus now a full bottle)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We pushed further west, and the devastation caused by the storms became more evident as huge swaths of the road appeared clear-cut of trees.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWnEMzNEL4EABJ7zUP0Iy0axgLWq7nMuSielB9SdpFFqzGuGHTA19hoSfGC1KUtyIEJmQXYhCkUuDBLhf3tL1swq0OJAY70UqCCSv8FEyBYZlSsQ7TFP7fZX_osZEvxU2BpevEa7miXjbWiQTpVeM-nC6hTaP1n_9SDL23VhVC-PrmoSGr8GfjN_RIVI/s1200/PXL_20230923_145251494.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWnEMzNEL4EABJ7zUP0Iy0axgLWq7nMuSielB9SdpFFqzGuGHTA19hoSfGC1KUtyIEJmQXYhCkUuDBLhf3tL1swq0OJAY70UqCCSv8FEyBYZlSsQ7TFP7fZX_osZEvxU2BpevEa7miXjbWiQTpVeM-nC6hTaP1n_9SDL23VhVC-PrmoSGr8GfjN_RIVI/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_145251494.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With nothing to provide shade, the tubular gaiter around my neck needed to come off as well - I could just wrap it around my wrist, though, while I continued to chase Nat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We were already starting to see the fastest 60k and early start 30k runners on their way back: Race Director Jeff had advised that anyone who got through their first lap and did not feel up to a second helping would be offered a 30k finish, so some of the former ended up becoming the latter. Some had a mis-step cause an ankle to roll or knee to tweak, some took tumbles, and some just decided that discretion was the better part of valour.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtViHpRoxOuTzlkoK2brcHSg0hzCNP3xHDGeK27eSMj9vdfSFw08SIYT8TszSRrUJlDYihlA-L5je9HhQen1mZ_Imy5_zp2GfW3VE7wZMipzlUu58mbDGPCEzJos6Y_DjYQMfgSHGiBm2WQ5aU3J72KR1TWs-FtvlOK-oadOaMwPML1QVKDVxynkRvUuQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_145524053.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="890" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtViHpRoxOuTzlkoK2brcHSg0hzCNP3xHDGeK27eSMj9vdfSFw08SIYT8TszSRrUJlDYihlA-L5je9HhQen1mZ_Imy5_zp2GfW3VE7wZMipzlUu58mbDGPCEzJos6Y_DjYQMfgSHGiBm2WQ5aU3J72KR1TWs-FtvlOK-oadOaMwPML1QVKDVxynkRvUuQ/w296-h400/PXL_20230923_145524053.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For my part, I was just trying to make good decisions for once, and not push things too far.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We eventually reached the start of the Clutes Loop - the shortest one of the 3 loops that comprise the Abes & Essens Trail, and the only one currently fully open. There was a water drop at the entrance, but I still had quite a bit in my hand bottle and my vest bottle was full, so I didn't stop to fill anything.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ9U1dM6ldYjn1w2oKlQwgYdpankFU9FrNTpAdI3abSyerE18vmNnGL8QUYHrvAmWXEIPVNxnvzKUShJUeN3CmuWQZe3qEBhmaXyGSU_duPZjTtaap7KrfhSeZWkLz20_TsrzqKyithsC8P5CwEAKTAlOF98AN2OzdNibEShaXCvKXg-ZobnfFv97nTQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_145539612.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="797" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ9U1dM6ldYjn1w2oKlQwgYdpankFU9FrNTpAdI3abSyerE18vmNnGL8QUYHrvAmWXEIPVNxnvzKUShJUeN3CmuWQZe3qEBhmaXyGSU_duPZjTtaap7KrfhSeZWkLz20_TsrzqKyithsC8P5CwEAKTAlOF98AN2OzdNibEShaXCvKXg-ZobnfFv97nTQ/w266-h400/PXL_20230923_145539612.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another runner - with whom we'd played leapfrog a bit so far - did stop to fill her bottles as we arrived.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We started counter-clockwise on the Clutes Loop - so named because it takes you around Clutes Lake - with a decent climb on some not-too-technical trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9bMyMcQPVUETGMS5W4EtTZvDKtlBv4ruluf_vjk73QmcTYbbchc0bt7JwXL-GRNIRP5dyN11PZb2hHR9zzPQLo4kzuVQLjR23ZLaHlBhWCaVmQEUW8OK_mnuynKZeYPdom_3_6ZnccEGA5yuUz9VUs-Q4wHotT-0A-JU4TnXKPdOsan1CuI4HfwEXrU/s1200/PXL_20230923_145858009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9bMyMcQPVUETGMS5W4EtTZvDKtlBv4ruluf_vjk73QmcTYbbchc0bt7JwXL-GRNIRP5dyN11PZb2hHR9zzPQLo4kzuVQLjR23ZLaHlBhWCaVmQEUW8OK_mnuynKZeYPdom_3_6ZnccEGA5yuUz9VUs-Q4wHotT-0A-JU4TnXKPdOsan1CuI4HfwEXrU/w239-h400/PXL_20230923_145858009.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'd been out for 2 hours, but only made it about 11km so far</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now into one of the hardest-hit areas of the park, the trail was strewn with downed trees through which a path had been painstakingly carved</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0stGDiLwBS8_sRlW7z0HyYMbnNB4JvPG8B_EXA3saVu7Sy_PL2AcwtFFMtxIgS3SMxUhJh1rCnulIaGjqLVtsM8yJgSMyS2hiFRI5mVs_ZJ1zg0t2JLFwTWGuTxsqpsL1zNvwL4Yu5y6hiDA0m7yIOWALFRKIdbmnWMo0VdtKQZaNatEVad3_9GI-DRY/s1200/PXL_20230923_150142167.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="779" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0stGDiLwBS8_sRlW7z0HyYMbnNB4JvPG8B_EXA3saVu7Sy_PL2AcwtFFMtxIgS3SMxUhJh1rCnulIaGjqLVtsM8yJgSMyS2hiFRI5mVs_ZJ1zg0t2JLFwTWGuTxsqpsL1zNvwL4Yu5y6hiDA0m7yIOWALFRKIdbmnWMo0VdtKQZaNatEVad3_9GI-DRY/w260-h400/PXL_20230923_150142167.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..by chainsaws</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There's a little stream that cuts across the trail, but with the low water levels of 2023 it didn't make for a difficult obstacle.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNzr1T8-4PcjGR2H6YK4WiBFrnAaBvZrqRR7oxpN-IQ68K6qi913jwhbUP-8m2MOCksRnjLMap4wXP_AlMdljqvQ5Hguay4ssYHL7VjxcHI27A-nL69WGLavwkSNTk0R2sCafkUkELWSFqh-cEGjIcvyoQXX2xV1SFEKscAQocxnT3lYjaenhUbYuz0Y/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1200" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNzr1T8-4PcjGR2H6YK4WiBFrnAaBvZrqRR7oxpN-IQ68K6qi913jwhbUP-8m2MOCksRnjLMap4wXP_AlMdljqvQ5Hguay4ssYHL7VjxcHI27A-nL69WGLavwkSNTk0R2sCafkUkELWSFqh-cEGjIcvyoQXX2xV1SFEKscAQocxnT3lYjaenhUbYuz0Y/w400-h363/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left side is my view on approach, then right side is looking back as Nat & Dee begin to cross</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was difficult to see some of the healthy trees that had been destroyed by the powerful winds</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS0q14W-NzwkD3bSC9BZBUNk_PqxRpHTzEUV26UYDthrEmnqNN8-6W6_mn4mLzvowHy7tS3wHviln-glflR0FmQMbNHXcWnluZ4LlWjeW-9wCXrxazkekmCP3o5wZQwhTSLKupGQqBXC0Xgf1lLmP3pYH4OZFMdRGlNXwlC7z0CIDpyRdbhFxmQmDNX4/s1200/PXL_20230923_150448685.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="722" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzS0q14W-NzwkD3bSC9BZBUNk_PqxRpHTzEUV26UYDthrEmnqNN8-6W6_mn4mLzvowHy7tS3wHviln-glflR0FmQMbNHXcWnluZ4LlWjeW-9wCXrxazkekmCP3o5wZQwhTSLKupGQqBXC0Xgf1lLmP3pYH4OZFMdRGlNXwlC7z0CIDpyRdbhFxmQmDNX4/w241-h400/PXL_20230923_150448685.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and also slightly difficult to climb up among the roots</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We hadn't left all the rocks behind on the Shield Trail, either.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F-5FSBUgtus58-ZwqgDEhPQ05eme6oHlnv6LewkL7Jdj_3g9cTCRQD6XYXhcMZeOtTS6znyEa8x2wVnHFNugiEqMHI3DyUb-o5W1FceY55lXgZs78OGutS8oIdWM1hvy-gKlazm_FP_IxxDeFE-WUUbCXIhKhlGOL0bRLlKho7t4zcPbW9Q3p6Hb7JA/s1200/PXL_20230923_150603278.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4F-5FSBUgtus58-ZwqgDEhPQ05eme6oHlnv6LewkL7Jdj_3g9cTCRQD6XYXhcMZeOtTS6znyEa8x2wVnHFNugiEqMHI3DyUb-o5W1FceY55lXgZs78OGutS8oIdWM1hvy-gKlazm_FP_IxxDeFE-WUUbCXIhKhlGOL0bRLlKho7t4zcPbW9Q3p6Hb7JA/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_150603278.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nat unfortunately bashed her knee a bit here</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We pushed further along over more undulations and through more fallen trees, finally coming to a beautiful view of Clutes Lake.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf65ehhd66J9QdJfHaK6cmSX88F0K2ql6XWWChtSHBtW6hi-d9gJ52Mach0kaU-gM2oI8TcS1ekCt2-93aq_yF0NIucfO1wSwoaMUz2rcUA-1xkLqmejW71jRagrSlIrF9MerKFzgW_yyDXfAiX-mIGi8M-We-6jIm3aYdxGKtjIo72mpeaZPYiQ9xQVc/s1200/PXL_20230923_151245185.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf65ehhd66J9QdJfHaK6cmSX88F0K2ql6XWWChtSHBtW6hi-d9gJ52Mach0kaU-gM2oI8TcS1ekCt2-93aq_yF0NIucfO1wSwoaMUz2rcUA-1xkLqmejW71jRagrSlIrF9MerKFzgW_yyDXfAiX-mIGi8M-We-6jIm3aYdxGKtjIo72mpeaZPYiQ9xQVc/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_151245185.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In all of its glory</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As one might expect from a backpacking trail, some bits are a little sketchy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN-7q39vbrtOFh2egRjggKIAgtIcehxgIf-KKkJDv6dEMgfq382YC2Ic5zX1-bBkHd37JOBhAgxEzLTuSR03DKbvFTzqbdTxMxzgq7l1E-fInPtaO-6_eoF9P4NrbJ3NFdAzIaAyFVQBuFuyVFa3frZIYn6iJ-IHYQNd8JTgxELvD-lOHbuZrDa8iaf0/s1200/PXL_20230923_151715212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="684" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN-7q39vbrtOFh2egRjggKIAgtIcehxgIf-KKkJDv6dEMgfq382YC2Ic5zX1-bBkHd37JOBhAgxEzLTuSR03DKbvFTzqbdTxMxzgq7l1E-fInPtaO-6_eoF9P4NrbJ3NFdAzIaAyFVQBuFuyVFa3frZIYn6iJ-IHYQNd8JTgxELvD-lOHbuZrDa8iaf0/w228-h400/PXL_20230923_151715212.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too big a deal in dry weather, but if it were wet it would be a bit hairy</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We reached a fork in the trail, with some signage that another runner was trying to figure out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhA8ImzAGGGv8QfT1MM29lUWTzYI39VQ_niPNzSZmuDUcVi6M8ZCJKDxzXcweegoC76wVhX8Dz55Elp2cFcxtCauOwNzo9vhcXkPFByrXL3WNHAmDWF_1gIIWcJk918Cz610V0pYNxH6TA_puiGHLAdzC0IhiDoxlaoW5hRuEoKAOXm7z7zcQmYjPvx8/s1200/PXL_20230923_151738327.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1062" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhA8ImzAGGGv8QfT1MM29lUWTzYI39VQ_niPNzSZmuDUcVi6M8ZCJKDxzXcweegoC76wVhX8Dz55Elp2cFcxtCauOwNzo9vhcXkPFByrXL3WNHAmDWF_1gIIWcJk918Cz610V0pYNxH6TA_puiGHLAdzC0IhiDoxlaoW5hRuEoKAOXm7z7zcQmYjPvx8/w354-h400/PXL_20230923_151738327.jpg" width="354" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue sign at left: "Loop 1: Clutes Lake" (park signage)<br />There is an arrow pointing right near ground level<br />Sign on the tree (for the race) says: "Continue straight to the turn-around (about 1km)"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I knew from the pre-race meeting (and the pre-race email - this part of the course hadn't been changed during the week leading up to raceday) that we were to do a 1km out-and-back on the Essens (second) loop of the backpacking trail, so I knew we needed to take the right fork and go out 1km, then come back again. The person who'd arrived ahead of us thought the sign meant to continue straight on the Clutes Lake loop, but I urged her to follow along with Nat, Dee, and myself to the turn-around.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOgMC0LIGSG1VWSd51g_s1A3v9rUgQnbX4g-A0hz1c85f34iPXhFvFWx3ZJLRlUqvwxJtBvEeD2z_ot_jQTYJdhvHJqtKxGKgJRWsfd9zvKT4mqVVeRHGIvW4GvteUpMWWqlwrZdNGfQH6sdvdggdCNj_KYhA6bfDBr_hPO7D5h1ozAZvbPRhrkYgAjo/s1200/PXL_20230923_151750464.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="783" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOgMC0LIGSG1VWSd51g_s1A3v9rUgQnbX4g-A0hz1c85f34iPXhFvFWx3ZJLRlUqvwxJtBvEeD2z_ot_jQTYJdhvHJqtKxGKgJRWsfd9zvKT4mqVVeRHGIvW4GvteUpMWWqlwrZdNGfQH6sdvdggdCNj_KYhA6bfDBr_hPO7D5h1ozAZvbPRhrkYgAjo/w261-h400/PXL_20230923_151750464.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, up we went toward Essens Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As with almost every Ontario Parks backpacking trail I've encountered, the second loop begins with a good-size rocky hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB0u5YoLt-TNZpmQoQWV-wVaoTsujjJRwfodv5K6KsQgNcrWMD2oj6xxSPHlfQxKR7sNiZznRcAL1WaQF67cZBlbD1lbNIDTwh7a9vF4sHMHO-F8K6bX4JPxhRDhe_tPhyFB0xVTbg6bUpTn7nj2HRtRrp6pfGMIL6Lg_y11mUSSgH0-2IPPXAHwpjqo/s1200/PXL_20230923_151947618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvB0u5YoLt-TNZpmQoQWV-wVaoTsujjJRwfodv5K6KsQgNcrWMD2oj6xxSPHlfQxKR7sNiZznRcAL1WaQF67cZBlbD1lbNIDTwh7a9vF4sHMHO-F8K6bX4JPxhRDhe_tPhyFB0xVTbg6bUpTn7nj2HRtRrp6pfGMIL6Lg_y11mUSSgH0-2IPPXAHwpjqo/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_151947618.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shieldsrunswild/">Jeff</a> for scale - he was on his way back from the turn-around</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The Essens loop definitely has no shortage of technical climbs - while most aren't particularly long, they take a bit of time, and you don't really get to make it up on the downhills as most mortals will need to be a bit careful about foot placement.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiafSfR5OQK_AySzzJqoXVQ0D-0ltz_zZsWwaTeH6rn4QUI0gN3oJOvBRU4zl1NbUz4bPm3RwAVbZfMx9pxouN-R9d3YhhHaPoJ-WVbmyHqEmdYmtTuGMCY-RIWqvPrFgoeUnd451Sff5bFhYWL4BL2yUjgdeTm_gtxrvtJJ3t0WkjoQGjt1UDKazGrM/s1200/PXL_20230923_153454376.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiafSfR5OQK_AySzzJqoXVQ0D-0ltz_zZsWwaTeH6rn4QUI0gN3oJOvBRU4zl1NbUz4bPm3RwAVbZfMx9pxouN-R9d3YhhHaPoJ-WVbmyHqEmdYmtTuGMCY-RIWqvPrFgoeUnd451Sff5bFhYWL4BL2yUjgdeTm_gtxrvtJJ3t0WkjoQGjt1UDKazGrM/w249-h400/PXL_20230923_153454376.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a long way out if you hurt yourself, and there's no cell service to call for help</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eventually, we reached the shore of Essens Lake</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLqZ4P2azbFIJdRcvtpCblUAZtzwNAOBrktjR7W1_96WjaQPs_pRopzutMwfgxEGIKX0Di6essvGichpDBzYqzoNyJvs-ZabgPz7uCzUmOyiH3CaFIQdl4btXco6gooEOgR7CDWcTIidUszvYlaJ3vVQ9itliUE9gtZQk40YgUGfTRoijAPz7YgvzGSE/s1200/PXL_20230923_153558648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLqZ4P2azbFIJdRcvtpCblUAZtzwNAOBrktjR7W1_96WjaQPs_pRopzutMwfgxEGIKX0Di6essvGichpDBzYqzoNyJvs-ZabgPz7uCzUmOyiH3CaFIQdl4btXco6gooEOgR7CDWcTIidUszvYlaJ3vVQ9itliUE9gtZQk40YgUGfTRoijAPz7YgvzGSE/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_153558648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking resplendent in sunshine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We also found another race sign</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DVyaAHdzMp_dK3LG1l0UOESNS-t3xXr_DlhGQVR4KHu3ADHWqYxPnbiP_M6r88BpRvBhcDaIPciOzORAW-wMoJHxYkdYRD-ucRq2Ofh4CmDfqOueRrAKvLZqTI-YS_dNd0GU69rsVs7sCDB_LKqi-vsJe0fA4wt62zTkGP5HgRWfQ47sHh0EngNuPgs/s1200/PXL_20230923_153632073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DVyaAHdzMp_dK3LG1l0UOESNS-t3xXr_DlhGQVR4KHu3ADHWqYxPnbiP_M6r88BpRvBhcDaIPciOzORAW-wMoJHxYkdYRD-ucRq2Ofh4CmDfqOueRrAKvLZqTI-YS_dNd0GU69rsVs7sCDB_LKqi-vsJe0fA4wt62zTkGP5HgRWfQ47sHh0EngNuPgs/w274-h400/PXL_20230923_153632073.jpg" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It says "Stop worrying about bears and enjoy the scenery!"<br />I hadn't been worrying about bears...until now</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We kept puttering along on some pine needle-carpeted trail until - around 12.8km - we found a sign...and a box!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy_Rx8mL5pH5dSvcmM0gwQxrFY0aiUTE348R0nsrJa7mkrE2y_PLHs_PniqGijwuqp5jRIVL_jc3YezK7Js91MQWGGS3awZyE_2J52XA0ZVMgFAeQNZBVMOpAvd6ywzI38TaE-pwHsmEDC4sFnI0vjM2i5ucIfwVZYxCpyCvxrjBZQs-Z0qZbT4tLciM/s1200/PXL_20230923_153802262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="705" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWy_Rx8mL5pH5dSvcmM0gwQxrFY0aiUTE348R0nsrJa7mkrE2y_PLHs_PniqGijwuqp5jRIVL_jc3YezK7Js91MQWGGS3awZyE_2J52XA0ZVMgFAeQNZBVMOpAvd6ywzI38TaE-pwHsmEDC4sFnI0vjM2i5ucIfwVZYxCpyCvxrjBZQs-Z0qZbT4tLciM/w235-h400/PXL_20230923_153802262.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign says "You have reached the turn-around. We knew you could do it! Grab a pin from the container and then turn around. By the way, you look amazing!"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We each took one of the adorable race logo buttons from the box</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicST5byn6nuVxGQ3CZOiwADQzvmn0FHGcTymJ53EPwzjPFHVIiYHSq5tBbIecvfuAFsZzStd3FyOA-iSMb92H-HErfdzdcUS5c-QMcL9qfEIvj4lvuITWcCMJsP79nvnWjnafhumhgeyzard9bIg1YfxEz7oHjg_v-uTkxdyzvBlQFtjgbi139fpBPzY0/s1200/PXL_20230923_204308809.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1162" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicST5byn6nuVxGQ3CZOiwADQzvmn0FHGcTymJ53EPwzjPFHVIiYHSq5tBbIecvfuAFsZzStd3FyOA-iSMb92H-HErfdzdcUS5c-QMcL9qfEIvj4lvuITWcCMJsP79nvnWjnafhumhgeyzard9bIg1YfxEz7oHjg_v-uTkxdyzvBlQFtjgbi139fpBPzY0/w388-h400/PXL_20230923_204308809.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather's art is so delightful</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We pinned them to our hydration vests, and then Dee & Nat started talking about a picnic, so I pulled out the little zipper baggie of bacon I'd been carrying around in my pocket and offered it 'round. Nat took a tiny piece, Dee declined, and I chomped on a good-size slice as a pleasant change from all the sugar. Don't get me wrong: I love my cookies and candy while racing, and munched my way through 20 gummy peach slices, 8 gummy worms, 4 gluten-free Oreos, and 4 of my homemade maple crisp rice squares throughout the course of the day. It's nice to break it up with a little something salty, though, and since I'm allergic to potatoes I can't indulge in the chips that are so common at aid stations.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjt3Ec6UTFXA7F3qcNydi9vtYNU7RPYMDjgwq0QRk9QLXYk9lEm-pmz8AmrIIBqRSXEc2v13Lx_Gf60F8SJKLue5NwYhJBDj_Ycn0ODQIvdwfSVWZz0KuPMmCvFY9dxtDA-6z6jfTAMQa45PZGKWBlWwVUWLTT7Aaguq-QaDUkhDr43fv1DtcXaif9Pk/s1200/PXL_20230923_153947467.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjt3Ec6UTFXA7F3qcNydi9vtYNU7RPYMDjgwq0QRk9QLXYk9lEm-pmz8AmrIIBqRSXEc2v13Lx_Gf60F8SJKLue5NwYhJBDj_Ycn0ODQIvdwfSVWZz0KuPMmCvFY9dxtDA-6z6jfTAMQa45PZGKWBlWwVUWLTT7Aaguq-QaDUkhDr43fv1DtcXaif9Pk/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_153947467.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately, the scenery is allergen-free.<br />This is the furthest point on the trail that was currently open - the rest of the Essens Loop has yet to be cleared of storm damage, and the Abes Loop (the longest at ~15km) has not yet been touched.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So, back we went with our new buttons to prove we'd done the out-and-back (I wonder how many people might not have got one..?), looking at the last kilometer from the other direction..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYmc4D7LAflnP4qo6OOXovo2RwI-IC5yqxZCiJBKPC9nn9PRrxKt_xvK-2nN-MPP547hILI8X2gyHr-83tmpOQYmU1Xe1mNC0nIEhHT7S0GKXO4lOmEIeluMr7Hthz723R39WoHzbHOFnpvjuQwzK9tn1avBpeT8PlsXvJZ5tqt4rhAq3A5wruYUN8e4/s1200/PXL_20230923_154508135.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYmc4D7LAflnP4qo6OOXovo2RwI-IC5yqxZCiJBKPC9nn9PRrxKt_xvK-2nN-MPP547hILI8X2gyHr-83tmpOQYmU1Xe1mNC0nIEhHT7S0GKXO4lOmEIeluMr7Hthz723R39WoHzbHOFnpvjuQwzK9tn1avBpeT8PlsXvJZ5tqt4rhAq3A5wruYUN8e4/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_154508135.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which I quite enjoy, as you see things you miss when you only go one way.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>While it felt like the way out on Essens was all uphill, the way back proved that was a lie. Soon enough, though, we were passing the giant root ball of a fallen tree that had welcomed us when we set off from the fork in the trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5YdMB6tq1oqjnGPbxpMvO45sAoG1Of0cXCDWtYCD_50HyKLoBlil-FjIF7LGBvpAgqJXtr23-kRNcntqS4y_E6xaLjTRjofz3YT5yow-B-XM0RwxVKZ-TeHx4JpH442sX3R0dApQbNQ1wcsnHaGZxpoF812T11X8usef8YR5ceAF1orxnJ_F8ko6-rs/s1200/PXL_20230923_160057995.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5YdMB6tq1oqjnGPbxpMvO45sAoG1Of0cXCDWtYCD_50HyKLoBlil-FjIF7LGBvpAgqJXtr23-kRNcntqS4y_E6xaLjTRjofz3YT5yow-B-XM0RwxVKZ-TeHx4JpH442sX3R0dApQbNQ1wcsnHaGZxpoF812T11X8usef8YR5ceAF1orxnJ_F8ko6-rs/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_160057995.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, neither Dee nor Nat is what anyone would call a big human (except in heart), but that root structure is a good 10'/3m high</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Back to the Clutes Loop, the sign on the tree and the arrow at ground level both indicated a right turn to continue along the loop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI5ko7CW4A8K4G_ys0nNxE0rCa4vVVyMkHTOQNr6CXKU5w1GAODcjMq2sT6IwQv_hb1LBeG5noTt5uebqFxaWPIw068EWXpyu7rxNiXi0sasQer-NGwtzX69YnHhJusKLqyfhQP8SEfMmBXgVMFr9kXBqM3jH-b4xGHAbZn5G790kFH8t6MXIrbcSFw8/s1200/PXL_20230923_160112233.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="829" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjI5ko7CW4A8K4G_ys0nNxE0rCa4vVVyMkHTOQNr6CXKU5w1GAODcjMq2sT6IwQv_hb1LBeG5noTt5uebqFxaWPIw068EWXpyu7rxNiXi0sasQer-NGwtzX69YnHhJusKLqyfhQP8SEfMmBXgVMFr9kXBqM3jH-b4xGHAbZn5G790kFH8t6MXIrbcSFw8/w276-h400/PXL_20230923_160112233.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is worth noting here that future years of this race are unlikely do do the Clutes Loop - Race Director Jeff hopes to use the full Abes Loop by 2024, which will make this race measurably more difficult</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We headed roughly west, crossing a wooden bridge that spans a creek that drains into Clutes Lake</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweY3ONWu9fT-7_oR4JquWQF69V8fnH8kd5KxkeLVncD-aZAsDCpv11Jvv6tkcInqgDvwG6twZrc7QqOgWSyuT3kPOcE9rDMJjewkr76bGFmxIO7wlRVEsfewhfAEjUnRhPUBVibEgyXWX4fcmt6wy-qwWB07MgDaU-Oil3IdcQCp449nCCygV2sDjof0/s1200/PXL_20230923_160225643~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweY3ONWu9fT-7_oR4JquWQF69V8fnH8kd5KxkeLVncD-aZAsDCpv11Jvv6tkcInqgDvwG6twZrc7QqOgWSyuT3kPOcE9rDMJjewkr76bGFmxIO7wlRVEsfewhfAEjUnRhPUBVibEgyXWX4fcmt6wy-qwWB07MgDaU-Oil3IdcQCp449nCCygV2sDjof0/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_160225643~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we met another runner who was unsure if he was going the correct way, which we confirmed he was</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I still can't believe what a gorgeous day we were gifted!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt6ofChV9pNqU3mLg0Uo5EbXRqWrlZIfQvGn14UyzGUkJ3SHAgKP6f1h5X9xeP9srmoexhrX7yZphBDQniJDgbLtHrKykPXzBHlojtAzoUpFU5yOg8ql_X0QKxpJ4FFGZNbcOcIHQ4gqIyFUq3IknZlcE-HIxZfUqBU5PTxB3MQfka3DhTAjH3cENgmU/s1200/PXL_20230923_160326850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt6ofChV9pNqU3mLg0Uo5EbXRqWrlZIfQvGn14UyzGUkJ3SHAgKP6f1h5X9xeP9srmoexhrX7yZphBDQniJDgbLtHrKykPXzBHlojtAzoUpFU5yOg8ql_X0QKxpJ4FFGZNbcOcIHQ4gqIyFUq3IknZlcE-HIxZfUqBU5PTxB3MQfka3DhTAjH3cENgmU/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_160326850.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Between the weather and the colours, it was a stunner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The rest of the Clutes Loop is no joke, either.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvLt2Y3yi1-GMX7mR8KAjprKf7O_TWNaA33mh8paqRPTxE7K8a4CqjGcEZk0RkOvqMV-GMmP-6o7U64Ui86JLfGkSTIG8MkOgq_NFr6W_7ulruLbRGHgTwFs1L7Bivuf39PaKA3K4VEia6Xm6-NuzK9-ms6_WrkzsxIx-WzFtjoEo6xIdZbav8dEMX0w/s1200/PXL_20230923_160459560.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvLt2Y3yi1-GMX7mR8KAjprKf7O_TWNaA33mh8paqRPTxE7K8a4CqjGcEZk0RkOvqMV-GMmP-6o7U64Ui86JLfGkSTIG8MkOgq_NFr6W_7ulruLbRGHgTwFs1L7Bivuf39PaKA3K4VEia6Xm6-NuzK9-ms6_WrkzsxIx-WzFtjoEo6xIdZbav8dEMX0w/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_160459560.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not quite as challenging as Essens, but with its own rugged beauty</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We met up with the other end of the Essens Loop, with a closure sign strung across it by the park.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN2BKX4hfTg8_28iWfcKu_7_lMOP3fAqKTlm_4reVbzkwJGsqLYGgfHWZeO7hWvFp9ysYVL0CVauWTTP6pq6-WfpWyW6mXLJdb_dHztjYnXhvgDLaNNTw1UT4SMioynZqzhqX7o3jKupt-Xh59bJm-oMRNqN5cKQkIao2zYH3VTiXH7nyAWJUjIcndcE/s1200/PXL_20230923_160553530.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1028" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFN2BKX4hfTg8_28iWfcKu_7_lMOP3fAqKTlm_4reVbzkwJGsqLYGgfHWZeO7hWvFp9ysYVL0CVauWTTP6pq6-WfpWyW6mXLJdb_dHztjYnXhvgDLaNNTw1UT4SMioynZqzhqX7o3jKupt-Xh59bJm-oMRNqN5cKQkIao2zYH3VTiXH7nyAWJUjIcndcE/w343-h400/PXL_20230923_160553530.jpg" width="343" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't need to be told - that fallen tree would be a nightmare to try to climb through</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As we ambled along the Clutes Loop, I continued putting food in my face while watching my step.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ni1UsbvVl-TjEU41Nq91h-afUvQ1fszR2Do2S6BwOSpgsGZ1V2-w7V-PBu3_01mZu1PEIuxDYIpchVRLiFJVDFVLfxoU6sR6uOBL_fE4xuP7GpiUJ1rQoQOLkdHDuQBGs0W2rUvLyVUPf9dzU3u3TVvSxQQp07dLIjBURBOgyNksht4sAtAYjTsFgBU/s1200/PXL_20230923_161038693.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ni1UsbvVl-TjEU41Nq91h-afUvQ1fszR2Do2S6BwOSpgsGZ1V2-w7V-PBu3_01mZu1PEIuxDYIpchVRLiFJVDFVLfxoU6sR6uOBL_fE4xuP7GpiUJ1rQoQOLkdHDuQBGs0W2rUvLyVUPf9dzU3u3TVvSxQQp07dLIjBURBOgyNksht4sAtAYjTsFgBU/w251-h400/PXL_20230923_161038693.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was the only way to stay upright</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It seemed to be taking awhile - not that we were in any hurry - but then some signs began to appear.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL1QWmSkFwOnHUPAGVkUDX9BasvbSsWs8RZ8_29MyANYT_YVjhBQJZifkNVgpSYq2e6tdSFJzC5KtX299QRoOGHd4Kj7F3_nUQr6wiqY6t7A6USgBi4PhdUOFCNIzEbdI23Q_n5Bv0zUU7E_bS5EbdFqpFrrz01pRUvSPjciPnwSJBb8bh_Kl7hqhnS4/s1200/PXL_20230923_163118127.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="935" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL1QWmSkFwOnHUPAGVkUDX9BasvbSsWs8RZ8_29MyANYT_YVjhBQJZifkNVgpSYq2e6tdSFJzC5KtX299QRoOGHd4Kj7F3_nUQr6wiqY6t7A6USgBi4PhdUOFCNIzEbdI23Q_n5Bv0zUU7E_bS5EbdFqpFrrz01pRUvSPjciPnwSJBb8bh_Kl7hqhnS4/w311-h400/PXL_20230923_163118127.jpg" width="311" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm almost certain that didn't grow there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>That 400 metres, though? You'd never believe how long it feels</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUOwiEZllfVoeBxb2MDKDKnrcI7YYxzQNpnA74silOeLc5IWOnyLhs0JsVdITgBgoAHZ06V-y-SAmCcIsoig8qU0093pqYpKd3t63XV7jP41dbMEjYOIPnrX87fFOJyN9epLFVAI_S0_QDw6tbWl37DPekuOMQ-FqRzwS_-_L__LbTBX7Ww1w_z1V4l0/s1200/PXL_20230923_163216018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUOwiEZllfVoeBxb2MDKDKnrcI7YYxzQNpnA74silOeLc5IWOnyLhs0JsVdITgBgoAHZ06V-y-SAmCcIsoig8qU0093pqYpKd3t63XV7jP41dbMEjYOIPnrX87fFOJyN9epLFVAI_S0_QDw6tbWl37DPekuOMQ-FqRzwS_-_L__LbTBX7Ww1w_z1V4l0/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_163216018.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Though it's so lovely you may wish it never to end</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Eventually, a glimpse of tent and the cheers of volunteers will filter through the trees</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q3ObzziCx8XfBdPxlrtZNZ5esIts8xCTP3Hisg5U_1-xC1brDmNB0dee-t8Kb0mTYduyo34GqPx7Mfp8hdfaM882ibmc4RXt4gLLb3or02GZHwlnZ6d6nLX6GPhH93OZ4eTFXyqqpNOSSeHOWVsVDuuuknN7lkqoW7K51NsM6KcPLwsSHRXAKWgWkO8/s1200/PXL_20230923_163734212.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="913" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q3ObzziCx8XfBdPxlrtZNZ5esIts8xCTP3Hisg5U_1-xC1brDmNB0dee-t8Kb0mTYduyo34GqPx7Mfp8hdfaM882ibmc4RXt4gLLb3or02GZHwlnZ6d6nLX6GPhH93OZ4eTFXyqqpNOSSeHOWVsVDuuuknN7lkqoW7K51NsM6KcPLwsSHRXAKWgWkO8/w304-h400/PXL_20230923_163734212.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which made me happy, as I'd once again run out of fluids.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Note that this year's course only saw us do about 5.5km between the water drop (at which I hadn't filled) and AS2 - in future years, if the full Abes Loop is open and in use, it will be more like <i style="font-weight: bold;">fifteen</i> or more kilometers without aid, over rugged trails that prevent most people from picking up the pace. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYqiViPAuGE6Gj8blhjpo0PJBkEHk-xhTh6iuQ-toyTedvrvSYmClzXGsnjscykHAPjvjNufG2XgxonomfcZYI3ULSwUY3cFgoo1p3CanE35q43BYuLUEq0tN70AXdtvvVn-MeGiBL1phlVEaiXfixCqgYw28pDNsZDqofRP2ldOXGS1lA4eU4ndFos0/s1200/PXL_20230923_163906156.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWYqiViPAuGE6Gj8blhjpo0PJBkEHk-xhTh6iuQ-toyTedvrvSYmClzXGsnjscykHAPjvjNufG2XgxonomfcZYI3ULSwUY3cFgoo1p3CanE35q43BYuLUEq0tN70AXdtvvVn-MeGiBL1phlVEaiXfixCqgYw28pDNsZDqofRP2ldOXGS1lA4eU4ndFos0/w244-h400/PXL_20230923_163906156.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">A hydration pack with at least a 1.5L capacity is <i style="font-weight: bold;">strongly</i> recommended for 2024 and beyond!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I got my bottles filled at the aid station, and both Dee and Nat filled with water and had a few snacks before we continued on along the dirt park road. We thanked the volunteers, who told us we had about a 4.5km out-and-back to do, then we'd return to their aid station before heading back toward the main park.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphqSAPA9qxDcnAG_uObFeGHex4VfZKkg4ITdX66OgJOT-LEv138zfZbuad1yUtiBTIfh5U0p6sgLsCp3nFTG2cgToFDZCc5tVH7Y0RARHFBQalJ1oXmD5H3T62T4RXhwi_JPwFUiIT9vwK3Y-KPb_0SXJm7L8p6sQL5s9zGhwcji9Zk1jWanR6PhhJj4/s1200/PXL_20230923_163936485.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="785" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphqSAPA9qxDcnAG_uObFeGHex4VfZKkg4ITdX66OgJOT-LEv138zfZbuad1yUtiBTIfh5U0p6sgLsCp3nFTG2cgToFDZCc5tVH7Y0RARHFBQalJ1oXmD5H3T62T4RXhwi_JPwFUiIT9vwK3Y-KPb_0SXJm7L8p6sQL5s9zGhwcji9Zk1jWanR6PhhJj4/w261-h400/PXL_20230923_163936485.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reloading - Nat was also able to clean out the scrape on her knee and put a plaster on it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> I'd thought that the trip through the Hardwood Hills campground was actually a lollipop-style loop instead of an out-and-back, based on what I'd seen in the pre-race email and from talking to Jeff at race kit pick up the evening before, but I couldn't be sure. I'd just follow the signs and flags like everyone else!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwpLBRfxPBJ6GJofwntNC_XLc7A_kglnanHXAyUhNJysfrqFZyctmNpbg6vKhrGbR8keCN9uzPyQuHw3_5eTwqX-2xwPGz9HKU4GlDqx-TxsskDm6VabKpOZTWJM2e4nM67F7cJfQKQWzx3XI3Gf3pnI1LNFr3kXOhPa55zZ475rJ6RVYrlIoU3_XOWQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_165305687.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwpLBRfxPBJ6GJofwntNC_XLc7A_kglnanHXAyUhNJysfrqFZyctmNpbg6vKhrGbR8keCN9uzPyQuHw3_5eTwqX-2xwPGz9HKU4GlDqx-TxsskDm6VabKpOZTWJM2e4nM67F7cJfQKQWzx3XI3Gf3pnI1LNFr3kXOhPa55zZ475rJ6RVYrlIoU3_XOWQ/w265-h400/PXL_20230923_165305687.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nat ran away on us again - that little dark speck is her at the top of the big hill up to the Hardwood Hills campground</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When I say big hill, I mean it's about the biggest one on the course.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg709sNNlbolfyxz3bQ3bMH02H9eOhQi_tlE-p8WjV-WsIrwdIcQW2u0QK41YoHRlm05WPxanJDz-XTtEoYo8AgzXGQchLdgr66P3-uPGwRXg-46vEcb6oimJmBKd_R3wHgE3E9ncQJQv4p1TRmoPGmGUZkgidh9Yf3xC5IqlulzLfgNsNxHY2V1Jnls_o/s1521/elevation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="1521" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg709sNNlbolfyxz3bQ3bMH02H9eOhQi_tlE-p8WjV-WsIrwdIcQW2u0QK41YoHRlm05WPxanJDz-XTtEoYo8AgzXGQchLdgr66P3-uPGwRXg-46vEcb6oimJmBKd_R3wHgE3E9ncQJQv4p1TRmoPGmGUZkgidh9Yf3xC5IqlulzLfgNsNxHY2V1Jnls_o/w400-h105/elevation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climb up to the Shield Trail might go on a bit longer, but it's not as steep</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>From the moment you enter the campground - passing the closed gate, as this has not been re-opened to visitor traffic yet - the devastation of the storms is impossible to ignore.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_1rgpUAwZV63tRqhGKmm-EsvHW58PmAY5eh2U8CkLxTazA6UqQGMxPtzdOSbG5ljUBZPWD5X_5b0v9T-RCL0mOD17JCk_ob012igr2v1dNLXdhTQQhZ_i-WLcDIBQuRSb8lV-6gaEPpYQi6kGLUQ5uymad1hNIcienOmX6CawwvRInJuy9FEbp82nWQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_165536760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb_1rgpUAwZV63tRqhGKmm-EsvHW58PmAY5eh2U8CkLxTazA6UqQGMxPtzdOSbG5ljUBZPWD5X_5b0v9T-RCL0mOD17JCk_ob012igr2v1dNLXdhTQQhZ_i-WLcDIBQuRSb8lV-6gaEPpYQi6kGLUQ5uymad1hNIcienOmX6CawwvRInJuy9FEbp82nWQ/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_165536760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had heard from park staff last year that it looked like it had been clear cut, but I was still unprepared for the visceral reaction this brutal deforestation evoked</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The campground sits on a bit of a plateau, and I trotted along, getting some space on Dee - Nat was way ahead, so I had some time to try to get myself under control emotionally. It had been decades since I'd been out to this section of the park, but I remembered it being thickly forested.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTKo0k3gqdvQ0wgKVeVVtaMShUwSUHP390_qhLzsAOW1scEMAK5Hq3IOb9Z1qbUtYsnwG1NRzJEZyJBaJB3rtIQy7DvVhdRz_KDPwt3ggf3IoRUaiHEjxICspJVRlYjS0_h3pnn7Is5814HKuHdxcFQFM6pRaBBJEW6pkcNtVFx2hI99v588q9iaJNTg/s1200/PXL_20230923_165815254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTKo0k3gqdvQ0wgKVeVVtaMShUwSUHP390_qhLzsAOW1scEMAK5Hq3IOb9Z1qbUtYsnwG1NRzJEZyJBaJB3rtIQy7DvVhdRz_KDPwt3ggf3IoRUaiHEjxICspJVRlYjS0_h3pnn7Is5814HKuHdxcFQFM6pRaBBJEW6pkcNtVFx2hI99v588q9iaJNTg/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_165815254.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some portions retained a good measure of their former glory</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Others, however..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR-U0IALu4hz3cfht5tUZfqxD8nj7PlmAEMEWykTLIZROqALPBy8r2jDyQyJaa9iL2iZrON32gxeCvkuknjsyx_mOjvS5EM8T8wZOs5jj6Jua9gI0Z9TAv-LqwElFI4u2RcNPzqX7xhxsC-N2mx-nY2SS2xviUAdf3LTzrHzLwIjubgaOSsgu9KtijH4/s1200/PXL_20230923_170737507.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjR-U0IALu4hz3cfht5tUZfqxD8nj7PlmAEMEWykTLIZROqALPBy8r2jDyQyJaa9iL2iZrON32gxeCvkuknjsyx_mOjvS5EM8T8wZOs5jj6Jua9gI0Z9TAv-LqwElFI4u2RcNPzqX7xhxsC-N2mx-nY2SS2xviUAdf3LTzrHzLwIjubgaOSsgu9KtijH4/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_170737507.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is not the way I wished to see this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There was one welcome sight, though: just as I realized I'd needed to pee again for awhile, a pair of vault toilets hove into view, and the door of the first yielded to my touch - unlocked! I availed myself of the luxury of a proper wee (with toilet paper and everything!), then popped back out to find Dee had caught up. She was concerned that we'd missed a sign as it had been more than 2.5km since we left AS2, and the "out-and-back" was supposed to be 4.5km.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooCxq3BL3XzOx_lXPrvWNoFawQAv0jrNdPibF4vRqtBrlAEbBd7rk-8lxbhg1ChyphenhyphenqErLY5EVvX2VwBO3DHKtes-L6FHKZp_25r5e-dMDMYSp6aB_Ey_hyphenhyphenHT7cSjgiIGDl9M4oSICKaxqfVkm8q895VvnQTfdqp8kAFM3qSXd_KK9EJi7fZw7JiOVwBjc/s1200/PXL_20230923_171434415.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgooCxq3BL3XzOx_lXPrvWNoFawQAv0jrNdPibF4vRqtBrlAEbBd7rk-8lxbhg1ChyphenhyphenqErLY5EVvX2VwBO3DHKtes-L6FHKZp_25r5e-dMDMYSp6aB_Ey_hyphenhyphenHT7cSjgiIGDl9M4oSICKaxqfVkm8q895VvnQTfdqp8kAFM3qSXd_KK9EJi7fZw7JiOVwBjc/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_171434415.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hadn't seen Nat coming back our way yet, either</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>However, I had noticed a big auger at a fork in the dirt road (where signage had urged us to the right, around 17.5km) before we climbed another hill within the campground - as we ran down a hill toward a meeting of roads, I saw the same auger again, which confirmed that we'd done a loop. A little further yet, we caught up to Nat, and reached the gate through which we'd come.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OqaCCwOwdsIW_5Wrvu42RV9YlMwVtwYyn15qVV0s0Zr6Rdty2rgv6-Yoao_uko7eYNQXS-zUN_uqVvlf6B3QX8qQAC7yvLsA45rVnh8ko9Y1j4OTmhMj95q6LCxe2wAQncFqF3gUbd76xbRIPMHaGrFMXaM5mxGiQIMAlEy69mUWxiVrFlbjsCuYYck/s1200/PXL_20230923_171556893.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1200" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OqaCCwOwdsIW_5Wrvu42RV9YlMwVtwYyn15qVV0s0Zr6Rdty2rgv6-Yoao_uko7eYNQXS-zUN_uqVvlf6B3QX8qQAC7yvLsA45rVnh8ko9Y1j4OTmhMj95q6LCxe2wAQncFqF3gUbd76xbRIPMHaGrFMXaM5mxGiQIMAlEy69mUWxiVrFlbjsCuYYck/w400-h383/PXL_20230923_171556893.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There she is, heading around the gate</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now on the park road again, we saw another race sign:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn0J8eGteWr6joIRTSKKZFUIXm1XVTlV_IpYYJgvA2oPPM-zMjXHh9LJdx1jk_x4ruQdZXdtVK5YtQlDPW2_PX_B7nNFWYEIp6JwOr0GxVbZEWKOhAu4Oyq2l4fRZ76vzUJKT2hjJmCbUIO4gt5bGvHwEMqE1ARPkWGIp3B3jGhhCh-uq8upSUkS5l10/s1200/PXL_20230923_171626396.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1037" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrn0J8eGteWr6joIRTSKKZFUIXm1XVTlV_IpYYJgvA2oPPM-zMjXHh9LJdx1jk_x4ruQdZXdtVK5YtQlDPW2_PX_B7nNFWYEIp6JwOr0GxVbZEWKOhAu4Oyq2l4fRZ76vzUJKT2hjJmCbUIO4gt5bGvHwEMqE1ARPkWGIp3B3jGhhCh-uq8upSUkS5l10/w346-h400/PXL_20230923_171626396.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sounds good!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Well, mostly - I was a bit leery of how badly beaten up I might get running down the big hill from the Hardwood Hills campground. I'd messed up my back pretty badly (i.e.: could barely walk for a couple of days) a handful of weeks before raceday, and things were still a little sore and unpleasant at times. Banging down a steep hill might be a bit too much for it, so I tried to take it as carefully as I could. This meant I had to just run whatever pace was comfortable, and I ended up getting away on Dee and Nat a bit as I just let my legs turn over however they felt best.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9WOhvh953TPVCvdsUuQ1hRillPOE7Q_Ef8zablBsKaqa2psZ1_E7skKN6RQWIE7mEfYtUUi4LMAaolOreCv4ZqZ8de32DO8lPFrVq9kcUAbgZPP23CdQHehbSMPgOa-fsfnXoNGJIkXZKJAwhVqKKLJjRntQlQLCIN1FB_gvdlvsp5HQD5s2Egexv54/s1200/PXL_20230923_172101596.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="755" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9WOhvh953TPVCvdsUuQ1hRillPOE7Q_Ef8zablBsKaqa2psZ1_E7skKN6RQWIE7mEfYtUUi4LMAaolOreCv4ZqZ8de32DO8lPFrVq9kcUAbgZPP23CdQHehbSMPgOa-fsfnXoNGJIkXZKJAwhVqKKLJjRntQlQLCIN1FB_gvdlvsp5HQD5s2Egexv54/w251-h400/PXL_20230923_172101596.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We hit the 20km mark near the bottom, at around 4h20m</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We passed both AS2 and the water drop as we headed back along the dirt road toward the Shield Trail.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWEVZXp6boShdfeQGk3HnNL83Lz6f-iCM-Y_gP8_dOq27UMTSRbtHdckbom0Y7hth-2rz6rvHNgCn5D3FdQLBXqQTT1xHXhA8ODk_Zbh1u_MjZKKGSL2tJ7b0XxzZs_d8fZSnLD6OkfSIs5mMGMq3OR7k2gTJ4IGTyKoxuCBbdFpHp2BhI-HYIikx6Kw/s1200/PXL_20230923_172734083.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWEVZXp6boShdfeQGk3HnNL83Lz6f-iCM-Y_gP8_dOq27UMTSRbtHdckbom0Y7hth-2rz6rvHNgCn5D3FdQLBXqQTT1xHXhA8ODk_Zbh1u_MjZKKGSL2tJ7b0XxzZs_d8fZSnLD6OkfSIs5mMGMq3OR7k2gTJ4IGTyKoxuCBbdFpHp2BhI-HYIikx6Kw/w289-h400/PXL_20230923_172734083.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which was NOT - contrary to what any race signage might have you believe - all downhill!<br />(And if you spot a dark speck, that's one of the 60k leaders heading out toward his second Clutes/Essens loop)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The way back along the dirt road felt very long, but somehow my legs had got the hang of this running thing - and my back wasn't complaining too much - so I trotted along pretty consistently. I'd joked with someone before the race that I had 15k to warm up and 15k to actually run, but here I was now passing 22k and finally trucking along quite well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuQ9qvgaxPKbwSwcXWcr6lOhTlzDqxl9NrayAfBskpF7Ylcgk8hucfl7TFGp_H67w9cYX7xTDXTi4xfNLvHo0RrgIid3hZR4836EFIgQMcvE1GL1KKJiWVILesJGFzmXlcNoZeraz1uAxH4JVuIcVmrAhtReMVmpiqbsatKdyqw34BYfMnMjr0EtZFwo/s1200/PXL_20230923_173538865.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRuQ9qvgaxPKbwSwcXWcr6lOhTlzDqxl9NrayAfBskpF7Ylcgk8hucfl7TFGp_H67w9cYX7xTDXTi4xfNLvHo0RrgIid3hZR4836EFIgQMcvE1GL1KKJiWVILesJGFzmXlcNoZeraz1uAxH4JVuIcVmrAhtReMVmpiqbsatKdyqw34BYfMnMjr0EtZFwo/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_173538865.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maybe I just didn't want to look at the storm damage anymore, as it was highly evident along the road as well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was getting away on Dee and Nat now, but would stop periodically to let them catch up.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaKOU_FDZIWTY5D29Ek3oWO7d1XJvAMzNF1nI8ipFMC4cgQWJwjNRvgI5i3qrfQP9NoNyNljXuNBnY81MPU8iPC-yhPe5kBtNRur4gI-m6TvyV5-hyTGYgFuMyjY4lsr1jTatNqx-fspTbpZOKNk3m7GIoHhVUmgKo-cIeCHPzXo2vWHS1IXUcDJq3n4/s1200/PXL_20230923_174627566.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1092" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjaKOU_FDZIWTY5D29Ek3oWO7d1XJvAMzNF1nI8ipFMC4cgQWJwjNRvgI5i3qrfQP9NoNyNljXuNBnY81MPU8iPC-yhPe5kBtNRur4gI-m6TvyV5-hyTGYgFuMyjY4lsr1jTatNqx-fspTbpZOKNk3m7GIoHhVUmgKo-cIeCHPzXo2vWHS1IXUcDJq3n4/w364-h400/PXL_20230923_174627566.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And, of course, to take some photos of my beautiful friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My watch said 4h51m by the time I rolled back into AS1 at around 23.5km, ready to take on the Shield Trail once more.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vVybJ-uPuV7F-oP-mO1frQiYPLEW80hOPLzlild1pzB3So0We1BeVZWX67sPBYm01Bz0a4snnOqnuWLtOfoJIG8VzK1YZxvW8rjdIdpWkP3zYCj4aHxu5d0h2wvkdF38dAHufACxOmGGP24a55hQ7fgUaeeY2gYw-S4ni6Zw3HFA0dCet22slRi0cJA/s1200/PXL_20230923_175155130.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1200" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vVybJ-uPuV7F-oP-mO1frQiYPLEW80hOPLzlild1pzB3So0We1BeVZWX67sPBYm01Bz0a4snnOqnuWLtOfoJIG8VzK1YZxvW8rjdIdpWkP3zYCj4aHxu5d0h2wvkdF38dAHufACxOmGGP24a55hQ7fgUaeeY2gYw-S4ni6Zw3HFA0dCet22slRi0cJA/w400-h289/PXL_20230923_175155130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With just my hand bottle filled again, and a few sips of cola for a caffeine + sugar hit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'd discussed with Dee and Nat that I'd like to do the Shield Trail counter-clockwise on our second go, for a few reasons: first, that we'd see stuff that we might have missed going clockwise on the way out; second, that we'd do the rockiest section first, before too much more fatigue set in; and third, that we'd have a longer downhill off the end of it, with less of a climb up to begin the loop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZQgxJhokLIyex8DyuTr9dWdCHkRCYPQ13DZdNKI6rMb6B2bEwBt8izD20O1g5JgoIORBUYAvzd8K1WrbFjonwEl0DpHHOdBE01UH5x5YXC6GJ4MGPREMuwgf33ecehK64ynXQhhXQd3-YYJLxLigTAoDiHVupr9VPZ198jqLtZ2fdfUs6b-5A4p-8lM/s1200/PXL_20230923_180020066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZQgxJhokLIyex8DyuTr9dWdCHkRCYPQ13DZdNKI6rMb6B2bEwBt8izD20O1g5JgoIORBUYAvzd8K1WrbFjonwEl0DpHHOdBE01UH5x5YXC6GJ4MGPREMuwgf33ecehK64ynXQhhXQd3-YYJLxLigTAoDiHVupr9VPZ198jqLtZ2fdfUs6b-5A4p-8lM/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_180020066.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They both said they were just happy to follow me whichever way I went, so we took the right-hand fork when it appeared and ignored the "wrong way" sign</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I hadn't anticipated so many other people being on the trail while we were out there, all of whom were going in the other direction: most were 30k runners that had done the noon start, with a handful of 60k runners on their second lap, plus a few hikers.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiLE8uYtHnkIIcMioXhxNp_TwkWDC2rACoC8urVNLilqs15P_QTxS0qMJgbB61AHe0arh5-865aXRpx9rANRVqEZOmEf1qdDcMiVruV0t9he-r6mBP7R6xbnVQHaD-2QLucwrEI8sn3F27l789ZOtDbz3cxGdx4hkss0LsYUg_RYrf7V5h34lhE9GseM/s1200/PXL_20230923_180439675.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiLE8uYtHnkIIcMioXhxNp_TwkWDC2rACoC8urVNLilqs15P_QTxS0qMJgbB61AHe0arh5-865aXRpx9rANRVqEZOmEf1qdDcMiVruV0t9he-r6mBP7R6xbnVQHaD-2QLucwrEI8sn3F27l789ZOtDbz3cxGdx4hkss0LsYUg_RYrf7V5h34lhE9GseM/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_180439675.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost <i style="font-weight: bold;">every single one of them</i>, though, asked if they were going the wrong way!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I explained that we'd had the option to do the Shield Trail in reverse on the second loop - that it had actually been the original intention, but they thought it would be too confusing (which was proving to be the case even with most people <i style="font-weight: bold;">not</i> doing it!), so let people choose.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27NkkoZwT85bBR_UcjyImEsLrrdo5OAmEUV3tIRfePqemy4CpZMEpTEI6uso6Tj9s3RNVMEHAwDMOiw3PLd_IhgfsqPNrfH1H3FULqj9mxLQqvrKPMDJHrGSQgdF73frO3rjEzw7TY9YaKi02FIyvSQlJQBTAPwhzX8dcGZik7V8XJqFBLuIzF9JJ1ZY/s1487/map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1487" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27NkkoZwT85bBR_UcjyImEsLrrdo5OAmEUV3tIRfePqemy4CpZMEpTEI6uso6Tj9s3RNVMEHAwDMOiw3PLd_IhgfsqPNrfH1H3FULqj9mxLQqvrKPMDJHrGSQgdF73frO3rjEzw7TY9YaKi02FIyvSQlJQBTAPwhzX8dcGZik7V8XJqFBLuIzF9JJ1ZY/w400-h268/map.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange arrows are outbound - yellow arrows are inbound.<br />The royal blue dots are the aid stations, and the paler blue dot is the water drop.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was getting away on Dee and Nat again a bit through the rocky section, but when I tried to stop to wait for them the few remaining mosquitoes in the park tried to swarm me, so I had to keep moving to keep them at bay.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KOBMTf5_y-vbmhEVRuv23T8_46og0b1hPJ2L4z8sXQ6X2BanQOWWkY5GKw4Zpq_E2vlUFyzgwaD2O8f62Sp0qxFccin8inF9kkGGOPzShhagZfA_hGaISRSmC8GZfF8VPaUFa1ickJ8QWm-a7WI6IO7EiIQ5OyPK2FmRQyD_zubcj1-_5oWOCV-9gek/s1200/PXL_20230923_180652779.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KOBMTf5_y-vbmhEVRuv23T8_46og0b1hPJ2L4z8sXQ6X2BanQOWWkY5GKw4Zpq_E2vlUFyzgwaD2O8f62Sp0qxFccin8inF9kkGGOPzShhagZfA_hGaISRSmC8GZfF8VPaUFa1ickJ8QWm-a7WI6IO7EiIQ5OyPK2FmRQyD_zubcj1-_5oWOCV-9gek/w254-h400/PXL_20230923_180652779.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be honest I was partly happy I wasn't doing the 60k because I wouldn't want to be here at sunset due to mosquitoes, and would be rather unhappy about trying to negotiate this in the dark.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was happy to move quite slowly, though, as it turns out there really isn't a soft option for direction on the Shield Trail. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnMpk-fA0r_WD5y9hm49xjBBiAYK6AVKcWcRArcMU_ABZtsuX1NyezrUZ2VoMjhQ9q1Q7IKRfrbE1huqK1QpBpZyp5PKiwaZau_0Ap3nZEZSOEX0LofiKwb1xerpVNO884HL-bDJKRQQfbU_WASXpgPl_EoxcTEIonbuPyvWh2QgmyDibsZW4Ngk4FB4/s1200/PXL_20230923_181144971.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnMpk-fA0r_WD5y9hm49xjBBiAYK6AVKcWcRArcMU_ABZtsuX1NyezrUZ2VoMjhQ9q1Q7IKRfrbE1huqK1QpBpZyp5PKiwaZau_0Ap3nZEZSOEX0LofiKwb1xerpVNO884HL-bDJKRQQfbU_WASXpgPl_EoxcTEIonbuPyvWh2QgmyDibsZW4Ngk4FB4/w239-h400/PXL_20230923_181144971.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's just a rooty, rocky, side-sloped beast no matter which way you choose to tackle it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I did have to run some, though, as it turned out Kendra was still hanging out with her camera.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3R9JfFdyFHZG0i7CFZZ76okVh3iNxPNDQ-rR8gHOudDz93jQiPWJmImX1zhj-ugS5olSqOcQ1AX4XktcZUOBeqlNIuQHbXtyHqNoR_fXGxeIkhT2IyYKfnGHJoZxyrqDci6DTiBtAHeD9Q4HlmR3ONuP8Qx_TrtWRGl33LSlqUSupQndJl45m-qqVz0/s1200/k2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1103" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3R9JfFdyFHZG0i7CFZZ76okVh3iNxPNDQ-rR8gHOudDz93jQiPWJmImX1zhj-ugS5olSqOcQ1AX4XktcZUOBeqlNIuQHbXtyHqNoR_fXGxeIkhT2IyYKfnGHJoZxyrqDci6DTiBtAHeD9Q4HlmR3ONuP8Qx_TrtWRGl33LSlqUSupQndJl45m-qqVz0/w368-h400/k2.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5hrs in and still just enjoying the heck out of the gorgeous trails!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The side slope felt sketchier moving counter-clockwise when it was death-to-the-<b>right</b> versus death-to-the-<b>left</b>, but I can't honestly gauge whether that was because I was a little more fatigued or if it's just a side preference.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehyphenhyphendT9FSx5bfeuhQz9JyMp20yemE9VFm1J5wZ9VHijhyG4b6atm9-7fMrf90f_eaAGrZ0pIDLUQ7ezXXae93lDsUaRz5BdcenawJDJCYai9SUV1n4mB3xEdFE1cf1Ovv6_iDEzmY9S0kzR9GjPu31-cbUryVBpkfxNrVOmfxQTG30Gm3lKARofWWtNEI/s1200/PXL_20230923_182641006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgehyphenhyphendT9FSx5bfeuhQz9JyMp20yemE9VFm1J5wZ9VHijhyG4b6atm9-7fMrf90f_eaAGrZ0pIDLUQ7ezXXae93lDsUaRz5BdcenawJDJCYai9SUV1n4mB3xEdFE1cf1Ovv6_iDEzmY9S0kzR9GjPu31-cbUryVBpkfxNrVOmfxQTG30Gm3lKARofWWtNEI/w249-h400/PXL_20230923_182641006.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Regardless, I ended up putting a hand to the uphill beside me for a sketchy bit, and would have been happier if I'd had a pole or two</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon we descended down to water level again, for the shoreline traverse of Bon Echo Pond.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2EYBmMHIe9yZUUmvHz0Tg8qKLar4Dpvh5Bwlj-5jz_C9OWStQ8YlhunsGU866LdPHZ12vzWzTPvLtEdfzA65cLdNwtBH2YEA2cNJnTM-Kya0Z-Ub-TAazmGsPuorEpKrquVHIpoCyUWXoNtc4pWOSfy983GR4bBXLNSzpRlc0ORHr3-3zscMBrGjB2U/s1200/PXL_20230923_183317074.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2EYBmMHIe9yZUUmvHz0Tg8qKLar4Dpvh5Bwlj-5jz_C9OWStQ8YlhunsGU866LdPHZ12vzWzTPvLtEdfzA65cLdNwtBH2YEA2cNJnTM-Kya0Z-Ub-TAazmGsPuorEpKrquVHIpoCyUWXoNtc4pWOSfy983GR4bBXLNSzpRlc0ORHr3-3zscMBrGjB2U/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_183317074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I quite enjoyed the different perspective that the counter-clockwise loop offered</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The boggy spot had got a bit more mooshed up by the passage of runners' and hikers' feet since our traipse through in the morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q9Wo2VyhMnrFlnTUbtLD5li6cH_FmkV0k4AHLnQGE8Cxi9iA_zgOzyYS-Dc3PZiOmYpH3z69d6Zxr06CQ018flNBpfnS6QlV8lzkQDKN9IpWNXTMlpjIpB4pWAw7U-h3S6Nx_ttYWYejlUr3c6-cFDBHrqNGAM7o21h4ObLcvBgoFN6ogzMHUkHu7Ws/s1200/PXL_20230923_184554251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="781" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0q9Wo2VyhMnrFlnTUbtLD5li6cH_FmkV0k4AHLnQGE8Cxi9iA_zgOzyYS-Dc3PZiOmYpH3z69d6Zxr06CQ018flNBpfnS6QlV8lzkQDKN9IpWNXTMlpjIpB4pWAw7U-h3S6Nx_ttYWYejlUr3c6-cFDBHrqNGAM7o21h4ObLcvBgoFN6ogzMHUkHu7Ws/w260-h400/PXL_20230923_184554251.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but was still perfectly possible to get through with dry feet.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Coming toward the end of the loop, I realized that I'd forgotten there was another rocky section (though slightly less boulder-laden) before you reach the doubletrack.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGZl2mBkqnFQwBiG0WsQSuKC2U0ZkcEISjIfVzJ0Xyi4NSYHeXGarGSds4tXG0A_UP6ngCUShaGBTA7mr80R1g8NBEoMKDNbJnxLHBnLlbFREIc3UmsNIRUjWITcjWpMvojriydffe6UO4Zq1-aXJ2Q_95gFn8cdCHr4Hy1pJlRGA-58Ig1FwmJ_ZH-Q/s1200/PXL_20230923_191145352.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKGZl2mBkqnFQwBiG0WsQSuKC2U0ZkcEISjIfVzJ0Xyi4NSYHeXGarGSds4tXG0A_UP6ngCUShaGBTA7mr80R1g8NBEoMKDNbJnxLHBnLlbFREIc3UmsNIRUjWITcjWpMvojriydffe6UO4Zq1-aXJ2Q_95gFn8cdCHr4Hy1pJlRGA-58Ig1FwmJ_ZH-Q/w244-h400/PXL_20230923_191145352.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right up to the very end</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon enough, though, I hit the doubletrack and began to run. I wanted a bit more water for the final ~3k (as I was out again - it was much warmer than the first time 'round, the high for the day being a summerlike 22c/72f), so I didn't feel too bad about leaving Dee and Nat to make the descent to the aid station in their own time, as it would take me a few moments to replenish my hand bottle.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Dd3GF5jJ9o1euhpTVgZHneP3sizS81nw_spZoPdIam1b4xNRvSXEz7FgIGKD-t0SILGExarOlNSd39QFX-E1G6wBLQItYKU0tuW0WEWMBlcorJzCkyk0NaIvEBgcQ0UeNwQwlA0aTWHoLo6B5WQUZyWdxbARzTCbNuQVhvvtQazpLgc1ZpCyWypmzw0/s1200/PXL_20230923_191621193.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Dd3GF5jJ9o1euhpTVgZHneP3sizS81nw_spZoPdIam1b4xNRvSXEz7FgIGKD-t0SILGExarOlNSd39QFX-E1G6wBLQItYKU0tuW0WEWMBlcorJzCkyk0NaIvEBgcQ0UeNwQwlA0aTWHoLo6B5WQUZyWdxbARzTCbNuQVhvvtQazpLgc1ZpCyWypmzw0/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_191621193.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not completely downhill from the end of the loop if you go counter-clockwise, but it's relatively flat and runnable</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I found my honey waiting for me at the trailhead, and cruised in to get my last bit of water.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNLu7rsZ8OM14b-z9gSx0JmUYGac5inKazbyIL3PwL1zxngX-GZ-kmoycH4TDX2rE9OFbjRQz0wr_4FOE_conWp0lw4kISQNtMy_jdgoSrG4FOgzeUvsBaujoeP6eFqZpWafh938Cs_u0TR7YspkKGCqrJRXcZHLtrO1D1tnEPjyFveVbBfQD6vFfboQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_191835425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1104" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNLu7rsZ8OM14b-z9gSx0JmUYGac5inKazbyIL3PwL1zxngX-GZ-kmoycH4TDX2rE9OFbjRQz0wr_4FOE_conWp0lw4kISQNtMy_jdgoSrG4FOgzeUvsBaujoeP6eFqZpWafh938Cs_u0TR7YspkKGCqrJRXcZHLtrO1D1tnEPjyFveVbBfQD6vFfboQ/w368-h400/PXL_20230923_191835425.jpg" width="368" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have also stolen one final smooch, though I'd be back out to this AS after I finished to volunteer until the end of the race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Once Dee and Nat were with me again, we ran along the road under Hwy 41 until we reached the entrance to the new trail back to the woodyard.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklSDEtHa9FGZhZvLsFClRGeAeaOat_R_YB_J9gP-p6WkEBmvWlukVhIUtRooiLpvZYkapYLJDJY2YYaBpJp6dkdtxmr86Pb_hD7k6CM5w9iA92WdBThfVwH_oXEBon2femNk17BEENR33NfXi84j066P9pPmoP9EVzUvzvGQXYV605Nldr6_78lDe3CE/s1200/PXL_20230923_192317244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="775" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklSDEtHa9FGZhZvLsFClRGeAeaOat_R_YB_J9gP-p6WkEBmvWlukVhIUtRooiLpvZYkapYLJDJY2YYaBpJp6dkdtxmr86Pb_hD7k6CM5w9iA92WdBThfVwH_oXEBon2femNk17BEENR33NfXi84j066P9pPmoP9EVzUvzvGQXYV605Nldr6_78lDe3CE/w259-h400/PXL_20230923_192317244.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking very ad-hoc from this end</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This, again, was quite slow going. While my legs had plenty of life left in them, the uneven ground was still strewn with rocks and riddled with hidden holes, so I walked most of its ~750m length.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-SuUineI154kfqHLEEw_yqaeyqCdHwY_oZPuWFCrwhVanXcdzgnRq_4AdZeYHRDuPpXjksOYIchWUwnn5n4mY7BB367AVRo0euNoJVc2mREvSjHDpWRGZkp-ewNuIuXSDcVwdUmlTGk0gN-yQHMW90rViMgPswsKBGK1ieWBIff75lxmuOT_i6HH2_s/s1200/PXL_20230923_192440626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="807" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-SuUineI154kfqHLEEw_yqaeyqCdHwY_oZPuWFCrwhVanXcdzgnRq_4AdZeYHRDuPpXjksOYIchWUwnn5n4mY7BB367AVRo0euNoJVc2mREvSjHDpWRGZkp-ewNuIuXSDcVwdUmlTGk0gN-yQHMW90rViMgPswsKBGK1ieWBIff75lxmuOT_i6HH2_s/w269-h400/PXL_20230923_192440626.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't need to snap an ankle now</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon we reached the woodyard, then out onto the paved road.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HHl30O4M9z_REoXNk-_hTE6laDA917iToeArmZ5O9IwBZziVd6mUpIeo34GQ4C3A0ghEBI77C80-aJP0SiWHfhempAg1ns-hkoy379uW428JmigqJfyLeTQUzfBflTdquU6pNsO-cOcbb28jF_NlJNYqtseJfQXFOT8acf0GN4AlKQmzMhyrzk73XLg/s1200/PXL_20230923_193507940.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="845" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6HHl30O4M9z_REoXNk-_hTE6laDA917iToeArmZ5O9IwBZziVd6mUpIeo34GQ4C3A0ghEBI77C80-aJP0SiWHfhempAg1ns-hkoy379uW428JmigqJfyLeTQUzfBflTdquU6pNsO-cOcbb28jF_NlJNYqtseJfQXFOT8acf0GN4AlKQmzMhyrzk73XLg/w281-h400/PXL_20230923_193507940.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The left-right jog, in reverse this time - turn at the multi-coloured teardrop flag</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDx1zjKPq1FTsQGt7jWM1Hrd5x7d1XclbXAEZSo6KUV022_LPhuH9g1EfPYmyg085-U7sv_zUsiY6dfsO6BO2TOditg_oenULJXOepmSyFHySZ0cuyIBhD7kQSW-iwU2PoercJnafyN1XyFlfycKkDLicHxQ89Ia5Cl61GFSMch7om8S2R5MrShEeCS2g/s1200/PXL_20230923_193516618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDx1zjKPq1FTsQGt7jWM1Hrd5x7d1XclbXAEZSo6KUV022_LPhuH9g1EfPYmyg085-U7sv_zUsiY6dfsO6BO2TOditg_oenULJXOepmSyFHySZ0cuyIBhD7kQSW-iwU2PoercJnafyN1XyFlfycKkDLicHxQ89Ia5Cl61GFSMch7om8S2R5MrShEeCS2g/w400-h249/PXL_20230923_193516618.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another look at the stunning fall colours</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We veered left off the day use road, back onto the Bon Echo Creek Trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IEtoN_G2lxpI5XekRDiGaMahF3PnsmPVnspJiB28-FluGK_FZjOgR9VAUapVHOSaKr5ZIkdeQ9De6oPfhGRn-vH-yOflIC2G01YdSNdz4sIAPjFs70Ac0v74ByDZ5GTduP30po21ioCfpH-zDQ0CAqbAqd34MVIBgIizYobqci7HNiGBWFKDWi2a9_s/s1200/PXL_20230923_193735082.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="838" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IEtoN_G2lxpI5XekRDiGaMahF3PnsmPVnspJiB28-FluGK_FZjOgR9VAUapVHOSaKr5ZIkdeQ9De6oPfhGRn-vH-yOflIC2G01YdSNdz4sIAPjFs70Ac0v74ByDZ5GTduP30po21ioCfpH-zDQ0CAqbAqd34MVIBgIizYobqci7HNiGBWFKDWi2a9_s/w279-h400/PXL_20230923_193735082.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where I'd barely been able to run for more than 10sec at a time in the morning</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was still feeling quite peppy, though it had now been six and a half hours since we set off.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV9Zq0I7jKWAQ_ubN2ghi6TgVo74c9WzjmHSJnAPxnI7CDX9_48F4A0Q-gjb8DyaB-hjlS8eu6PhyphenhyphenqJjqmuxazVCOEew4n8Zg0zNXTohm-5c-UfAaTKpzWgMlSVlf6GmcdKN3TzPNWkTnXKSQcbF4VSBUXbWhhVNQrTkh54IZg-mZ7pOZ2mzj7SbTDFU/s1200/PXL_20230923_193815455.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDV9Zq0I7jKWAQ_ubN2ghi6TgVo74c9WzjmHSJnAPxnI7CDX9_48F4A0Q-gjb8DyaB-hjlS8eu6PhyphenhyphenqJjqmuxazVCOEew4n8Zg0zNXTohm-5c-UfAaTKpzWgMlSVlf6GmcdKN3TzPNWkTnXKSQcbF4VSBUXbWhhVNQrTkh54IZg-mZ7pOZ2mzj7SbTDFU/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_193815455.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know you're an ultrarunner when you feel better at 29k than at 2k</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now that we had it to ourselves, I was able to better take in the lovely scenery of the trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v0eAzMSvXVrQuVLc4iVV5-tCzOD9rKBrdSBS8yDmWeCjvBF4TDPLK6-8GhuGq1a1wVfq2eC3jlnvPuqSM29yINdaoptoA5pcQwDTWNudvmmpsH0Z_DtJW175wg2fnnEuUW0i-K14gJDMfgLRpVef81VnUnnn4EGxi74qmXg58ykOv_Exgj8u29TO_hk/s1200/PXL_20230923_194131514.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1v0eAzMSvXVrQuVLc4iVV5-tCzOD9rKBrdSBS8yDmWeCjvBF4TDPLK6-8GhuGq1a1wVfq2eC3jlnvPuqSM29yINdaoptoA5pcQwDTWNudvmmpsH0Z_DtJW175wg2fnnEuUW0i-K14gJDMfgLRpVef81VnUnnn4EGxi74qmXg58ykOv_Exgj8u29TO_hk/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_194131514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Without getting in anyone's way, or having to step aside to let people pass</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Nat and Dee talked about how we should all finish together - the three skirts - as we'd spent the whole race together.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I_Syvrm15zMOy4nnCjKSacLGBO3GDjoIl7YyHTU3JbMvob9KL2kYEvxsx449y_Rq_3EYOXwhwa1nk-IWNHjHcg2PqiHoLpunXdRB28NyX7_PuIwKfolH6oJ2rVJby0CfMluDS7TGNULX2kBN4TBEv2fDD83Aq4BmZhJgap1H2HbNChRTMRS_5hMHneM/s1200/PXL_20230923_194351664.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="691" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5I_Syvrm15zMOy4nnCjKSacLGBO3GDjoIl7YyHTU3JbMvob9KL2kYEvxsx449y_Rq_3EYOXwhwa1nk-IWNHjHcg2PqiHoLpunXdRB28NyX7_PuIwKfolH6oJ2rVJby0CfMluDS7TGNULX2kBN4TBEv2fDD83Aq4BmZhJgap1H2HbNChRTMRS_5hMHneM/w230-h400/PXL_20230923_194351664.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was totally down for that - it had been a fun day with them!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Soon the end of the trail hove into view, with our first glance at Mazinaw Lake since morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeuqBerWNFV2XmyJUl2OxFj1TCW6HkP4rRlX7ZiGeVjzrfQGm7qcMEixFIJKOBcxar7Hs69w818mCnKA7UWVKwtma72jtUZLKW1AuhcsWQDMUFXTfqBZ07epINw7Vhyphenhyphenilt7WKDv-5uGRmZlQ3tUpnk9aVhQr0uhV0HMku9hwd1T4o8c7VkPpppcqgv2U/s1200/PXL_20230923_194933071.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="806" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeuqBerWNFV2XmyJUl2OxFj1TCW6HkP4rRlX7ZiGeVjzrfQGm7qcMEixFIJKOBcxar7Hs69w818mCnKA7UWVKwtma72jtUZLKW1AuhcsWQDMUFXTfqBZ07epINw7Vhyphenhyphenilt7WKDv-5uGRmZlQ3tUpnk9aVhQr0uhV0HMku9hwd1T4o8c7VkPpppcqgv2U/w269-h400/PXL_20230923_194933071.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It still seems weird to me that a race in Bon Echo doesn't include a single view of Mazinaw Rock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Coming off the trail, I settled into an easy trot, but was quickly annoyed when an uncontrolled dog came running straight toward me - I wasn't sure if I could avoid kicking it, as it came right for my legs. I swerved as best I could, saying to its pursuing owner "This is not an off-leash area", to which she retorted that yes, it was. In either case I was too far past her now to continue the discussion, and headed in to the finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMefsmFaIRt25GxGdyrsk0b8ztEPXGCTcx0TMGI5rUpxP8tLujR9FRtlhhmd86NDqpVEZGvHU_zQXDcaj5_thsuzFHg1NvMqZq2Op8hAHvsbjc6knfRDiX7OwpJCNKa6BXnhUI9UzxAmfucMtzpVvvI2TsIxws1Y7-JlvgoxyqSiaLV87WmqdPCBYrtcE/s1200/PXL_20230923_195115532.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1200" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMefsmFaIRt25GxGdyrsk0b8ztEPXGCTcx0TMGI5rUpxP8tLujR9FRtlhhmd86NDqpVEZGvHU_zQXDcaj5_thsuzFHg1NvMqZq2Op8hAHvsbjc6knfRDiX7OwpJCNKa6BXnhUI9UzxAmfucMtzpVvvI2TsIxws1Y7-JlvgoxyqSiaLV87WmqdPCBYrtcE/w400-h250/PXL_20230923_195115532.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chute was in view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I ended up coming in about a minute ahead of Nat & Dee, partly because I was rolling along pretty well on the final grassy section, and partly so I could set myself up to get a photo of them coming in together.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrZsVDCSQQ7pFTomOGtodOhQ9fwmHtj9QhWtNZe4wpeN07SSA8tG8DXTTI5lP9fRX1cNRD-7RqPw8rC9TtNuT0bNnxI_RQXFovcZ9-2E9r3LNLcB1WGZUrvy0ZLJFRNhJeIh1cQy83NilgqwZFlBO6_xQbNqKNrpWB1-jbgR2a9W76hV24Rsmzc-UlYo/s1200/PXL_20230923_195214227.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1200" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrZsVDCSQQ7pFTomOGtodOhQ9fwmHtj9QhWtNZe4wpeN07SSA8tG8DXTTI5lP9fRX1cNRD-7RqPw8rC9TtNuT0bNnxI_RQXFovcZ9-2E9r3LNLcB1WGZUrvy0ZLJFRNhJeIh1cQy83NilgqwZFlBO6_xQbNqKNrpWB1-jbgR2a9W76hV24Rsmzc-UlYo/w400-h297/PXL_20230923_195214227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're the real rockstars - I was just their goofy tour guide</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Official time: 6h51m44s @ 13:45/km</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>59/63 O/A - 29/33 Women - 11/12 W40-49</b></p><p style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/55p3syvknrqhy4ej/results?subEvent=178638&page=1">Official results are here</a> - <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/12090495396">Garmin data is here</a>)</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD3-HIN4ZNpEL2xFG0qt9YpXcjwA-327irNrqpc001rGx0lghaOO3CVUA46zUPtd0zZEwJfINmcwtMnHHpZvr5G2W1XQdm2XTLL8XPZnldqRAgos9oZ_sIGNYWEv1BJeLAkzK8b5KPBqmaY-OvBLrzoxuJvVvUHxqtPBZDgYNkx361_0kARZ0mSvN6bU/s1200/PXL_20230923_153940124.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="705" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD3-HIN4ZNpEL2xFG0qt9YpXcjwA-327irNrqpc001rGx0lghaOO3CVUA46zUPtd0zZEwJfINmcwtMnHHpZvr5G2W1XQdm2XTLL8XPZnldqRAgos9oZ_sIGNYWEv1BJeLAkzK8b5KPBqmaY-OvBLrzoxuJvVvUHxqtPBZDgYNkx361_0kARZ0mSvN6bU/w235-h400/PXL_20230923_153940124.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(This was at the turn-around on Essens, just after we pinned on our buttons - let's just call it our finish photo together)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I got my medal and grabbed my bag - plus an Orange Crush, which I haven't had in years! - and got the obligatory post-race pic.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss5eDV_ir4iAIoYgAKvZPfba6VXOsmrReJSvWFH_wPPweYkMNryD76K8Na5VZODCLT3pc4QNvA7weHLrJlgrfyh_w_5wvMgvjNTKMfZD2B_UhenUx1WPHI98Ao4kZIEKxPAFyMgBUHNar98ABq4CIiSRg5Frm2V2SU1Yl7sGiEZsX-3Lmqe45SCYbpdQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_201024297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss5eDV_ir4iAIoYgAKvZPfba6VXOsmrReJSvWFH_wPPweYkMNryD76K8Na5VZODCLT3pc4QNvA7weHLrJlgrfyh_w_5wvMgvjNTKMfZD2B_UhenUx1WPHI98Ao4kZIEKxPAFyMgBUHNar98ABq4CIiSRg5Frm2V2SU1Yl7sGiEZsX-3Lmqe45SCYbpdQ/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_201024297.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind had really picked up - I was glad we weren't trying to paddle today!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>With all my gear from the start/finish, I started the walk back to our campsite so I could change out of my wet gear and grab a shower at the comfort station - I'd providently left toiletries and a towel at the campsite (since Tank had the car at AS1), plus my bag of clothes was in the tent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx0e1QeWjTdbAeuZtZu6KPJ8laMRmt59WnDhn8Iiu5tMPUPzbqXCewMBx3QKBFM32jfyNHgHrge_n-w30BgXj-s3GcLSLraivZf-1aJ4T21MRejQaOuEHsM6v3ewY1rIU0BF2_VyS7oRiBlFtIqWztAt6lFWpAiypto0oR2l1c0GgIu7Klv8v1zjq2-M/s1200/PXL_20230923_203333439.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNx0e1QeWjTdbAeuZtZu6KPJ8laMRmt59WnDhn8Iiu5tMPUPzbqXCewMBx3QKBFM32jfyNHgHrge_n-w30BgXj-s3GcLSLraivZf-1aJ4T21MRejQaOuEHsM6v3ewY1rIU0BF2_VyS7oRiBlFtIqWztAt6lFWpAiypto0oR2l1c0GgIu7Klv8v1zjq2-M/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_203333439.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a couple of shortcuts, but followed a good chunk of the Shoreline Trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As I was leaving the race site, though, I saw the sign: "Dogs may be off-leash in this area". <i style="font-weight: bold;">Whoops</i> - I felt really foolish, and wished I could have apologized to the lady whose dog ran at me. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCOXXW8IxwwI-WJYZCM8sX8VvwJAP4pGTkUjqC_5n4NpJeXezE16D3h0-CF1U1155s65-OjMrQE4CoCTx9n0vzwkW9mFxdjeaQzlYGzhCyZiCNWHezHJCvCXOvj5IXFORoBdFu0sWdEkKabzugr-a6G5-Jxq6XSZp3ob3ante-Brb14deLp5E01Nv5H4/s1200/PXL_20230923_203041328.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCOXXW8IxwwI-WJYZCM8sX8VvwJAP4pGTkUjqC_5n4NpJeXezE16D3h0-CF1U1155s65-OjMrQE4CoCTx9n0vzwkW9mFxdjeaQzlYGzhCyZiCNWHezHJCvCXOvj5IXFORoBdFu0sWdEkKabzugr-a6G5-Jxq6XSZp3ob3ante-Brb14deLp5E01Nv5H4/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_203041328.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She wasn't there when I was walking back, but Mazinaw Rock was in all its glory</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Changing out of my sweaty kit after the ~2km stroll back to camp, it was like I'd barely run at all: my feet emerged from my shoes with nary a blister or hotspot, and just a bit of dust from the dry trails. I found a spot of blood on the back shoulder of my shirt where a days-old mosquito bite had been rubbed raw by my vest, but it wasn't painful and I had no other chafing at all. It felt strange to finish a race with a still-functional body, and without much real fatigue. If I'd needed to do another 10km, I wouldn't have flinched.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRSXW-pykh-OhfODnJuu_893VzP3ql95tbjFzR4199WenMHp3lNz9JQ7_KDmokXl12XvIK-ti9dKdlZKc2dDcJWiNTdf2KOa4Tl4Xp1mBzLNaunNyC-wLhEAtHfcAaUwMXh7KSIotiDK4GeVe9byHqcU-fa878QzBBqnZumeDVgVxBm05PYPN2B6SCJQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_205512174.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRSXW-pykh-OhfODnJuu_893VzP3ql95tbjFzR4199WenMHp3lNz9JQ7_KDmokXl12XvIK-ti9dKdlZKc2dDcJWiNTdf2KOa4Tl4Xp1mBzLNaunNyC-wLhEAtHfcAaUwMXh7KSIotiDK4GeVe9byHqcU-fa878QzBBqnZumeDVgVxBm05PYPN2B6SCJQ/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_205512174.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As it stood, though, I had volunteering to do after I got cleaned up!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Tank came to pick me up - I messaged him when I was getting dried off, and we both arrived at the campsite at the same time - which worked out well, as that meant I could grab a packet of instant noodle soup from the car to make some hot food. I had the stove at camp with me, but nothing to put on it without the vehicle! I made the soup plus a cup of hot chocolate, and carefully sipped while Tank drove us both back out to the aid station. As it happened, there were very few runners left on course by the time we got there (around 6pm, with the race cut-off at 8pm), and within an hour the last one was finished.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jdfmIfZECD_ubPJfQloWaUKuAlZZ00Jx3xTFnaQzBJ9Tq6wemsM0EX_h8_SZRJQA6jhYfTDdyM4AfYD6I2Uoe_G7fCJZe10UxtlwPO7gWU9R_DqGYZaM4tgbnjqp9RS1E4E7czVS7ez63_xGQaB8MPyc7BPJQ1AYoAD1k-tUrlyUYuSPCXR0eL3i_xE/s1200/PXL_20230923_225318947.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jdfmIfZECD_ubPJfQloWaUKuAlZZ00Jx3xTFnaQzBJ9Tq6wemsM0EX_h8_SZRJQA6jhYfTDdyM4AfYD6I2Uoe_G7fCJZe10UxtlwPO7gWU9R_DqGYZaM4tgbnjqp9RS1E4E7czVS7ez63_xGQaB8MPyc7BPJQ1AYoAD1k-tUrlyUYuSPCXR0eL3i_xE/w225-h400/PXL_20230923_225318947.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I mostly just sat in a chair at the AS and yelled "WOO" a lot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When the last runner was done, we packed everything up with the help of the two other volunteers, and loaded the perishable foods (that we didn't want to leave in the open for animals to get into; that's not good for them, or for the park) into our car to drive back to the day use area.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5az5wIPfCiFFaFVTh9pEgcnR5TP2o88Z4lYbkpYLfeKku1o3a-f6cii2D2imGAW7kYFyZasOgcPYHET7JiHrOm9h89O0Loyx2uqaeD7LR2WNZI7yxqelLTkw2e0P1m6OlGb4L7nwumFfPaQ57uIyXFOxt1pvIqQgi2-jSzDDbSqCQ7Y82SOCmqwLbQ/s1200/PXL_20230923_230440175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="996" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b5az5wIPfCiFFaFVTh9pEgcnR5TP2o88Z4lYbkpYLfeKku1o3a-f6cii2D2imGAW7kYFyZasOgcPYHET7JiHrOm9h89O0Loyx2uqaeD7LR2WNZI7yxqelLTkw2e0P1m6OlGb4L7nwumFfPaQ57uIyXFOxt1pvIqQgi2-jSzDDbSqCQ7Y82SOCmqwLbQ/w333-h400/PXL_20230923_230440175.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing this beautiful young deer beside the day use road on our way</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The sun was setting by the time everything was torn down and loaded up in the van, and the day's heat was rapidly slipping away.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYTIRYL4fUY3tSpY3Gw0O3tnUVvnbIN5DfB34jysq0N02KIqVXAKPEOGl_d_aa9LiB2D3xr5dSPZjaVSQ_doEfYyxqzH_hel5W-xiRJGejjkOTNvJXHBOVC-LIJlgpKz3jZPsY80Eg7oLpZJoLPDkb4f_DOQLa2cME1drd87jDUZe6cyYH_N8Wt5TWQY/s1200/PXL_20230923_231303041.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYTIRYL4fUY3tSpY3Gw0O3tnUVvnbIN5DfB34jysq0N02KIqVXAKPEOGl_d_aa9LiB2D3xr5dSPZjaVSQ_doEfYyxqzH_hel5W-xiRJGejjkOTNvJXHBOVC-LIJlgpKz3jZPsY80Eg7oLpZJoLPDkb4f_DOQLa2cME1drd87jDUZe6cyYH_N8Wt5TWQY/w400-h225/PXL_20230923_231303041.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The thin cloud cover made for a gorgeous sunset, but did nothing to trap warmth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Back to the site after thanking the volunteers and organizers - all the wonderful people who work so hard to put on these fantastic events, chopping wood and carrying water so we can go play in beautiful places - to make dinner and light a fire.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevoaHDIbYq_3XuvyE27C_Cx6rUZ2w9FRLmka_6Eq7RFXCD1ETtVColBmkptxAY2u0eV6s5zSnADce2e1I4-c2EIAI30emFSZaKmQF0ObS0LZ6xqa8jj4ChjknCL36t_oXin2Zl1ldauOuwkK4e57xnqfIBe3_oLlj_4NC8qsdms7e04Han-qgAb5UzVM/s1200/PXL_20230923_235643337.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="995" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevoaHDIbYq_3XuvyE27C_Cx6rUZ2w9FRLmka_6Eq7RFXCD1ETtVColBmkptxAY2u0eV6s5zSnADce2e1I4-c2EIAI30emFSZaKmQF0ObS0LZ6xqa8jj4ChjknCL36t_oXin2Zl1ldauOuwkK4e57xnqfIBe3_oLlj_4NC8qsdms7e04Han-qgAb5UzVM/w331-h400/PXL_20230923_235643337.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got <i style="font-weight: bold;">great</i> firewood at the park this year, too - nice and dry, but doesn't burn too quickly!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was gone midnight by the time I got to bed, but I awoke long before my alarm in the half-light of morning. Since I needed a trip to the comfort station, I ended up wide awake, so made myself a cup of hot chocolate and went for one last walk to the boat launch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOm-qAwafDqI22ee6zh78-_2O1ntUqm01HzltxZmsX_6yOi1B6FJo5NG4cyPK-41m1hBsaxTMlY6RMg3rXDYqh7LvTqnbefko-IHSuF2n1mI4CJdsSt2-OMIEUCnnYEO1e_6y2GjBkF_T51ihV88FsXmXmWFv6Rntp6RWy5-f2tAWkbg1E1MiNqQxWyM/s1200/PXL_20230924_114057978.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="916" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOm-qAwafDqI22ee6zh78-_2O1ntUqm01HzltxZmsX_6yOi1B6FJo5NG4cyPK-41m1hBsaxTMlY6RMg3rXDYqh7LvTqnbefko-IHSuF2n1mI4CJdsSt2-OMIEUCnnYEO1e_6y2GjBkF_T51ihV88FsXmXmWFv6Rntp6RWy5-f2tAWkbg1E1MiNqQxWyM/w305-h400/PXL_20230924_114057978.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't even have time to steep a cup of tea - I'd have missed it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiuVTUDh7xoxjauqAklEi7FyZ_lkVowfcN3cIk73CKxyswo197MlXgwGWS4pdk2zi29alY5yoFsFdsiNI0pECwNaobllPD_Qkmx_fbqJaCiJ7Li27Lzcs-NjN-eA-d4Vvyd9pz8uWKQQOjItTYoSmPbBSIQz4qFX5_mHF_Amv5cIr3ax0rRy6eIElKSs/s1200/PXL_20230924_114817421.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiuVTUDh7xoxjauqAklEi7FyZ_lkVowfcN3cIk73CKxyswo197MlXgwGWS4pdk2zi29alY5yoFsFdsiNI0pECwNaobllPD_Qkmx_fbqJaCiJ7Li27Lzcs-NjN-eA-d4Vvyd9pz8uWKQQOjItTYoSmPbBSIQz4qFX5_mHF_Amv5cIr3ax0rRy6eIElKSs/w400-h225/PXL_20230924_114817421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No mist this morning - it was too breezy for it to form</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Then it was back to camp one final time, to make breakfast and pack up. I can't think of a more wonderful way to have spent an extra-long weekend, and I look forward to next year, though I know the course is likely to hold far more challenge!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0XnvFvDt5sLD3-LX_WpwsJqttm7rtFam_xboH5p0hF8x1gvEr-SuwFG_4f4vEEYQukV-mY5rTLidx22o2dyrlRSqCzAGBdGTRaRDZbjKs4ciM-HwCjNHbebEJcPRarGJSh3N5w_unNI1_mOIUrc1MqYME-ZkOViU3aA8T2TtBJLjT4JdqpUZ05KRJ9w/s1200/Clipboard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1200" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0XnvFvDt5sLD3-LX_WpwsJqttm7rtFam_xboH5p0hF8x1gvEr-SuwFG_4f4vEEYQukV-mY5rTLidx22o2dyrlRSqCzAGBdGTRaRDZbjKs4ciM-HwCjNHbebEJcPRarGJSh3N5w_unNI1_mOIUrc1MqYME-ZkOViU3aA8T2TtBJLjT4JdqpUZ05KRJ9w/w400-h349/Clipboard.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the campground roads of the Hardwood Hills are replaced by the Abes Loop of the backpacking trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I don't know about you, but I'll be there with poles on!</p></div>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-4924093753403610822023-09-29T22:34:00.002-04:002023-09-29T22:34:16.390-04:00There seems to be some delay<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1Zltrrzz-8AqPeEzzVe-gjWupRO-XQJmxh7g_n7-KeMY4jVh_dNMH8CkPH3gMGMGTs6MQRdrEkQPzJlQDN8CMnCE034KdhopnvWfjgVPyHjW1T_0A7-p_XGQbB4dIXAHqpG1anS9rlSP6cXsTrQCmloknZchsirPxJ6Cc6EVX5mONv4Lq6bW1NsrfxM/s2688/PXL_20230924_114015735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp1Zltrrzz-8AqPeEzzVe-gjWupRO-XQJmxh7g_n7-KeMY4jVh_dNMH8CkPH3gMGMGTs6MQRdrEkQPzJlQDN8CMnCE034KdhopnvWfjgVPyHjW1T_0A7-p_XGQbB4dIXAHqpG1anS9rlSP6cXsTrQCmloknZchsirPxJ6Cc6EVX5mONv4Lq6bW1NsrfxM/w400-h225/PXL_20230924_114015735.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We appreciate your patience </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p> Hope to have the Monster of Mazinaw race report for you next week..</p>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-28708989702447446292023-09-22T11:51:00.001-04:002023-09-22T11:51:00.137-04:00C'est Bon<p>After three years of waiting, Monster of Mazinaw is finally a go!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhRq7MfUjqWailMntOLiyX87APa4Uuxdk0hJFbCJlGUT0G8VZYI4TnnrW94-syZLUddxbFZ4p7l2ZiYSQsGdYt7WXi4JrnPgxN6ulKtX8snYcUyyHjMrhqPKKTi-K7lsLQK3nGDLFI2PV04OLhLtjEj_HZ8ZJ1CusxWVnyXmbsftOZamN1KaMTojl0iY/s2688/PXL_20230917_192746351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhRq7MfUjqWailMntOLiyX87APa4Uuxdk0hJFbCJlGUT0G8VZYI4TnnrW94-syZLUddxbFZ4p7l2ZiYSQsGdYt7WXi4JrnPgxN6ulKtX8snYcUyyHjMrhqPKKTi-K7lsLQK3nGDLFI2PV04OLhLtjEj_HZ8ZJ1CusxWVnyXmbsftOZamN1KaMTojl0iY/w400-h225/PXL_20230917_192746351.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With views of Mazinaw Rock that will make these cliffs along the Grand River look like nothing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I've been looking forward to this since it was first announced in 2019, as Bon Echo Provincial Park is one of my favourite places in the world. While I'm registered for the 60k (the longest distance available), I plan to drop to the 30k - it will still let me see the whole course, but hopefully won't be quite as hard on me.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbnQsF9Asg7TsDMRyOE-dHvaNLg8ZXwkZoRhuCS69MMf1hPXhgSQYWqjC6qvbfZ8zQ5cprh4Y8Jt3vtQFbqRVpFiNahPQdM2ezwk_a9ebpnvm5uAHIhqNxEoHDueg7rpSEd8Ys99r1oUDjMAcOTMAAyISP0bxuBrKo-ckUOsM56QCrg72aY_IkoIxhzc/s2688/PXL_20230917_184748790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbnQsF9Asg7TsDMRyOE-dHvaNLg8ZXwkZoRhuCS69MMf1hPXhgSQYWqjC6qvbfZ8zQ5cprh4Y8Jt3vtQFbqRVpFiNahPQdM2ezwk_a9ebpnvm5uAHIhqNxEoHDueg7rpSEd8Ys99r1oUDjMAcOTMAAyISP0bxuBrKo-ckUOsM56QCrg72aY_IkoIxhzc/w225-h400/PXL_20230917_184748790.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trails around here aren't the only things that have taken some damage</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I suffered a minor back injury in late August - just as I was starting to get back on my feet after Tally - during a hockey game. Some physio got me feeling much better, until the very last play of another hockey game.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8dpDMKe82k" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q8dpDMKe82k"></iframe></div><br /><p>The first injury happened early in the game, and I was able to keep playing; this time, I could barely get back to my feet after collapsing to the ice. I managed to very carefully get to the dressing room and change out of my gear, but on Saturday I could barely walk and the pain was relentless. I tried my inversion table, my TENS machine, stretching - nothing would settle it down. I finally resorted to some strong anti-inflammatory drugs we had on hand from when Tank broke his hand in February, and those gave me enough relief to exist without constant whimpering.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1pFXu_k1XrMZ4uF3_eOCazGUId9CUuuTLaOaIpzMEYmeoIONYv3UTJOW53z4Y-YXAevR4nPpCKC_qXA6eYd1nThQC3J5H0wM_d-B9WAAyOY6j-S6wxzsXvSTJvvNkJYN8U6iux4Z0YBOVnyyXT6btwplPBS9aTjofUQgiNK0ft-cSqq-S8hwKmlR3Cs/s2688/PXL_20230916_151208654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1pFXu_k1XrMZ4uF3_eOCazGUId9CUuuTLaOaIpzMEYmeoIONYv3UTJOW53z4Y-YXAevR4nPpCKC_qXA6eYd1nThQC3J5H0wM_d-B9WAAyOY6j-S6wxzsXvSTJvvNkJYN8U6iux4Z0YBOVnyyXT6btwplPBS9aTjofUQgiNK0ft-cSqq-S8hwKmlR3Cs/w225-h400/PXL_20230916_151208654.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It would still be a couple of days before I'd attempt even a tiny run again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This particular injury seems to be more persistent than those I've had in the past, partly because I think it arose from some changes in the way my pelvis and spine interact after some chiropractic treatment the week before the hockey game in which I was originally hurt. Trying to unwind a chronic issue that's been going on for several years doesn't necessarily come without consequences, and I still have a lot of stiffness and soreness when I get out of bed each morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQBjaYtmY6Yly9C1UJUH-GxzUbC_NOP4Hs7JTBeIx4YnSjiTJDeEuiPNsHFFkoTPoLUveoHoQxR-WDtEVjK5cl-om-sdWXy4MGi4JZSF6mS-FpBQFQMy5G42KIgUZRdfxvqco5p5su8ehOYgJ_UKO8kCPLokMJdCti-cOpY2WpCd0rYEKJaDzE78zs0Y/s2688/PXL_20230917_220918385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQBjaYtmY6Yly9C1UJUH-GxzUbC_NOP4Hs7JTBeIx4YnSjiTJDeEuiPNsHFFkoTPoLUveoHoQxR-WDtEVjK5cl-om-sdWXy4MGi4JZSF6mS-FpBQFQMy5G42KIgUZRdfxvqco5p5su8ehOYgJ_UKO8kCPLokMJdCti-cOpY2WpCd0rYEKJaDzE78zs0Y/w225-h400/PXL_20230917_220918385.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have, however, successfully managed to play hockey again since <i><b>without</b></i> exploding!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So, given that the 60k course will just be 2 laps of the 30k loop (that will essentially cover all of the open trail in the park - most of the Abes & Essens backpacking trail is still closed due to damage from the derecho and tornado in late spring of 2022 which cancelled last year's race), I think the right thing to do is drop to the 30k. I won't have to worry about time cutoffs or darkness, so I'll have plenty of time to enjoy the course and take loads of photos, and I will hopefully emerge a little less beat up at the other end.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD0RfKaxItbI0rYXOZiZ9wLBO5s7AaWvBLcILyFEw83F4GPKsiXqnItHW7V2DS0qLzE5dYb9-ZBQlmwTHNxgBRuf3_9RxwwxDm28I1YMXhVKiid782Va2r3aJhTsDF4MEqskAqdbwpa4j9BMz8LeBC8ORc2CEb_Q0gR74RlbjZkkPMKuof877wnwR35o/s2688/PXL_20230916_151558170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD0RfKaxItbI0rYXOZiZ9wLBO5s7AaWvBLcILyFEw83F4GPKsiXqnItHW7V2DS0qLzE5dYb9-ZBQlmwTHNxgBRuf3_9RxwwxDm28I1YMXhVKiid782Va2r3aJhTsDF4MEqskAqdbwpa4j9BMz8LeBC8ORc2CEb_Q0gR74RlbjZkkPMKuof877wnwR35o/w225-h400/PXL_20230916_151558170.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It will be a mix of camp roads and really gnarly trails</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We'll actually already be in the park by the time you read this - I'm writing in the car at midday on Thursday as we drive up, with hopes to get out for a paddle on Mazinaw Lake tomorrow (when the post is scheduled to publish) and maybe a hike of the Cliffside Trail. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDcO75SqWj0vG5HGlW3COFAgrIaSwZ6RuMtjcjWS6HAa9SDALIOXv_nZ7sT_TODVTBx09PyP0lrQMyjj5U-M6wRp5wIXxzcjHXEIs06V6ZhtFmVyOb6rpX8P5oyZVxtDBLqnTi5vV4jaGlpPeVY3K9H2qSxJJJ8VDU5N8hvwJXCo_RwOyDYLqwp4M0B4/s2688/PXL_20230917_193856528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDcO75SqWj0vG5HGlW3COFAgrIaSwZ6RuMtjcjWS6HAa9SDALIOXv_nZ7sT_TODVTBx09PyP0lrQMyjj5U-M6wRp5wIXxzcjHXEIs06V6ZhtFmVyOb6rpX8P5oyZVxtDBLqnTi5vV4jaGlpPeVY3K9H2qSxJJJ8VDU5N8hvwJXCo_RwOyDYLqwp4M0B4/w400-h225/PXL_20230917_193856528.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which will also put our local trail views to shame, lovely as they are</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>All being well, I won't wear myself out or damage myself too much before the race, and then afterward I hope to be able to join Tank at Aid Station 1 at the head of the Shield Trail to cheer on those who are brave enough to take on a second lap of Bon Echo's rugged beauty.</p><p>Me, though? I've got a hockey game the next day..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBx7f1kEVHqRhHe6StZmHgG15Wr0vn4JJxT6FBZ0YqleFJnFflMCedWURkfpVk4U0y1fXeZEkTrcAl0ikq2K1Oiq_ym85xCpWpA6fzl2RAxIbihXXVV9HATvxjaD5PKrbfhHHJ5o0IyvKFWiwMlJ9CNLY2xLKC3A7D7qwLQyuqDww3dytIA75sdd2wNA/s2688/PXL_20230916_151839082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBx7f1kEVHqRhHe6StZmHgG15Wr0vn4JJxT6FBZ0YqleFJnFflMCedWURkfpVk4U0y1fXeZEkTrcAl0ikq2K1Oiq_ym85xCpWpA6fzl2RAxIbihXXVV9HATvxjaD5PKrbfhHHJ5o0IyvKFWiwMlJ9CNLY2xLKC3A7D7qwLQyuqDww3dytIA75sdd2wNA/w225-h400/PXL_20230916_151839082.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..so I'll be taking it easy.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If you're one of the 250 of us lucky enough to have a spot in either the 10k, 30k, or 60k, I'll hope to see you out there! If not, I'll be back next week to tell you all about it.</p>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-67536348326468755112023-09-15T20:09:00.002-04:002023-09-15T20:09:10.754-04:00May the forest be with you<p> We weren't going back this year..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F8DXuKuTOdFZIivermfWbfAhidF4aJLHMAhEoN4EZD5Panr3t89XqHd_Gq-Mf6K9B_i8mF7Ni7FfYcHiI8XKq1lXQ3Ucr-TuKyW4hSQsQY8O9eKQw60UtjMJ-OKg88Rhf5VvdeigLSG5IJW-vTOLZi5dvY_jwF3QYMl8am6kDDF3admzvnI6brAKsNE/s1200/PXL_20230909_222113921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F8DXuKuTOdFZIivermfWbfAhidF4aJLHMAhEoN4EZD5Panr3t89XqHd_Gq-Mf6K9B_i8mF7Ni7FfYcHiI8XKq1lXQ3Ucr-TuKyW4hSQsQY8O9eKQw60UtjMJ-OKg88Rhf5VvdeigLSG5IJW-vTOLZi5dvY_jwF3QYMl8am6kDDF3admzvnI6brAKsNE/w400-h223/PXL_20230909_222113921.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but who could resist?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>A new experience this year: rather than helping out at AS2 with Merle & the gang, we were asked to take on the challenge of heading up AS4 - the first aid station on the 50mi & 100mi course, just 3km from the start (also the final AS for the 50k, with 3km to the finish). We arrived Friday afternoon to go find our spot, where the forest/race staff had dropped off the supplies of hard goods.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH40bAHl-Ydzu-EjAt63GESd9yL03fmWzKObBaG4J9kBuY4ycDwfuIbuvcIkSH5JmsrKhi-Xcy78kb2aPMX4bxVcm1uaUfxhk9nrMsPeCD5O0O-xqkM4hGug0oAXAs1McNQ5y5PZ93Fs2ldwgMXClCHgvChPIvtUMsgiU9aXQeYGR77bVlaerxoZ-cj0A/s1200/PXL_20230908_200606950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH40bAHl-Ydzu-EjAt63GESd9yL03fmWzKObBaG4J9kBuY4ycDwfuIbuvcIkSH5JmsrKhi-Xcy78kb2aPMX4bxVcm1uaUfxhk9nrMsPeCD5O0O-xqkM4hGug0oAXAs1McNQ5y5PZ93Fs2ldwgMXClCHgvChPIvtUMsgiU9aXQeYGR77bVlaerxoZ-cj0A/w400-h225/PXL_20230908_200606950.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We set up the 10x20 pavilion tent, 3 tables, rubbish bins, plastic chairs, plus our own tent - our luxury accommodations for the weekend.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>After picking up our bins of perishable foods (that needed to be stored in our car overnight to avoid them being raided by critters; we had to set up camp first to have enough room in the vehicle), Tank headed off to the pasta dinner and I hung out at the AS to make my own dinner.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE8vHYeYqvN7h3XTN3W5aFWYzZrbegU0I8n1U4x708tdQMLzFO1BFHT3rT38SCa-AxAmdF7zg8UVdCEd8T5yvfrunkz9FqhVaVCth6M5EnAh-cbRoD0CL75gkN860ysgRIfmE-ZG-QSO8aQftmL62SYFDJ7QUINf2xMIgBn50-BTCJa_d8DbLZcL_UkY/s2688/PXL_20230908_222006317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE8vHYeYqvN7h3XTN3W5aFWYzZrbegU0I8n1U4x708tdQMLzFO1BFHT3rT38SCa-AxAmdF7zg8UVdCEd8T5yvfrunkz9FqhVaVCth6M5EnAh-cbRoD0CL75gkN860ysgRIfmE-ZG-QSO8aQftmL62SYFDJ7QUINf2xMIgBn50-BTCJa_d8DbLZcL_UkY/w225-h400/PXL_20230908_222006317.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately I'm pretty well versed in camp cookery (and kept it really simple)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I may also have spent a bit of time working on another item for Tanker's chosen aid station theme..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBNG3RRaCQc8o4jG3PtEha9FMGDVkyl8W7HTifCqxzB_Mp4fW1FsTosMyd2RmB7dsPi4Runrb5pGWS1qdQBSdu4qx_ysCHFmUzchWkvHooo-QfJBrKc3-v7VEVfKR8QkRvG66ipYgNFVfGggLedvS29LPqRPShjh0ONgab19NIOkHSJPPAez4JcHU6GQ/s1200/PXL_20230909_020125628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="919" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBNG3RRaCQc8o4jG3PtEha9FMGDVkyl8W7HTifCqxzB_Mp4fW1FsTosMyd2RmB7dsPi4Runrb5pGWS1qdQBSdu4qx_ysCHFmUzchWkvHooo-QfJBrKc3-v7VEVfKR8QkRvG66ipYgNFVfGggLedvS29LPqRPShjh0ONgab19NIOkHSJPPAez4JcHU6GQ/w306-h400/PXL_20230909_020125628.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which then got hung up in the pavilion tent.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I made a little addition to Tanker's usual aid station sign, too..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP8tWkx8j7cowpSWU00j8EkwTkR7Fqv0Bo4Gig6f3xUPurIMpKmAXTIVNuuqVJ0VDdVI5BHnTgdpzTTjo98mOPB326juuxKGfXIRvwDU8m-WVY68ZQUJbcv7qr_iPQQMP7eDaGfOdwTeTOJ_BdCLx4G84TgqvxYx24ZiFonNWEx_tYUjzwkIYiE8BGqM/s1200/PXL_20230908_202659359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirP8tWkx8j7cowpSWU00j8EkwTkR7Fqv0Bo4Gig6f3xUPurIMpKmAXTIVNuuqVJ0VDdVI5BHnTgdpzTTjo98mOPB326juuxKGfXIRvwDU8m-WVY68ZQUJbcv7qr_iPQQMP7eDaGfOdwTeTOJ_BdCLx4G84TgqvxYx24ZiFonNWEx_tYUjzwkIYiE8BGqM/w400-h225/PXL_20230908_202659359.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It went up along with some other signs I'd made the weekend before, unsure of how they'd end up placed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tcenb7h-wVFeyVOOyWZjAvCuxO8KlXWLfgJn9evwcCGKnYDsjxKQGEMCRIA4gEJaEB7b8MeQBf4x33I8J3Wn_Fvl-ztaQG9ZCN30bPnoYwCP4g6D44UVUk_Nf8NT2RjFxasjX6ZfBoHVMX56S6ergKLQ-09I8aD4_2Qh_zb6ipOYfKqhvPY7WQWt8pQ/s989/PXL_20230908_202623936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="989" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tcenb7h-wVFeyVOOyWZjAvCuxO8KlXWLfgJn9evwcCGKnYDsjxKQGEMCRIA4gEJaEB7b8MeQBf4x33I8J3Wn_Fvl-ztaQG9ZCN30bPnoYwCP4g6D44UVUk_Nf8NT2RjFxasjX6ZfBoHVMX56S6ergKLQ-09I8aD4_2Qh_zb6ipOYfKqhvPY7WQWt8pQ/w400-h294/PXL_20230908_202623936.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one went up in the tent beside Tank's sign</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tsNsuP2ijS57eYTcpm82Bd8INQ5GxUL3SUnSXfHlN4WmyRkrJ2GCQWZo5xNmr2kVBEOKHXAoHK1A4kkH7VeACu_kaVcW6GPCAyRmDEpWirNvz2S4em1tLISiyHy_HWLY-uvNBNtVQCyB1CnzKuMov461xSB6Kh9tMq60iiFmHic3T3ZMsjxAWlFJE9E/s1200/PXL_20230909_104336216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="790" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tsNsuP2ijS57eYTcpm82Bd8INQ5GxUL3SUnSXfHlN4WmyRkrJ2GCQWZo5xNmr2kVBEOKHXAoHK1A4kkH7VeACu_kaVcW6GPCAyRmDEpWirNvz2S4em1tLISiyHy_HWLY-uvNBNtVQCyB1CnzKuMov461xSB6Kh9tMq60iiFmHic3T3ZMsjxAWlFJE9E/w264-h400/PXL_20230909_104336216.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one went up at the turn off the double-track trail on which we'd set up the aid station</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcky7fq6-wFlcyTwgBb-QQLgYYvuDV41T1n3P_WVIDPCsw6UPSUNSBuzYRHf4ylxqDOYvyHrGDCqWhMJIbv1JzkAndFvYToCaM348Kj4WHpLHxM7ERHnKznQKqHRM0jrPQkBhq5idkDZd6p92Rp4Xe5WF655fZDEaM69LEvfY1c3OOOVJyNeSyHnPP9TY/s1200/PXL_20230909_104255490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1200" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcky7fq6-wFlcyTwgBb-QQLgYYvuDV41T1n3P_WVIDPCsw6UPSUNSBuzYRHf4ylxqDOYvyHrGDCqWhMJIbv1JzkAndFvYToCaM348Kj4WHpLHxM7ERHnKznQKqHRM0jrPQkBhq5idkDZd6p92Rp4Xe5WF655fZDEaM69LEvfY1c3OOOVJyNeSyHnPP9TY/w400-h249/PXL_20230909_104255490.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and Admiral Ackbar warned runners not to fall for the allure of Clay's tent, pitched up the trail from the AS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We all turned in pretty early Friday night, with Tank and I rising at 4:40am to get a pot of coffee on and start laying out the rest of the decorations and goodies.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL4GhUS26yyllbi0wwKNIEBMnCnHh0JozdobyRKythWEtp1fy8ODmOKTsucMuIzkLLY2r9HE4WpWLOfdwYdl57uP7mZDBCqN-G9M3VDAAvTY6fexgTfpBz38Jfij-Xmiw6OBlIYLmGH8FnYH-64BqmxyWWGytpAC_w5GFfBNhyZ0wQp_1JbCC9XS_WwQ/s1200/PXL_20230909_100753741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL4GhUS26yyllbi0wwKNIEBMnCnHh0JozdobyRKythWEtp1fy8ODmOKTsucMuIzkLLY2r9HE4WpWLOfdwYdl57uP7mZDBCqN-G9M3VDAAvTY6fexgTfpBz38Jfij-Xmiw6OBlIYLmGH8FnYH-64BqmxyWWGytpAC_w5GFfBNhyZ0wQp_1JbCC9XS_WwQ/w400-h266/PXL_20230909_100753741.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun wouldn't rise for almost 2 more hours</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiFoss33x3u6sPU21E-csMyynseQKsQsBk_iIt3mGJHoCjqsH_JcV5BakZ9i3aLou_GTR4N8vVn8NQXVyihRl_lSbnHJUshnRt0H9C1kxIE1OU0AkmJzD1UOpHW8VLgDiRTpf8-drnqvP2mlxs9mHf2Kibzq1DNUXSfhsN3bL9UHXJLbLY8nhMCm_nRM/s1200/PXL_20230909_101759230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMiFoss33x3u6sPU21E-csMyynseQKsQsBk_iIt3mGJHoCjqsH_JcV5BakZ9i3aLou_GTR4N8vVn8NQXVyihRl_lSbnHJUshnRt0H9C1kxIE1OU0AkmJzD1UOpHW8VLgDiRTpf8-drnqvP2mlxs9mHf2Kibzq1DNUXSfhsN3bL9UHXJLbLY8nhMCm_nRM/w242-h400/PXL_20230909_101759230.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay looks for his coffee mug to be filled after all the snacks were laid out</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The first 100mi runners showed up around 6:15am, followed by the 50mi runners around quarter past eight - we were well ready to meet all their needs as they headed off for the longest stretch without aid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofcu0JazCs00laCLT2xWLEso7yGVFqVNuJE5CfSmOBiV5CjYMi5--VZwR7a_jcEK-251sDuKs55H2Fu1l1dAO7YjcfgolSLRvd_GiNQoRBkdkyoqas7VS7L2Wtl634vysr08wy6qGVVOV7bV2Xjf3yvUBcKV9pAeVqSJHuS8rJMVoKyNRs2aRKTGM12M/s1200/PXL_20230909_105008072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofcu0JazCs00laCLT2xWLEso7yGVFqVNuJE5CfSmOBiV5CjYMi5--VZwR7a_jcEK-251sDuKs55H2Fu1l1dAO7YjcfgolSLRvd_GiNQoRBkdkyoqas7VS7L2Wtl634vysr08wy6qGVVOV7bV2Xjf3yvUBcKV9pAeVqSJHuS8rJMVoKyNRs2aRKTGM12M/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_105008072.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10km to the water drop, then another 6km past that to Nancy at AS3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When the last of the 50mi runners had come through, I cooked up a mess of bacon & eggs for our volunteers.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GFSnC169gta3zO38oRp9PYfvEuzstM_PEfdHT-SdyL7v1yhuGNvba7D3THl8tmgvt96cLW4jFvn2tidAZa8dgp-OZkVe7gITUnhzK63wlnIktvuiHAJqQrcQ_p_0NEEzAAMU4sxiLY26CzsWlJijbs8KvIzvzlJcOGMnlNWYaF2YJ1H81Ku6j9tnjHA/s1200/PXL_20230909_123114165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1200" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0GFSnC169gta3zO38oRp9PYfvEuzstM_PEfdHT-SdyL7v1yhuGNvba7D3THl8tmgvt96cLW4jFvn2tidAZa8dgp-OZkVe7gITUnhzK63wlnIktvuiHAJqQrcQ_p_0NEEzAAMU4sxiLY26CzsWlJijbs8KvIzvzlJcOGMnlNWYaF2YJ1H81Ku6j9tnjHA/w400-h280/PXL_20230909_123114165.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The good stuff from our farmers' market</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It came up to be a beautiful day in the forest - sunshine from a clear blue sky, and warmer than most years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIydTkROtj-l7e2gj5o6E8P9w7Q6X8Ypxf8dhRBMzAVZRZznnIXu3rgJfKO7Bbi87So-u49M_IvxSBccdC8Pt0H0tIGDy7S0662jjWw2rHofZfwPD_d93HWoxgdyDBadg7pDJi4zVFivm--f0R1EZ3AfnpmoZIOVeNtBZiSV-cxmEzZWofyykm2BoKKI/s1200/PXL_20230909_135017258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="834" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIydTkROtj-l7e2gj5o6E8P9w7Q6X8Ypxf8dhRBMzAVZRZznnIXu3rgJfKO7Bbi87So-u49M_IvxSBccdC8Pt0H0tIGDy7S0662jjWw2rHofZfwPD_d93HWoxgdyDBadg7pDJi4zVFivm--f0R1EZ3AfnpmoZIOVeNtBZiSV-cxmEzZWofyykm2BoKKI/w278-h400/PXL_20230909_135017258.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drop bags ready for runners - looking down the doubletrack trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We of course had to get some photos with those of us who chose to participate in the theme.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2tsszc5SXMjJ8CmzKIbuQubV65JidiiheuPHuOOxrfJTYK5yepE8sZ0NNTFW6OwORZLQ0XGkx9AtDaTossfZG7ms-n_VAKqCT-2zlwhLgHgL2Hm_gzEr_9R37wsM8qo6wVVg5trdmn7e4XfMhGAjq5RHXnQHoCm1kNIYSAFBwS1O7tJKm3ZBg4b6qrY/s1200/PXL_20230909_145639351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1200" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2tsszc5SXMjJ8CmzKIbuQubV65JidiiheuPHuOOxrfJTYK5yepE8sZ0NNTFW6OwORZLQ0XGkx9AtDaTossfZG7ms-n_VAKqCT-2zlwhLgHgL2Hm_gzEr_9R37wsM8qo6wVVg5trdmn7e4XfMhGAjq5RHXnQHoCm1kNIYSAFBwS1O7tJKm3ZBg4b6qrY/w400-h235/PXL_20230909_145639351.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Myself, Tank, and Clay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Garchun and Maryka showed up some time before race photographer David stopped by - he loved our Star Wars theme, and got our group photo with all the present volunteers.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWlbjE5-ferLShPOtBsdKLraJt-hPh-afD-LbCrAttTWxeOL4MBsgJ98f88rWCuVDgQ4cGgsBBh43QKVufGOQMh8IJj9fxtG_w--kEWKpE79gOjd-BJl-pzHOiHc7eXvGWqlI5qO3szpN-q0-R6uZy3cnuJlIWVH6ZMX1KZ9snRUyjyuGPJ6lPTVQQrQ/s1200/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWlbjE5-ferLShPOtBsdKLraJt-hPh-afD-LbCrAttTWxeOL4MBsgJ98f88rWCuVDgQ4cGgsBBh43QKVufGOQMh8IJj9fxtG_w--kEWKpE79gOjd-BJl-pzHOiHc7eXvGWqlI5qO3szpN-q0-R6uZy3cnuJlIWVH6ZMX1KZ9snRUyjyuGPJ6lPTVQQrQ/w400-h266/group.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay, Maryka, some dork, Tank, Baldish, Heather, and Bonnie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><div>After the 100mi and 50mi racers had come through on their second lap, I decided we probably could spare one person for a couple of hours. I changed out of my Boba Fett dress and into some slightly spandex-ier garb, then went out to play.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2vu05hLIJSMYrqRY9eh2bAyg3WueuWv2mu8KTrSQ8a8cKcPGwy7t68HHPeal_dUDVUfLmxR9_LCK_CXQhVWlqMdm59PSfv5f2xfRpAUb0V2G-xyiuWuHME2jysBpUAk75cny2w0QPXynYQZcS70bDMQ8jF7taM1OfPrI7-RgaJXjMDPeahcxPwTUidE/s1200/PXL_20230909_200742765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2vu05hLIJSMYrqRY9eh2bAyg3WueuWv2mu8KTrSQ8a8cKcPGwy7t68HHPeal_dUDVUfLmxR9_LCK_CXQhVWlqMdm59PSfv5f2xfRpAUb0V2G-xyiuWuHME2jysBpUAk75cny2w0QPXynYQZcS70bDMQ8jF7taM1OfPrI7-RgaJXjMDPeahcxPwTUidE/w225-h400/PXL_20230909_200742765.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd get to see totally different trails than I usually do!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Instead of the trek across Krista Trail, Ben's Trail, Redstone Vista and The Pass, I'd get to finally see Dog's Ear and Wild Woods Walk, plus run Poacher's Trail for the first time in years.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWj2_DZu0a3Rh4k3vsQt2mgMVhk00ubTa4hQou4Xd-xmKYSedMKU4ii84E4m1da0_g5ps1yA-q-NIH43ts-1-uvkSm4wk2syZfzEBiEe4IkrQj0LvyQUAJ6VGFruNSnycJpVFk826v0hNYicxFrp1flcW_IrPZOm175htELpo5sE5wHWO19AEwaAHRdQ/s1200/PXL_20230909_200907930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="869" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWj2_DZu0a3Rh4k3vsQt2mgMVhk00ubTa4hQou4Xd-xmKYSedMKU4ii84E4m1da0_g5ps1yA-q-NIH43ts-1-uvkSm4wk2syZfzEBiEe4IkrQj0LvyQUAJ6VGFruNSnycJpVFk826v0hNYicxFrp1flcW_IrPZOm175htELpo5sE5wHWO19AEwaAHRdQ/w290-h400/PXL_20230909_200907930.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Woods Walk has some neat art installations along it, though I hear they can take on a very Blair Witch-y vibe after dark</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0sRDw6GPpZaHVwfAsMN7KJbdM7uTLiFckNfobV_zVGFOBasLJGiSbuFRP6qh0T4D4lNXcmsxUYm5NARBg3vI_BoqelR3T82mplgrxELpKbGtoF7cy6PJeqBtNHMeAnhTbqZnwrWIbBMqxQqMDjdDGQIfaqqdECmimBfo37QFJQ7aNMfHMek2HoXNN8/s1200/PXL_20230909_210557493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="844" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0sRDw6GPpZaHVwfAsMN7KJbdM7uTLiFckNfobV_zVGFOBasLJGiSbuFRP6qh0T4D4lNXcmsxUYm5NARBg3vI_BoqelR3T82mplgrxELpKbGtoF7cy6PJeqBtNHMeAnhTbqZnwrWIbBMqxQqMDjdDGQIfaqqdECmimBfo37QFJQ7aNMfHMek2HoXNN8/w281-h400/PXL_20230909_210557493.jpg" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd missed the little stone bridge on Poacher's</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKT0Mm_nL5BqJtc-0lCwovEoB-Z3Rnjr4fggAY4JhsuOmoIVDnQbMTrG1iNtFqzIAwNR2JgXhPqOo-lAqMW066pPqmh81o1ggsDo0UHrRwr81Ts4IxTS7WERscYNDsMl4li1sshBYhqHEyCvmzNhemesKO5TeskgtLgg961CKfPmCrM8UMcJ3piwDZu8/s1200/PXL_20230909_210636336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKT0Mm_nL5BqJtc-0lCwovEoB-Z3Rnjr4fggAY4JhsuOmoIVDnQbMTrG1iNtFqzIAwNR2JgXhPqOo-lAqMW066pPqmh81o1ggsDo0UHrRwr81Ts4IxTS7WERscYNDsMl4li1sshBYhqHEyCvmzNhemesKO5TeskgtLgg961CKfPmCrM8UMcJ3piwDZu8/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_210636336.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It really was a gorgeous day, even bordering on hot!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I arrived at AS3 - the same spot I'd visited last year, just from the other direction - and hung out with Julie, Jamie & the crew for a few minutes while filling my water bottles and munching on some gummy candy for the return trip.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF3D0OBxLsNl5Iskk2NsZS-FpLRFQxr61fAXe4fYJuRybaachjLIr1z1mrVMUgL61dMRwfJKFN92kxyV6MbFy8yHwYEcB0Y_w9Li9v6DW49XjHHEUgA0t2L5oEll0oo2kBrOFc9ZOY7ZVUop1fj6L0VQ37z1YF3QP5g65OTst8RalPY62TyDj2ddIQC8/s1200/PXL_20230909_211513785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDF3D0OBxLsNl5Iskk2NsZS-FpLRFQxr61fAXe4fYJuRybaachjLIr1z1mrVMUgL61dMRwfJKFN92kxyV6MbFy8yHwYEcB0Y_w9Li9v6DW49XjHHEUgA0t2L5oEll0oo2kBrOFc9ZOY7ZVUop1fj6L0VQ37z1YF3QP5g65OTst8RalPY62TyDj2ddIQC8/w225-h400/PXL_20230909_211513785.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not an easy trail, but it is a beautiful one.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'd taken quite awhile to get over, having stopped by Base Camp briefly as I was hoping to find a runner (who I found on my first trip across Poacher's, and was able to report on to his somewhat anxious wife), so I took a bit of a shortcut back to AS4.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YiupsaoC4ThMXmXQ9dU53XeO905Tm5MV3CgusrU87Auu0eztTHQwP-snV_s6ywURXI5vD3PA_U57sWLBv5Jc9tmjX1M5_LhM5-1CnICk1B6GMRWFZc8xqhE9wLGpzoGS1Kx4a_lV0GyBXny_ScXJnyRHu4m3DLKCsIRSU1Q7SUtwmGw16zJSOYmjAgY/s1200/PXL_20230909_221001665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0YiupsaoC4ThMXmXQ9dU53XeO905Tm5MV3CgusrU87Auu0eztTHQwP-snV_s6ywURXI5vD3PA_U57sWLBv5Jc9tmjX1M5_LhM5-1CnICk1B6GMRWFZc8xqhE9wLGpzoGS1Kx4a_lV0GyBXny_ScXJnyRHu4m3DLKCsIRSU1Q7SUtwmGw16zJSOYmjAgY/w225-h400/PXL_20230909_221001665.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once more through the rugged beauty of Poacher's</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxHbLnJ0MiS-7pw4Rij8mFDV85XzgQEBJAH9WrI3jo3-_adb86Gy6-ALHXCtE2wWJEIvyweOBavH_nRT4uZ5xH1J7iWl_yVJnil61QjhyclV7I5tS04ocszW4F9_vGcdR8CDUWz-qb2BWI14h44MXBEK9zoNoZTneszvuc3g9dyl1v9UZx4NhDrKhdew/s1200/PXL_20230909_222157932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxHbLnJ0MiS-7pw4Rij8mFDV85XzgQEBJAH9WrI3jo3-_adb86Gy6-ALHXCtE2wWJEIvyweOBavH_nRT4uZ5xH1J7iWl_yVJnil61QjhyclV7I5tS04ocszW4F9_vGcdR8CDUWz-qb2BWI14h44MXBEK9zoNoZTneszvuc3g9dyl1v9UZx4NhDrKhdew/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_222157932.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick stop to gaze at beautiful MacDonald Lake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Instead of turning left at the end of the East Road, I turned right - while desperately hoping the racer behind me wouldn't follow me! - and trucked straight out the North Road.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHrvG0rCt9V6Wk01YNGpsJOvd7_pBzU82mfzsG1smvg-4eg0AwEkIDfzpVjMS2H5ShXaiyZG2TMFNMDmIoevoJ91aTSRtY0yvyi57IixvLlpUmj1t-oVkBQKglyXf1mSZvVkO4zNRXQ1SuRF-PfGPAWl3S6L1FLAjiqqyLaz7MS6L3r1SZPsJ_-9sZQs/s1200/PXL_20230909_223523309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHrvG0rCt9V6Wk01YNGpsJOvd7_pBzU82mfzsG1smvg-4eg0AwEkIDfzpVjMS2H5ShXaiyZG2TMFNMDmIoevoJ91aTSRtY0yvyi57IixvLlpUmj1t-oVkBQKglyXf1mSZvVkO4zNRXQ1SuRF-PfGPAWl3S6L1FLAjiqqyLaz7MS6L3r1SZPsJ_-9sZQs/w400-h225/PXL_20230909_223523309.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Past lovely Chessel's Pond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By the time I returned - a little more than 10 miles, and just shy of 3 hours later - our chicken dinner had been delivered and Tank had lit the fire at AS4.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0fcL8nW2_-eZWUOfUU4Ofl-uAEPc4UTFyBpD-Y6oQbkD8QIm_DL7TL4J_CZ3AHwjXxvTS3dF_201iO0GoTocX69w_HzIpSOIWsprsrTDgEIRVTH0x_z_fhtb5lr96fsrUEpdzqLim2Mwdm34Y00xNfxBHuIj0OnkHiUZGXWFrQ4hmteUuC0jJHz-_tg/s1200/PXL_20230909_224144133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="904" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0fcL8nW2_-eZWUOfUU4Ofl-uAEPc4UTFyBpD-Y6oQbkD8QIm_DL7TL4J_CZ3AHwjXxvTS3dF_201iO0GoTocX69w_HzIpSOIWsprsrTDgEIRVTH0x_z_fhtb5lr96fsrUEpdzqLim2Mwdm34Y00xNfxBHuIj0OnkHiUZGXWFrQ4hmteUuC0jJHz-_tg/w301-h400/PXL_20230909_224144133.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were going to try to keep it a little more conservative than past years</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Chris and Liana had also showed up to help overnight, and as darkness fell Tank got another pot of coffee on to get us - and the runners - through til morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM38gUCeReF2n-n67evc-LZndb2MENauxeJIOfAoel-9HkhbarU_8v7Gu4grEk2JlkniojuAdpcyYbeFpk-G99yJCQgeWX9ljCaW0_Gxv9Fl8Q7KoNiYhREnph36EGYcVABwYvkNFgl-zkoqEI7UblABVHw40NM0E8OuR2ScGtXVKCw2BOAvBE7XwgtM/s1200/PXL_20230910_005435121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyM38gUCeReF2n-n67evc-LZndb2MENauxeJIOfAoel-9HkhbarU_8v7Gu4grEk2JlkniojuAdpcyYbeFpk-G99yJCQgeWX9ljCaW0_Gxv9Fl8Q7KoNiYhREnph36EGYcVABwYvkNFgl-zkoqEI7UblABVHw40NM0E8OuR2ScGtXVKCw2BOAvBE7XwgtM/w400-h225/PXL_20230910_005435121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also had big ziploc bags of Julie's 100mi soup, made hot veggie broth, and cooked up grilled cheese and bacon through the night</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Things are pretty quiet out there - we didn't even get to hear any wolves howling, and the raccoons left us alone for once - but there was good conversation around the fire.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV57Y5Gboxfe_wSb3-I-vHlII1SyCCegGWc0xUu2pRtep_B_CR1KyRRd041fbXYaYW2w3GnQ33-GV6UiHcvuLf-zwKiyx_1DEaY3QFYChLuk1h4-qPIlXyYktH4cwiYZytsCQzTlz3OGnpF3XMgumsABj79Xn_NSiOBE6v3SqFC8GS_UkbtoBKxW_NwU/s1200/PXL_20230910_062015731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJV57Y5Gboxfe_wSb3-I-vHlII1SyCCegGWc0xUu2pRtep_B_CR1KyRRd041fbXYaYW2w3GnQ33-GV6UiHcvuLf-zwKiyx_1DEaY3QFYChLuk1h4-qPIlXyYktH4cwiYZytsCQzTlz3OGnpF3XMgumsABj79Xn_NSiOBE6v3SqFC8GS_UkbtoBKxW_NwU/w400-h225/PXL_20230910_062015731.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the occasional runner joining in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I tried to nap in the late evening, to no avail - I just couldn't fall asleep. By 5:30am I was very dozy, though, and crawled in with Tank for about an hour of blissful unconsciousness. I awoke to hear that the last runner had just come through, at 6:35am, and we were good to start packing up. Chris and Liana had already left, then Bonnie & Baldish set off with the remaining drop bags for base camp.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOU5E44FE1WuIo66_ax79zOkXnBJDqA6WKF5H5feIUT6Wl9J9TboWiIwx8Amm4RVko0141aNgrTbryg8Z7E4WUx_WAKTHKdlS26itPp5PKXoEObX3Eveoqm7np0_sPev7XT7ni1tV0S1yl9DxrL2pvoL0QuPMEaqT5nvPYyIWCpZLLQWFsnUR5J5aymc/s1200/PXL_20230910_115448744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="889" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOU5E44FE1WuIo66_ax79zOkXnBJDqA6WKF5H5feIUT6Wl9J9TboWiIwx8Amm4RVko0141aNgrTbryg8Z7E4WUx_WAKTHKdlS26itPp5PKXoEObX3Eveoqm7np0_sPev7XT7ni1tV0S1yl9DxrL2pvoL0QuPMEaqT5nvPYyIWCpZLLQWFsnUR5J5aymc/w296-h400/PXL_20230910_115448744.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clay, Garchun, Maryka, Tank, and myself got the tent down and everything else tidied up to be picked up by the forest staff, then Tank and I packed up our own tent as well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>We'd had some plans to stay another night in the forest with a friend, but a few circumstances came together to urge us home, so we stayed at base camp until just after the buckle ceremony and then hit the road.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDs8anHv0PEzxbAetNUVfDXPsmC1cDMSQhzM1s1u1OUt16gASxI0Dnt3s9pdn_i0G8FXdM-IubwBi7_Z4xMkShtOOHTqA3MuSCIKh1DXRs2NaR1BVGZlq0AvPM7H5gHgVLpmzIU3CLwf-uJzz2MR3BHR1cdsDEkG3AhYoH1pnNQi1HsRnqg9fk9ZAgncw/s1200/PXL_20230910_133834151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDs8anHv0PEzxbAetNUVfDXPsmC1cDMSQhzM1s1u1OUt16gASxI0Dnt3s9pdn_i0G8FXdM-IubwBi7_Z4xMkShtOOHTqA3MuSCIKh1DXRs2NaR1BVGZlq0AvPM7H5gHgVLpmzIU3CLwf-uJzz2MR3BHR1cdsDEkG3AhYoH1pnNQi1HsRnqg9fk9ZAgncw/w225-h400/PXL_20230910_133834151.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bidding the forest adieu for another year</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Volunteering at an aid station - especially one in a beautiful place, and overnight when the runners need help the most - is such a rewarding experience, and I strongly urge you to give your time when you have the opportunity. These races don't happen without countless hours of work by those who just want you to have the best race possible, so why not give the other side of the aid station table a try?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8ytitI2AAScEse3iFybpwhMMzYK4lhK0_d7s3R0vMfqc7wJTaR3LQsv3tJsdLPTgsm3QbB1t2JK93iFjkbKcq17BF0jEqpRWWLmkPBV213qplSzUQ3CtoYGvPV2836vIJdrKs6BJ11jUr7c9yrVFpopq7eNsLHR_5csndrFQsJmjxtyrH_wX3wMySsQ/s1200/PXL_20230909_224402071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8ytitI2AAScEse3iFybpwhMMzYK4lhK0_d7s3R0vMfqc7wJTaR3LQsv3tJsdLPTgsm3QbB1t2JK93iFjkbKcq17BF0jEqpRWWLmkPBV213qplSzUQ3CtoYGvPV2836vIJdrKs6BJ11jUr7c9yrVFpopq7eNsLHR_5csndrFQsJmjxtyrH_wX3wMySsQ/w225-h400/PXL_20230909_224402071.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're lucky, you might even get to hang out with your best friend all weekend!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>See you on the trails!</p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-24675514179539956372023-09-01T18:25:00.000-04:002023-09-01T18:25:43.763-04:00Hiatus<p> It's a really busy time right now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDRWitxNITOTOERwKcCoX5Rwq-6KLBbz4NdH7x0h_bqTwLNPTHDoFDZIj3Q3ZDAINDIeq9OGo-gJT5MLJCFkzCPJI6Jk385RGb859GiTw9A2h3NWfiS1hvdvxwhvMbqIl11qfT25uM_G5OR1XUb-voxcsOj2IbRn1ioCvi4sgS9mq14-KO6DXeqae1J0/s1200/PXL_20230826_141422711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDRWitxNITOTOERwKcCoX5Rwq-6KLBbz4NdH7x0h_bqTwLNPTHDoFDZIj3Q3ZDAINDIeq9OGo-gJT5MLJCFkzCPJI6Jk385RGb859GiTw9A2h3NWfiS1hvdvxwhvMbqIl11qfT25uM_G5OR1XUb-voxcsOj2IbRn1ioCvi4sgS9mq14-KO6DXeqae1J0/w400-h223/PXL_20230826_141422711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's been a tough week</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Audit season meets end of quarter after our co-op student's term ended, so I had to take back over all the work that the intern has been handling for a few months now. We're getting another, but not until next week..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cbakjwW4cddi3H4ZSq78lvVzyojJ1zbbdkiLyAmbRz-rtBUFVHNSo4EREOHE2nKWcpypB3ZivDeeth0h8ff-xiyfkzDmu3tov78ct3NKve_JYFxHSAC_aBxFEmjeFyVpLA30MGDXOPUJ8w61HNMwnSbkKJr6W7VltWbhD5hzLh8xsgXvue60c_eGVRI/s1200/PXL_20230826_144625883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cbakjwW4cddi3H4ZSq78lvVzyojJ1zbbdkiLyAmbRz-rtBUFVHNSo4EREOHE2nKWcpypB3ZivDeeth0h8ff-xiyfkzDmu3tov78ct3NKve_JYFxHSAC_aBxFEmjeFyVpLA30MGDXOPUJ8w61HNMwnSbkKJr6W7VltWbhD5hzLh8xsgXvue60c_eGVRI/w236-h400/PXL_20230826_144625883.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and he won't be useful until I train him, which will take at least another two weeks.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So it's been long days at the desk lately, without much sleep - especially since we did some volunteering last Saturday at the Foxtail Hundred from around 8pm til 4am.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsf7RKkjc3_sFquhmg0-F_60QpTNudLzR7mfbnvxtbk5Em36bB61IvYzf18LRr4vNOMNXagZBwaQXK8Sn42Iy9J3WRUsjHZv_q9I5uGm3FMSA3OJ5rkKTn4MAWJCYrhiV1gHZWocZQDy1bwh3va-aBrtoDCLSpcxYXm8jcE9BLntP6hXOWcW7BrQVqEo/s1200/PXL_20230826_235045495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="996" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsf7RKkjc3_sFquhmg0-F_60QpTNudLzR7mfbnvxtbk5Em36bB61IvYzf18LRr4vNOMNXagZBwaQXK8Sn42Iy9J3WRUsjHZv_q9I5uGm3FMSA3OJ5rkKTn4MAWJCYrhiV1gHZWocZQDy1bwh3va-aBrtoDCLSpcxYXm8jcE9BLntP6hXOWcW7BrQVqEo/w333-h400/PXL_20230826_235045495.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Including a minor flash of PTSD for me on arriving at the trail centre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Next weekend will be another sleepless one, in the Haliburton Forest this time. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Tank and I have had to take over running AS4 at the 3k mark of the 50k, 50mi & 100mi course (don't ask me why the aid stations are labeled in the reverse order runners visit them).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pbNkQf6oT1-YxB-AsYZ_iOUWvUEvkTwS90TnCeYjqQvi-eK06B0ke_URhksHQofVten4-PAIDhdHTWkEzHBGdPPADejwJgNF4HybsZbbjkY800Vsco3ImATCFrlNHBIDrwZiMHMtwcWoI9xox-jAaB5sY22IB_Uy65doRzuUABDn2_-AxiJkM8avfOQ/s1200/PXL_20230826_150531120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pbNkQf6oT1-YxB-AsYZ_iOUWvUEvkTwS90TnCeYjqQvi-eK06B0ke_URhksHQofVten4-PAIDhdHTWkEzHBGdPPADejwJgNF4HybsZbbjkY800Vsco3ImATCFrlNHBIDrwZiMHMtwcWoI9xox-jAaB5sY22IB_Uy65doRzuUABDn2_-AxiJkM8avfOQ/w400-h225/PXL_20230826_150531120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I just work here - I don't actually know anything</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Since I'll be training our new co-op student all week before driving up to the forest early on Friday to set things up (including the tent that will be our home for Friday night and hopefully a refuge for a nap or two through the weekend), the blog is going on hiatus for a bit. You get a break from me, I get a break from trying to come up with something worth reading, and hopefully we can re-convene mid-month for some giggles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1NSyEDhCYXdV9wgm9Y3t5LzSxdgqx5H7oa2cfT7FpMkFvmVB4QM80ssXAl4FdFhG5uoaWjgvetLEOLhATirqL97jfgnztLzb0L_sydVp2kJibcbWJRJNVIxwe5_1iHNbrIimg-oQ9AmsmV2wPLHGrb7kNLkNS8cDWMZJIaIzqbOW6AoKCOLzSE8I-1A/s1200/PXL_20230826_145248026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1021" data-original-width="1200" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1NSyEDhCYXdV9wgm9Y3t5LzSxdgqx5H7oa2cfT7FpMkFvmVB4QM80ssXAl4FdFhG5uoaWjgvetLEOLhATirqL97jfgnztLzb0L_sydVp2kJibcbWJRJNVIxwe5_1iHNbrIimg-oQ9AmsmV2wPLHGrb7kNLkNS8cDWMZJIaIzqbOW6AoKCOLzSE8I-1A/w400-h340/PXL_20230826_145248026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or maybe just hang out with a fun-gi?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In the meantime, I hope you all have an amazing long weekend - sleep an extra hour for me, ok?</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83r3MY7n35CKcNCCcu970aCah5zj-IZqohy3WG5UqiaY3X-woNkIV7zhkHLYdNabWs8C421SCS41cAZlWLS5PXld4KF6iufn8n8OuXRzevfHyCY1cxjHJVK7PtZChY2W2nnZmT2F6VzTRVsJ3m1ulRuGYiA6lBG4LPu7VX8PUxqJLB_ButQL0MlyCxUA/s1200/PXL_20230826_145853400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83r3MY7n35CKcNCCcu970aCah5zj-IZqohy3WG5UqiaY3X-woNkIV7zhkHLYdNabWs8C421SCS41cAZlWLS5PXld4KF6iufn8n8OuXRzevfHyCY1cxjHJVK7PtZChY2W2nnZmT2F6VzTRVsJ3m1ulRuGYiA6lBG4LPu7VX8PUxqJLB_ButQL0MlyCxUA/w264-h400/PXL_20230826_145853400.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll be on the move!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-86731573875407488462023-08-25T20:10:00.003-04:002023-08-25T20:13:18.004-04:00Still that?You'd think I'd know by now that recovery from a big effort is not a quick thing.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RomCOJCSeQ12qYc30XXv_pF171ZjgH68Q8ycBTi6oDBMMatW11Q50eFmdk1Nz5fd_WhPOl_baymqV5oZ1U_CJHW0Ij9_eHnkKmmQXaa1ENIwiWKJApxDCZncgKRuDu2vgUKSBzWgn8Kw73HrdoWRUGZnADkBhV-nE8dHNFbh2es9qA-KIWRS-5HZri0/s1200/PXL_20230819_150653852.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RomCOJCSeQ12qYc30XXv_pF171ZjgH68Q8ycBTi6oDBMMatW11Q50eFmdk1Nz5fd_WhPOl_baymqV5oZ1U_CJHW0Ij9_eHnkKmmQXaa1ENIwiWKJApxDCZncgKRuDu2vgUKSBzWgn8Kw73HrdoWRUGZnADkBhV-nE8dHNFbh2es9qA-KIWRS-5HZri0/w400-h223/PXL_20230819_150653852.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Except my brain thinks that was way too long ago to still be relevant</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>While I've been doing better from a cardiovascular and skin perspective - my feet have healed up nicely, though I'm at that point where a whole lot of dead skin from deeper blisters is starting to need trimming off after every shower - my poor body is still giving me grief when I try to reclaim anything resembling fitness.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefDP2bn6HmlGoLebj0AxrGQxGrRpmKpEieVdbYEvpleSz3UD-sd1SbGGwV0JFWBR735QtN8diZx5F_dGY1jMpwYS8twHw9QZdLbcG8kw4DFLX_mjE33bq4kEyTpkey_RkSQ-0pw8NWZ8GZrRQLs2c5G1aaZ8tQKoHENdT-SRy4cjGCekHy2y_bFqXziE/s1200/PXL_20230819_144804161.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefDP2bn6HmlGoLebj0AxrGQxGrRpmKpEieVdbYEvpleSz3UD-sd1SbGGwV0JFWBR735QtN8diZx5F_dGY1jMpwYS8twHw9QZdLbcG8kw4DFLX_mjE33bq4kEyTpkey_RkSQ-0pw8NWZ8GZrRQLs2c5G1aaZ8tQKoHENdT-SRy4cjGCekHy2y_bFqXziE/w225-h400/PXL_20230819_144804161.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was finally ready to run in the skirt I wore for Tally on Saturday, 3 weeks post-race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I've been taking it relatively easy - I haven't run more than about 8.5km, have given myself the grace to walk when I want, and I've kept the strength training much lighter than usual. I've even started seeing a chiropractor to try to sort out some of the junk going on in my lower back, but I still find myself so sore and tired all the time.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RweRuYHUQ1Q4DresQONFz1vDm-KhmX2g56tHy1ZWqXWJhBfJ9ekAIHPD9wSWQ212QfiWIYXKrH2BZzSTJnlfWGLfcM40ZdKDm5tN__VzXEU6TttBWywK4N69ako9SPt3kFgzZCb-bDXTrlX5I4RFemr5mZ6YA0-bM9ydMagIBQjCEEPf7kotE_pHkCc/s1200/PXL_20230820_221123284.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RweRuYHUQ1Q4DresQONFz1vDm-KhmX2g56tHy1ZWqXWJhBfJ9ekAIHPD9wSWQ212QfiWIYXKrH2BZzSTJnlfWGLfcM40ZdKDm5tN__VzXEU6TttBWywK4N69ako9SPt3kFgzZCb-bDXTrlX5I4RFemr5mZ6YA0-bM9ydMagIBQjCEEPf7kotE_pHkCc/w400-h225/PXL_20230820_221123284.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My muscles ache so badly even from 2/3 of the weight I was lifting before the race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I know there are a few factors that aren't helping: I've been incredibly busy at work, which has caused a lot of stress and some late nights. I'm usually ok to lose an hour or two of sleep, but since the 100 miler I feel absolutely knackered - and my Garmin tells me my HRV (heart rate variability - one measure of the body's health and readiness to absorb stress) falls alarmingly - when I get less than 8.5hrs per night. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YovrvfRwXOafYBWjsbp2DS4F3ujBcxk50s1HooBn-OOjnSJgVze6Pf-TwI_IzgUesFgKSXSs7JjJaQTMcmoiLnezgmwO7O6uHp2J36nFsAfMR3swAOcBX19YhGXT7jgjJiiADdi2UO1D3pOtHf_ywW9Sy5_ziPxvsX6WxZqIWRzjNl-758Yvvsw4CbI/s1200/PXL_20230820_224910827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YovrvfRwXOafYBWjsbp2DS4F3ujBcxk50s1HooBn-OOjnSJgVze6Pf-TwI_IzgUesFgKSXSs7JjJaQTMcmoiLnezgmwO7O6uHp2J36nFsAfMR3swAOcBX19YhGXT7jgjJiiADdi2UO1D3pOtHf_ywW9Sy5_ziPxvsX6WxZqIWRzjNl-758Yvvsw4CbI/w400-h225/PXL_20230820_224910827.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and let me tell you, I have NOT been getting even 8hrs very regularly lately.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I'm sure part of it also has to do with the fact I've been playing some pretty intense hockey lately. I got back in net at least a week earlier than I'd planned, and I've actually started playing twice a week again now. It's just pickup hockey, but there are a lot of really fast, talented players in Waterloo Region, and we always seem to have a bunch of hot wheels and silky mitts on the ice when I get between the pipes.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz0BC2vn74byqf1ajKCT14Pewnap7YEaAtkXvbHmEm19L_geT_io0J6_FFMZCpFxk9rtVTYQ1n50Vb6j-CJtzDipvqsF7Jaa4KkfpyphxgQRY09LmOzV1cIMuDPLqtW9KAXzTo9_3Xia5tbQeYK5HsDl5uMw1GG-qbGtax0AC5QhblEjPF-jgpFyFdWI/s1200/PXL_20230823_235133369.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="986" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOz0BC2vn74byqf1ajKCT14Pewnap7YEaAtkXvbHmEm19L_geT_io0J6_FFMZCpFxk9rtVTYQ1n50Vb6j-CJtzDipvqsF7Jaa4KkfpyphxgQRY09LmOzV1cIMuDPLqtW9KAXzTo9_3Xia5tbQeYK5HsDl5uMw1GG-qbGtax0AC5QhblEjPF-jgpFyFdWI/w329-h400/PXL_20230823_235133369.jpg" width="329" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me? I'm just a washed up 90s goalie trying not to embarrass myself <i style="font-weight: bold;">too</i> badly out there</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It's tough on the legs, dragging myself back up to my feet after dropping to the ice. It's tough on the hips when I <i style="font-weight: bold;">land</i> on the ice, and it's bloody tough on my adductors and all the other little bits and pieces around my pelvis when I try to stretch for that rebound or cross-ice pass. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just too old for this stuff, or if I shouldn't just try to take it easier and not worry about pucks flying past me...but I can't <b><i>not try</i></b> to compete.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sg81IjomE106BoACUVkS4zqJC7CsDtZPfUhoFHeZDk72j4yNHAq-iK0GFrHsVEmeYw0GPxO6SGBW9nUTVl6HHY76rhvBiNm5NRKxaMGYLOJUwz4o0DfyLXVolNLg26LG9Bk_KUarJk8WF2dlLdGx1aIoa_6OcIHDgBdn0ykm8-WmsiSgE1CJu_Zx0J8/s1200/PXL_20230819_145432799.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sg81IjomE106BoACUVkS4zqJC7CsDtZPfUhoFHeZDk72j4yNHAq-iK0GFrHsVEmeYw0GPxO6SGBW9nUTVl6HHY76rhvBiNm5NRKxaMGYLOJUwz4o0DfyLXVolNLg26LG9Bk_KUarJk8WF2dlLdGx1aIoa_6OcIHDgBdn0ykm8-WmsiSgE1CJu_Zx0J8/w400-h225/PXL_20230819_145432799.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It feels some kind of sweet - as a 44 year old woman recently returned to the net - to stop some of these hotshot twentysomething year old guys, too.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>To make matters worse, I have a way of committing to stuff that isn't necessarily the healthiest for me: we're going to Foxtail tomorrow evening to help out, and will most likely stay for the overnight as it seems most people aren't too keen on standing around by a buffet table beside a rail trail in the wee hours of the night while a bunch of smelly folks stop by..</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYbqR9D2LdByNGws_C2_FrVxnQ-XTzMq_f2OoRaiBsjXmsJdeyYbBFPC5HP9JVYKiHByb9k93yp4PqGwzxUvBfpReNsRt3gLSFPjgD5ps3xkFBYyGAfy8_YAlPv6EgxA8RUsldAKsSO46nVNx23HNlsZv1tyVjGAbo82D2wLTZ6N1arq84kVd0EvSsgI/s1200/PXL_20230819_145554190.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYbqR9D2LdByNGws_C2_FrVxnQ-XTzMq_f2OoRaiBsjXmsJdeyYbBFPC5HP9JVYKiHByb9k93yp4PqGwzxUvBfpReNsRt3gLSFPjgD5ps3xkFBYyGAfy8_YAlPv6EgxA8RUsldAKsSO46nVNx23HNlsZv1tyVjGAbo82D2wLTZ6N1arq84kVd0EvSsgI/w264-h400/PXL_20230819_145554190.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And some runners, too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>So I might just have to give myself what my Garmin has been increasingly insistent I need.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHY9adJobKxxsB0QcXIzFFiofDzkZpa7f-h9GSzjwCIxCeiBJ_ZPWdttOitcjpK41lGURasa-XD90yjSA01Cn5XNrNw3s14xSfXPkKuOE6Anrp0_bsDA-7RiMnHgRY-jHGtI1fsO7j0JmmDzye7PVlhOeeD57b8vAoL1eyseAyFzbqqtaGV2FvkKpO6A/s1226/rest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1226" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitHY9adJobKxxsB0QcXIzFFiofDzkZpa7f-h9GSzjwCIxCeiBJ_ZPWdttOitcjpK41lGURasa-XD90yjSA01Cn5XNrNw3s14xSfXPkKuOE6Anrp0_bsDA-7RiMnHgRY-jHGtI1fsO7j0JmmDzye7PVlhOeeD57b8vAoL1eyseAyFzbqqtaGV2FvkKpO6A/w400-h376/rest.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's really been laboring the point lately</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Maybe I just won't run Sunday, either at Foxtail (I've been known to take a little trot on the rail trail after the next shift arrives at the aid station in the past) or after we get home. I do have reasons to run to the market tomorrow morning..</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CBO5zEzqZKc" width="320" youtube-src-id="CBO5zEzqZKc"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">(beyond it being incredibly beautiful)</div><div><br /></div><div>..but maybe I can offer myself some grace after that, and just not run on Sunday. Who knows? Maybe I won't run Monday, either. I have Monster of Mazinaw coming up in 4 weeks, but I'm more likely to be ready for that sort of rugged, technical challenge if I arrive feeling less like a shell of myself than I do now.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSZDkUVvl_NTw5hCJuekXn0dxl0Xv0OdZrDSnrt2AqdL3oJsxYjv6o_tvSyhjDOLhnRypFblc-JyvXBgX3BTfq8iVFKQu6sR5-FeNyZxiYN47wqltXIqCL-aBd5rGT7nQsYTzVhaOJCl3NDucKYD0DnQ3YgXZxnfwemZExQj02I6H4Ma0AHmVYQRXzcw/s922/PXL_20230820_224815873~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="591" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSZDkUVvl_NTw5hCJuekXn0dxl0Xv0OdZrDSnrt2AqdL3oJsxYjv6o_tvSyhjDOLhnRypFblc-JyvXBgX3BTfq8iVFKQu6sR5-FeNyZxiYN47wqltXIqCL-aBd5rGT7nQsYTzVhaOJCl3NDucKYD0DnQ3YgXZxnfwemZExQj02I6H4Ma0AHmVYQRXzcw/w256-h400/PXL_20230820_224815873~2.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't run away from your problem if running <i style="font-weight: bold;">is </i>the problem</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Good luck to all the Foxtail racers - I wish you all the fleetness of foot that I find myself missing right now, and I'll see you out there as the sun begins to drop!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-32120705231131650562023-08-18T14:21:00.001-04:002023-08-18T14:21:10.293-04:00Soften the landing<p> It's been almost 3 weeks since <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/08/tally-in-valley-trail-race-100-mile.html">Tally in the Valley</a>, and I'm still in the process of recovery.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZf75sJ4rxRZtMxwMOU5iMGZW-cl_tTNL1ypHKDM9vX9053wXxTyoDNcgHFyZc-0ycRAMP8aTQNv3BMExJTucvM7joKgVHlf-zXsboUQDsfeUDQJt4GKNqGK03gwao-kfeZJ3KDIo56gYdUzxbtYva3vUiEJc3zRRiRjrez3blgGEi2dL9VFHk3AooZ0/s1200/PXL_20230813_190018193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZf75sJ4rxRZtMxwMOU5iMGZW-cl_tTNL1ypHKDM9vX9053wXxTyoDNcgHFyZc-0ycRAMP8aTQNv3BMExJTucvM7joKgVHlf-zXsboUQDsfeUDQJt4GKNqGK03gwao-kfeZJ3KDIo56gYdUzxbtYva3vUiEJc3zRRiRjrez3blgGEi2dL9VFHk3AooZ0/w400-h223/PXL_20230813_190018193.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took rather a lot out of me, so it's sort of to be expected</td></tr></tbody></table><p>My feet are healing up nicely - I've been able to wear lace-up footwear since a week after the race, and the last of the dressings (on the deepest abrasion on the inside of my right heel) was no longer necessary by Wednesday of this week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIPqEhmzF6EXugbmiP91ckPSQbemjFKax8n4PC7uh4nYb0_JuL-tdFbEa8nZSx0HwK5W22O-AjxXJ93UQSp962xm7LYr_cBUtOw0z01jYw0SkyV_X7FjXR-0rP1jItsIeAfMR3lFEJCamTGm2A8xp5mXiRePLSFvaKHSuSvo0dgapDmRdzGbLSy-g17o/s1200/PXL_20230817_183204975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="968" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIPqEhmzF6EXugbmiP91ckPSQbemjFKax8n4PC7uh4nYb0_JuL-tdFbEa8nZSx0HwK5W22O-AjxXJ93UQSp962xm7LYr_cBUtOw0z01jYw0SkyV_X7FjXR-0rP1jItsIeAfMR3lFEJCamTGm2A8xp5mXiRePLSFvaKHSuSvo0dgapDmRdzGbLSy-g17o/w323-h400/PXL_20230817_183204975.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's still a bit of dead skin hanging around the edges of former blisters, but the new skin is strong enough to handle regular wear & tear</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Almost everyone knows the basics of post-race recovery - and how that looks for each person or event is going to be a little different - but I thought I'd give you some thoughts on some less-obvious tools than epsom salt baths, massage guns, and foam rollers that I have used to help make the few days post-race a little less uncomfortable.</p><p><b>1. A Cane</b></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_azKO2eca5vPW-YAGHwdmyWme-LzMWJZbTk0wNHwiH67HNXmrXQRmy4zWZzlUemOvi0IA8Na6u9pcx2JId5AIx5oSJfHSgWtFB42JVRzt5gFMXzeMQAdpGl4XxH0HacwGv4vola71YvaIouRWVu7L8pA_OYiDmKEfViI-araLHl9KCDNcrfnoUvPgc7k/s1200/PXL_20230802_232101350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_azKO2eca5vPW-YAGHwdmyWme-LzMWJZbTk0wNHwiH67HNXmrXQRmy4zWZzlUemOvi0IA8Na6u9pcx2JId5AIx5oSJfHSgWtFB42JVRzt5gFMXzeMQAdpGl4XxH0HacwGv4vola71YvaIouRWVu7L8pA_OYiDmKEfViI-araLHl9KCDNcrfnoUvPgc7k/w225-h400/PXL_20230802_232101350.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This is something every household should have on hand, whether they run absurdly long distances or not - almost all of us will twist an ankle or do some other bit of damage that needs a bit of assistance with walking at some point. It took me until Thursday after the race before I could hobble around without one, and it was a great help with anything that required bending at the knee: getting up and down stairs (and my house is seemingly nothing <i style="font-weight: bold;">but</i> stairs), or even getting on or off the toilet. Choose utility over looks here - we have a cool cane with a dragon head grip, but it's absolute murder on my hand if I try to actually use it to take weight off my feet. The one pictured above has a comfortable, smooth wooden grip, a sturdy rubber foot, and conveniently breaks down (like a trekking pole) to easily fit in a bag when not needed. I will often bring this to the race with me if I suspect it'll be a tough one, and I've frequently been grateful I did.</p><p><b>2. A plastic chair</b></p><p>Any cheap patio chair will do, as long as it fits in your tub or shower enclosure.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7ikLy96tum94TXxke5I_IEHBGajsyWF624ozwxBpYlPEjtXZ87mvn6J0c-gOkcklzX_9uYQg_E9qp6suUe9flswUaXdc8xbYlhiP3s2sGk89YMSKJht9xjdLXXriG-PLH6XLpT_Y1IANlAZ4oaTfOtJ_nXn1hoXQJRQ84bcjOizysD_MAgVbmAIaWqI/s1200/PXL_20230818_174817901~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7ikLy96tum94TXxke5I_IEHBGajsyWF624ozwxBpYlPEjtXZ87mvn6J0c-gOkcklzX_9uYQg_E9qp6suUe9flswUaXdc8xbYlhiP3s2sGk89YMSKJht9xjdLXXriG-PLH6XLpT_Y1IANlAZ4oaTfOtJ_nXn1hoXQJRQ84bcjOizysD_MAgVbmAIaWqI/w259-h400/PXL_20230818_174817901~2.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think you know where I'm going with this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I can't tell you how many times a shower would not have happened after a race if I actually had to stand there. It can be a bit of a challenge to get all of your bits clean while seated, but if the choice is between mostly clean with a bit of fussing or utterly filthy and smelly, I'll do my best in the chair every time.</p><p><b>3. A laundry basket</b></p><p>This one is a bit more esoteric - I used a small laundry basket with a couple of towels inside underneath the covers to keep anything from touching my feet while I slept, because they looked <a href="https://imgur.com/a/BcQZPBr">like this</a> (WARNING: I highly suggest you are not eating or drinking anything if you click that link. It's super gross).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi7ZJKjCCC6vXO07V-kR_1ENCVaWYIIwKRicqtU5Qq4WfCDttwOMRPIR504WCjdkEsQ2_AaUZbjBlp2sH8zRnyL0oHFILScQErQncpOIu-vPkqcTQ64eQFFsz57RjvKv9jTqsaGY3vwgx1-pHuAryuGbYw8KYbNckfw3Qwm-MFASoitTfhZkI6OW1Jio/s1200/PXL_20230801_041341389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1030" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi7ZJKjCCC6vXO07V-kR_1ENCVaWYIIwKRicqtU5Qq4WfCDttwOMRPIR504WCjdkEsQ2_AaUZbjBlp2sH8zRnyL0oHFILScQErQncpOIu-vPkqcTQ64eQFFsz57RjvKv9jTqsaGY3vwgx1-pHuAryuGbYw8KYbNckfw3Qwm-MFASoitTfhZkI6OW1Jio/w344-h400/PXL_20230801_041341389.jpg" width="344" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wrapped a large towel under the front edge of the basket to pad it - the smaller towel was mostly to absorb any leakage from the dressings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b>4. Leak protection</b></p><p>Ok now this is going to be a little gross, and probably more for the ladies, but here we are. I wore a pair of period panties (my favourites are made by <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Absorbent-Hipster-Panties-Protective-Underwear/dp/B08DJ4WBYJ/ref=asc_df_B08DJ4WBYJ/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=535516742330&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9076132388792402284&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001030&hvtargid=pla-1252217100168&psc=1">Bambody and I purchased through amazon.ca</a>) for a few days - ok a different pair each day folks, I'm not <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> disgusting (when I'm not on the trail) - after the race, for two reasons: </p><p> a) In really long races, <i style="font-weight: bold;">all</i> of your muscles get worn out...including those that control when things exit your body...and may take a day or two to start functioning properly again.<br /></p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> b) I was so ridiculously slow moving that I could not be guaranteed to make it to the bathroom in time.</span><br /></p><p><span>You could also use a maxi pad inside regular underwear for this purpose, but I find that my period panties give much better coverage and are less likely to leak. Better to wash a pair of underoos than have to try to spot-clean the furniture or the carpet on the way to the washroom!</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cocpqvYDKjo3Ma8Y6XFzTA_qQwT_Emn6rqAkGKZtev1kg6etrzDHy4TNqvyJaibvE-yywhwo-qmVdcXXSDi3mFMl90AELu3zcSEYW3nQ_XA23Vk6yXTzN_4Tcd7lJGUB1rxk_sqQjnAOdWRZd9IYfllPQT0OSqKCYDWzyK-hRWj-ktnk82pZAEPiiD0/s1200/PXL_20230816_002616497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cocpqvYDKjo3Ma8Y6XFzTA_qQwT_Emn6rqAkGKZtev1kg6etrzDHy4TNqvyJaibvE-yywhwo-qmVdcXXSDi3mFMl90AELu3zcSEYW3nQ_XA23Vk6yXTzN_4Tcd7lJGUB1rxk_sqQjnAOdWRZd9IYfllPQT0OSqKCYDWzyK-hRWj-ktnk82pZAEPiiD0/w400-h225/PXL_20230816_002616497.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and here's a picture of a pretty sunset to try to cleanse your mind a little.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><b>5. Shoes that are too big for you</b></span></p><p><span>Because of the horrible blisters and abrasions that I suffered during Tally, it wasn't possible for me to wear socks at all for a few days, let alone compression socks. The same damage to my feet also made it difficult for me to put them up at all during my workday, and as a result the swelling in my feet and ankles was astonishing!</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_cqpjuRWjMwyh11gIN-et3283Owap4hsJpqAm_XmoIdmPl9D-yq8f-9aYIHpbv02UA8RnJVhaVxhOofqDKB2TieU0TLl_IklYqdH_XNj8PxvUB4_mD7jaCxW0ymy3deBTMk5ox_NLscaXI1fw2zcWhv7h-oAPxRQz02d-duNwFIgy6JXGpmW-Iv9xoY/s1200/swelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1200" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_cqpjuRWjMwyh11gIN-et3283Owap4hsJpqAm_XmoIdmPl9D-yq8f-9aYIHpbv02UA8RnJVhaVxhOofqDKB2TieU0TLl_IklYqdH_XNj8PxvUB4_mD7jaCxW0ymy3deBTMk5ox_NLscaXI1fw2zcWhv7h-oAPxRQz02d-duNwFIgy6JXGpmW-Iv9xoY/w400-h311/swelly.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left is after they returned to normal size - right is Wednesday after the race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span>I ended up wearing Tanker's sandals for a few days. </span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiiDuksysx9IpVmpgf36fMMnwA85b8zFADH_AeLuVXrAeah2lvnL_qo3L9P-BKzFOk2Cv9y_aH9Tx8brHRfB7Ozcsne52zy-FA79UwbR48WpCDhQsVPBmmU6yTwSdx0hoBk4_VQiRVGC2wdBPDdQ--9ZNqjQF9brbWW7tnF20xxT9lz8wzZKV24TKYJo/s1200/PXL_20230801_203845354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1052" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiiDuksysx9IpVmpgf36fMMnwA85b8zFADH_AeLuVXrAeah2lvnL_qo3L9P-BKzFOk2Cv9y_aH9Tx8brHRfB7Ozcsne52zy-FA79UwbR48WpCDhQsVPBmmU6yTwSdx0hoBk4_VQiRVGC2wdBPDdQ--9ZNqjQF9brbWW7tnF20xxT9lz8wzZKV24TKYJo/w351-h400/PXL_20230801_203845354.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">My usual shoe size is men's 7.5-8ish, whereas his is men's 11.5-12ish</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span>If you don't have a big-footed person in your home willing to lend you their footwear, it might be worthwhile to invest in a pair of extra-big sandals in case this sort of thing happens to you. I highly recommend buying something easily washable (the above are EVA Birkenstocks, which are non-porous and can be scrubbed up simply with soap and water, then dried with a towel) in case of blister or wound leakage.</span></p><p><span>You may also want to buy a pair or two of socks that are too big as well. I used a pair of oversize non-compressive (diabetic) socks over the gauze wrap on my feet to try to keep everything in place during the night, and another pair of larger-than-I-usually-need socks on my swollen feet to keep them warm when I went to hang out on the bench at a hockey game the Thursday after the race.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT9Nlst-LP83BtFQttp0kqFtjtKVO2ed3JA8YOUr1w-cELG6YXM6up5MQH1vnCMBjXLk5hu8G0tGvrhy9L2BRVdZGzyW1rD9Ju4_aK3QcCxBz5ZgLl_BxJUAnWsCR9vRJXrAZoQLcV2CW6ayms6dAViD1g1CXL0_MI79Ef2Zsh1wKDTr4AwP4ZEgxggU/s1008/PXL_20230803_215342115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1008" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNT9Nlst-LP83BtFQttp0kqFtjtKVO2ed3JA8YOUr1w-cELG6YXM6up5MQH1vnCMBjXLk5hu8G0tGvrhy9L2BRVdZGzyW1rD9Ju4_aK3QcCxBz5ZgLl_BxJUAnWsCR9vRJXrAZoQLcV2CW6ayms6dAViD1g1CXL0_MI79Ef2Zsh1wKDTr4AwP4ZEgxggU/w400-h371/PXL_20230803_215342115.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..as I was still stuck in Tank's sandals</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><br /></span></p><p><span><b>6. Hydrocolloid dressings</b></span></p><p><span>I've talked about these in the past for blisters, but they're honestly great for any kind of wound (including tattoos - most shops are now using these dressings instead of the old plastic wrap or absorbent pad). These self-adhesive dressings are waterproof and can stay on for multiple days - I've left them for up to a week at times - and prevent infection by sealing the wound, allowing it to heal without disturbing the body's own processes.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbMs_QTYV9qny6dMJNiKxzR07uSXeFGL06XvgQLlTHuQCWfGqGzpqXymg7_0d6cWF5G1pHwm6k3rsPyHHYl1K4ZcUT4oxlAXDoZA8hJaXTiJeF-Tnn6OyRDTu13hXzG3bEopaEPutXkTP0J2CIwfZorjmtSgPqC32474tBZ-aEUYiRXvDs0khbWYQZtc/s1200/hydrocolloid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="1200" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbMs_QTYV9qny6dMJNiKxzR07uSXeFGL06XvgQLlTHuQCWfGqGzpqXymg7_0d6cWF5G1pHwm6k3rsPyHHYl1K4ZcUT4oxlAXDoZA8hJaXTiJeF-Tnn6OyRDTu13hXzG3bEopaEPutXkTP0J2CIwfZorjmtSgPqC32474tBZ-aEUYiRXvDs0khbWYQZtc/w400-h321/hydrocolloid.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're also thin and flexible to conform to contours, have a bit of stretch to accommodate swelling, and can be overlapped to cover large areas</td></tr></tbody></table><br />My preferred brand is <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Nexcare-Tegaderm-Waterproof-Transparent-Dressing/dp/B00CPLCICA/ref=asc_df_B00CPLCICA/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292954639877&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5379499862782757098&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001030&hvtargid=pla-437245426235&psc=1">3M Nexcare Tegaderm</a> (link to amazon.ca - I purchased at Zehrs) but I have used Life Brand, Elastoplast, and Band-Aid brand dressings with varying success in the past. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiK-CAuWkiJWMH7iFuUlCSfTMDqu6DVM9TVq6Kc9BAQnQZ7sI0H8ddxxb4VozddfjeDmKzN--rGt5J2BMolMQcqPANMpddhz-Wz0o8_7pV8eVHSGPd88XZJt8n_FAF5lbs7MteE2YoHitC5tUD2KFYW97rGV6gb4BQ0jLLCHT9aDr8tThMWtI7D9c__tY/s1200/PXL_20230812_151247694.TS_exported.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiK-CAuWkiJWMH7iFuUlCSfTMDqu6DVM9TVq6Kc9BAQnQZ7sI0H8ddxxb4VozddfjeDmKzN--rGt5J2BMolMQcqPANMpddhz-Wz0o8_7pV8eVHSGPd88XZJt8n_FAF5lbs7MteE2YoHitC5tUD2KFYW97rGV6gb4BQ0jLLCHT9aDr8tThMWtI7D9c__tY/w258-h400/PXL_20230812_151247694.TS_exported.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These dressings will even hold up to running!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So there you have it - my pro tips for making the few days after a race that has absolutely destroyed you a little more comfortable. Do you have any unusual tricks you use when recovering from a big race? Let me know in the comments!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbg8CWVdGaV0L0O__1AqbDWpWBCMDnp8dAQJ7U4jyBFFG5k9A8Ep-EsljEKb-JdSheeOtp7LxH-VlhaAz7WETAklwduzs44m88qXlIrOYXSwnSJwwUY7_prdFk76aRwgkA1ka_m-VEkXSLfG7o0wFH5gfmzimIk5ptIXhwOs-5gdpFXIOHsL-tovqldg/s1200/PXL_20230812_150737238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbg8CWVdGaV0L0O__1AqbDWpWBCMDnp8dAQJ7U4jyBFFG5k9A8Ep-EsljEKb-JdSheeOtp7LxH-VlhaAz7WETAklwduzs44m88qXlIrOYXSwnSJwwUY7_prdFk76aRwgkA1ka_m-VEkXSLfG7o0wFH5gfmzimIk5ptIXhwOs-5gdpFXIOHsL-tovqldg/w400-h225/PXL_20230812_150737238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and be kind to yourselves out there <3</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-66950141389529681132023-08-10T15:08:00.007-04:002023-12-08T21:44:12.313-05:00Tally in the Valley Trail Race 100 Mile - Saturday, July 29th, 2023<p> ..or maybe I should call this TallyTail?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbRSNLZINGrx7HhEDIh1SYDJ3yOVsOjl4K-wZ9RtYpX5EhtwnO4jrxad94qAzDgBvhRQOWvaJw_BtVQN-d9rDK5LkNe9LCol6TwOinEhcounjGEZOwomgvL8NVUfKXta1IE_rfK1Dk6WDTneFvY8XgHIJlD-DNorUfg7DAnxb3U3eP_lGkCC__g9jrOw/s1200/PXL_20230729_145604702.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrbRSNLZINGrx7HhEDIh1SYDJ3yOVsOjl4K-wZ9RtYpX5EhtwnO4jrxad94qAzDgBvhRQOWvaJw_BtVQN-d9rDK5LkNe9LCol6TwOinEhcounjGEZOwomgvL8NVUfKXta1IE_rfK1Dk6WDTneFvY8XgHIJlD-DNorUfg7DAnxb3U3eP_lGkCC__g9jrOw/w400-h223/PXL_20230729_145604702.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..or FoxTally?</td></tr></tbody></table><br />No matter what you want to call it, hard rain beginning 45mins before the start of any race is not an auspicious beginning.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzLiXbeQg2g_UzZlC5s-2FxMa9nYFYlabgxhO_Rp6jq56lHSPTEklRH1kWy6iGaAftLoM5qCQ21-n3-f16cKg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(It actually got harder as 9am approached)</div><div><br /><p>Having been up since 5:30am to arrive on site not long after 7:30am, we got there just as it had begun to sprinkle, so I was able to take care of most of my pre-race stuff without getting too soaked. I had all my kit organized under the drop bag pavilion tents, feeling a little extra about rolling up with a 72L tote plus my cleaning supplies caddy full of nutrition (which I sat on a little folding metal stool to raise it up so I wouldn't have to bend down too far).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDzSe9IGAKr0eBny-TlDxx3cJBZAY8x_92ITklVy4KzPDg1oepDrP4hg2hxoGJwlDzq0XCBkhGqDJYD_SjphxGOpjRALkfOb0hI4x7gggakc4zUyMgBVmd5-stHva4QArhSqLePHcXb86rM2HqZBbFZBLf57D3mLp1yH7hbWnW1l4kh0so9Lp-pe_tk/s1200/PXL_20230729_124058430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTiDzSe9IGAKr0eBny-TlDxx3cJBZAY8x_92ITklVy4KzPDg1oepDrP4hg2hxoGJwlDzq0XCBkhGqDJYD_SjphxGOpjRALkfOb0hI4x7gggakc4zUyMgBVmd5-stHva4QArhSqLePHcXb86rM2HqZBbFZBLf57D3mLp1yH7hbWnW1l4kh0so9Lp-pe_tk/w268-h400/PXL_20230729_124058430.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other people had at least as much stuff, though, including chairs and sometimes their own tents</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The plan was simple: just go out easy and try to hang on as long as possible, especially with what would certainly be very muddy conditions. The course rolls quite a bit, but there's a little more than a mile of rail trail that - despite being all uphill at an average grade of about 1.5%, but occasionally tips upward of 10% - allows you to make up some good time, even if that just means a place where you can walk steadily without worrying about your feet going out from under you.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNrtA8Ptk4c_1aF1DjXhPacqlK-UBlhBsevaJ3Hqv6eP1bJo4eHWiRLPHiJzZCUVv5EiQ_0Y1q_UQ70Z1UTbiUT3_1RaHoT6S_czjg5tR5RO-bATuJ7q3WFk5NoNYJkwF7iHMHVRUWMHr2Ob4zonI2ztJJUwri27wpzaZJgYNYCsT-WkWe7K5rIpeAHM/s1200/PXL_20230729_145155161~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNrtA8Ptk4c_1aF1DjXhPacqlK-UBlhBsevaJ3Hqv6eP1bJo4eHWiRLPHiJzZCUVv5EiQ_0Y1q_UQ70Z1UTbiUT3_1RaHoT6S_czjg5tR5RO-bATuJ7q3WFk5NoNYJkwF7iHMHVRUWMHr2Ob4zonI2ztJJUwri27wpzaZJgYNYCsT-WkWe7K5rIpeAHM/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_145155161~2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those weren't looking to be common anywhere else on the course</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Race Director Jeff took us through the pre-race meeting, advising us that if (more) lightning happened during the race, we would be sent off course to hide in our vehicles until it passed and the clock would stop. A lot of people started off in rainproof apparel of some sort or another - ranging from expensive technical jackets down to garbage bags with holes for head & arms - but it was warm enough that I figured I'd probably be fine. I mean, I hadn't actually had the chance to test the particular shirt I was wearing in hard rain yet (I tried but the storm stayed south of where I ran), and the skirt I was wearing had arrived 3 days before the race in time for a ~20min test run, but how bad could it be?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVwpz4V15kM6L8ubuVc_gAo9f6O4f30bKIlMclrD214K5sa-LXIdQnH7Un-Pmcb6_AMMUf8SPypTwgWQhHlU82PPTOfGf4GdDY_VzMpuw9OTADi2EessGWBj11D0kpZymoaFH3uK1DDIWkrBxT_2hy5kzKHv04tyawdpfPSKbL4I2qHZrKP2zvvP_PRM/s1200/101401-c076a0-1004975013.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVwpz4V15kM6L8ubuVc_gAo9f6O4f30bKIlMclrD214K5sa-LXIdQnH7Un-Pmcb6_AMMUf8SPypTwgWQhHlU82PPTOfGf4GdDY_VzMpuw9OTADi2EessGWBj11D0kpZymoaFH3uK1DDIWkrBxT_2hy5kzKHv04tyawdpfPSKbL4I2qHZrKP2zvvP_PRM/w400-h266/101401-c076a0-1004975013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off we go, then<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The rain continued, though it did ease up a little. The damage was definitely already done, though: the bottom of the very first downhill in the field, not even a third of a kilometer into the course, was more than ankle deep in water.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZdy7AUjl7Tufowf1tW4goT1keZlaUbGn_LAvoRmd9Saf9ASuV8dUcyw8qUWx34qlIoOMxdr_Egc0zAgbz2V6K3NzN0hOux_upvcJH9JgYPJA5E3IIBObh1MQ7HqRj-P2xIlZoG32KCP8658p-RHUqy1JLtg-xDUOsPJ8BhLX0NgshwYSgk2XcgkN8HE/s1259/splash.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1259" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZdy7AUjl7Tufowf1tW4goT1keZlaUbGn_LAvoRmd9Saf9ASuV8dUcyw8qUWx34qlIoOMxdr_Egc0zAgbz2V6K3NzN0hOux_upvcJH9JgYPJA5E3IIBObh1MQ7HqRj-P2xIlZoG32KCP8658p-RHUqy1JLtg-xDUOsPJ8BhLX0NgshwYSgk2XcgkN8HE/w400-h380/splash.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was not how I envisioned this race going down, but it's not like I could control it</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My first couple of laps were spent just feeling out the course - it had been <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/07/tally-in-valley-6-hour-trail-race.html">a couple of years since I'd done this loop</a> - and seeing how my body was feeling. I'd tapered running pretty well, but had messed up my left hip/groin playing hockey a couple of weeks beforehand, and ended up playing hockey twice in one day the Sunday before the race. I also hadn't done too well at getting extra sleep due to it being audit season at work, and the thick, humid air made it more difficult to breathe. I was feeling ok for the time being, though, if a little soggy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASvYx1_9iKAlKoaVLf_2_075uvB0qeH0GXIxq-X8_sYf7wH9Jh3LRRlN9DwgScIz4HZ0EBwWbwH0dcoU_xJyl7amdhzx2JO923G08HXwZvTETd90YJsB9GMV5QGdE07kto8T2iA40djuvM-K8SnoevJR4xXUkq26Cgi_QQ4RdlpzdpJBDVdbKbk91wRI/s1200/K%20rain%201.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="792" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASvYx1_9iKAlKoaVLf_2_075uvB0qeH0GXIxq-X8_sYf7wH9Jh3LRRlN9DwgScIz4HZ0EBwWbwH0dcoU_xJyl7amdhzx2JO923G08HXwZvTETd90YJsB9GMV5QGdE07kto8T2iA40djuvM-K8SnoevJR4xXUkq26Cgi_QQ4RdlpzdpJBDVdbKbk91wRI/w264-h400/K%20rain%201.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When photographer Sue saw me she said she didn't recognize me without my usual flouncy skirt.<br />I told her I was wearing a skirt, but it was too wet to flounce!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The course was very wet, but manageable for the most part - it was a clockwise/uphill year (which I'd confirmed before I registered), so Spring Creek Trail to Bumblebee Hill, then up the rail trail to the trail centre, then the Sawmill Trail loop and into the start/finish to do it all over again. Spring Creek was flowing with water in places and rapidly being mushed into huge mud puddles by the passage of runners, but you could get along pretty well. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDDBn4LvY1z3cYCJ5FemEzWiXvMi4ZzhHbKbGQSBx325TsBGMFYwC5tMUQdBmfpbuXF4mLGrL8YHz-jkdWiaVlgsLp1G_5NaJ2Le9Z8fQ-1HnzbSZiAJ9hc0oL8xTa6iNixCFYbA21aMj3qY7fEHpJ4qHY-rC0FKLHPTk5nc8KTaSs8JtZw1i2KGWX3E/s1200/PXL_20230729_202357422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDDBn4LvY1z3cYCJ5FemEzWiXvMi4ZzhHbKbGQSBx325TsBGMFYwC5tMUQdBmfpbuXF4mLGrL8YHz-jkdWiaVlgsLp1G_5NaJ2Le9Z8fQ-1HnzbSZiAJ9hc0oL8xTa6iNixCFYbA21aMj3qY7fEHpJ4qHY-rC0FKLHPTk5nc8KTaSs8JtZw1i2KGWX3E/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_202357422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With the occasional step over an obstacle<br />(I banged each of my shins on this once)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Counter-intuitively, the best line (or at least the most stable one with the least chance of slipping) was right through the washed-out section where water was actually - or had been - flowing. The surrounding mud was frequently slippery, but the runoff troughs had been compacted a bit by the stream of water over its surface and washed clean down to the gravel, which offered better traction.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicO95q94FpXeizUlihG2R-lSrXM8vzaRmI9IhEQVSF_H0DI0c86zUyFDkZJ_bitWPCftJcf3zO0zRe7QwlUB75fo8h-vFKuzGNEQgwLZoeKSOHld4BQ54TqlIcvP1h4ExxDUFq1nfg4SL1fcF-erFxOddC5vsJgJCcRsKOKHoMxvdLiMZC7cs5dRnHMc/s1350/flow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1350" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicO95q94FpXeizUlihG2R-lSrXM8vzaRmI9IhEQVSF_H0DI0c86zUyFDkZJ_bitWPCftJcf3zO0zRe7QwlUB75fo8h-vFKuzGNEQgwLZoeKSOHld4BQ54TqlIcvP1h4ExxDUFq1nfg4SL1fcF-erFxOddC5vsJgJCcRsKOKHoMxvdLiMZC7cs5dRnHMc/w400-h355/flow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were literal streams crossing the trails in places early in the day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By the second lap, though, the Sawmill Trail had become a muddy slip-n-slide of epic proportions. The pine forested sections were surprisingly sodden: you'd think the needle-strewn ground would allow good runoff, since there's very little of it that's flat, but it had soaked up all the rain like a sponge and was being churned into something akin to room-temperature butter as runners came through. The latter part of the loop was the scariest, though: there was one steep descent that was only possible (which remaining upright, anyway) by hugging the extreme left-hand side and using two small shrub-like trees to lower yourself down. I heard tales of people slipping and just sliding all the way down, and saw loads of people whose backs and bottoms attested to their having made a spontaneous up-close inspection of the slick mud.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zekWVsZKnuuBjeKn7SszuFFL1HCGq4YY_pIpaeP2D7NQ5BdsczHK54cRYh7Gvh9B6QR1lZogF0ekaLdyBJz4MQjkGNKJRohizX_zXIdsURgm_Yp6uQzn6HKIOsZ2E33ul7U2CrnUQ-mT0tEQGGE6XCpp28xQplAcIgSfP0rSzJefTcyPagRbQY_fELs/s1200/PXL_20230729_151601472.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zekWVsZKnuuBjeKn7SszuFFL1HCGq4YY_pIpaeP2D7NQ5BdsczHK54cRYh7Gvh9B6QR1lZogF0ekaLdyBJz4MQjkGNKJRohizX_zXIdsURgm_Yp6uQzn6HKIOsZ2E33ul7U2CrnUQ-mT0tEQGGE6XCpp28xQplAcIgSfP0rSzJefTcyPagRbQY_fELs/w225-h400/PXL_20230729_151601472.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I somehow managed not to fall, but mostly because I am very namby-pamby about slippery bits</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>To tell you just how bad it was, I didn't end up getting any photos: I didn't take my phone out to take pics until my 3rd lap, during which I found Tina at the crossroads to the trail centre re-directing runners along an additional out-and-back on the rail trail that would replace the Sawmill loop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskAJqalNtOer9Ii9gT4jB8XmTCiWGIQVFjywfDdLZdzu5GruOXihQmfsuq5-xTzPykG90OlJSStUIRDIS-YdWxAG6QYHkwDejcpOtFwgmT5j_9NjKLjuy5SgJ7saZWrblkv7mlon5_UOUyDTScNOWSZbShtWX_kjsbuzG1lgvIXOrxqvibYG5MKgg6C0/s1200/PXL_20230729_152750038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1200" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskAJqalNtOer9Ii9gT4jB8XmTCiWGIQVFjywfDdLZdzu5GruOXihQmfsuq5-xTzPykG90OlJSStUIRDIS-YdWxAG6QYHkwDejcpOtFwgmT5j_9NjKLjuy5SgJ7saZWrblkv7mlon5_UOUyDTScNOWSZbShtWX_kjsbuzG1lgvIXOrxqvibYG5MKgg6C0/w400-h272/PXL_20230729_152750038.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My darling bearer of good news!<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Even the rail trail was flowing with water from the continuing rain.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEcSZP4O4eORUIpBQdbFZeNA9R9iOzyqBigAuYeUTUVOju5Zp-u0oVB7-tmmA3iicWuoca4hQQGjbl6PDT5JE5so3_GApYaRM_UpM9WwE5ILICo7BZ8YYTI4lmfGuOzeHlwKi6eiFi-NZUQQAzEQsboGDh4YCKdSANX3DhJ_0v8OW92vgVcTP3JO4aOI/s1200/PXL_20230729_153218370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="742" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEcSZP4O4eORUIpBQdbFZeNA9R9iOzyqBigAuYeUTUVOju5Zp-u0oVB7-tmmA3iicWuoca4hQQGjbl6PDT5JE5so3_GApYaRM_UpM9WwE5ILICo7BZ8YYTI4lmfGuOzeHlwKi6eiFi-NZUQQAzEQsboGDh4YCKdSANX3DhJ_0v8OW92vgVcTP3JO4aOI/w248-h400/PXL_20230729_153218370.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While most rail trail is flat, this particular specimen has an 11km uphill from the Hamilton end toward Brantford</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Reaching the turn-around, I realized I'd actually get to go back downhill for a bit!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737CrEUrwL0FCJublqIcrjty6WA2Yu4sJjtEIQfpEJAN-EVJHB_r2hX8ViXkQILCQmC8X4TxjJ561ib5iaBn6AXKcTY0HzJG7SKZgrvaak5U-LBKCtXEeNq9_fqz6aKz_q3RQ01ngcE6kyI4bSPa9xZ5SfHpY4UpnTfs524e_LUXFcNw3ByrsJFUsqcw/s1200/PXL_20230729_153427297.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="998" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg737CrEUrwL0FCJublqIcrjty6WA2Yu4sJjtEIQfpEJAN-EVJHB_r2hX8ViXkQILCQmC8X4TxjJ561ib5iaBn6AXKcTY0HzJG7SKZgrvaak5U-LBKCtXEeNq9_fqz6aKz_q3RQ01ngcE6kyI4bSPa9xZ5SfHpY4UpnTfs524e_LUXFcNw3ByrsJFUsqcw/w333-h400/PXL_20230729_153427297.jpg" width="333" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As well as get more of a chance to see other runners, and offer some encouragement to them as we passed each other - I always try to give some positive energy to those around me</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Except, it never feels like a downhill - the insidiousness of the grade is such that it adds an appreciable drain in energy in the uphill direction, without ever offering any tangible assistance as you descend. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvwh-lIURXDRYncPV5_2RK5Mn6Qex-jFdDyAGTY8IB4V8VSMNQ2RwSYPh18hDj_Ko2V6pc7PLnkLOiDDiAMrsadE3A1T7UkSJOIcMJQ1cUWGbQteWPalxWvX41TniliEWCOcwq8rn3GfaBvm0joYLNsbc-cfO_ZKYs6WGfwyuSKbRgU0V0EEJ_tuVsT4/s1200/PXL_20230729_153158375.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvwh-lIURXDRYncPV5_2RK5Mn6Qex-jFdDyAGTY8IB4V8VSMNQ2RwSYPh18hDj_Ko2V6pc7PLnkLOiDDiAMrsadE3A1T7UkSJOIcMJQ1cUWGbQteWPalxWvX41TniliEWCOcwq8rn3GfaBvm0joYLNsbc-cfO_ZKYs6WGfwyuSKbRgU0V0EEJ_tuVsT4/w225-h400/PXL_20230729_153158375.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nor was it without its own mud puddle at the Sulphur Springs Road crossing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Back to the trail centre, then along the gravel driveway past the Sawmill trailhead, where Tricia stood as marshal directing runners to continue along the driveway.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb23spz2iKvtA6O9lBHIfDBj5WxNjN25b2iYfJQjA81yqCp-AfjaaXwlTcSPfRbaacV1tKd3W7VBAr0FChLTNYgO53YszrVu47q16U4w_dxcYWOsOVQvp8GV9Jwe8aoAR8UKbutedNxB9g4xAddUgtDFHuLksnP7Gr5JutbajStS8xDLjTOY3P8HT1Xk4/s1200/PXL_20230729_154206127.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1200" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb23spz2iKvtA6O9lBHIfDBj5WxNjN25b2iYfJQjA81yqCp-AfjaaXwlTcSPfRbaacV1tKd3W7VBAr0FChLTNYgO53YszrVu47q16U4w_dxcYWOsOVQvp8GV9Jwe8aoAR8UKbutedNxB9g4xAddUgtDFHuLksnP7Gr5JutbajStS8xDLjTOY3P8HT1Xk4/w400-h376/PXL_20230729_154206127.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you haven't done a Happy Trails race, you're really missing out - the volunteers are the absolute best!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Through the gate and past the parking lot - this section was covered with nasty, sharp aggregate stone and was slightly uphill again.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9GugT5LQtKjYl2gXFLmqfkYsU9KoObXUXoPGo38sH5BMgXel8eok0YyuN6FJtwKX_4NjKX39zpzEgpmuTAwxV7WrmRfw3Q3TrvU7tNMtjbjpSE03571CRPaQFNuI7vpf-t722A9-csAOL_W3-rvTggiyjGqq5vYI3sAowekHeyBJsq97SGodjSx2xtw/s1200/PXL_20230729_154239934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="831" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9GugT5LQtKjYl2gXFLmqfkYsU9KoObXUXoPGo38sH5BMgXel8eok0YyuN6FJtwKX_4NjKX39zpzEgpmuTAwxV7WrmRfw3Q3TrvU7tNMtjbjpSE03571CRPaQFNuI7vpf-t722A9-csAOL_W3-rvTggiyjGqq5vYI3sAowekHeyBJsq97SGodjSx2xtw/w278-h400/PXL_20230729_154239934.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder how many people DNF'd after passing their car?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Step over the speed bump, then descend an unwelcome paved stretch with a crumbling edge - the downhill begins mild, but gets steeper and steeper as you approach the race flags.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1LSQ8-q21UAo1YbwVr8OLMGPZg3lrMyaHOG8t-2AiJPFZRyOEETqlTDQqAy6iUrWsTS9rTwr8U182zEDGL7zt5S0bjlltFIP6KPTWHSvAD4LdiOC2AUy6fhPUdqbRFyqJxUayNGe1IWkpStRalgw5VbiaXmPG0r-COlGQ4kdRfQq2ZAcr-qhXScXs6s/s1200/PXL_20230729_154458774.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="871" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1LSQ8-q21UAo1YbwVr8OLMGPZg3lrMyaHOG8t-2AiJPFZRyOEETqlTDQqAy6iUrWsTS9rTwr8U182zEDGL7zt5S0bjlltFIP6KPTWHSvAD4LdiOC2AUy6fhPUdqbRFyqJxUayNGe1IWkpStRalgw5VbiaXmPG0r-COlGQ4kdRfQq2ZAcr-qhXScXs6s/w290-h400/PXL_20230729_154458774.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See them down there?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At the flags, pull a <i style="font-weight: bold;">really</i> hard right turn - like 150 degrees - then climb one more stinkin' gravelly hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLL2p_38IhbOgrrZ3wQQeL1mhfnwAHT6el7ZW5mO1jnezNXJF0PbfS8tB5i6QLHDE2igmCSPnN5sPBOpkoaqtBsyQtyquzx9pqdIxNfhKBDinnWFTf3tFj7epQllLnKvq08vPcH2K76m8vS6xY0eLlKxYXKNtBgc9-DiFyI1YlNdXY2zahIU1uWTI068/s1200/PXL_20230729_154524299.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="762" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLL2p_38IhbOgrrZ3wQQeL1mhfnwAHT6el7ZW5mO1jnezNXJF0PbfS8tB5i6QLHDE2igmCSPnN5sPBOpkoaqtBsyQtyquzx9pqdIxNfhKBDinnWFTf3tFj7epQllLnKvq08vPcH2K76m8vS6xY0eLlKxYXKNtBgc9-DiFyI1YlNdXY2zahIU1uWTI068/w254-h400/PXL_20230729_154524299.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to do this one after coming off the Sawmill loop, too - you emerge from the trail just a little further down the road, so it's uphill on the pavement to here that way</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The entry to the start/finish chute had already become a quagmire of mud within the first handful of hours.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcLy2EXyHeKt87J-K574LzQ-P8ewmHvB9hfzEgiQLMqkDw4RMbs4Kpz4LB9y2atWRngy4W6twibf_Gh8V_3UkwAxLZgUviBSH9b-OkwXEfFQ4wrjLrZu3mLfiGA31MAMOJbX9NqY5yd29Of1dxHCe4aH7MIa4pFOZj3JeDPb3rjI4FVFsg7s9BOjny-E/s1200/PXL_20230729_154542835.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="777" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcLy2EXyHeKt87J-K574LzQ-P8ewmHvB9hfzEgiQLMqkDw4RMbs4Kpz4LB9y2atWRngy4W6twibf_Gh8V_3UkwAxLZgUviBSH9b-OkwXEfFQ4wrjLrZu3mLfiGA31MAMOJbX9NqY5yd29Of1dxHCe4aH7MIa4pFOZj3JeDPb3rjI4FVFsg7s9BOjny-E/w259-h400/PXL_20230729_154542835.jpg" width="259" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't help but think of some poor runner seeing the finish in sight, trying to run toward it, and going splat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Most of us were foolish enough to continue - Saturday featured the 12hr day race (9am-9pm), the 24hr, the 100mi, and the Gong Show backyard-style, last-man-standing race where all participants must be ready to depart for their next lap at the top of each hour (but may not leave before then) or be disqualified.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgFtXwfrYoQ7v10M6tShGRm3NnKNdloSXU8qXZeDvoqNQlyFWzr9ux4yu0GFVGmTDDpGQe8P2HavcUiipM8Hnljt0mxjLZg5pocKzqb29bVgVRQlVMTJnMtN_sBxzHtrmMKu8b64wxu5_Msaq_CtkUAXxB8usGomOyc0Q2zxXRf0B4ndpkf7D7uKNAsI/s1200/PXL_20230729_154552153.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1096" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgFtXwfrYoQ7v10M6tShGRm3NnKNdloSXU8qXZeDvoqNQlyFWzr9ux4yu0GFVGmTDDpGQe8P2HavcUiipM8Hnljt0mxjLZg5pocKzqb29bVgVRQlVMTJnMtN_sBxzHtrmMKu8b64wxu5_Msaq_CtkUAXxB8usGomOyc0Q2zxXRf0B4ndpkf7D7uKNAsI/w365-h400/PXL_20230729_154552153.jpg" width="365" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aid station and "Gongster" tent on the left - drop bag tents on the right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Fortunately, I was under no such constraints - it would have gone poorly for me had I been in the Gong Show, as I only managed <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/07/tally-in-valley-6-hour-trail-race.html">my usual 6 laps</a> (42km) in the first 6 hours, partly hampered by a second hard downpour around the 5-hour mark. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g4egE9RZTVi8eEjiICmVBckADWEFP8DXUYzYN1_-nym8IRmEtPwOVEB_UcJuXvy_-LDJ0it7euViMtmgVYU7JJ8H4XWiV_RpGaSRnchbhvDMB8g2RyBX_Ujiy2WKsePDxQYRzYkHRpVMvGEbDl6ShpM_hUcEgvbROCCLylcgQkYKd3jX31FF3_bOi9g/s1200/uphill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1160" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g4egE9RZTVi8eEjiICmVBckADWEFP8DXUYzYN1_-nym8IRmEtPwOVEB_UcJuXvy_-LDJ0it7euViMtmgVYU7JJ8H4XWiV_RpGaSRnchbhvDMB8g2RyBX_Ujiy2WKsePDxQYRzYkHRpVMvGEbDl6ShpM_hUcEgvbROCCLylcgQkYKd3jX31FF3_bOi9g/w386-h400/uphill.jpg" width="386" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had just been thinking "holy heck, I'm actually almost dry!" when it started to rain buckets again</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My 7th lap - bringing me to 49k - took me just a hair over the 7-hour cutoff that would have seen me eliminated from the group of Gongsters. This included the time I spent at the aid station, grabbing freshly filled bottles and bags of candy and cookies that Tank had sweetly prepared for me while I wandered through the mud, alternating a bottle of water with a bottle of Skratch electrolytes each increasingly-pedestrian lap. Fun fact: if the Gongsters go the full 24hrs for their race, they actually complete 168km - 1 more lap than I needed to for the 100mi - in that time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFIqrr1vtxTvD1nihU2924_akTl_aYJ0ieEadQ0PgSkGLaiEzUkk0V4CFslxkeZaJQtm256fp7aGepcYzELy9RJv-IfDMnmyqwywFDLjeNGiwHxkgiepnmjW1qFKa3SBqXzcR1s558cQ2yYyxQweYKl6NDq4eRN72oI7E3I-7zyYuryVLfPjlKJayvRc/s973/lap1-7.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="973" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFIqrr1vtxTvD1nihU2924_akTl_aYJ0ieEadQ0PgSkGLaiEzUkk0V4CFslxkeZaJQtm256fp7aGepcYzELy9RJv-IfDMnmyqwywFDLjeNGiwHxkgiepnmjW1qFKa3SBqXzcR1s558cQ2yYyxQweYKl6NDq4eRN72oI7E3I-7zyYuryVLfPjlKJayvRc/w400-h85/lap1-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am much too slow and pokey to ever attempt such a thing.<br />At 7h13m, I actually laid down my "fastest" 50k in a few years here!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I picked up my phone again for my 8th lap, as the sun had come out and I wanted to tourist a little.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOjUeqNXGSlCXHcbspVaqMbcpFCo19EwIlv-m-Eom-b9IEDh5O8MUhQteukY_HuebSnCimBnnIdHO6kapasDpbjGRza1ReMdY17WFVXKuwweK0MqXQKbQv0wXLNVgRNgEdwjfBYqu048sG5vbgX00kLeR0jHBGIZr6GPyZE7OYoIq-2_LgKEzQgiYSZ4/s1200/PXL_20230729_200124213.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="915" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZOjUeqNXGSlCXHcbspVaqMbcpFCo19EwIlv-m-Eom-b9IEDh5O8MUhQteukY_HuebSnCimBnnIdHO6kapasDpbjGRza1ReMdY17WFVXKuwweK0MqXQKbQv0wXLNVgRNgEdwjfBYqu048sG5vbgX00kLeR0jHBGIZr6GPyZE7OYoIq-2_LgKEzQgiYSZ4/w305-h400/PXL_20230729_200124213.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assuming I could stay on my feet long enough</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The bottom of the hill continued to be a giant puddle in the grass - the sheer volume of water meant this would not disappear any time soon.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLTN27xpCO_7EwmZa7VJzQISEIDqoxFC6l0pyK4OTWCH_wCllkJwHom2vyw21adsRqUxpYgvldIpTKAcaledyrVGkL4wVMes_D1T7ITEHvPVTsgABr2NNQel61NmOWFAB-P_Ql34Dd3dgxU0WEM1XfTY06_RB4b0XlvzOFDx7pfkjAgLqxhLe9FZ0RVo/s1200/splurp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1200" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLTN27xpCO_7EwmZa7VJzQISEIDqoxFC6l0pyK4OTWCH_wCllkJwHom2vyw21adsRqUxpYgvldIpTKAcaledyrVGkL4wVMes_D1T7ITEHvPVTsgABr2NNQel61NmOWFAB-P_Ql34Dd3dgxU0WEM1XfTY06_RB4b0XlvzOFDx7pfkjAgLqxhLe9FZ0RVo/w400-h356/splurp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My inner 5-year-old had a ball with this for awhile - squelching through puddles and eating candy and cookies! - but by this point it had already had its fill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>What complicated matters slightly was the water picked up by all the runners' shoes had been carried up the hill on the other side of the impromptu pond, which had become slick with the resultant mud.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9hyhJvxyE8m9WJHVNnKuqT6xg2NiqTynYtwwljTqgwsIFCGpaYR-bGzM2vqFshjrVGpDpLKjinXWHZExrOq5NMSdGR3S6LKdzoe0lIt6avNeDUKewxo0ccUyD1ds2EuxKTZ2buEEW6InhQUVqlqIMxsMbWq3g8kCSqLl4pFzGoC8CJn2JNL8SjzGSGQ/s1315/muddeh.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1315" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9hyhJvxyE8m9WJHVNnKuqT6xg2NiqTynYtwwljTqgwsIFCGpaYR-bGzM2vqFshjrVGpDpLKjinXWHZExrOq5NMSdGR3S6LKdzoe0lIt6avNeDUKewxo0ccUyD1ds2EuxKTZ2buEEW6InhQUVqlqIMxsMbWq3g8kCSqLl4pFzGoC8CJn2JNL8SjzGSGQ/w400-h365/muddeh.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those slide marks are legit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was no better as you got into the woods - there were monstrous mud puddles spanning the whole trail everywhere.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zAheb-0jELqb2D_ioISkKZvRWdRJW24nQsOE83bq0Ryp7iS3cUsmGzUq-2_LVO14-rCz1G6kVInYImFCROzoJVe4qrE3z_t-k3Z9VLxV8CxTjYQLi183dvjuUAg0z07_mOdur4m-50_nvJQUSRc-dt0HSjfTtGi072SJL4_ruSx5tikRJQC-RUQnCXw/s1200/PXL_20230729_200551445.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="749" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zAheb-0jELqb2D_ioISkKZvRWdRJW24nQsOE83bq0Ryp7iS3cUsmGzUq-2_LVO14-rCz1G6kVInYImFCROzoJVe4qrE3z_t-k3Z9VLxV8CxTjYQLi183dvjuUAg0z07_mOdur4m-50_nvJQUSRc-dt0HSjfTtGi072SJL4_ruSx5tikRJQC-RUQnCXw/w250-h400/PXL_20230729_200551445.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Several before the 1km marker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Some were really deep, too - the mud would just flow in under my gaiters and over the collars of my shoes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1TB1Ev4EL7P4kSxQPEs0HixJ5iQ5FpMhm81Qu2xl6X0WXFnfjEoioVgmbaNu3d30bZkJZxd_AreK8bnjZrqnBf-rNGbIDkXsssIH7kn4z_mZ8YNbUjXSzR-faEdc9qOl7hS8uSG99y4US_D6GsplTqW2ijCWy-J7kQJvhx7eFSex9QeJORTdNrI_hj8/s1200/PXL_20230729_200703452.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="699" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd1TB1Ev4EL7P4kSxQPEs0HixJ5iQ5FpMhm81Qu2xl6X0WXFnfjEoioVgmbaNu3d30bZkJZxd_AreK8bnjZrqnBf-rNGbIDkXsssIH7kn4z_mZ8YNbUjXSzR-faEdc9qOl7hS8uSG99y4US_D6GsplTqW2ijCWy-J7kQJvhx7eFSex9QeJORTdNrI_hj8/w233-h400/PXL_20230729_200703452.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to stop at least 7-8 times to remove stones or debris that washed in, which was problematic because then my hands would be covered with mud from my gaiters, and I'd be trying to scrape the stone or whatever out of the little splat of mud stuck to the insole of my shoe.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>People would ask how I was doing, and my response was usually "Just out here living the dream!", which was part sarcasm (as I was starting to feel the effects of plodding around all day) and part truth. After all, the trail is still beautiful in any condition - I'm grateful I got to enjoy a look at my favourite spot while the sun shone.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1q2WMhkMYP7OhPt9I0fU72KAYSYUio_jy5sIP7yUhUw69rxoGL72Vfm2NfYrzPaEks1mtqH6trsphD11nMyiBPYCO3yCbDLC0jx0TpiOQ58AhaR9BeCn_T7a6jbYpxSUTMkbfW8PztjgcBzzUgxenW0T6W6Pjd_GCMxUGSP7heJD9aiijOiaTwB2OKw/s1200/PXL_20230729_200752195.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1q2WMhkMYP7OhPt9I0fU72KAYSYUio_jy5sIP7yUhUw69rxoGL72Vfm2NfYrzPaEks1mtqH6trsphD11nMyiBPYCO3yCbDLC0jx0TpiOQ58AhaR9BeCn_T7a6jbYpxSUTMkbfW8PztjgcBzzUgxenW0T6W6Pjd_GCMxUGSP7heJD9aiijOiaTwB2OKw/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_200752195.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd see it again in bright sun again on Sunday, but by then I was less capable of relishing the view</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Mud was definitely the overarching theme, though, and my shoes were constantly full of squelchiness. I can't blame 100% of it on the trail, though: about 3.5hrs in I'd needed to pee, and knew I wouldn't make it back around to the portajohns at the start/finish, and there were lots of people about on the trail, so I channeled my old triathlete self and just let'er go...just as the first bouts of rain had stopped. The second blast of rain at 5hrs might have washed me off a bit, but I'm not going to tell you it's the last time that happened.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQGRufEyqGjRjuROau76cKyyIi_U800eWk3By9jhYaf1rK4tjELq_qR0hb8VAh6OekhlwZGC-SRTCkTewNl2MhYKhIVwqKAmS6yeYTglpxi0Zo_ATCqq7GMNyhQg9gNcooNg_2X0z8ONa6uJsAW2bYMXU1vGhfmkriJbMNDPpMLvW-27ShAWdQnuztUg/s1200/PXL_20230729_200902095.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="870" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQGRufEyqGjRjuROau76cKyyIi_U800eWk3By9jhYaf1rK4tjELq_qR0hb8VAh6OekhlwZGC-SRTCkTewNl2MhYKhIVwqKAmS6yeYTglpxi0Zo_ATCqq7GMNyhQg9gNcooNg_2X0z8ONa6uJsAW2bYMXU1vGhfmkriJbMNDPpMLvW-27ShAWdQnuztUg/w290-h400/PXL_20230729_200902095.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail running is gross and I am a feral forest creature when I'm in the thick of it.<br />Just accept it and let's move on, shall we?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>In an effort to change things up, I tried eating a turkey wrap with mustard for a salty (instead of sugary) snack, but the vinegar in the mustard tasted very strong and off-putting. I finished it, but couldn't bring myself to try another for the rest of the race, despite it usually being one of my go-to food items. It never got particularly hot as the sun hadn't come out until it was well past the point at which it begins to lose its heating power, but that's not to say it had no effect: I would now run out of water each lap if I didn't stop at the spigot by the trail centre, which thankfully had been updated with a much more easily controllable valve than the one to which I'd previously been accustomed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithj2M5NdeeaqoWN0OiLGx49Gxv8LBB5_TIR32PayHZ3kTtJteueKz3ba2l2H8yUPMyRbL0VSyiHFuEjBs9lln_zKy2a4BHTdE0SRml4LafqOOUL2VfBJg3RJgjTSQb-BhRK4Aksfa53i1RE2vGO4Ug9vxsR-rkOHs-6XT76P847fmLmFUMw4ywLYQllo/s1200/PXL_20230729_202637410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithj2M5NdeeaqoWN0OiLGx49Gxv8LBB5_TIR32PayHZ3kTtJteueKz3ba2l2H8yUPMyRbL0VSyiHFuEjBs9lln_zKy2a4BHTdE0SRml4LafqOOUL2VfBJg3RJgjTSQb-BhRK4Aksfa53i1RE2vGO4Ug9vxsR-rkOHs-6XT76P847fmLmFUMw4ywLYQllo/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_202637410.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whose only two settings were "tiny trickle" or "raging torrent"</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was keeping up hydration, having switched to just Skratch in my bottles for added electrolytes, but - despite moving quite slowly by this point - I was getting a bit lightheaded. I'd added even more electrolytes via S!caps starting a couple of hours in, but my non-bottle hand was getting sausage fingers. Maybe I ought to have taken even more, but I had enough to worry about with trying to keep myself running the downhills and flats, pushing myself to run at least a couple of hundred steps up the rail trail before taking a minute or so walk break, and dealing with a sudden pair of pinhole leaks in one of my hand bottles.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLQ6CM9t8Xvb9nPhj5rv2bRXUNj4VC9rl-VUJAF-2dpGtCT2Arj0TIK_fvFqSpMfT6uNSYe-M48odDS4Xec07B45OCOA4qo6VGvONvEn6qzOwQIAb_T-DN9UvgHWQ-rPdXTA8yO4tCiX5dd4Vx-bn0X7q1QqCOBrEFNRb5M1WmUAgNbYYr5bo2Tpm0WM/s1067/leaky.gif" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLQ6CM9t8Xvb9nPhj5rv2bRXUNj4VC9rl-VUJAF-2dpGtCT2Arj0TIK_fvFqSpMfT6uNSYe-M48odDS4Xec07B45OCOA4qo6VGvONvEn6qzOwQIAb_T-DN9UvgHWQ-rPdXTA8yO4tCiX5dd4Vx-bn0X7q1QqCOBrEFNRb5M1WmUAgNbYYr5bo2Tpm0WM/w225-h400/leaky.gif" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luckily, I'd brought 2 more, so could still have Tank fill one while I "ran" with one</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My neck and shoulders were getting sore, so I'd periodically raise my arms and try to stretch things out, but I knew it was only going to get worse. The day was beginning to fade as I came in from my 10th lap (70km) around 10.5hrs, and I knew my lap times were getting closer to 1h20m with the sun scheduled to set at 9pm. That meant I should grab my headlamp just in case I didn't make it back before the light dimmed enough to be safe, and I quickly gave my teeth a brush as they were starting to feel gross and sore from all the candy and cookies.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2b_KqTWDHTwHck7jg_iFNps6YTVjDg4I5m-Y5Mabzs_zJ0acptZchl5n9v2Y-9U7kI-73HyoBjA93Pp1FfayxlqDn8_j0iQt5TEF3pBQw_R5ZbpL1l1wDGhdiYuuBOo2zo2OqMUiHjmPf2bQSys12eDyy-EgitYQTsRgnt66hYT3IeZQgNE2hADNn10/s1200/PXL_20230729_221336118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1200" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv2b_KqTWDHTwHck7jg_iFNps6YTVjDg4I5m-Y5Mabzs_zJ0acptZchl5n9v2Y-9U7kI-73HyoBjA93Pp1FfayxlqDn8_j0iQt5TEF3pBQw_R5ZbpL1l1wDGhdiYuuBOo2zo2OqMUiHjmPf2bQSys12eDyy-EgitYQTsRgnt66hYT3IeZQgNE2hADNn10/w400-h251/PXL_20230729_221336118.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trail centre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I heard a nasty rumour that we'd be moving back over to the Sawmill trail at 9pm, for the start of the 12hr night race (9pm-9am) - I hoped it would prove false, as I was already slowing more than enough to make me cognizant that every second would count if I wanted to finish under the 30 hour cutoff. I saw a beautiful doe just off the Spring Creek Trail on my 11th lap, and shortly thereafter ended up meandering along with a fellow named Rob for the rest of the way. A nice fellow, he was a former road runner who had been introduced to trails by a mutual friend, and he was also attempting the 100 miler. We chatted about his work in outdoor education, nutrition strategies, and then bade each other farewell at the start/finish as we both went to deal with everything we needed for the next lap. I was pleased to have 77km done in the first 12hrs: one more lap than I'd managed in <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2018/08/tally-in-valley-12hr-night-trail-race.html">2018 during the night race</a> at Tally's inaugural year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxyO0RuJVdvK6bTTFW-XIuQEYJnyFoJ2Lp3VVm37CJ49NYqlhMgh_8INrqUNHAEBiEQmXYVNX2xDTvnx9swS96AXcy8f_vtCALujXkOQ9S9xZU3dNBoc0y_uY3Jax7NTbtdFpam-yWR5tkV4ZIXOgPyUgxr5fZxdBDNInDLI2JtFrKQBom-C9H1qXD10/s975/lap%208-11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="975" height="54" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxyO0RuJVdvK6bTTFW-XIuQEYJnyFoJ2Lp3VVm37CJ49NYqlhMgh_8INrqUNHAEBiEQmXYVNX2xDTvnx9swS96AXcy8f_vtCALujXkOQ9S9xZU3dNBoc0y_uY3Jax7NTbtdFpam-yWR5tkV4ZIXOgPyUgxr5fZxdBDNInDLI2JtFrKQBom-C9H1qXD10/w400-h54/lap%208-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 23 laps for 100mi, I was now heading into the rubber lap - after which I'd be more than halfway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>On deck: I needed the portajohn (because some things even I won't do trailside), to re-apply lubrication to various areas, to put on my headlamp (which would mean ditching my hat and throwing a buff on my head as a cushion) and waist light, spray myself some insect repellent (as I'd donated some blood to the local mosquitoes on lap 11), and pick up one of my trekking poles. This last item was for 2 reasons: if we did in fact end up on Sawmill instead of the rail trail, I'd need it to keep me upright. Whether or not that happened, it would also help my posture stay a bit straighter, as my lower back was starting to complain about me slouching my way around the course.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQKLHkhGHiqNCXIQLZtqR45aCLeTEjCAoYx9ibH1Ljz7S5R3ZWd39xhvH8z9awzVH--O89xLzbDK0HwGtwRF5XgezgQ9jiSSBi_p1nHvZrnqN1NG3zbHQ-5dV__XoVzuptCv0cDra74v-Iy1f0I0PzAbta_caBCmG6LWf88vDxDBnzc3Uldy-_J-KBGw/s1200/PXL_20230730_010546920.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQKLHkhGHiqNCXIQLZtqR45aCLeTEjCAoYx9ibH1Ljz7S5R3ZWd39xhvH8z9awzVH--O89xLzbDK0HwGtwRF5XgezgQ9jiSSBi_p1nHvZrnqN1NG3zbHQ-5dV__XoVzuptCv0cDra74v-Iy1f0I0PzAbta_caBCmG6LWf88vDxDBnzc3Uldy-_J-KBGw/w400-h225/PXL_20230730_010546920.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over which a bright moon had risen in a clear sky</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I also needed my vest, as my waist light covered the rear pockets of my skirt (that had held all my salt caps, gummy candy, cookies, and crisp rice treats 'til now), and I wouldn't want to carry a hand bottle while using the pole, as I needed a hand free to help take in food and drink. Tanker assisted with everything with flawless efficiency, on top of my usual bottle swap and pickup of more nutrition, and I was back out again with only about a 6min time difference from my last lap.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qUTS2zbVy6n0X0JnKO4YWl4bUnIwNqVNWEoF1c4FmrvuuJwCQ61JloBnLyQVWxaAZ_jdP2qXrhpDO9XiYH_EqUvV4uMTv7SSsu90wPyMjcvjaokrNViesg4prFMCLRJtYEErVQ0lXM1CX1yguHqD5N7T0n6YINzVdLHO48_v2aMnc9YcZ2hNacetZH0/s1200/PXL_20230730_010626942.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qUTS2zbVy6n0X0JnKO4YWl4bUnIwNqVNWEoF1c4FmrvuuJwCQ61JloBnLyQVWxaAZ_jdP2qXrhpDO9XiYH_EqUvV4uMTv7SSsu90wPyMjcvjaokrNViesg4prFMCLRJtYEErVQ0lXM1CX1yguHqD5N7T0n6YINzVdLHO48_v2aMnc9YcZ2hNacetZH0/w225-h400/PXL_20230730_010626942.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even picked up my phone for one more lap</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My left knee had got grouchy about running uphill, so that put the kibosh on running up the rail trail at all, but I was still running bits and pieces on downhill and flat sections. My waist light bounced annoyingly, but I couldn't tighten it any further; I'd actually lost a few pounds this year (including my boobs, much to poor Tank's chagrin) and was at the lowest weight I'd seen in almost a decade. So, I'd just settle the thing back on my hips when I'd drop to a walk for awhile, and deal with it when it bounced. Fortunately the high waistband of my skirt and extra layer of my shirt (not to mention the re-application of lube) kept it from chafing - I did have a nasty spot in my right armpit, though, from my sportsbra munching on my while my arm swung carrying my hand bottle (possibly due to it fitting differently, being a little less full than usual). I'd get relief from that now that I was in the vest!</p><p>About halfway through the lap I finally remembered to look at my watch, and discovered I was now past the halfway mark by distance.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXrrE_5bOcIOTLdgmidZqrVEogzxGlwSrwxj-RMGV0Ec7NQ3qc4S3lXmI6fGEk3XGkAAzQpB9wR_PpI5hNNZtEwew1tC4HJyz9cLlzA81zOcS9rNQ9-HpO_bvKufXPrNoO16clZ5q2VKel8lii9y8drC6EeRM2yfhX4nK7--iX2Rp5iUKkdRx4FYoh2M/s1200/PXL_20230730_014552850.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1127" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXrrE_5bOcIOTLdgmidZqrVEogzxGlwSrwxj-RMGV0Ec7NQ3qc4S3lXmI6fGEk3XGkAAzQpB9wR_PpI5hNNZtEwew1tC4HJyz9cLlzA81zOcS9rNQ9-HpO_bvKufXPrNoO16clZ5q2VKel8lii9y8drC6EeRM2yfhX4nK7--iX2Rp5iUKkdRx4FYoh2M/w376-h400/PXL_20230730_014552850.jpg" width="376" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very grateful to still have another 17hrs and 14mins for the second half, as I knew that difficulty increases exponentially past 100km, and my lap times would get longer and longer</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Fortunately the switch to Sawmill - which I knew would slow me down significantly if or when it happened - was postponed, as things were apparently still quite muddy. I knew the pine forest for sure would take days to dry out, as the sun (when it rose) wouldn't penetrate the shade of the coniferous trees enough to help it dry. I hoped with all my might that Race Director Jeff would wait until morning at least, to give us long haulers a fighting chance; sending us through there in the dark with the fatigue beginning to mount seemed like a recipe for disaster. The influx of new runners on the trail for the 12hr night race meant there were now a lot more people asking "how are you doing?", to which I could only respond "that's a terrible question at this time of night!", but at least I was still able to offer a "way to go!" or "good work!" to everyone I encountered.</p><p>I had the bad luck to get stones in both of my shoes on this lap, for which I needed to stop and rummage inside to get them out - just putting my foot up on something (a stump on Spring Creek the first time, then a bench along the rail trail), doing what I needed to, and heading on. I'd only sat down once, in the portajohn; chairs can be fatal when you're chasing cutoffs. I think I snugged down the laces on my left shoe a bit too tight, though, as my feet were swelling and I was getting an ache that I remembered from the <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2021/10/three-days-in-park-72hr-thurs-oct-14th.html">72hr race I did a couple of years ago</a>. My shoes also smelled <i style="font-weight: bold;">horrible</i>; the mixture of mud, sweat, and peeing on myself had (unsurprisingly) made getting my face anywhere near them a misery, and just to top things off, the velcro on the back of my left shoe let go, so my gaiter was now only attached by the hook at the front.</p><p>Having seen how much mud was caked on my gaiters and calf sleeves (not to mention how badly everything stunk), when I stopped at the trail centre to refill my bottle, I also took a minute to wash off as many chunks as I could. Someone asked if I hadn't had enough of wet feet already, and I replied "this is how you lose 5lbs in 1 minute". The cool, clean water felt lovely on my tired, beat-up feet, and I continued up the trail to the turn-around feeling perhaps just a little lighter of step.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtNkSOa0w8MUqbueqNNnehpoJAK-hGx8O1Ae22qvnKR5Mn_rFadPTqzu2iDCkTezrXCcSCNGanKC8ExocYgijBhQ4gJouv7D20FUljbIuSuF7pY2kNZGXggiVPviCsd8Rs1YeJQH8Wvbz2l1AGsae-8UOIZMT_tpVGvYf4GE7jXRUxtVukGCmlAXbwOs/s1200/PXL_20230730_011701376.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1178" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtNkSOa0w8MUqbueqNNnehpoJAK-hGx8O1Ae22qvnKR5Mn_rFadPTqzu2iDCkTezrXCcSCNGanKC8ExocYgijBhQ4gJouv7D20FUljbIuSuF7pY2kNZGXggiVPviCsd8Rs1YeJQH8Wvbz2l1AGsae-8UOIZMT_tpVGvYf4GE7jXRUxtVukGCmlAXbwOs/w393-h400/PXL_20230730_011701376.jpg" width="393" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was definitely not ready to hop along like this little fellow, though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I kept eating and drinking, now mostly sticking with water as the constant Skratch was starting to overwhelm my taste buds, but still taking in gummy candy, stroopwafels, Oreos, salted maple crisp rice treats, and the occasional blueberry muffin. I'd started adding in an Endurance Tap gel every so often as well, just as a fast way to get 100cal into me. I was still ticking off solid kilometres by power walking on the rail trail (around 10min/km, or 6kph) and just doing my best with the rest, but my pole brought up a small blister inside the web of my thumb. On my 14th lap, I reached the trail centre to find Race Director Jeff and someone else (Byron maybe?) standing at the crossroads. I said something to the effect of "this looks like unwelcome news" and Jeff just nodded, then pointed toward the Sawmill Trail. </p><p>Oof.</p><p>Fortunately, Matt - who was doing the 12hr night race as his last big training run before another stab at the Haliburton 100mi - had caught me up as I walked up the rail trail, and generously decided to stick with me for awhile. He had a pair of poles he was trying out as part of his training, so he was better prepared than I was (with only 1 pole, which had already brought up a small blister on the inside of my thumb webbing) for the mud that awaited us...not to mention he'd only been on the move for ~3hrs instead of 15+, so he was in much better condition to spot the best lines in the darkness.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQB9nnkozq3dTH1XTjeRyNeIh4AOEv9mQF2a20BtNoiX16Mz4OCU393YGmETxhJznyYBMAifFyePc1ZFVdBx7u8I460kS3o3hw8_ye6uprsQ9TWDhGtfjjKyT0_wzWW7KCBZPTLwK-Ind2RM6QJaI3Nw7O5HOpaIL5ASIdrfTFfS1lLviGdhW2-h5MIA0/s1200/PXL_20230730_012057705.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="851" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQB9nnkozq3dTH1XTjeRyNeIh4AOEv9mQF2a20BtNoiX16Mz4OCU393YGmETxhJznyYBMAifFyePc1ZFVdBx7u8I460kS3o3hw8_ye6uprsQ9TWDhGtfjjKyT0_wzWW7KCBZPTLwK-Ind2RM6QJaI3Nw7O5HOpaIL5ASIdrfTFfS1lLviGdhW2-h5MIA0/w284-h400/PXL_20230730_012057705.jpg" width="284" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the extent of what I can see after dark, and tired eyes & brains don't process visual information with any degree of accuracy or efficiency.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Hitting the trail, it was immediately apparent that dew had fallen heavily after sunset and only made things worse. Matt and I slogged up through the pine forest ok, but I slipped a couple of times in the hardwood sections, tweaking both my left knee (in a new and exciting way!) and my lower back as I threw down some interpretive dance moves to keep from falling. I tried to take an Endurance Tap gel to keep my energy and spirits up, but spilled a third of it on my arm and pole hand when trying to get it open; I looked for wet foliage to try to wipe it off (as my shirt and skirt were now dry, and I didn't want to get the handle & strap of my pole all sticky), but the grass seemed to be the only thing holding enough dew to be useful, and there was no way I could bend down to ground level by then. Matt is my hero for pausing to tear out a few handfuls of grass for me so I could wipe off the drops and streaks of maple syrup enough to carry on - I had a package of wet wipes in my caddy that I could use to finish the job, but this would get me there, and I'm so grateful for his help! </p><p>When we got back to the start/finish, Matt let me know he wanted to push pace for the next lap, but he'd catch up with me again later - I thanked him (I think? I hope?) and bade him well, then trundled up to my drop bag spot to clean myself up, grab a sweater as a chilly breeze had begun to blow across the rail trail and mist was accumulating in the low spots, put a little pre-cut patch of moleskin on the blister on my thumb, and grab my second pole to give me a fighting chance on Sawmill. I also begged Tank to advocate for the runners and ask Jeff to reconsider the opening of the trail: I knew it seriously jeopardized my chances of emerging from this un-injured, let alone finishing.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAbuhTK3RU6DQ_E16AYG9U69uLkxwW5J9o53JHp-cvjE3DEKPZ2HwAYGxsOWPNLa43yn8tiORgUS_jCM7d78RtyaeJ5VToXQkb7Wb_lurJTVJhaTtGCTq_9ZNHE_x0XO9Xo0l3SAr4Hwqf_IGg38e0OVWUE_D7RhboSBZJ0gOnGRb7t2dJBwRtBkwOC0/s1356/Sawmill%20vs%20Rail%20Trail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="1356" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAbuhTK3RU6DQ_E16AYG9U69uLkxwW5J9o53JHp-cvjE3DEKPZ2HwAYGxsOWPNLa43yn8tiORgUS_jCM7d78RtyaeJ5VToXQkb7Wb_lurJTVJhaTtGCTq_9ZNHE_x0XO9Xo0l3SAr4Hwqf_IGg38e0OVWUE_D7RhboSBZJ0gOnGRb7t2dJBwRtBkwOC0/w400-h118/Sawmill%20vs%20Rail%20Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Sawmill laps left - two rail trail out-and-back laps right.<br />The elevation works out roughly the same, but the difficulty level of the former was unfathomably higher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Some of the damage was already done: the tweaks to my left knee and lower back meant I could no longer run at all, even on downhills and flats. I hit the 100km mark at somewhere around 16.5hrs (1:30am), but with another 61km to go it was hard to feel like I'd accomplished much yet. I remembered how much harder things had gotten with every step past 100km during <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">the 24hr race I'd run last October</a> (which took me almost 19hrs, so I was at least ahead of that pace) - how I'd needed to sit down to get the weight off my feet every 3 laps, or about 5km, which is less than the distance of a single lap at Tally. I knew I had no time to do any such thing in this race, but my feet were getting really awful. I had to loosen off the laces to stop the ache of my feet being crushed as they continued to swell, and this let the shoes move a bit more as I changed from descent to climb, increasing the blistering that was beginning to fill my whole world. At one point I had to remove another stone from my right shoe, and when I did so I tried pulling up my sock as they had sagged in the wet conditions. When I did so and put my foot back in my shoe, a bright bolt of pain emanated from my baby toe; something had shifted (the seam of my sock? a lump of mud?) and would now spend the rest of the race grating away at the knuckle, but I had no time or energy to try to fix it again. I had another pair of shoes that were a half-size larger, but those were the same ones that had given me horrible blisters at the fatass run I had done back in March, and changing shoes and socks would cost valuable time without necessarily offering much benefit. After all, the mud puddles were all still there, so any relief would be fleeting. I kept walking.</p><p>The second pole helped a bit on Sawmill, and I tried to remember the better lines through the mud that Matt had helped me find, but it was still such a struggle and was only getting worse with the passage of more feet to mush the dew into the grass and dirt. I would find out later that at least 40 separate complaints were lodged about the reopening of the trail, and that some runners threatened to walk out en masse were the option to use the rail trail not re-instated. The complaints were apparently taken seriously, because when I neared the end of the trail on my 15th lap I found Race Director Jeff standing on the trail. I asked "is this the best news I've heard all day?" and he said yes - everyone would now be able to choose whether to do the additional rail trail out-and-back or take the trail. I thanked Jeff profusely, and he agreed that the heavy dew had made things much more challenging. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1sDVxc1PttSGn_-zBUcWsM2UtAs8_i95RpAM4s6FCPI6D53z3rzuZiXLJcB5YI-tSZFQDWfWxLP_MzE6SD3VYvp5ovJFDFKbJ8LLT_R1IBk3NlbcmwhmZurpfqBhkji6mx6W0eGYNtQ5YlR9t_2pw4PW89ZYe0BMVI_m5cOUo9vQYZ4v6zOL2KIIBic/s1613/Tally%20Map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1613" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1sDVxc1PttSGn_-zBUcWsM2UtAs8_i95RpAM4s6FCPI6D53z3rzuZiXLJcB5YI-tSZFQDWfWxLP_MzE6SD3VYvp5ovJFDFKbJ8LLT_R1IBk3NlbcmwhmZurpfqBhkji6mx6W0eGYNtQ5YlR9t_2pw4PW89ZYe0BMVI_m5cOUo9vQYZ4v6zOL2KIIBic/w400-h179/Tally%20Map.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map from my Garmin - you can see both the Sawmill loop and the out-and-back on the rail trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Back at the aid station, I ditched the second pole, got my fresh bottle, and got the heck out. On one hand I only had 8 more laps left; on the other hand, I still had eight more freakin' laps left to go. I did a lot of math in my head as I trudged along, pushing my buff and headlamp up on my forehead from time to time as they'd slip down, and trying to open my stride and straighten my back as I marched up and down the rail trail. My moleskin patch on my thumb rolled up, and I couldn't get it unrolled and re-stuck, so I tried to leave it be as much as I could. My biggest problem was my feet: their soles were horribly blistered, and mud had got trapped between the uppers of my shoes and my feet, abrading them badly. It felt like I was wearing socks lined with alcohol-soaked sandpaper, wearing away my skin and stinging with every step. It was made worse by the uneven nature of the trail: the sides of my feet below my ankles were agonizing as they would tilt side to side. I made the mistake of peeing as I walked again, and the abrasions on my feet and ankles lit up with searing agony. That put an end to that nasty business - much to everyone else's relief, had they known - but made things even worse in my own little world of pain.</p><p>My body wasn't the only thing whose condition was worsening: the hill from the Spring Creek Trail up to the rail trail, known as Bumblebee Hill (leading up to Bumblebee Park) had been deeply cut by washout early in the day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS84ycQOBoo2hUB5J2EkbxyJWH0OT4SGpcm0Ntbsua5Ac9ohtdahvF9BXt0X1DlOUZqvGL9UoJ2xjXSZFsCd_qjatPV0ojUCdOCOrQLKt33kPjsm_7uqb0N1HEEXozcO0WBQIr7qyJkAZHgZB2y_ersRLP3CoLUyjGPPXXDPJ_-zzitl1Es55j0Z_xPY/s1200/PXL_20230729_151136652.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="793" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS84ycQOBoo2hUB5J2EkbxyJWH0OT4SGpcm0Ntbsua5Ac9ohtdahvF9BXt0X1DlOUZqvGL9UoJ2xjXSZFsCd_qjatPV0ojUCdOCOrQLKt33kPjsm_7uqb0N1HEEXozcO0WBQIr7qyJkAZHgZB2y_ersRLP3CoLUyjGPPXXDPJ_-zzitl1Es55j0Z_xPY/w264-h400/PXL_20230729_151136652.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like so</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By evening, the middle third had been smushed into a slippery mass of yellow mud over it gravel surface, making it much more treacherous to climb.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvEW1PNi2U1Mw6PzHUv5aefMTfCVNkLY3z_u3mDFwrdIez8c_ztHao6PMKY6GV43ocgLRf0B925vL0hQ69xE_z-ogisqpgOowv6Bb4UDwGZzchWdQ0YyxJWQzCUcqNfptoxEYZjfrHd1I003B4qpKQmTpWJsAJhcqsD41TLwCLlWr6VcQrePGvxCa850/s1200/PXL_20230729_213735339.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWvEW1PNi2U1Mw6PzHUv5aefMTfCVNkLY3z_u3mDFwrdIez8c_ztHao6PMKY6GV43ocgLRf0B925vL0hQ69xE_z-ogisqpgOowv6Bb4UDwGZzchWdQ0YyxJWQzCUcqNfptoxEYZjfrHd1I003B4qpKQmTpWJsAJhcqsD41TLwCLlWr6VcQrePGvxCa850/w242-h400/PXL_20230729_213735339.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Numerous slide marks attested to some people's shoes having inadequate tread depth to reach the gravel through the mud</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I think the dew must have also fallen heavily here, as it continued to get more and more slippery through the night. I was grateful to have my pole to help hoist myself up and to stabilize when my feet would slip a bit - the lugs on my shoes are really good and I had better grip than most, but it still wasn't a sure thing - but that also put a lot of strain on my lats and mid-back on my right side that became painful as the hours wore on. I'd been periodically trying to stretch my arms and shoulders by bringing my arms up overhead or pulling with hands clasped in front of or behind my chest, but any relief was fleeting. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy9C2ec9gjEou05Vv1CXeJMYQWHINxBtRE1DEZyaBsNpCduXw7au5Wve0QF-ca5HLqY_ti76HoMGdoWXhuxWA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was shot before I got my pole, and even then I was hesitating, testing my traction before proceeding</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Tank had asked if it would be ok if he went down for a nap for an hour or so, and I told him it would probably be more like an hour and a half before I was back, so go for it. I also asked if there was any coffee available, but was told the only option ready was instant - I'm not that masochistic, so I headed off again without. As I came up to the top of Bumblebee Hill on this loop, some cyclist came whipping past on the rail trail (headed downhill toward Hamilton) just as I was about to step on to it, so was perpendicular to his direction of travel. He screamed what sounded like slavic obscenities at me, then yelled in a thick accent for me to "FIX YOUR LIGHT". I just loudly said "Dude, I'm out here running a hundred miles - I ain't fixing sh*t."</div><div><br /></div><div>Not my kindest moment, but damn man - it was just some unlucky timing, you got a little dazzled maybe, but no-one got hurt. He continued on his way, I continued on mine, and that was that.</div><div><br /></div><div>Lap 16 took me fully 90mins, coming in just after 4am with 112km done and less than 50k (49km, to be exact - 7 laps) to go. I was a little quicker on my next lap (1h27m), and hoped to ditch my headlamp and waist light when I came in as the sun was set to rise around 6am. That unfortunately wasn't to be: there wasn't enough light in the sky at 5:30am for me to feel safe getting rid of the lights, and that wasn't my only disappointment. Tank was nowhere to be found! Jesse was kind about helping me replace my moleskin patch and filling a bottle for me, while I popped some sour peach slices in one of my little stasher bags and headed out again. I was flustered enough by Tank's absence - I later found out he'd been unable to sleep when he first tried on lap 16, so tried again and then <i style="font-weight: bold;">overslept, </i>so he was in our car when I came through at half past five - that I forgot to grab my phone, which I'd wanted to take photos of the sun rising over the rail trail.</div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwuiDnddYa9N4hyiwtuY-0-X0gJjjpY9NSZgFBIqYD-3Cgub2VoWREp8wJKXcxIhoKkflElucDb8uPdle-Zdzn8NzArc3EbJi8vAiyHIxrB_brKgK9wAJ1ob7nfKsCdshE00ez0qD9Kqn033HObX1aLaGRloEVmroB2ykgGbJCRaNRPCCXPKxUDhXWUg/s1200/PXL_20230730_021925843.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwuiDnddYa9N4hyiwtuY-0-X0gJjjpY9NSZgFBIqYD-3Cgub2VoWREp8wJKXcxIhoKkflElucDb8uPdle-Zdzn8NzArc3EbJi8vAiyHIxrB_brKgK9wAJ1ob7nfKsCdshE00ez0qD9Kqn033HObX1aLaGRloEVmroB2ykgGbJCRaNRPCCXPKxUDhXWUg/w334-h400/PXL_20230730_021925843.jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aid station at night - I only ever took 1 chunk of banana from it, apart from refills of water and Skratch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It's too bad I missed picking up my phone, as the sunrise was spectacular: a bright orb cresting the trees directly over the trail behind me, casting a brilliant red path of beams uphill ahead of me, eventually filling the whole trail except my silhouette as I walked and poled my way along. After the out-and-back, I saw a beautiful doe and her fawn by the trail centre, gently munching grass with a watchful eye in my direction, but not backing away. </p><p>An hour and 25mins brought me to 125km - just 35k/5 laps to go - and Tanker was back, with Maryka also stepping in to help him out (she was crewing Garchun, who was having a tough time with a rebellious GI tract). I was able to ditch my lights - which had <i style="font-weight: bold;">just barely</i> lasted long enough to get me through the dark portions of the trail, dimming to a faint glow by the time I crested Bumblebee Hill again and no longer needed them. It was nice to lose the weight and not have to fuss with my headlamp slipping down my forehead anymore, but I picked up my little "lipstick" power bank and the charge cable for my Garmin so I wasn't completely free of electronic burdens. I'd been checking my charge level and was sort of sure I'd have enough charge to last the full race (I think I still had about 30% left; my fenix 6 is supposed to have a 30hr life when GPS tracking is active), but didn't want to chance it. I plugged it in, grabbed water and nutrition, and trudged off once more just before 7am.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3tOTzbZZJhi8YlIdLuIMBNmpBshk6ehlO9ljdZjpm-lQNMrYSDRZBG2JFS8GFwSisX9-v-_l8zgi4vwND15VVf0RpEbpXKJdwzw8g07GMDTKZsEcWtIyU_8bOxl-rv5E8XYPNsp7P-ZPNfer0YNouYUGe0hCvsxpO7Bl_SIAyYeAC2RVR6CfdMWOFRw/s973/lap%2012-18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="973" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3tOTzbZZJhi8YlIdLuIMBNmpBshk6ehlO9ljdZjpm-lQNMrYSDRZBG2JFS8GFwSisX9-v-_l8zgi4vwND15VVf0RpEbpXKJdwzw8g07GMDTKZsEcWtIyU_8bOxl-rv5E8XYPNsp7P-ZPNfer0YNouYUGe0hCvsxpO7Bl_SIAyYeAC2RVR6CfdMWOFRw/w400-h85/lap%2012-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Counter-intuitively, I started having more trouble with drowsiness now that the sun was up - I had hoped it would be energizing, but while it was certainly easier to see where I was going, I had been in so much pain for so many hours by now that I was feeling completely wrung out. I actually tried smiling to see if it might help, which maybe it did, but not enough to be meaningful. Every single step was agony, made worse when shifting from downhill to uphill or vice versa. If felt like the whole sole of each foot was a huge blister filled with abrasives, and when the direction of pressure would change from descent to climb, it would sear the bottoms of my feet like walking on hot coals. The only place it was tolerable was the rail trail, where I'd have an extended period of gentle climbing that wouldn't shift the blistering. Even the almost imperceptible downhill from the turn-around was enough to make it hurt again, though, and to make matters worse another blister (just behind the base of my right big toe on the inside of my foot) had burst and filled with stinging mud when I stepped in another puddle on this lap.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv-WsSXShGLoYRErFBSfJlFsIl6VUMra3Jz4LogeFO-gAWr8CbGFFpriPfWYPMP0kc5FjTjv4GkbAmJIYx6dvD9XTgpx_NqZPmaKEnVSEJdEpSgpT5uPdm8mkYwVpLaaiC9GgA4Im1xa8IrsvwD-_SK94PJJBCciSo7KK5_lNcJIhgnY8fpIaARdtjkw/s1200/PXL_20230729_200554035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="753" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwv-WsSXShGLoYRErFBSfJlFsIl6VUMra3Jz4LogeFO-gAWr8CbGFFpriPfWYPMP0kc5FjTjv4GkbAmJIYx6dvD9XTgpx_NqZPmaKEnVSEJdEpSgpT5uPdm8mkYwVpLaaiC9GgA4Im1xa8IrsvwD-_SK94PJJBCciSo7KK5_lNcJIhgnY8fpIaARdtjkw/w251-h400/PXL_20230729_200554035.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, they hadn't disappeared in the night</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So much of the course was strewn with sharp bits of stone; it was impossible to avoid stepping on them, and despite the thick soles of my shoes they seemed to jab directly into my poor, tortured feet. I began to seriously doubt my ability to finish this thing - not just in time, but at all. I was so exhausted from moving for 23+ hours and the continued breakdown of my body that I seriously considered quitting, just to make it all stop. Horrible thoughts intruded: if there was no-one around, what did it matter if I turned around a few feet before the sign? I shut those down: by our actions we choose who we wish to be, and I would like to believe I'm neither a quitter nor a cheater. I was getting warm, so I pulled my arms out of my sweater, leaving it stuck between my back and my vest from the rail trail onward. By 8:24am, when I finished lap 19 and dropped off my Garmin charger (having hit 71% battery on the rail trail, which was plenty to get me through) and sweater, I'd covered 133km in 23h24m: 12km more than I'd managed at <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2022/10/three-days-in-park-24hr-saturday.html">the 24hr race I'd done last October</a>. I still had 28km to go, though, and thigs were getting worse with every step. Maryka convinced me to drink some cola, but it was so gross on my teeth; I desperately wanted to brush them again, but I knew I didn't have time. With how badly I was deteriorating, I knew that the only way I'd have a chance to make the cutoff would be to push as hard as I could to keep a time reserve; my laps were averaging about 90mins, but I wanted at least 2hrs to make the final lap. My fresh moleskin patch on my thumb rolled up a little on me, but I didn't have time or energy to try to replace it. </p><p>It was getting hot out as the sun climbed, too - much hotter than it had been Saturday. I had brought a couple of cotton bandanas to soak in water to cool me down, but again I had no time to try to grab one to tie around my neck, nor to put on my cooling/UV protective sleeves, or even get a spray of sunscreen.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3fuEgB4Qzc1KBpaM4IUN4o-9du-ECu1by-mSklUfR_SlIfEboGmRmWDyx7BElB5TOiPJfRRDji0RJm37OB8F-2tUGvLjeV3Ta1GRMuqD2-i3oexFruEI4uSCxOnf3B4kPCKxmQWOVPUWOZFXaADNaoT3Dm7OFjn0h9fnOKh3-M9NuVkNlmoFnD4pzC8/s1200/PXL_20230729_220847907.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3fuEgB4Qzc1KBpaM4IUN4o-9du-ECu1by-mSklUfR_SlIfEboGmRmWDyx7BElB5TOiPJfRRDji0RJm37OB8F-2tUGvLjeV3Ta1GRMuqD2-i3oexFruEI4uSCxOnf3B4kPCKxmQWOVPUWOZFXaADNaoT3Dm7OFjn0h9fnOKh3-M9NuVkNlmoFnD4pzC8/w320-h400/PXL_20230729_220847907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately there was a bit of shade even on the rail trail, but the sunny portions were particularly hot and difficult</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now past 9am - into the final 6 hours with a bit less than 4 laps to go - additional runners began to appear on the course, as the 6-hour started at 9am. More bad luck: some tiny green worm-like bug smacked right into my left eye, probably hanging from a thread over the rail trail. I wiped it out, but I guess I didn't get all of it (as I found the rest after I finished) and it caused my eye to start manifesting huge amounts of sticky white goo. I still managed to get through lap 20 just before 10am, when the 7k & 21k races were set to begin; I was lucky to be able to find an un-occupied portajohn to take care of some necessary business - not to mention sitting down for only the second time since 9am the previous morning, the other being my portajohn stop at ~12hrs. It was delightful to get the weight off my poor feet for a moment, but standing back up was brutal. Nevertheless, no time to whinge - I staggered up to my drop bags for a fresh bottle, slurped back a caffeinated Endurance Tap gel to try to wake me up, and headed back out just 2mins before the starting gun for 7k/21k. That also meant Sue Sitki was back out and taking photos at the top of the first grassy hill.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wntuGwdTpCy6RZDjTDA0eTM1-ZhS734BWHO90keXsL4l1vD7E1TDZ6VUeOkyFL--QZBfLJVQ2Q13dQa_9fvDfaVjw8IBCGeEEC6aakCXTgWHtfg7sRhblTya3SCVfErOPZWonBAxd5Vx_d08IYcg9Vhy947xg6Teerr5A0mVfqHhRjoTAe15YEu_FYc/s1200/101401-64306f-1004978947.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7wntuGwdTpCy6RZDjTDA0eTM1-ZhS734BWHO90keXsL4l1vD7E1TDZ6VUeOkyFL--QZBfLJVQ2Q13dQa_9fvDfaVjw8IBCGeEEC6aakCXTgWHtfg7sRhblTya3SCVfErOPZWonBAxd5Vx_d08IYcg9Vhy947xg6Teerr5A0mVfqHhRjoTAe15YEu_FYc/w264-h400/101401-64306f-1004978947.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd think all this fresh energy around me would help, but actually it ended up being a bit jarring as the flood of 7k & 21k runners bumped past me, some choosing to go by on my left despite me trying to stay the heck out of the way by hugging the leftmost side of the mowed trail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was kind of cute when I ended up in a pack of 7k runners at the first big mud puddle in the woods: I saw them trying to pick their way 'round it, and told them there was no point - it would only get worse. Someone asked how I knew, so I told them I'd already been on course for more than 25 hours.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kXushM8Yjs9w2-Sc3AkXHQMRgzgJZNYP_Yx5WcwaHpBef_pSiaOBLZ-SNOmTK0Thl_xpg7HnyYs6_FKQDP6QjYjMttJ1ifeEcbZlwrNxPKsaGacT_gkJWSkx1n_i70uvVtLxHxA7ZTqftWgnTe4mQ9ftwj9f3fk2fmyixO_Zjl_rQeeI1PNXQSbTtXM/s1200/PXL_20230729_202509132.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="737" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kXushM8Yjs9w2-Sc3AkXHQMRgzgJZNYP_Yx5WcwaHpBef_pSiaOBLZ-SNOmTK0Thl_xpg7HnyYs6_FKQDP6QjYjMttJ1ifeEcbZlwrNxPKsaGacT_gkJWSkx1n_i70uvVtLxHxA7ZTqftWgnTe4mQ9ftwj9f3fk2fmyixO_Zjl_rQeeI1PNXQSbTtXM/w246-h400/PXL_20230729_202509132.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I went splashing right through the middle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My brain was definitely trying to check out on me by this point: I was feeling drowsy and lightheaded, and fighting to keep moving with less than a half marathon to go. My lower back was agonizing, and I had to repeatedly re-cue myself to straighten up and not slouch on the rail trail. I was still able to walk at about a 12min per kilometer pace there, but that dropped to 15mins per kilometer along the Spring Creek Trail as I minced my way down the hills and poled my way up. The additional runners on course had squished up Bumblebee Hill even more, making the footing more unstable even as I became less and less capable of dealing with a slip. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-1Z8jJqNbklitSxPPil7bdiETUVpV2G83v1JHnQMK5YKOLTAGWLZXH2NqdRX2uDyty-UAN1lTFoAz4mHzKKzGn_D7x6rt-WGBvJw9tv2TnQuqwaQ4wS-m88glJApN03banCwnLYXUif0ki-zE_jXm4OY1Awk0GkKPOboV78u4SMg2ox5RTDNqMgaT0Q/s2273/PXL_20230729_202738072~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2273" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-1Z8jJqNbklitSxPPil7bdiETUVpV2G83v1JHnQMK5YKOLTAGWLZXH2NqdRX2uDyty-UAN1lTFoAz4mHzKKzGn_D7x6rt-WGBvJw9tv2TnQuqwaQ4wS-m88glJApN03banCwnLYXUif0ki-zE_jXm4OY1Awk0GkKPOboV78u4SMg2ox5RTDNqMgaT0Q/w266-h400/PXL_20230729_202738072~2.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was still Saturday evening - I didn't have time to take my phone out on Sunday at all</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I came through lap 21 - 147km - just seconds shy of 90mins, and was not at all sure I had two laps left in me. I tried to eat a cold brew coffee Gu Roctane (with double caffeine) gel, but it was so gross I could only get about 2/3 of it into to - Maryka was kind enough to take it away and dispose of it for me when I reached the start/finish area, which was finally starting to dry out in the hot sun. I trudged up to my stuff, and then salvation was offered: Heather asked if I'd like her to accompany me for the last two laps, and I eagerly accepted her generosity as I could barely trust myself to stay awake and moving by that point.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRIi2tCp0WvoJupKP8qD0A7Wwp5fbx2FpKv0O2cmWz4giAPkenxLGaVfRrLqhvkpg0rQdCC376gsu6UurJohplqIByIPvUfKS2ae3UAVX70FqziKCiza4L1X5A5H0KN1Zoi3te-qjeF28KqwNXuTDXBHcyar0xdldUeUvN9mvD1whkSneiWmSJFV7gLk/s1200/tired.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1092" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRIi2tCp0WvoJupKP8qD0A7Wwp5fbx2FpKv0O2cmWz4giAPkenxLGaVfRrLqhvkpg0rQdCC376gsu6UurJohplqIByIPvUfKS2ae3UAVX70FqziKCiza4L1X5A5H0KN1Zoi3te-qjeF28KqwNXuTDXBHcyar0xdldUeUvN9mvD1whkSneiWmSJFV7gLk/w364-h400/tired.jpg" width="364" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear my eyes are open, but I'm not sure I could have counted my legs</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Heather quickly grabbed her phone and bag while I got a fresh bottle of water, and Race Director Jeff told me "Oh, you've got Heather pacing you - now you're invincible!" (Heather being his wife, who has paced him through more than a few 100 mile races). I smiled and slowly wandered off through the flags with her, feeling very vincible in spite of Jeff's assurances.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kNaaxWZK1XXy1pvonR2W1WzwoVTSmKpU_37CvbJq-8J6Taiv3HGncYYF45Q4pKeofmDkeLZ5XdxmmHuhbfQ6XkUoCDCcGaq4UWtu3UPZbPayXt-3wSBCAIKVzNyEugVtvBi95JKdvox6gfX2WCGa0AN3jCpHuPt5QIdq__4AoH_jqkEOND0DAqOyLJE/s976/lap%2019-21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="976" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kNaaxWZK1XXy1pvonR2W1WzwoVTSmKpU_37CvbJq-8J6Taiv3HGncYYF45Q4pKeofmDkeLZ5XdxmmHuhbfQ6XkUoCDCcGaq4UWtu3UPZbPayXt-3wSBCAIKVzNyEugVtvBi95JKdvox6gfX2WCGa0AN3jCpHuPt5QIdq__4AoH_jqkEOND0DAqOyLJE/w400-h41/lap%2019-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 90mins per lap I was averaging just shy of 13mins per kilometer, and had just 3.5hrs to finish the final 2 loops/14km</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I have no idea how Heather put up with me - I suppose having raised three babies of her own and living in a household with six children must have prepared her somewhat, as she dealt with my sniveling and whining with limitless patience, grace, and love. I greatly dislike who I became in those last hours: I behaved like a toddler who was badly in need of a nap and a snack - which was not entirely inaccurate, as I had now been awake for 30 hours and was having a bit of trouble getting food into myself, partly due to my stomach not feeling great and partly due to my teeth hurting from too much sugar. I whimpered endlessly about my sore feet and back, and voiced my doubts about me making it before the cutoff, while I munched a couple of gummy worms anyway.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2WHy7R164zwdSi0Q1kf7IYuj-l3yLkD_AS6xGYgpTDbVMN6Ndt-DEJy9N0RCNrQoIeFLwelnRwC598HRmwluXxMTjLfkbjzpLqkfO5G5-XyINWJSZqCMsfO-fV9UXHWUBMaSu4Q4D9qMazOR_pt5MmP9MdmyWm1NwhTSynXSC4SJge-WhQP0iFNxL5c/s1200/received_315132174295632.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1200" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2WHy7R164zwdSi0Q1kf7IYuj-l3yLkD_AS6xGYgpTDbVMN6Ndt-DEJy9N0RCNrQoIeFLwelnRwC598HRmwluXxMTjLfkbjzpLqkfO5G5-XyINWJSZqCMsfO-fV9UXHWUBMaSu4Q4D9qMazOR_pt5MmP9MdmyWm1NwhTSynXSC4SJge-WhQP0iFNxL5c/w400-h368/received_315132174295632.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heather just kept reassuring me that I was moving well, and that I had time - she kept an eye on my pace so I didn't have to</td></tr></tbody></table><p>She also gently coaxed me to find a rhythm on the rail trail, knowing it was the only place I could move anywhere near effectively. I tried to put my own advice - "if it hurts to walk, you might as well run" - into action, but I was just too destroyed to make it happen. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzZuiEikvMfso8XNX8B_gGl-HjF8e6PyRQut7K7JVEEZvuPFYfCECli6r0sn-IFt1vqfjTu_mP5unw5-K-c-Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was the closest I could come, even on a downhill</div><p>Apart from my childlike whimpering, I became almost incommunicative - it was just too much energy to speak. When other runners would offer encouragement, I'd just manage to squeak out a "thank you"; I'm grateful that Heather was there to give the other participants a kind word in return, and to explain to a couple of horseback riders who asked if I'd hurt myself during the race that "Her body is just broken right now, but she's getting it done!" The riders made sure Heather was sticking with me (as I apparently looked in need of a guardian), then continued on their way. </p><p>I wouldn't have believed that things could get worse, but the universe seemed to be throwing everything it had at me to keep me from finishing: a blister between my big toe and 2nd toe on my left foot suddenly inflated to the point it was shoving my toes apart, putting painful pressure on the blister itself. I nearly fell asleep almost every time I blinked, and my lower back was stabbing me with almost every step. I told Heather it would be all I could do to get through this lap, let alone another one - she assured me I was moving well, and that the last lap would let me say goodbye to all the bits of the course that had tortured me for almost 27 hours now.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovNeA_LXugGisN91TnLLs_BmAary4ecUbqpBx45impCMBGxyUuyn628gsYdwmTUqGtDYpSustQgIEwYbp1qOc6CgX9mm5qQOg5fELSW9R4w7qeV06YbHbU5rUm05uOPuDF91QEsmNdDFUsktHibSRHlwwwYzX6iMZnNT5JJZZZ4B1_FBzUSQ9Q0tprK8/s1200/PXL_20230729_202902317.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="780" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovNeA_LXugGisN91TnLLs_BmAary4ecUbqpBx45impCMBGxyUuyn628gsYdwmTUqGtDYpSustQgIEwYbp1qOc6CgX9mm5qQOg5fELSW9R4w7qeV06YbHbU5rUm05uOPuDF91QEsmNdDFUsktHibSRHlwwwYzX6iMZnNT5JJZZZ4B1_FBzUSQ9Q0tprK8/w260-h400/PXL_20230729_202902317.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like the flinty rail trail with its stabby stones</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>She was messaging with Tank at the start/finish while I was out trudging, and asked him to have a bottle of water ready for me - when we approached, she ran ahead to grab it, taking my empty bottle from me so I could just cruise through the chute without stopping. Lap 22 - taking me to 154km - had been my slowest yet at 1h37m, and things were getting even worse. The left side of my groin had suddenly become painful at the turn-around, and I was already struggling with managing the pain I'd been dealing with for hours. This new damage, along with a brand new blister coming up on the outside of my left foot, almost completely overwhelmed me. Heather asked if I'd like her to come along for the final lap, and I gave an unequivocal yes: I'd never make it through on my own, and doubted if I could even manage it with her company.</p><p>Once again, she calmly reassured me that I had plenty of time - in reality, 1 hour and 55 minutes, which was not exactly a big cushion to work with, particularly as the first kilometer took me more than 18mins. I lamented that I'd time out and all this would be for nothing, but Heather was steadfast in insisting I had lots of time, and I'd get this done. One last splash through all the mud puddles on the Spring Creek Trail with my stomach growling from hunger, and one more Endurance Tap gel just to try to get some sugar and energy into me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1AU-52SJISn10NfrvHbXsyt2e1CscROUt1yMNwpwH5uSYevvmfun7v8FsI_LCH-BzhaUDbxyIlNaH385_UQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">To deal with this one more time</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(video by Heather)</div><p><br /></p><p>I managed not to fall or drown in a puddle in the woods, then I was carefully inching my way up Bumblebee Hill for the 23rd and final time to the rail trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE4WRczQLJhP3A77IkMgYtBFiSqDFndO_dr38TIqHJD_9rFfQuRLb60PN7NN7ZyXiND9MznJLF9YiKv71PDUYs-3czckDznpmVOB8HHGF1orhkInud3RRnTObq9mTnPXyKAjxv-_hY4Q9AAxqQs_06oKVfLgtXNGNsOPvydleYS6rn9D2N7bUB8yvjZ0/s1200/PXL_20230729_203053076.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlE4WRczQLJhP3A77IkMgYtBFiSqDFndO_dr38TIqHJD_9rFfQuRLb60PN7NN7ZyXiND9MznJLF9YiKv71PDUYs-3czckDznpmVOB8HHGF1orhkInud3RRnTObq9mTnPXyKAjxv-_hY4Q9AAxqQs_06oKVfLgtXNGNsOPvydleYS6rn9D2N7bUB8yvjZ0/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_203053076.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which is not without its lovely views</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I felt so weak, though - like my legs might just buckle at any point, and I'd land in a broken pile, unable to get up. I struggled to walk even on the rail trail now: the sun was overhead beating me down, though there were pockets of shade with a deliciously cool breeze. I pushed so hard to try to get into a stride, but nothing would respond the way I wanted; my body just seemed to be shutting down. I whimpered and whined so much that it's surprising Heather could stand me: fortunately she's the sweetest person alive, and instead of beating me to death with my own trekking pole, she continued to encourage me and tell me I was doing well, and had plenty of time to finish. With her help, I was even able to crank out one more 12-ish minute kilometer, but I ran out of water on my way up the rail trail - my throat so dry from all my useless crying and sniffling in the hot afternoon sun - and Heather even ran ahead to the spigot to refill it for me so I didn't have to waste precious seconds stopping. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH816U553RQsTfjWzS_lgrlq4ibG2z9kw73_0JQWQ6gTYtLFRhviGQVbN7tCOQ6tu7IG1v8VJIriZThee-YQ14z_uxCSfPjOjYe7ApQxQ4bJ9zUbyyH9ABX1P_m7b8_9Txw-9sopMSQWTkTgiUpQnj1NGZzEm6Mq6ArSi7MQo5JsuQsD31Oecm4psP14A/s1200/PXL_20230729_205545085.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH816U553RQsTfjWzS_lgrlq4ibG2z9kw73_0JQWQ6gTYtLFRhviGQVbN7tCOQ6tu7IG1v8VJIriZThee-YQ14z_uxCSfPjOjYe7ApQxQ4bJ9zUbyyH9ABX1P_m7b8_9Txw-9sopMSQWTkTgiUpQnj1NGZzEm6Mq6ArSi7MQo5JsuQsD31Oecm4psP14A/w400-h225/PXL_20230729_205545085.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd swear that even the wildlife responded to her wonderful nature - deer began to appear everywhere on that last lap, including right at the rail trail above this sunny valley past Sulphur Springs Rd</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I finally made the turn-around with about 30mins to go, and was certain I'd run out of time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcHqO0YU6XVNw8URAlNYc5fXdINWSsj_SN0NLfENKTcV9y17uioap8oMU8obaK_Y2HFWYfoGvsb87FXuknyElFWU7taIszT_V7Njr1vRzIf5S0acOUDt1mcS9UM_z7T7n1AhWNdGJ3kg7V9rvg4Ormu-dB5DvFlo5-EIYI44AaJLL_MDRhIkaDtihrM/s1200/PXL_20230729_205611289.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="833" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcHqO0YU6XVNw8URAlNYc5fXdINWSsj_SN0NLfENKTcV9y17uioap8oMU8obaK_Y2HFWYfoGvsb87FXuknyElFWU7taIszT_V7Njr1vRzIf5S0acOUDt1mcS9UM_z7T7n1AhWNdGJ3kg7V9rvg4Ormu-dB5DvFlo5-EIYI44AaJLL_MDRhIkaDtihrM/w278-h400/PXL_20230729_205611289.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, Heather was right there telling me I was doing fine</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Heather also talked about "smelling the barn" - the effect at the end of a race when a runner knows they're nearly done, and begins to pick up speed as they come into the finish. I was too broken for that, though - there was just nothing left in me. I limped back to the trail centre with about 25mins to make the final kilometer, and even the little downhill past the spigot was a challenge to navigate - the big dip in the stone-strewn driveway was murderous, and I had to pull myself up the far side with my pole, my lats screaming with pain after poling my way along for the past 17hrs. Heather messaged Tank to let him know I was coming in, and to have my buckle ready for me; I dragged my destroyed carcass past the parking lot where we met Tina, who'd heard I was on my way and walked in with us. I managed not to trip over the speed bump, and agonizingly trundled down the paved hill to the final gravel climb to the field. Heather ran ahead again to film me coming in to the finish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx3Fa3PqREP5QRNK8SczDN7STarEXJGThHMIZyTT86q_EZvYQV_jtaY0CtZnOJu4g_f0mgmYxCvpXZgf92IyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Looking like I'm propelled by broken clockwork</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">(that's my dear friend Nat who runs in behind me, finishing the 6 hour race)</div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Official time: 29h50m4s @ 11:07/km</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>7/7 Women - 12/12 Finishers (19 started)</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>(<a href="https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/at2x9s2hg7yyvufy/results?subEvent=172547&page=1">Official results are here</a> - <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11678090603">Garmin data is here</a>)</b></p><p>If you wonder what I'm saying to Tank, I'll tell you, even though I do so with shame: he gives me my medal (which I didn't know I'd get) and I whine "You mean I don't get a buckle? After all that?" - he immediately reassured me that Jeff had it for me, then Byron got me a chair and I finally sat down. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lA0yT4-zEb6747WJTRCgtAHi_4GOSunvOAomrjl-tYr_JHhtPDbzfyrZM9Vzjelm53-mDlgqq0EknP0wm1QFEuSTX5pX5hweXU_3idQ5GSVVvAXDg1DQfl4dxuxnJr0LCVjAxYnQNgaTh1yFyghqYHMR9FcLHF697D-DAzhPMOl9HJin-O72RNOHCiU/s1200/buckle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="717" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lA0yT4-zEb6747WJTRCgtAHi_4GOSunvOAomrjl-tYr_JHhtPDbzfyrZM9Vzjelm53-mDlgqq0EknP0wm1QFEuSTX5pX5hweXU_3idQ5GSVVvAXDg1DQfl4dxuxnJr0LCVjAxYnQNgaTh1yFyghqYHMR9FcLHF697D-DAzhPMOl9HJin-O72RNOHCiU/w239-h400/buckle.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently Tank and Jeff had discussed it, and Tank wanted Jeff to be the one to give me the buckle as we'd both been <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/08/foxtail-hundred-rail-trail-run-100.html">waiting almost 4 years</a> for this to happen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>With that, I <i style="font-weight: bold;">finally</i> stopped whingeing!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jovY60iyiEnMMyEM_0ecomLg9gKqK2nOrsFUyB-z8TF9WvVKK25rVu4tBK6VdMR488wtJhFGmQVOhbBRPUWTMWx2L4uWhu4IMKOIsjalDbuquWKXrBBIDdc-VA7GMx0PsBJzt_xvjUOBQiyvlZ2xVtG_tIQAdNfAnJmkgOtJV8vuFrRtthVbIVGM9S4/s1200/PXL_20230730_190406540.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4jovY60iyiEnMMyEM_0ecomLg9gKqK2nOrsFUyB-z8TF9WvVKK25rVu4tBK6VdMR488wtJhFGmQVOhbBRPUWTMWx2L4uWhu4IMKOIsjalDbuquWKXrBBIDdc-VA7GMx0PsBJzt_xvjUOBQiyvlZ2xVtG_tIQAdNfAnJmkgOtJV8vuFrRtthVbIVGM9S4/w225-h400/PXL_20230730_190406540.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About damn time!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So I'd say that I made it by the skin of my teeth (which actually had more like a fur coat - one of my first priorities was to brush them), but it was truly more like the skin of my <b>feet</b>. I worked it out, and had I been just 3.7sec slower per kilometer (25.9sec slower per lap), I'd have missed the cutoff, though Jeff had said to Tank during the race that due to the conditions he'd honour anything under 31hrs as a finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr3T-OYyUPRAqJp_GF24oO3Onc-dudk2PQUQ6DCrg03oBuQJ0X9be6TyMjV_c9llRYJnY2nBbkKGwfGwcBvX38M0bhRib00HnqYo7wpLlVSceZqH9cOcY72rZK3a8Y39nwlJ6CpU1XfcGppUQLxBDjB6uUH_9eFi5DdRKFZvsBj8hX5UY54DVGgSinpc/s1200/PXL_20230730_190845529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1200" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBr3T-OYyUPRAqJp_GF24oO3Onc-dudk2PQUQ6DCrg03oBuQJ0X9be6TyMjV_c9llRYJnY2nBbkKGwfGwcBvX38M0bhRib00HnqYo7wpLlVSceZqH9cOcY72rZK3a8Y39nwlJ6CpU1XfcGppUQLxBDjB6uUH_9eFi5DdRKFZvsBj8hX5UY54DVGgSinpc/w400-h235/PXL_20230730_190845529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still had rather a large problem to deal with, though</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I truly hate how slow I was, how close I came to missing the cutoff, and the sniveling wimp I became in the dying hours of the race. Had the mud not been so persistent - and my feet not been so destroyed as a result - I think I could have finished much sooner, particularly had I not tweaked my knee and back when the Sawmill Trail re-opened at midnight. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3mIYz65hTJoO5gmTnkxczhpT_9l7bksSPIXAnBRqDdYWTXt7KLcLoL4qO72SY6CbL9J1cZ9dWcXmo0sdYjjtN4kHcBzpHsne0sQAhegBG_yIeZN2j8z6Nn9rh6AyuRSpOoLO3YjG6gvbLiEBRsmvwLXRNQx7ho6YzII95zobWQRKOGojA9u6TDpFhGM/s877/24hr.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="877" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ3mIYz65hTJoO5gmTnkxczhpT_9l7bksSPIXAnBRqDdYWTXt7KLcLoL4qO72SY6CbL9J1cZ9dWcXmo0sdYjjtN4kHcBzpHsne0sQAhegBG_yIeZN2j8z6Nn9rh6AyuRSpOoLO3YjG6gvbLiEBRsmvwLXRNQx7ho6YzII95zobWQRKOGojA9u6TDpFhGM/w400-h148/24hr.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will say, though, that the 133km I was able to cover in the first 23h24m would have put me in podium position in <a href="https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/at2x9s2hg7yyvufy/results?subEvent=172543&page=1">the 24hr race</a>.<br />Apparently I just ran the wrong event..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I am still ashamed of my behaviour in the last few laps: I came so close to quitting with 5 laps to go (which it turns out Rob, with whom I'd spent most of Lap 11, actually did), and on every lap thereafter. I hate that thoughts of turning before the actual turn-around even entered my head, and that I was such a trial to Heather's patience with my whining and negativity in the last 2 laps when she was just trying to help me finish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMWFZRcpPtlxahkOScU6YCBh_xRlIaplYOsicE0Yopep4KisN49OaYCZelE2ugGqI0w1CvV_VoUEaWy9wn254DryFLxFrdGpuzW4mlgDMp_xZnkFjAPtSAg_8aBtDAqHbWN90Oey1vZCiXrqqwujlgRg9KT5XhDCiCksGfN4vI31ckLUYxH3V6wiBUk/s625/Tally%20Laps.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="547" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzMWFZRcpPtlxahkOScU6YCBh_xRlIaplYOsicE0Yopep4KisN49OaYCZelE2ugGqI0w1CvV_VoUEaWy9wn254DryFLxFrdGpuzW4mlgDMp_xZnkFjAPtSAg_8aBtDAqHbWN90Oey1vZCiXrqqwujlgRg9KT5XhDCiCksGfN4vI31ckLUYxH3V6wiBUk/w350-h400/Tally%20Laps.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final lap took just shy of 1h45m - almost twice as long as my first loop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I am grateful to Matt for his company and help on my 14th lap - I wouldn't have made it through Sawmill without you, my friend, and I hope your achilles issue resolves soon!</p><p>I am thankful for Jesse's help during Tank's absence in the early hours on Sunday - I was not in a good mental place, and a friendly face was just what I needed then.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrjuxHHdoVUy_C2gYdHvnit6e6k8MY6O7yPT86b3_VFA_dy5LydO1T6rUzNuZ722hWhcdFVUUcGENtbVDr25dVsnPItSWtzG451IE3bYqYCIm4mAS4im5KmO5l7ImwJmrUfY6ogFZOwDuHjTPNUQymaQF6nn7FjU8LrQI37OVsZVjhYoyy-7r21msnHw/s1200/PXL_20230730_200030822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrjuxHHdoVUy_C2gYdHvnit6e6k8MY6O7yPT86b3_VFA_dy5LydO1T6rUzNuZ722hWhcdFVUUcGENtbVDr25dVsnPItSWtzG451IE3bYqYCIm4mAS4im5KmO5l7ImwJmrUfY6ogFZOwDuHjTPNUQymaQF6nn7FjU8LrQI37OVsZVjhYoyy-7r21msnHw/w400-h225/PXL_20230730_200030822.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was able to get my shoes off at the race site, but my ankles had swollen so badly it looked like I might have to cut off my socks and calf sleeves</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I am grateful to Maryka for stepping in to assist with such kindness. Your gentle manner and quiet confidence were so helpful as my body and mind broke down, and it was lovely of you to put your incredible wealth of long-haul experience at my service.</p><p>I absolutely owe my finish to Heather - without you, I might still be a broken, crying heap of human remains asleep in a mud puddle now. I am sorry for all of my whining and negativity; it is a testament to what a wonderful person you are that you could take it all and offer nothing but sweetness, grace, and unshakeable confidence in return. I love you, and I'm beyond grateful to you for seeing me through both the worst part of the race and the worst part of who I am.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXmBFFp1n05q9X0vmBfP9oz0FWw6WrC-H83o_fGI85r59labjqRgLU7f_AJImikCYuuRb85HxZeqEqcP4JN4e7HDpKptEQAmPgZaCJrtFpuOX17k2EO5jAbOBZ3RvB0eSvp9KZ0aL3BT8EKbbbnk1aO81Z23Q4oqN7-FLXz3NxkC1sSbzlKHQYWl-Zy8/s1200/PXL_20230731_160919259.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1113" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXmBFFp1n05q9X0vmBfP9oz0FWw6WrC-H83o_fGI85r59labjqRgLU7f_AJImikCYuuRb85HxZeqEqcP4JN4e7HDpKptEQAmPgZaCJrtFpuOX17k2EO5jAbOBZ3RvB0eSvp9KZ0aL3BT8EKbbbnk1aO81Z23Q4oqN7-FLXz3NxkC1sSbzlKHQYWl-Zy8/w371-h400/PXL_20230731_160919259.jpg" width="371" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wouldn't have this without so much help from wonderful, selfless friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Most of all, I need to express my gratitude to my dear husband Tanker. I wouldn't have even made the starting line without his endless patience and faith in me, let alone sacrificing an entire weekend to stand around in a muddy field and wait for my cranky, smelly, increasingly short-tempered carcass to drag itself in to make demands for 2 minutes and then bugger off again for an hour or so. I'm sorry for all I've put you through - the stress and worry, the sleep deprivation, and my total lack of appreciation at the finish. I love you endlessly, and I do know how lucky I am to have you in my corner!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qYg5xwOhGIBXTIyWUw5JI5j1K4FsLLsFGAOAptDdvUfdZsOnJ-zNQSVUo1lwGGK8rtTqnqfVUsnm2uMLg5CRDLELNWOUNeJOAEujZuBf6RKcGyZe_1_B_98_ewDtNl-3yQuA4yvGAzmQUApD6K_xyLpDtxyacjkvStImazeZfJADXF9DaONFr1OH3eE/s1200/hug.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="804" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0qYg5xwOhGIBXTIyWUw5JI5j1K4FsLLsFGAOAptDdvUfdZsOnJ-zNQSVUo1lwGGK8rtTqnqfVUsnm2uMLg5CRDLELNWOUNeJOAEujZuBf6RKcGyZe_1_B_98_ewDtNl-3yQuA4yvGAzmQUApD6K_xyLpDtxyacjkvStImazeZfJADXF9DaONFr1OH3eE/w268-h400/hug.png" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You're the best husband and crew I could ever ask for, and I appreciate all you do!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Of course, I'm also grateful to the amazing volunteers and organizers of Happy Trails for staging all this madness. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to test ourselves while surrounded by the love and positivity you all bring to these events!<br /><p>I'm not necessarily happy with being DFL and so close to not finishing - sure the conditions were tough, but they were the same for everyone in the 100mi race, and most people who did it finished hours before me. However, it's telling that out of 19 people who started in the 100mi race, 7 dropped out between the end of their 9th to their 18th lap: that means more than a third of the folks who set off Saturday morning with high hopes of receiving a buckle did not finish at all. I was stubborn enough not to give up, despite it feeling like the universe was throwing everything it had at me to make me quit (the rain and resulting mud, my leaking bottle, the oppressive sun and heat on Sunday, and my destroyed feet and body)...though I'm not entirely sure that's to my credit; if I were a little less dumb, I might not have blundered on and sacrificed my feet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hd1c0Q2XIg7Eisb5cvQYNol13aES2MiMfp22z2kZxmZh9Q-w--3p7BK_WlHtF92FEKvpj-HPJKppfZ74NZGKWd7XzAC7X383Z310E4Zi6WvAZvMZpCNFnHWAG2NSyiaKInDuytvZ6H8Nx2A8RdQMw5NEyOJlDTwr4AS1EYgKj9Hr3EjhDKnQN-a-yFM/s1200/PXL_20230730_215234425.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1200" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Hd1c0Q2XIg7Eisb5cvQYNol13aES2MiMfp22z2kZxmZh9Q-w--3p7BK_WlHtF92FEKvpj-HPJKppfZ74NZGKWd7XzAC7X383Z310E4Zi6WvAZvMZpCNFnHWAG2NSyiaKInDuytvZ6H8Nx2A8RdQMw5NEyOJlDTwr4AS1EYgKj9Hr3EjhDKnQN-a-yFM/w400-h244/PXL_20230730_215234425.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I eventually got my socks and calf sleeves off, after soaking and swishing them in a bucket of cool water to help loosen them up.<br />Dealing with what I found inside them - without having slept, and still with an utterly broken and depleted body - was almost as difficult as the race itself, and I'd need strong antibiotics to fight the infection already beginning to set in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I can't say I did it for any noble reason, either - I just didn't want all the pain I'd been through to be for nothing (<a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/08/foxtail-hundred-rail-trail-run-100.html">again</a>), or to have to explain to all the people I'd told that I was running 100mi that I didn't make it (<a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/08/foxtail-hundred-rail-trail-run-100.html">again</a>). Fear of failure is a powerful thing. Even with having (barely) finished, though, I rather question the validity of it: it was a pretty entry-level race to begin with, and then the re-route to even more rail trail made it more achievable yet. Especially with having just scraped in under the wire, I sort of feel like there ought to be an asterisk attached to my result, or engraved on my buckle. It does, however, feel a bit poetic that after <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/08/foxtail-hundred-rail-trail-run-100.html">my flaming DNF at Foxtail in 2019</a> I ended up getting it done on a course that was adjusted to be very Foxtail-like...hence my opening line about this maybe more appropriately being called TallyTail.</p><p>In any case, it took me til Thursday after the race before I could walk without a cane, and I had to wear Tank's sandals - 4 sizes too big for me ordinarily - until the swelling in my feet and ankles finally came down.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUTUCqHK_tu4cT35eeuoaAMH_cyIEF8OJWZjFtD9Pd5kvjZjMxmevMLLj9CgdRIA93WWn-gRlfO71lb2ynd19KZER7zdYhOTR1no6YIRZmYjJVhA1Rwg0DqyLes1UGwtTbOLP-DzRoAj9_pwVMR6WuErdnuRKMA8poiPRf5WHlSgyVQhhcCA23Dkt37A/s1200/PXL_20230801_203845354.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1105" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUTUCqHK_tu4cT35eeuoaAMH_cyIEF8OJWZjFtD9Pd5kvjZjMxmevMLLj9CgdRIA93WWn-gRlfO71lb2ynd19KZER7zdYhOTR1no6YIRZmYjJVhA1Rwg0DqyLes1UGwtTbOLP-DzRoAj9_pwVMR6WuErdnuRKMA8poiPRf5WHlSgyVQhhcCA23Dkt37A/w369-h400/PXL_20230801_203845354.jpg" width="369" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much oozing and edema</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It was Sunday before I was able to wear regular shoes and socks again, and Monday before I attempted a little bit of running on a hike in the woods.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EzfBpf2uli8xEuxcaWDF3m1Ew9r_yZj-G0l51c79RjEao7yqzCmhrWDohKjYUVVQegFIX6jW5H9zSchFoBxbLflUTxH0WscWSDiRdH1pPjzcn-n2qi_qwudM4-K9DMbszojCFu1z0rO1AeXT864Ec4hQ1lr_kziOplpvekh1130DHbajeAHB4XWtnlo/s1200/PXL_20230806_235825601.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="783" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EzfBpf2uli8xEuxcaWDF3m1Ew9r_yZj-G0l51c79RjEao7yqzCmhrWDohKjYUVVQegFIX6jW5H9zSchFoBxbLflUTxH0WscWSDiRdH1pPjzcn-n2qi_qwudM4-K9DMbszojCFu1z0rO1AeXT864Ec4hQ1lr_kziOplpvekh1130DHbajeAHB4XWtnlo/w261-h400/PXL_20230806_235825601.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did get out on the ice for a little twirl Sunday evening, though just an open skills & drills session so I wouldn't have to push hard to keep up to anyone</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So the TL;DR is I spent 30hrs playing in mud puddles and destroyed my feet, just barely making it in time to earn a fancy belt buckle after a monumental amount of help from really wonderful people and a bunch of whining.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct-jpKTn1DdCB-aobRgnQG9x7jPXuPram6I5Ww72Cd8xkf5SknPnTgztOGxkOGy3r6Rm-h5Ama0f1bxr8XWmy_EShamCpXW94fBLifrfsXWI6vqKQAnEfYUsRd3UhqzdbGf_KDH-iURWACY1X6ILcCurd2_sTaZvuSMLXx29F68DNcbPTUU2BP16Gkec/s1200/PXL_20230804_034432095.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhct-jpKTn1DdCB-aobRgnQG9x7jPXuPram6I5Ww72Cd8xkf5SknPnTgztOGxkOGy3r6Rm-h5Ama0f1bxr8XWmy_EShamCpXW94fBLifrfsXWI6vqKQAnEfYUsRd3UhqzdbGf_KDH-iURWACY1X6ILcCurd2_sTaZvuSMLXx29F68DNcbPTUU2BP16Gkec/w225-h400/PXL_20230804_034432095.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and I'm probably dumb enough to try it again sometime.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Now to see if I'm ready to get back in net this Sunday - wish me luck!</p></div>K Jacobsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18022753202507272293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-86476816003292747312023-07-28T19:56:00.003-04:002023-07-28T19:56:58.311-04:00Wakey wakey<p> In the tradition of all things ill advised, I got to try something new this week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlz6EMK13rUQ-QDFxEHSaurS9LJ4f1wL8Qt6CnP_JAehaU1-En6-IdN53EQQlhmXXvrC0xS7luQ_n0yxXkny_CKiowpeFLzjFU_ABUZSb3FKQUYJkmGNljKxmmGfrOYEkcRONacUI-Ud1tXvvTTgIevGdkzZDHlBoW49n9DFWGTs6COAw7fyuBxBwhjo/s1200/PXL_20230725_222903715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlz6EMK13rUQ-QDFxEHSaurS9LJ4f1wL8Qt6CnP_JAehaU1-En6-IdN53EQQlhmXXvrC0xS7luQ_n0yxXkny_CKiowpeFLzjFU_ABUZSb3FKQUYJkmGNljKxmmGfrOYEkcRONacUI-Ud1tXvvTTgIevGdkzZDHlBoW49n9DFWGTs6COAw7fyuBxBwhjo/w400-h223/PXL_20230725_222903715.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a beautiful day, in a gorgeous place</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>At my company's holiday party back in December, each member of our leadership team put together a gift that would be raffled off to employees. There was a weekend at the CEO's vrbo on an island in BC, theatre tickets, spa treatments - a whole range of items and experiences. The VP of Operations is a passionate wakeboarder, so the gift he offered was a day of wakeboarding and wakesurfing for the winner plus 2 other people since the boat holds four. My colleague Katy from the Finance team won it, and invited myself and another fellow from the Operations team (who is also a member of the Nicoya hockey team, and a really good guy) to come along, and it was scheduled for last week...until the risk of powerful thunderstorms was predicted, requiring a change of plans. We hoped for Tuesday of this week, and fortunately the weather was absolutely perfect!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXhPIUFWdUKd13NfF9AzF7GdQfpruaXuIuv_6tcbPPg6SVI4MYLX0zUcJgyoSu0T6Rom35DlpmQss73lvgF63Qe_xs15pCBWZLNBxm_zNEvsRPSdKggztnXh4guVrulThOIp7gRXlOwWyVSmg0oJWLZ87du565aS87YjMC-6Nl7NfUgXiXdsCsiMY83c/s1200/PXL_20230725_181414241.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXhPIUFWdUKd13NfF9AzF7GdQfpruaXuIuv_6tcbPPg6SVI4MYLX0zUcJgyoSu0T6Rom35DlpmQss73lvgF63Qe_xs15pCBWZLNBxm_zNEvsRPSdKggztnXh4guVrulThOIp7gRXlOwWyVSmg0oJWLZ87du565aS87YjMC-6Nl7NfUgXiXdsCsiMY83c/w400-h225/PXL_20230725_181414241.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian at the helm, Katy centre, Clayton's knees, and myself</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I brought my action camera - the same one I use for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxx2475XcuE&list=PLgKliTJ8IY8D-jPVvpXVJO2VleKJkevPn&pp=iAQB">recording my exploits as a washed-up goalie</a> - and faint memories of my last wakeboarding experience, which I realized were now 25 years past (and could thus be considered "classic" in car terms). I was, however, roundly nominated to go first as my stand-up paddleboarding, teenage waterskiing, and general water-based-activity level was considered the highest among Clayton, Katy, and myself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzz-G4Tw3ZMe302HY5hMWYT4QHreE_y3jzop9XKNnW8q2TW1wmjQ0tgrkYfK8JPlApYVQoH8C7csyGQPuaqmA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heading out to a sheltered bay on Conestoga Lake</div><p>Brian suggested we wakeboard first, as he'd need to fill the ballast bladders for wakesurfing. So, I strapped into the bindings of the smaller of the two wakeboards (which was for up to size 8 men's feet, so I was about at the top end of the range), and hopped in the water.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmTF7YCKx9WtXDq23tGs4Yno5hm-LNX3x7ioZJTa-PPlyzldH6ir2FGI2BfKo4vx_fPLneXnOfyJOrEqYFm8e7PYwdrsKpyOyR49BMfZav5rHNjul1dxb8xxilqIYZVbp9EWvqS-XNFEFsYy-Lr2D-UYVd29bNhsA99NHlFQp1jbMrVZPg64aRZEKp8g/s697/k1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="697" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmTF7YCKx9WtXDq23tGs4Yno5hm-LNX3x7ioZJTa-PPlyzldH6ir2FGI2BfKo4vx_fPLneXnOfyJOrEqYFm8e7PYwdrsKpyOyR49BMfZav5rHNjul1dxb8xxilqIYZVbp9EWvqS-XNFEFsYy-Lr2D-UYVd29bNhsA99NHlFQp1jbMrVZPg64aRZEKp8g/w400-h339/k1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having ditched my sun shirt, hat, and sunglasses</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5TRUIGBhcGu-DSyLMzIFFCVXBu9FySKDZTVE6sVeTm5pHG1-ynbHJdxu88FpVK0KWYt7OGUE2illCuFncMWxY0stDv3-RdCojXULEBJrTTFjHzf6H1QKNDJzWnz4uXtk_r9pFbxKP9z8KLE-HnW1VSFc2XjnpQUUgjcHfw6-ukue4G-BOu0_i4r5LXA/s662/k2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="662" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5TRUIGBhcGu-DSyLMzIFFCVXBu9FySKDZTVE6sVeTm5pHG1-ynbHJdxu88FpVK0KWYt7OGUE2illCuFncMWxY0stDv3-RdCojXULEBJrTTFjHzf6H1QKNDJzWnz4uXtk_r9pFbxKP9z8KLE-HnW1VSFc2XjnpQUUgjcHfw6-ukue4G-BOu0_i4r5LXA/w400-h389/k2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here goes nothing..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Nothing, indeed - it took me 3 tries before I could even <i style="font-weight: bold;">almost</i> get up, then a few moments to try adjusting the bindings' position to see if that helped. Another 3 tries (and a bit of correction of form) had me nearly get it, but it wasn't until I'd done a full 15mins of flailing and was on my 8th try (after nearly giving up) that I finally managed to stand. Once I did, though..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v4-dDPPrKJU" width="320" youtube-src-id="v4-dDPPrKJU"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">I got a nice ride in, actually ending it intentionally as my hands & shoulders were very tired from my prior attempts, and I wanted to give someone else a shot.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Almost lost it going over our own wake, though!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>I said "the bar has been set low" when Brian pulled 'round to pick me up, and he countered by saying I'd done a full lap up and down the bay...so I guess I did ok? </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh7wXRWL4QpMMA8JjQ5zkXkGZSjdtauBSKW8qQWmzuymxlMV4wIq63mfuXIEjaJ31ItJ12UcbPv0xrJPrTSMwe0kQZ3rNVMRRI1E0_bpOO-ccOLJr2Ncx4LhGhtcAMrNJxJsciz5uN3nMygCIiH4Sv6hFM2T44EX0ofnqc8MWTcihWG6YqNtOkFgXfok/s680/k3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="680" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWh7wXRWL4QpMMA8JjQ5zkXkGZSjdtauBSKW8qQWmzuymxlMV4wIq63mfuXIEjaJ31ItJ12UcbPv0xrJPrTSMwe0kQZ3rNVMRRI1E0_bpOO-ccOLJr2Ncx4LhGhtcAMrNJxJsciz5uN3nMygCIiH4Sv6hFM2T44EX0ofnqc8MWTcihWG6YqNtOkFgXfok/w400-h270/k3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11641653961">Good times</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div>Katy was up next, and she had a much easier time getting up - she definitely was not near the high end of the foot size or weight for the smaller board, and was on her feet on her second try, though had a bit more difficulty staying there at first. She got a really good run in on her third attempt, though.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uUko5YkHfPyUgK7awxL0ulEmPAPdnQJdLNQ7_6C9MJ-uqJSbLmQ2zMRhgfUt68m-QgDcMSphFGgf6yFQGboSJft-SkJWCpfhDDuWexHDGkoygiRnNUITisWqbNe94f4Qn_GayH656MTRbfbrHSCzDymWpwPW2mRDdlAhLCQ-Fqol_ofNZfZsrZva0yg/s1200/PXL_20230725_190622777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1200" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uUko5YkHfPyUgK7awxL0ulEmPAPdnQJdLNQ7_6C9MJ-uqJSbLmQ2zMRhgfUt68m-QgDcMSphFGgf6yFQGboSJft-SkJWCpfhDDuWexHDGkoygiRnNUITisWqbNe94f4Qn_GayH656MTRbfbrHSCzDymWpwPW2mRDdlAhLCQ-Fqol_ofNZfZsrZva0yg/w400-h376/PXL_20230725_190622777.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheeeeee!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p>Clayton was up next, using the bigger board - he did great, getting up to his feet on his third attempt and getting a great run in before losing it riding off the centre of the wake.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGnG_8BUELCKAEBBpJyTvZ2CVHJFw-hnhDj4-0m0AQJytxPa0sFJGXDjw1LFFj4t5SwLKtZBXz8dxcXW6RUNBs-2y6yNRyTEBU4ysmr3-EJQgZtiDujrDqTkk6IN5_-fXz0xayBg8PnYNYUjCZXy_K_nClVxYophBezsF3aoLkgsemJvVkQxtOduGbGo/s1200/PXL_20230725_192256385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="952" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGnG_8BUELCKAEBBpJyTvZ2CVHJFw-hnhDj4-0m0AQJytxPa0sFJGXDjw1LFFj4t5SwLKtZBXz8dxcXW6RUNBs-2y6yNRyTEBU4ysmr3-EJQgZtiDujrDqTkk6IN5_-fXz0xayBg8PnYNYUjCZXy_K_nClVxYophBezsF3aoLkgsemJvVkQxtOduGbGo/w318-h400/PXL_20230725_192256385.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will point out that I was the only person over 40 - both Katy and Clayton are in their 20s, and I've got 5 years on Brian</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When Clayton had enough, Brian taught Katy (who has a boating license as her family owns a pontoon boat) how to drive the GPS-guided craft so he could get some time in on the water.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBNv6ThbO1XemDVBOOQgYIGiBCyxI81rIBm9Wfh02kLQC_rtV-HTiMZb5FxS8QNIntXMAmKmQegs6JLDHilC4zljSFPwZIPN3yTpfHjWTxQj6weSUOT7l3xpr-JtzuF3swPivu_UvndvJTUFxEhwcHl21MKEtImmBMFG95WbDsKKQ7HD-02LRFnyoDSk/s1200/PXL_20230725_193341634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="928" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNBNv6ThbO1XemDVBOOQgYIGiBCyxI81rIBm9Wfh02kLQC_rtV-HTiMZb5FxS8QNIntXMAmKmQegs6JLDHilC4zljSFPwZIPN3yTpfHjWTxQj6weSUOT7l3xpr-JtzuF3swPivu_UvndvJTUFxEhwcHl21MKEtImmBMFG95WbDsKKQ7HD-02LRFnyoDSk/w309-h400/PXL_20230725_193341634.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imparting knowledge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Brian is - predictably, since he owns a $20k boat plus hundred of dollars of boards and associated gear and heads out a couple of times a week - really good at this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMBfImx9iVG3IR7E-lHFZf70ScGDbDhFnRIGd5wwOYwGkA39hpEZp3AoZzvJgJSirKu_9-uTadP2K9ie4WZ9KVgOF5a58H4Ytr3rtBFw2-SCBsm5jT5Du94Qqzin1j39ihz0cYyZjlaHczpbZUV13vDLlcsofqcaIwIY6tbBGJqEiaysPujmNcT5I9Bg/s1200/PXL_20230725_195659098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1053" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMBfImx9iVG3IR7E-lHFZf70ScGDbDhFnRIGd5wwOYwGkA39hpEZp3AoZzvJgJSirKu_9-uTadP2K9ie4WZ9KVgOF5a58H4Ytr3rtBFw2-SCBsm5jT5Du94Qqzin1j39ihz0cYyZjlaHczpbZUV13vDLlcsofqcaIwIY6tbBGJqEiaysPujmNcT5I9Bg/w351-h400/PXL_20230725_195659098.jpg" width="351" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carving hard on heel edge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzN0aqERaS0XSIL1V5g943pmXJsm5V_1kOk73oOLl2s75YhNLz5WEGPfwqvP1ICOE-jfoZrseco0hLNyGW-AC3QlocpgMVwbwg-UTQ3gYDH4gont3kPslC1HJEfDpa-XbDdEzNQiDaENbsP3QSCUIlZyWmeOf4rIolQy9V341prv4c_ocfXEPrvVZ0H4/s1200/PXL_20230725_195708545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1198" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzN0aqERaS0XSIL1V5g943pmXJsm5V_1kOk73oOLl2s75YhNLz5WEGPfwqvP1ICOE-jfoZrseco0hLNyGW-AC3QlocpgMVwbwg-UTQ3gYDH4gont3kPslC1HJEfDpa-XbDdEzNQiDaENbsP3QSCUIlZyWmeOf4rIolQy9V341prv4c_ocfXEPrvVZ0H4/w399-h400/PXL_20230725_195708545.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive spray from his toes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhMj7RvBR47XulSO23wlwkGMEi1Tw7D2152L0z_49K1KFxMeTtyEfH3RbBvrzfvhWfB6vajAQYC-nDPtFuRC6VEZdiBOLc1yw3WnkohDL9dhTarhrOjMsO8xKBzZMPd4s8BEuZvqpYXynVVvEJF_p3mFy_crujs52CX9qwrlgeP8HGFFhlhCc2Tg6dQ/s1200/PXL_20230725_195758238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="1200" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipwhMj7RvBR47XulSO23wlwkGMEi1Tw7D2152L0z_49K1KFxMeTtyEfH3RbBvrzfvhWfB6vajAQYC-nDPtFuRC6VEZdiBOLc1yw3WnkohDL9dhTarhrOjMsO8xKBzZMPd4s8BEuZvqpYXynVVvEJF_p3mFy_crujs52CX9qwrlgeP8HGFFhlhCc2Tg6dQ/w400-h306/PXL_20230725_195758238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is why he wears a helmet (he offered it to me, but I declined)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When Brian was done, we stopped for a bit to fill the ballast bladders with a 12v pump, so the boat would sit lower in the water and create a larger wake. Brian also attached a wave shaper via suction cups to one side of the hull, and I was once again nominated first to wakesurf.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLYo0-5PPnmkfxEk5YsMHLrRdxz0EZaJGPfvrIH9C8J2f48krzDrPEuAYyhwwDVFWUGCPdrYuYiw94wUEALzfdMSHIKn0GnlkwO-Qc-LUlOugD2IalWvUQskCodJ5MxjLNaJcr4oFfxeISUgggFcOM-O-TjNge2NiPf6T27WV7D1LFYnT3I5JdCwTMkg/s667/k4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="667" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLYo0-5PPnmkfxEk5YsMHLrRdxz0EZaJGPfvrIH9C8J2f48krzDrPEuAYyhwwDVFWUGCPdrYuYiw94wUEALzfdMSHIKn0GnlkwO-Qc-LUlOugD2IalWvUQskCodJ5MxjLNaJcr4oFfxeISUgggFcOM-O-TjNge2NiPf6T27WV7D1LFYnT3I5JdCwTMkg/w400-h297/k4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was not confident it would go well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Fortunately, I actually found this way easier to stand up - I had watched some YouTube tutorials in the days prior, and actually made it on my first attempt!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxHJeeqSh86VJbvihp0ZiFIkaiu_914RgCh59naIyDctQ_IA-1Q1UgvzzDsKoROApU9DjPYOcRBjesos_n5Iw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">..though I was down almost as quickly as I'd popped up.</div><p style="text-align: left;">I tried 3 more times, but kept falling - I think that wakeboarding first might have made me a bit too reliant on the tension in the rope to sort of pull myself back into balance, and wakesurfing tends to lead to a very slack rope; the end goal, really, is to be able to let go and have the wake just push you along.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyaTJShNZSnUBXDIrG0f2EmmjoUW3mJxIwYaHR5mMwC2tNmLm2RqBCQeBqm9oSY_R6ooi8g_MhWuReJzzm0Mw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;">I couldn't quite stay on the thing long enough to find that butter zone</div><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">After 4 tries - all of which led to me standing, then falling off backwards, though apparently <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11642210029">I was only out there for a total of 11 minutes</a> - I figured I'd inhaled enough of Conestoga Lake for the time being and let Katy have a go.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMyubkQXZu8pM1e8RDfWSX1_bQFYiGP8GBvD7QXmkT4ssjfKOHqgJujqnYB0PXBkv2ONP8Tv1Sd4IbMEGVqt6NuZIgZe1rvaNSAeLp0cI3uLezydjVuErZ1FZPyOLLKxyhtLXpZ9Tk1SBjAzXYzUN6I_-QB7XHBu4j7GumvZFgWmR2ADBsEEMoZdUva0/s1200/PXL_20230725_203035196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1200" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMyubkQXZu8pM1e8RDfWSX1_bQFYiGP8GBvD7QXmkT4ssjfKOHqgJujqnYB0PXBkv2ONP8Tv1Sd4IbMEGVqt6NuZIgZe1rvaNSAeLp0cI3uLezydjVuErZ1FZPyOLLKxyhtLXpZ9Tk1SBjAzXYzUN6I_-QB7XHBu4j7GumvZFgWmR2ADBsEEMoZdUva0/w400-h389/PXL_20230725_203035196.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was sure she'd rock this</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, her experience was similar to mine with the wakeboard, but I think for the opposite reason: while I was toward the high end of the wakeboard's capacity, I'm not sure Katy was heavy enough for the 100lb+ recommended for the wakesurf board. Since you need to push the edge closest to you down into the water in order to stand, I think she may have lacked the weight to get it to flip up to her feet. After a number of valiant tries, she decided she'd had enough and passed the board over to Clayton.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXCzRTjxwpvQFsV9SnZBMRdfcPS_JAJhATs6sqWmWLMnLQreqLSsY__ICV-NIX30qJyVxOZou9VePJ69eZYxR10fCJqP0P-7ZiwIPJXRqXQQlSY45kzTTGVf8q3YQmZZ2xUAxTx1TrHValKR_g7XnvA_23IhaExyeuiyKT88GiOARaQ7E0-9elw44oQ8/s650/clayton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="605" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXCzRTjxwpvQFsV9SnZBMRdfcPS_JAJhATs6sqWmWLMnLQreqLSsY__ICV-NIX30qJyVxOZou9VePJ69eZYxR10fCJqP0P-7ZiwIPJXRqXQQlSY45kzTTGVf8q3YQmZZ2xUAxTx1TrHValKR_g7XnvA_23IhaExyeuiyKT88GiOARaQ7E0-9elw44oQ8/w373-h400/clayton.jpg" width="373" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He immediately got up, and had nearly a 4min ride!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">After Clayton's amazing run, Brian handed the wheel off to Katy again so he could wakesurf - he never actually got to the point of ditching the rope completely, but he certainly ended up with a lot of slack!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1imGqhkxaiwh6x-ZeNMqidMRbnit52hBkxi3SfXEfk1GuadxQ6qYWagLGqXfwTedWWWJN3r4uSOasPu7RatuUyvAtWRotQrCmv8C6F_AOCa_rurzl6l1SYrmgFWH2g4Gk3_Tzjs6NvrYCHOKWdaR39jFI15MhEwdd-k5ToAPIoEMZWLFGAMQSpkbJIjY/s1200/PXL_20230725_205133054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="807" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1imGqhkxaiwh6x-ZeNMqidMRbnit52hBkxi3SfXEfk1GuadxQ6qYWagLGqXfwTedWWWJN3r4uSOasPu7RatuUyvAtWRotQrCmv8C6F_AOCa_rurzl6l1SYrmgFWH2g4Gk3_Tzjs6NvrYCHOKWdaR39jFI15MhEwdd-k5ToAPIoEMZWLFGAMQSpkbJIjY/w269-h400/PXL_20230725_205133054.jpg" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely showing us how it's done</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Katy decided to have another go at wakeboarding with the bigger wake from the ballast, and with the rope tied off shorter (which apparently helps with getting up; maybe that's what I needed off the start?). She did way better this time, with some really great rides!</div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOdhoE6hL_IT3LgYw5IdxPT_Iukf1Buq5UlcFTStv8XYMThoA53I7t57eLrSBX57gYoYadHLCaGN43ne-PMTzisB383M4TwykCEZe8gWxX-_7GV_r_aHlylU6r-8nG1-isZz_93a9elInT-SkZ0CPvOLfCjC-UObDDOhsoG1mlDENJZPO6MAE4R_2bQM/s1200/PXL_20230725_210346939%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOdhoE6hL_IT3LgYw5IdxPT_Iukf1Buq5UlcFTStv8XYMThoA53I7t57eLrSBX57gYoYadHLCaGN43ne-PMTzisB383M4TwykCEZe8gWxX-_7GV_r_aHlylU6r-8nG1-isZz_93a9elInT-SkZ0CPvOLfCjC-UObDDOhsoG1mlDENJZPO6MAE4R_2bQM/w334-h400/PXL_20230725_210346939%20(1).jpg" width="334" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While looking every inch like an advert for some boardsports apparel company</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Clayton had another go as well, and even caught a bit of air off the wake a couple of times!</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR-kG_mcyrTItVp_EJ1qLBDiGXd9IeJGKa_Sq1z7lnqez4LTCKLclIHEdwKxDqLls1r3HtfmRaDv_8VRtG1GsBXi5_JS9Y0cKs3X36tO5DbcH75TjC8K83_ictC5Vpt5iPYlVZgvBA6FeHNdR5aQ6Qe7hT70g_lltsLwB8X9kKVxSSYXUm-DM4DP0uzE/s1200/PXL_20230725_212258010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1200" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSR-kG_mcyrTItVp_EJ1qLBDiGXd9IeJGKa_Sq1z7lnqez4LTCKLclIHEdwKxDqLls1r3HtfmRaDv_8VRtG1GsBXi5_JS9Y0cKs3X36tO5DbcH75TjC8K83_ictC5Vpt5iPYlVZgvBA6FeHNdR5aQ6Qe7hT70g_lltsLwB8X9kKVxSSYXUm-DM4DP0uzE/w400-h368/PXL_20230725_212258010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I declined any further attempts - I had so far escaped hurting myself, and wanted to keep it that way!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Brian had another twirl around the lake once Clayton's legs got too tired for him to continue, and once again showed off his skill.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AA1fTWTWioIQNx5Z-w7T46qE-1esnqW2mysbk_lywPfMk2FfhI734iaWcvbD7Ski26Cdye5BV4TjQ32sRkWMW6fRG54Ifcx0NVa1AAdGeyC4ZVJsqt-40CZIRLx5inAIQ_uyeUYaJinyusQ6NVeTF8WBhdcAgRVo3OnwTqOn_BVsYrDvZby8LIWSSek/s1200/PXL_20230725_213734547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AA1fTWTWioIQNx5Z-w7T46qE-1esnqW2mysbk_lywPfMk2FfhI734iaWcvbD7Ski26Cdye5BV4TjQ32sRkWMW6fRG54Ifcx0NVa1AAdGeyC4ZVJsqt-40CZIRLx5inAIQ_uyeUYaJinyusQ6NVeTF8WBhdcAgRVo3OnwTqOn_BVsYrDvZby8LIWSSek/w400-h225/PXL_20230725_213734547.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throwing rainbows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaU_f_Z26NUQh0wMSKjmX-oSYlCb0fPYsNPIoX6UpZUqy8UHK4FBVUBDS6jWhzRKxWA2UnWcNFKargzEbEKM4XaNcoCJvWw_EErmNW3bX5hiTm8Rtrw24sGvfqMf0mRH2gF5T2BoXj2RPc0lun77oFwbNXpBSQyVmak6z9UrSPHvaTkhDGCPKBttl_b8/s1200/PXL_20230725_213844340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitaU_f_Z26NUQh0wMSKjmX-oSYlCb0fPYsNPIoX6UpZUqy8UHK4FBVUBDS6jWhzRKxWA2UnWcNFKargzEbEKM4XaNcoCJvWw_EErmNW3bX5hiTm8Rtrw24sGvfqMf0mRH2gF5T2BoXj2RPc0lun77oFwbNXpBSQyVmak6z9UrSPHvaTkhDGCPKBttl_b8/w400-h225/PXL_20230725_213844340.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and catching loads of air</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>When everyone had had their fill of wakeboarding, Brian emptied out the ballast bladders and we all hopped in the water for a swim in the evening sun.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTCHcX0HPQCrBILmO4s9doLycbhiP8onb003CQkbQalwcaeSZh9LPkEdPYjQkmXabse6ZP6NQJ_zbfLaEZhwFeAgFLaB4yoxtW5tGghOMHPcPONGIbt1-H3wgjoROk9VnobZFSLVVNs8xRlXYcGClPhmmidJelLMUvT0GzSZrDRhjSTYWSWBAk5oP-0M/s1200/PXL_20230725_214137829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTCHcX0HPQCrBILmO4s9doLycbhiP8onb003CQkbQalwcaeSZh9LPkEdPYjQkmXabse6ZP6NQJ_zbfLaEZhwFeAgFLaB4yoxtW5tGghOMHPcPONGIbt1-H3wgjoROk9VnobZFSLVVNs8xRlXYcGClPhmmidJelLMUvT0GzSZrDRhjSTYWSWBAk5oP-0M/w400-h225/PXL_20230725_214137829.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all knew we'd be sleeping well that night!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Just after 6pm - around 3.5hrs after we left the dock - Brian pointed the bow back toward the launch ramp as the sun began to dip in the sky.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLIsmB0uaS1YpmktLen0rT0-bKIpQ_nGFMhHvuQV1cNcb9bwcBZ11sod4YXt87EwpjtF-M1rmR13FyIVEfyLIVVNXMkUUF2wB75ikQ8dKL0h3vyfcH_zqfQirqbpP53LJrA9HD5716QnAQr1wgpsgqefCkGTDXU3qkpSrSSs3sRT7UwCI8zCyaacixro/s1200/PXL_20230725_222231265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="923" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLIsmB0uaS1YpmktLen0rT0-bKIpQ_nGFMhHvuQV1cNcb9bwcBZ11sod4YXt87EwpjtF-M1rmR13FyIVEfyLIVVNXMkUUF2wB75ikQ8dKL0h3vyfcH_zqfQirqbpP53LJrA9HD5716QnAQr1wgpsgqefCkGTDXU3qkpSrSSs3sRT7UwCI8zCyaacixro/w308-h400/PXL_20230725_222231265.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We really had the perfect day</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>While the timing could have been a little better - which would have allowed me to be a bit more daring - I am so grateful to have had this incredibly fun experience. I'm thankful to have come out without injury, too, though my hands, forearms, and shoulders have been a bit beat up by my unsuccessful wakeboarding attempts. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOivyTBvviBW2n6McKeUtIZmQy9wOKM_eJ_dRrFC470eT1tykwPwgBlbkP546AUQ0-UVLYnCJf3uW9oCs3B4rxt46aWLzFZfz4CawslnFtFDvVsFB_jYUNDUI9kpFBKFMjMcz2ZlYTyjWafPUewwB-4jBaEDDzmY3vTvdomPqVYMOzOyXrkKUvuMqLDo/s1200/PXL_20230725_210501207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOivyTBvviBW2n6McKeUtIZmQy9wOKM_eJ_dRrFC470eT1tykwPwgBlbkP546AUQ0-UVLYnCJf3uW9oCs3B4rxt46aWLzFZfz4CawslnFtFDvVsFB_jYUNDUI9kpFBKFMjMcz2ZlYTyjWafPUewwB-4jBaEDDzmY3vTvdomPqVYMOzOyXrkKUvuMqLDo/w225-h400/PXL_20230725_210501207.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even managed not to get sunburned!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Hopefully I'll have another chance to try wakesurfing - and maybe a little more than 11 minutes to practice - in the future. For now, I've got <a href="https://raceroster.com/events/2023/65969/tally-in-the-valley-trail-race">a little something on the go for tomorrow</a>...and most of the next day, too.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-7493113612494676872023-07-21T19:50:00.002-04:002023-07-21T19:53:41.356-04:00Precipitated<p> As I head into taper, things have been getting a little wild out there.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82YSbUXV4sqV-4fU1Y0-MCwYAiMu-eVaPBG18F77s5anc1GEjb8Ti3xGmf3bLJR_vriLx8RboTx7ZvzS-G_xbCoSNDfYBhSw13nMDkq2sMfCBroFl88_caAEAJppjcIp98_xJYWuTgaF0QfvB7Mzp8A88l0gzwVztSE6DyqIZ-VZHRZCcLCsMcYbLFLQ/s1200/PXL_20230719_010150204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82YSbUXV4sqV-4fU1Y0-MCwYAiMu-eVaPBG18F77s5anc1GEjb8Ti3xGmf3bLJR_vriLx8RboTx7ZvzS-G_xbCoSNDfYBhSw13nMDkq2sMfCBroFl88_caAEAJppjcIp98_xJYWuTgaF0QfvB7Mzp8A88l0gzwVztSE6DyqIZ-VZHRZCcLCsMcYbLFLQ/w400-h223/PXL_20230719_010150204.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare moment of peace</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There was a deluge before last Saturday's run to the market, and rain with distant grumbles of thunder for a run Sunday evening. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtf_-VBBG_X2sCsne_B-KZHbKOJkSj2ruarzeOYS0jESpz3aHCgu9mKHqIFv-e0dujkWEa60Zg1iIIBhgKnYCr9kU6eYaBw7EMs1jMriJSO6l6PtjgP0lXnHXk0xUwaKSqeSTaT972_WxTq6erR8um4PKUdVObaUwi7yHXqUxeAglhLG245FI0SIlJ4Y/s1200/PXL_20230716_235952234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="937" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtf_-VBBG_X2sCsne_B-KZHbKOJkSj2ruarzeOYS0jESpz3aHCgu9mKHqIFv-e0dujkWEa60Zg1iIIBhgKnYCr9kU6eYaBw7EMs1jMriJSO6l6PtjgP0lXnHXk0xUwaKSqeSTaT972_WxTq6erR8um4PKUdVObaUwi7yHXqUxeAglhLG245FI0SIlJ4Y/w313-h400/PXL_20230716_235952234.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which did admittedly clear to quite a lovely sunset</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Monday, though, was the worst of it. I set off out the door in sunshine, and almost immediately big, fat drops of rain began to fall.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqvH3oC2A1KzqV1T7y0EY-EzB5hUkU6mOiRI3j_bREtgItoG_mhAnhOPl4g-9DokYwIaQ4xpXaYOPwN0KVpKMPXkZIOvK4reLmPhzIun67LU2eRoPvONBvgKWX6BxAp8jF9VITrr9WDesoEJAPz3lKJO4JQAM8bY6dIg7I8MNsOu4RtQ9SrFwzC9ebro/s1200/PXL_20230717_221501296.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqvH3oC2A1KzqV1T7y0EY-EzB5hUkU6mOiRI3j_bREtgItoG_mhAnhOPl4g-9DokYwIaQ4xpXaYOPwN0KVpKMPXkZIOvK4reLmPhzIun67LU2eRoPvONBvgKWX6BxAp8jF9VITrr9WDesoEJAPz3lKJO4JQAM8bY6dIg7I8MNsOu4RtQ9SrFwzC9ebro/w289-h400/PXL_20230717_221501296.jpg" width="289" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The skies did not look encouraging</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had no other time I could go, though, so I kept pushing on. It got worse - a LOT worse.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo88EXXcifRxF22Uzk89Z5WU5-auXI4Rjj51u1q1P2kkZgipV9brjXFnYv1evrAS50T-5_JnxzQWfHCloAJWInhJrI_cvxuBH2cz7h1uM6IcW3wkhxo5uj-euFo1fo87dgVZSF4JMI9-ZDe08km00X97EqvQJuxEs-vbifIF86Gq9VNyG87dT9AthQNzA/s1200/PXL_20230717_222853866.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo88EXXcifRxF22Uzk89Z5WU5-auXI4Rjj51u1q1P2kkZgipV9brjXFnYv1evrAS50T-5_JnxzQWfHCloAJWInhJrI_cvxuBH2cz7h1uM6IcW3wkhxo5uj-euFo1fo87dgVZSF4JMI9-ZDe08km00X97EqvQJuxEs-vbifIF86Gq9VNyG87dT9AthQNzA/w400-h225/PXL_20230717_222853866.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oof</td></tr></tbody></table><br />By halfway through, it was absolutely bucketing down, with the wind whipping it sideways in gusts.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy21Hn4StXi7_zcpf4ErXEK2Zfl3GD1WUbmnu9X0d0HNLhHl5mZbHvstwwCWN_QnaXdCBkw2aF7tEWVbG6o8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The deluge continued, with the streets awash in dancing rivers of rainwater.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ia3GiXI64_ebPO5UZDwzoATSbbRnREDrkivMIDDPWr8_yZ2WVZxdovco2rem-I1Cl6QVh0OykofhFuTj1N14IAgOG0pqsHEYeO9Ee53upOssGwN3p1WaCNTGJ8U6XRC0LbQYnw-C45gBEBrO5PDHxCf2nJcjhUU8RvyHSsPLV11adEEKxBulqQj1HHQ/s1200/PXL_20230717_223327620.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="837" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Ia3GiXI64_ebPO5UZDwzoATSbbRnREDrkivMIDDPWr8_yZ2WVZxdovco2rem-I1Cl6QVh0OykofhFuTj1N14IAgOG0pqsHEYeO9Ee53upOssGwN3p1WaCNTGJ8U6XRC0LbQYnw-C45gBEBrO5PDHxCf2nJcjhUU8RvyHSsPLV11adEEKxBulqQj1HHQ/w279-h400/PXL_20230717_223327620.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The noise was astonishing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It continued to hammer down even as the sun came out</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwaAj5Hja2HRHVYW39RKpKb1XK3VbbYls0GrPy3W9oOmJ7Bkku-AwsEIhCvrNBE6E9O1KjrZU1PYs5nxwJT7FM_Zw0mSyRb0IGYovpJDXHyJ8H0utME9oV3lTigHIcFAU8mAVJpCautv4Jlr2EQOkAGRF3IUoJn6T6QtdxVTs4f1vYwGY6BK_nKFVZRw/s1200/PXL_20230717_223625190.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwaAj5Hja2HRHVYW39RKpKb1XK3VbbYls0GrPy3W9oOmJ7Bkku-AwsEIhCvrNBE6E9O1KjrZU1PYs5nxwJT7FM_Zw0mSyRb0IGYovpJDXHyJ8H0utME9oV3lTigHIcFAU8mAVJpCautv4Jlr2EQOkAGRF3IUoJn6T6QtdxVTs4f1vYwGY6BK_nKFVZRw/w254-h400/PXL_20230717_223625190.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First just a peek through the clouds..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh-j_uh0uiq3_AKQFlgGu62OjQzOaHXskyWFyscaynDC3kM28p7Ex2e-DrEm78SWSXfbQ0Q36RlBeHO8cpi499VbeumTsJhnerE0l-lI_ndtn6soVMm1J5Yc9D_6kN2-Mk806LA39c-sd30Le8pqW2KoFLa_nAaUT-lWJ8MmInR4H_xvAgdGJUUyjbC0/s1200/PXL_20230717_223734403.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="789" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh-j_uh0uiq3_AKQFlgGu62OjQzOaHXskyWFyscaynDC3kM28p7Ex2e-DrEm78SWSXfbQ0Q36RlBeHO8cpi499VbeumTsJhnerE0l-lI_ndtn6soVMm1J5Yc9D_6kN2-Mk806LA39c-sd30Le8pqW2KoFLa_nAaUT-lWJ8MmInR4H_xvAgdGJUUyjbC0/w263-h400/PXL_20230717_223734403.jpg" width="263" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..then clearing further..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Me? I was absolutely soaked.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k3Q86kpj80nhVAwANCunnr5w10PheVcaAhve7qSDHl9C4JBmRktEpp_5C9Z5yA1e_NLqbZ5QHyVxkgbTbuKZIldaoA5C0o1rkRpRj6SO6wJO5UKIf_p4vWPWR_lc4QMkEOOE9xpyqpyY6QzoSZJ7QxzY3_bX3IOCFpTvakKUKKtAYyed_1p1rusCu4c/s1200/PXL_20230717_223824973.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_k3Q86kpj80nhVAwANCunnr5w10PheVcaAhve7qSDHl9C4JBmRktEpp_5C9Z5yA1e_NLqbZ5QHyVxkgbTbuKZIldaoA5C0o1rkRpRj6SO6wJO5UKIf_p4vWPWR_lc4QMkEOOE9xpyqpyY6QzoSZJ7QxzY3_bX3IOCFpTvakKUKKtAYyed_1p1rusCu4c/w225-h400/PXL_20230717_223824973.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I left a huge puddle in my kitchen where I stood waiting for Tank to bring me a towel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I got down to the last couple of hundred metres, the rain finally tapered off, leaving a huge rainbow - with faint bits of double-stacked colours, and even the shadow of a second rainbow - arcing across the sky.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT7CNY9TqpeypIOeot7M8GszeLLHVL3DJ9l2dmI-vAa5bblXy51rgJ1TkEhRrznvtQMNTAN6rfAabCvhdnAIUwwz7dXr9RyL-8HznzXBk4DLcCQiNHfJdGA2cOJ3vCUKOt4IuEvr3udahP2wm2cDMFRl8Ihjb9Eo_VVhDTDvwxBqkvVozLXtzMliDNs0/s1937/PXL_20230717_224329701-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1197" data-original-width="1937" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLT7CNY9TqpeypIOeot7M8GszeLLHVL3DJ9l2dmI-vAa5bblXy51rgJ1TkEhRrznvtQMNTAN6rfAabCvhdnAIUwwz7dXr9RyL-8HznzXBk4DLcCQiNHfJdGA2cOJ3vCUKOt4IuEvr3udahP2wm2cDMFRl8Ihjb9Eo_VVhDTDvwxBqkvVozLXtzMliDNs0/w400-h248/PXL_20230717_224329701-EDIT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yowza</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Once inside and accommodated with a towel, I had to deal with my footwear.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOpdXevSwt_YuGNY7CndtYM8ZSgeu4Gtmqf-YpEFC9_W15EbgkZgfhMshyQctTwt470DE1v4Fo0AVZrQqB3g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>..and then quickly towel off and change, to head out to dinner with Tank and my mum. At least the weather saved needing to shower - happy birthday to me!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEEjm6tdD1kMpp2AHmx1bO9bvtc4sXRfJBohc0HBHLZYyKALUNFe-kOQK5BVks5mabNUQzXPBV2XvRic8tc4Raeg2igXwWsWb9rns4M7yOnp0ZT_Jj5Lx8CKqCMbiczAuRUlYUJWb7OVcKOYVJUaS1PawDQI7f2WsLTztAZYH-i2D0DryWgNW4aw9BXg/s1200/PXL_20230718_010533729.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEEjm6tdD1kMpp2AHmx1bO9bvtc4sXRfJBohc0HBHLZYyKALUNFe-kOQK5BVks5mabNUQzXPBV2XvRic8tc4Raeg2igXwWsWb9rns4M7yOnp0ZT_Jj5Lx8CKqCMbiczAuRUlYUJWb7OVcKOYVJUaS1PawDQI7f2WsLTztAZYH-i2D0DryWgNW4aw9BXg/w304-h400/PXL_20230718_010533729.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grateful for <a href="https://beertown.ca/">Beertown</a> having a covered patio so we could still eat outside, not to mention delicious allergen-friendly desserts</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>Hope you're all staying dry out there - have a great weekend!</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-76846744157724365512023-07-14T20:09:00.004-04:002023-07-14T20:09:50.473-04:00Push<p> I did something last night I haven't done for a really long time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGUo3BsrUfveUYumg2fAAgafhZLldOnplkN2YAxRx56tDBqn9LPtFTOINKuJM7j2MEV16-eVxXbT-5NklpuUHlrbPDIvMRqXQFqFMLvnnVFCrpw59X0mM6iyT-uTj3aNLOgPKnebTmakXIChqJqmfh38QkJ4ZB1TO8SR_R7UYlMJzDGPGy6WwpDUs8ZU/s1200/PXL_20230709_184327327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGUo3BsrUfveUYumg2fAAgafhZLldOnplkN2YAxRx56tDBqn9LPtFTOINKuJM7j2MEV16-eVxXbT-5NklpuUHlrbPDIvMRqXQFqFMLvnnVFCrpw59X0mM6iyT-uTj3aNLOgPKnebTmakXIChqJqmfh38QkJ4ZB1TO8SR_R7UYlMJzDGPGy6WwpDUs8ZU/w400-h223/PXL_20230709_184327327.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and something I wasn't even sure I was capable of.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As everyone who is reading this probably knows, I tend to run races long enough that walking during them is pretty much non-optional - I'm sure there are plenty of humans out there who can and do run the whole way through a 50k, but I'm not one of them.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxBW_RRaYC8ryOES2T1eDn4cH5yE7_09RYeVkTfQL033YvKNWcWINP_5KreNlxaVPCu2nV49SZGbK-finRvYy83LP0pDUz4aq7VD8WZ1rQiQpDuxoXGDjVjHDs_MbLXKNg1hXku8845fxMti5rYi3y-v5VpwXxN8Qu_yf8aV85_dtzDG4cR_XvNbxtH0/s1200/PXL_20230708_150727172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxBW_RRaYC8ryOES2T1eDn4cH5yE7_09RYeVkTfQL033YvKNWcWINP_5KreNlxaVPCu2nV49SZGbK-finRvYy83LP0pDUz4aq7VD8WZ1rQiQpDuxoXGDjVjHDs_MbLXKNg1hXku8845fxMti5rYi3y-v5VpwXxN8Qu_yf8aV85_dtzDG4cR_XvNbxtH0/w400-h225/PXL_20230708_150727172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the hills keeps me from blowing myself up and being unable to even drag myself to the finish</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This means walking in training is a really good idea, because it uses different muscle engagement than running, and you should train all aspects of what you expect to do in a race. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0h9qve41gI8pNJD94dH_xg-YmsolI-yX7X0MRLuweRtZ0bTNJFsZPRS4mC908KroNF7FKS_u1Klrfwr7cKgsxz5iyORE2nks1OFUb2k7wIfsIVPIL3a1XIzQ9oK-GaJ1OwpBTzhrEcRRffE5cZJ3BX1J_KF0nGgPwh7E6NkaejBFxMOazES5SZv8qVM/s1200/PXL_20230708_145539388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="802" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0h9qve41gI8pNJD94dH_xg-YmsolI-yX7X0MRLuweRtZ0bTNJFsZPRS4mC908KroNF7FKS_u1Klrfwr7cKgsxz5iyORE2nks1OFUb2k7wIfsIVPIL3a1XIzQ9oK-GaJ1OwpBTzhrEcRRffE5cZJ3BX1J_KF0nGgPwh7E6NkaejBFxMOazES5SZv8qVM/w268-h400/PXL_20230708_145539388.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Including eating and drinking the same things you intend to in an event, but that's a post for a different day </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Thing is, over the past few months I've incorporated walking into basically all of my runs. I've been having a bit of a tough time with fitness this year, and sometimes it's all I can do to keep my legs turning over at a run for more than a minute or two, even on flat pavement.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqTSDyl8bkT2nd0MsLIMuJ99pxHLVGPq5_WXrmwNS2Ck3ixttQwt-SwoSZa7MJwxEzkP5pwOI3aMsetFY_xn389SL13OesnT3pwji8bXtTTLP3be_k8EG-R1r81oqFIeSg3QnT78y5mgLPthFcw6_VjQipR4kpqbD-risjzeHxUSGkTja96x-jIvWpII/s1200/PXL_20230708_145600136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjqTSDyl8bkT2nd0MsLIMuJ99pxHLVGPq5_WXrmwNS2Ck3ixttQwt-SwoSZa7MJwxEzkP5pwOI3aMsetFY_xn389SL13OesnT3pwji8bXtTTLP3be_k8EG-R1r81oqFIeSg3QnT78y5mgLPthFcw6_VjQipR4kpqbD-risjzeHxUSGkTja96x-jIvWpII/w239-h400/PXL_20230708_145600136.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which isn't a great feeling, let me tell you.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Here's an example from a recent 8k run:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl6Jb8bwA5-fTJfmB2abwUFTDHf4R3V4LOKRUvnz37MXs-rYvOf0cD3NaqX6kNUfUUAHI_hWhImzBlNBi7Pj7PQRh-mK66TYIF_XT8W-rQ_BhGgPXaSnmBUCixCgNzO_TPQ_eA34Pdb02bEZrQ0wHnzXA2d5m_iG0OmKxG-zxcrXyKylzlUC9iCezDDg/s800/run%20walk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="800" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTl6Jb8bwA5-fTJfmB2abwUFTDHf4R3V4LOKRUvnz37MXs-rYvOf0cD3NaqX6kNUfUUAHI_hWhImzBlNBi7Pj7PQRh-mK66TYIF_XT8W-rQ_BhGgPXaSnmBUCixCgNzO_TPQ_eA34Pdb02bEZrQ0wHnzXA2d5m_iG0OmKxG-zxcrXyKylzlUC9iCezDDg/w400-h220/run%20walk.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue are run intervals, green are walk intervals, and orange is idle time (usually waiting at a stoplight or pausing to take a photo)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I try to push a bit when I run down to the market on Saturdays - partly due to the fact I'm trying to get there before everything is sold out - so I try to force myself to run all the paved sections, but I'm too clumsy and unfit to run all the technical bits without hurting myself.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGW_eMiu-FY1n_DZ-2_k1iaXx8nRp_zxz3cV7YJjjdzcPI0eLw9afqitkNSUhlDln75fEIiBRmiMbhirl8f5zu76D1DW3MtQ_B12_RtH5a7Rj8ndgM-n7VBV0Xbb8fyuhfY2iKUcJ3WN4-CDBzPaAqAEhEJM3AaJfyayroVMKOI5ou6FqWLcBExPv6Ms/s1200/PXL_20230708_144515009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="782" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGW_eMiu-FY1n_DZ-2_k1iaXx8nRp_zxz3cV7YJjjdzcPI0eLw9afqitkNSUhlDln75fEIiBRmiMbhirl8f5zu76D1DW3MtQ_B12_RtH5a7Rj8ndgM-n7VBV0Xbb8fyuhfY2iKUcJ3WN4-CDBzPaAqAEhEJM3AaJfyayroVMKOI5ou6FqWLcBExPv6Ms/w261-h400/PXL_20230708_144515009.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tripping and hitting my head on a rock is not a good way to get to the market, or to the start line of a race</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Sometimes it's not the engine - it's the chassis. Particularly as I've been nudging mileage up in the last couple of months, I've been walking more and more of my runs just to survive: intentionally setting a limit on how many steps I'll run before I walk (<a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2019/02/down-for-count.html">I kind of always count anyway</a>), in an effort to limit the pounding and spend a little more time just moving. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMeUW3UFiTTRFOlMHLia9F9QhUUXiSA-lwVNfUuty4ZO-8AdTPZE7ivTiC65yD4srlnnFocHaGejS_uGKDAK2oQY18QNhMKbpbFvdnqRYKZ3lheNYdcv1VAp-_xNykSReaqpjTOZ15UTVVEGWLkWTuK16D1bLzzerw8ZH2brudsz6cNi44KZA-9TGkkA/s1200/PXL_20230709_190835199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="718" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYMeUW3UFiTTRFOlMHLia9F9QhUUXiSA-lwVNfUuty4ZO-8AdTPZE7ivTiC65yD4srlnnFocHaGejS_uGKDAK2oQY18QNhMKbpbFvdnqRYKZ3lheNYdcv1VAp-_xNykSReaqpjTOZ15UTVVEGWLkWTuK16D1bLzzerw8ZH2brudsz6cNi44KZA-9TGkkA/w239-h400/PXL_20230709_190835199.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes the intention is even to walk more than I run, though <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11518542879">it seldom works out that way</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As a result, I was left wondering - am I even still capable of running more than a handful of minutes at a time? I'd <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11540839242">tried to push things a little earlier this week</a>, but my longest run segment was only about four and a half minutes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN0TGQe_OrguCDBGyrH740F_AYNNTF4fOhUZtdL8ryZdKFhheKvNKb6cmffAiEd0tWM8V0ToHefM8XCHevt3GeC8Q12n9hWbxZcwdxnmwxdPbE0d6lT6LtXSDMYmX4RsG2bGXVIKIWyLXiZ2zh7v9PWVnm42a1F9jVlBqeOul3zIFFa0_cWuVF56Xj1k/s1200/PXL_20230712_005828186.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN0TGQe_OrguCDBGyrH740F_AYNNTF4fOhUZtdL8ryZdKFhheKvNKb6cmffAiEd0tWM8V0ToHefM8XCHevt3GeC8Q12n9hWbxZcwdxnmwxdPbE0d6lT6LtXSDMYmX4RsG2bGXVIKIWyLXiZ2zh7v9PWVnm42a1F9jVlBqeOul3zIFFa0_cWuVF56Xj1k/w400-h225/PXL_20230712_005828186.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a couple of good-size hills that I never intended to run, but some good flat stretches as well</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I mean, part of it has been due to heat and humidity: even after dark, the weather has just been <i style="font-weight: bold;">gross</i> for awhile. The heat drops, but the air still feels like trying to breathe soup. Before that, we had smoke from the wildfires that brought its own set of breathing issues. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9IUGpUgwjjMDkEszYCOH2vtItE2nL23-6pVYbaai6oyH1iksHT0SmGGu7MlXLA3us0bubE-8ujU_0p1hY0YQsvoIP6_JvdexS5YzPAaxkqXGBNuWOQY_Kdb1iStI4zghFS44g1OkG2XNEKLd1CLGmOQYjHcMHShGj6hMkaNqqUYxUqetC2vstbd_eSA/s1200/PXL_20230712_193809513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9IUGpUgwjjMDkEszYCOH2vtItE2nL23-6pVYbaai6oyH1iksHT0SmGGu7MlXLA3us0bubE-8ujU_0p1hY0YQsvoIP6_JvdexS5YzPAaxkqXGBNuWOQY_Kdb1iStI4zghFS44g1OkG2XNEKLd1CLGmOQYjHcMHShGj6hMkaNqqUYxUqetC2vstbd_eSA/w400-h225/PXL_20230712_193809513.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I might like to run through cemeteries, but I'd prefer running not to accelerate my permanent residency in one</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Last night, though, the humidity finally dropped along with the temperature. By the time I was able to get away from my desk and get out the door around 10:30pm - oh how I <i style="font-weight: bold;">love</i> year-end audit season - it was down to 17c/63f. While I was tired and sore from <i style="font-weight: bold;">everything</i> since my training week is from Saturday to Thursday (Fridays off!), I also just wanted to be done so I could eat and shower and go the heck to sleep.</p><p>So <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/11555650117">I went for it</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Vy-Kp2IVPb5f10rrihNMf4o25ZK2GFedGdNEpnquWmeMPlk5betTyUrK13fd8gdew9Cq1z3I-tcnZ8FGS3jDcJVCNSzBE6Ajhi-0XjEim2ezzchwgwWtoklb-pqFibDM3oEcK5h35VfWOT2GRP1K7GAmAl7GVpfyo_IvQFJP3J8MTznMjds3tDRiRw/s1200/PXL_20230714_024641625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Vy-Kp2IVPb5f10rrihNMf4o25ZK2GFedGdNEpnquWmeMPlk5betTyUrK13fd8gdew9Cq1z3I-tcnZ8FGS3jDcJVCNSzBE6Ajhi-0XjEim2ezzchwgwWtoklb-pqFibDM3oEcK5h35VfWOT2GRP1K7GAmAl7GVpfyo_IvQFJP3J8MTznMjds3tDRiRw/w225-h400/PXL_20230714_024641625.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here goes nothing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Whether motivation or weather conditions or just plain luck, I was actually able to keep it going - I ran a little more than 4 miles, with no stops or walk breaks. My pace was nothing to brag about, and my legs are certainly more beat up than they have been for awhile for a run of such a short distance, but it feels pretty good to know I can actually <i style="font-weight: bold;">do</i> it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEDwqgDvOn2sHN217FfBjOUfWGy9UWrnAbRIL4flkjWJH5RCymLVfZ_7h7JAA2aYH1y6aJgzyLkCYEOyv7Xk3bwrFMS5MedlQKUEFn7FHbbO3l_ZhVMtrDxV9D3-QTEHggw9Y7H95IVGNxWj6vZD61ndAje63ms4XkAXO_pXE9pGN3rGHQVQL_PY_5SE/s814/run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="814" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEDwqgDvOn2sHN217FfBjOUfWGy9UWrnAbRIL4flkjWJH5RCymLVfZ_7h7JAA2aYH1y6aJgzyLkCYEOyv7Xk3bwrFMS5MedlQKUEFn7FHbbO3l_ZhVMtrDxV9D3-QTEHggw9Y7H95IVGNxWj6vZD61ndAje63ms4XkAXO_pXE9pGN3rGHQVQL_PY_5SE/w400-h295/run.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not super easy, but much more relaxed than I expected it to be</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The output from <a href="https://smashrun.com/mistressk/invite">SmashRun</a> - which is a site I've used for years that gives you some pretty neat stats - was kind of impressive.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50e2sdCO3vSN3qgrv8SLJ-MBAo7dc_w-kLm153Lwco6dBzRAJyqmXiY4A9dYvcirSRin4Rmr_68i9YrCBxlm3HXX636LrGaz-N27OvzdOq5FimZUwkhQnFP3Mxu6pRmvJi4PG_md7-8ForUnRdGBnMESDAPP1pL6KJxHvStX_qOC0ogdz1q_jb-5cDmc/s1083/smashrun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50e2sdCO3vSN3qgrv8SLJ-MBAo7dc_w-kLm153Lwco6dBzRAJyqmXiY4A9dYvcirSRin4Rmr_68i9YrCBxlm3HXX636LrGaz-N27OvzdOq5FimZUwkhQnFP3Mxu6pRmvJi4PG_md7-8ForUnRdGBnMESDAPP1pL6KJxHvStX_qOC0ogdz1q_jb-5cDmc/w399-h400/smashrun.jpg" width="399" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fastest 6k in a <i style="font-weight: bold;">year</i>?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As I'm now getting close to a pretty big, scary race, I probably won't try this again any time soon - I like my walk intervals, and am now trying to let my body recover from the biggest block of running I've done in quite awhile - but I'm glad I can still control my pacing and truck along for awhile when I need to.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_4pSgQWAtuuuCvZPLF3kSpkyKd8Vt-Vv9RkHwN6MltZCRK6sh8gAIYVydgkzOTtjHs9IWG5sTeGfVQkdYLMf0abPJ3TallbJo9-zVtKdNbu7ezORjeyy0_06yh4gBDPQqEWPAGQvmUXV-hVQdlLNN5p2uLVhwRviqnwb8H1nmpojjCJNxgYea6O4TRc/s1200/PXL_20230708_150344329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="817" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_4pSgQWAtuuuCvZPLF3kSpkyKd8Vt-Vv9RkHwN6MltZCRK6sh8gAIYVydgkzOTtjHs9IWG5sTeGfVQkdYLMf0abPJ3TallbJo9-zVtKdNbu7ezORjeyy0_06yh4gBDPQqEWPAGQvmUXV-hVQdlLNN5p2uLVhwRviqnwb8H1nmpojjCJNxgYea6O4TRc/w273-h400/PXL_20230708_150344329.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'cause what I've got coming is going to take every tool I've got to get through.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Happy running, y'all!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-85422597993648664202023-07-07T19:49:00.004-04:002023-07-07T19:49:54.062-04:00Nettled<p> This time of year has a lot to recommend it.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTNm6DvZS_dGaznxJ-HU0nr3c5PK-oe4oiKuN9sbyJ1LRM0BVpBA-4gYYX3wQds33TSIwRBHBGPQJJu2V1_wi_B4CZZgnPpvl0vWdnMK5nvb2V-v8jIZFRA_g1KbJPkMLtzniX4hIRCNWggaHK_RYvbDp4T38WGxhtSa8I7awRrEWdZZdipxLDIsOmCs/s1200/PXL_20230704_201117134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTNm6DvZS_dGaznxJ-HU0nr3c5PK-oe4oiKuN9sbyJ1LRM0BVpBA-4gYYX3wQds33TSIwRBHBGPQJJu2V1_wi_B4CZZgnPpvl0vWdnMK5nvb2V-v8jIZFRA_g1KbJPkMLtzniX4hIRCNWggaHK_RYvbDp4T38WGxhtSa8I7awRrEWdZZdipxLDIsOmCs/w400-h223/PXL_20230704_201117134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even apart from a summer long weekend</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The lilacs and phlox of spring may be gone, but the lindens and clover are in full bloom and fill the air with scent.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGYDh-DDTPIIKQYw3yssgkeIPCO33ASj23nnezeJM6IOsyY5CJlR-reVEBOY0Fc1fEvWPQDV2xOW584JCyRi5EHzx88n8yG-zvmMVk_zd35qZK6E_l2KSGkBuW90wjH2OVgcw0hG2I8-V_OUgSTwV2N9Lui6zBzMSNS3RkN_XGssCVqoqdiR4hUCp-XE/s1200/PXL_20230705_210420374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1200" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGYDh-DDTPIIKQYw3yssgkeIPCO33ASj23nnezeJM6IOsyY5CJlR-reVEBOY0Fc1fEvWPQDV2xOW584JCyRi5EHzx88n8yG-zvmMVk_zd35qZK6E_l2KSGkBuW90wjH2OVgcw0hG2I8-V_OUgSTwV2N9Lui6zBzMSNS3RkN_XGssCVqoqdiR4hUCp-XE/w400-h258/PXL_20230705_210420374.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You might almost mistake the heavy, sultry fragrance of linden for lilac, but is there any fresher, more wholesome smell than that of a sun-drenched field of clover?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It's also that incredible time when the trail provides a bounty for the taking, if you know where and how to look.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe5rAeccbnSpxkIDEuz8vq6fxOFOaW2kkGG-tHlJyvqbr8G9O4rYuMqhUGVB1Rjr3T-LW1cfiiRvkuzWniasJQUT0nQDk1UODpTsllpJj4f0xkswPvEsxAwYuUb24XvGzxfgLrjTXJxlw-L1eqgU-bTv-cIPEX4zm-Ph5rnfnl7wLXa6bx_CO6r06EFU/s1193/berries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="679" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBe5rAeccbnSpxkIDEuz8vq6fxOFOaW2kkGG-tHlJyvqbr8G9O4rYuMqhUGVB1Rjr3T-LW1cfiiRvkuzWniasJQUT0nQDk1UODpTsllpJj4f0xkswPvEsxAwYuUb24XvGzxfgLrjTXJxlw-L1eqgU-bTv-cIPEX4zm-Ph5rnfnl7wLXa6bx_CO6r06EFU/w228-h400/berries.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SNACKS</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Unfortunately, flowers and berries aren't the only things growing like crazy. Several sections of local trails - particularly near water, and many of my favourite trails are in river valleys - look like this.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXNw4sYEUrOh96ay_b-WVGMchzaH0r7CdGSRlCzjtS8yNexs7vqzGMjjOCQP5moJ__qOkE65kIFEo8Jwn6gaYMr9Ya3rzB-R6hHrqSWumSkBkLbot8Hx5-K2YurgNd8FAv1iRz03L1PKq5mf2yfUxcteneBWWkqDdC3fenFTi03Rb0QiSUdng82z76sQ/s1200/PXL_20230704_193143539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXNw4sYEUrOh96ay_b-WVGMchzaH0r7CdGSRlCzjtS8yNexs7vqzGMjjOCQP5moJ__qOkE65kIFEo8Jwn6gaYMr9Ya3rzB-R6hHrqSWumSkBkLbot8Hx5-K2YurgNd8FAv1iRz03L1PKq5mf2yfUxcteneBWWkqDdC3fenFTi03Rb0QiSUdng82z76sQ/w225-h400/PXL_20230704_193143539.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just see a sliver of the Speed River at top right</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I haven't been able to positively identify this plant, but I've seen a ton of it in recent years.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjXDZEaTG1MvSGSwX09x-6NcfIka5fUY2FyXka8HVAuKlgLENwU5pyJELlBuMHbm50ioGXnFNztaZJY7qDuh6KrfrXAX_YsUHT1DuXsdFcT1TiXRE21vfwtfD_I5K-bvMhsWI2thQ1XcKI62UXX93ZMc_wstrAOq7BF-epn7Y9xXWfchV9S8hBOmIktA/s1200/PXL_20230704_193236145%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjXDZEaTG1MvSGSwX09x-6NcfIka5fUY2FyXka8HVAuKlgLENwU5pyJELlBuMHbm50ioGXnFNztaZJY7qDuh6KrfrXAX_YsUHT1DuXsdFcT1TiXRE21vfwtfD_I5K-bvMhsWI2thQ1XcKI62UXX93ZMc_wstrAOq7BF-epn7Y9xXWfchV9S8hBOmIktA/w225-h400/PXL_20230704_193236145%20(1).jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and am all too familiar with its effects.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My best guess is some sort of nettle, as these thing have hairy stems that cause nasty welts on exposed skin as you brush past them. I call them the itchy-stingies, and the effects last for days even if you jump directly in the shower for a good scrub-up after getting off the trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAMb5Fmf9yl9CFy41DVCZ8XSZQf1ysRwxKnVtpWU_mAypc3qaA2ezlbq0VrHUwnAvidjubY4A3y9dSac4uFI0CcoTjqs574qwdgPlf0AROgjSNndAFuQyXdvQ2-D_pI8aWBdmvdrgkZipV0UuwICuOdFvubrEuPqLMO5MSudywote0lJGayVZYfYFN0U/s1200/PXL_20230704_193333346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAMb5Fmf9yl9CFy41DVCZ8XSZQf1ysRwxKnVtpWU_mAypc3qaA2ezlbq0VrHUwnAvidjubY4A3y9dSac4uFI0CcoTjqs574qwdgPlf0AROgjSNndAFuQyXdvQ2-D_pI8aWBdmvdrgkZipV0UuwICuOdFvubrEuPqLMO5MSudywote0lJGayVZYfYFN0U/w225-h400/PXL_20230704_193333346.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also get rather tall</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>If that wasn't bad enough, other nasty species have taken hold of other sections.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN7LaouAflNUlByQlbVQWQLEJGF0lGk3nH4Dmhu_aNTNJZOnWtnyE-TPNu2sFN5Pw2PEq7jbb1ngPiru7DgJt9mRKLbL8pERyH4uq8rK8t6fIP__77bq0ypRet4rZKzFZF_6dSmaI24JjupTPb1s6irA6Z9i-HM9va6ABn6L3wT_bLNhrD0UlS_w4s1Y/s1200/PXL_20230704_200023968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="723" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEN7LaouAflNUlByQlbVQWQLEJGF0lGk3nH4Dmhu_aNTNJZOnWtnyE-TPNu2sFN5Pw2PEq7jbb1ngPiru7DgJt9mRKLbL8pERyH4uq8rK8t6fIP__77bq0ypRet4rZKzFZF_6dSmaI24JjupTPb1s6irA6Z9i-HM9va6ABn6L3wT_bLNhrD0UlS_w4s1Y/w241-h400/PXL_20230704_200023968.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those yellow flowers? <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/wild-parsnip">Wild parsnip</a>, which causes rashes and blisters when combined with sunlight </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Then, of course, there are the plants that do less harm to skin..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCoZqO4Axp5oTmIq-7c7h8v_6dz_b4Ve6gh6_WQ4ehdXlTM2RSxSHYg5GInY5xMNH3sgAi58Tuh03d_4BWBMmLeyQkixKVlA8BqMTbcDR8z4d85sbfglXO09WkQVejtEJ5DnxEXx7e_7BtCo0HVqmxFsqwCq0KAkxIF8Jf0z0Fmm2WGdtla8nAJVT7gg/s1200/burrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1200" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCoZqO4Axp5oTmIq-7c7h8v_6dz_b4Ve6gh6_WQ4ehdXlTM2RSxSHYg5GInY5xMNH3sgAi58Tuh03d_4BWBMmLeyQkixKVlA8BqMTbcDR8z4d85sbfglXO09WkQVejtEJ5DnxEXx7e_7BtCo0HVqmxFsqwCq0KAkxIF8Jf0z0Fmm2WGdtla8nAJVT7gg/w400-h306/burrs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but more to clothes and gear</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>This seems to be a form of <i><a href="https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/catchweed-bedstraw-galium-aparine/">Galium aparine</a></i>, known by many names like catchweed bedstraw, grip grass, and stickywilly. It clings so tightly to other plants that it has made some sections of a local trail completely impassable without some kind of cutting implement.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpw2z-5GbUKiAD7tXRwKMddo8rbEjMp73zl5czM0_E8kP__N-k_5DQsL8HO_sIwVuMOkKhhLJAajLj7jhN3ckwxbgAcCL5HKSc1x1Zebje04xqlyFuZMRq84I3IAk1nnmcfZPPeN4Q1lQukeCSIeKhvRDyhMzumVvYIHvleXaWfOIqVktPiNA3Ox_dTc/s1200/PXL_20230704_200128620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpw2z-5GbUKiAD7tXRwKMddo8rbEjMp73zl5czM0_E8kP__N-k_5DQsL8HO_sIwVuMOkKhhLJAajLj7jhN3ckwxbgAcCL5HKSc1x1Zebje04xqlyFuZMRq84I3IAk1nnmcfZPPeN4Q1lQukeCSIeKhvRDyhMzumVvYIHvleXaWfOIqVktPiNA3Ox_dTc/w400-h225/PXL_20230704_200128620.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I briefly considered bringing a machete trailrunning.<br />Then I thought about my luck, and the odds of needing medical attention for a machete improvidently embedded in my own leg, and decided against it.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I had to nope out on that bit of singletrack and cut along another stretch to the main, groomed trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9pLAahyIb8n4YWfk9f1VWfsqXIdpHD6TzTslaX2FUbJ7Y1EGgm3WOt4hrDMHgR40SBW-KKhwZG6hOPjYwpY9Dj3svabGn-kG3wLYcMZvzWfzFqH960iYTtkcSHHH2D65YZraY1pKX6MYOr84_T19tX7rfrdbUMsxFW8Md0gw_BPZTuTdyovqCVCUVJI/s1200/PXL_20230704_200230506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9pLAahyIb8n4YWfk9f1VWfsqXIdpHD6TzTslaX2FUbJ7Y1EGgm3WOt4hrDMHgR40SBW-KKhwZG6hOPjYwpY9Dj3svabGn-kG3wLYcMZvzWfzFqH960iYTtkcSHHH2D65YZraY1pKX6MYOr84_T19tX7rfrdbUMsxFW8Md0gw_BPZTuTdyovqCVCUVJI/w400-h225/PXL_20230704_200230506.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Through this.<br />Fortunately I know from long experience there <i style="font-weight: bold;">is</i> a trail here, and it's only about 100 metres out to the crushed gravel path</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Once there, I was able to find my way to some other, less complicated bits of singletrack that were delightful to run.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC92yNsO1dC3fVYTNIr5WWIG2aFl59APFz2nt2jhLRLFkfLOymIF3QDK5KN_ktQ2KxeTjXLQFV5CAaray2sJVSfO7vZvixr6nk6d8eBPYJyu9LUormz8I4aRgTiiF5ADUo3baQnTJHsi_MtYkV84KQOXA5Eiz2FIAgfBB2JXSEpzVYBJYXGXOAmoaF3ZY/s2025/1track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2025" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC92yNsO1dC3fVYTNIr5WWIG2aFl59APFz2nt2jhLRLFkfLOymIF3QDK5KN_ktQ2KxeTjXLQFV5CAaray2sJVSfO7vZvixr6nk6d8eBPYJyu9LUormz8I4aRgTiiF5ADUo3baQnTJHsi_MtYkV84KQOXA5Eiz2FIAgfBB2JXSEpzVYBJYXGXOAmoaF3ZY/w400-h238/1track.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the groomed trail is pretty nice, really</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>..but the damage was done. The whole of the overgrown sections probably totaled less than 1km out of the 14k I ran that day, but left my poor legs looking like this:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHCFc96k4txlzSEMocPjusQQFYtosM7XmjM_AFM6axcfPxj_GZI5xYtGf1C5FWLxb0JJInKuarlXak9bKRRt-tLbPzb5aREqExbflfjAd6KAKtUgi0ZYsJ_-z6QN-NVhmuYs6ZWPvISnAjCc3OrTEr51fTS1VAl5yJ4YQKzqzwts126K-J-6PoPLk9G4/s1200/PXL_20230705_023817970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHCFc96k4txlzSEMocPjusQQFYtosM7XmjM_AFM6axcfPxj_GZI5xYtGf1C5FWLxb0JJInKuarlXak9bKRRt-tLbPzb5aREqExbflfjAd6KAKtUgi0ZYsJ_-z6QN-NVhmuYs6ZWPvISnAjCc3OrTEr51fTS1VAl5yJ4YQKzqzwts126K-J-6PoPLk9G4/w225-h400/PXL_20230705_023817970.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus a few itchy blisters on my elbows</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So it looks like my options are either to wear long sleeves and tights when I hit these trails..</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgnuwLTGgNdhe4OdssT1hzLUcjq7Af3Sv15fdwcUPNrlVCIT4lXmdaLEskxG5w2WHPJULOhozStHA-X7jdhwzkdYNZwvSY0k2YfpeRVyboRI12sxAX04Su9NV6BlL1dZC4Dw1o7MmJNZI-PHM9yrZEGWm5XMRzDNtHTdeTNNez82U9GQAEs7ouE-PzSY/s1200/PXL_20230704_201127812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgnuwLTGgNdhe4OdssT1hzLUcjq7Af3Sv15fdwcUPNrlVCIT4lXmdaLEskxG5w2WHPJULOhozStHA-X7jdhwzkdYNZwvSY0k2YfpeRVyboRI12sxAX04Su9NV6BlL1dZC4Dw1o7MmJNZI-PHM9yrZEGWm5XMRzDNtHTdeTNNez82U9GQAEs7ouE-PzSY/w225-h400/PXL_20230704_201127812.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which is a bit of a trial with as hot as it's been lately..</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>..or to just forego them entirely.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy0ZQjgLmL_Ln3iSnZ52M1-OBPi8HtiTf2zRlsG5q4yQDdbsyoTkgrnhAHG5mtGURReIv7t9NmSUQygGH5Q5D5sO8PyqavP9eVKL2sh02U0_1fj6ZVy7n7Hj5_7S4BWPyqaP3dEz3r6p72nU6U1FiVNLsO2Rusweqd6SAzqPCyBw0xdb6iwvmrz0sfjY/s1200/PXL_20230704_192630969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="735" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDy0ZQjgLmL_Ln3iSnZ52M1-OBPi8HtiTf2zRlsG5q4yQDdbsyoTkgrnhAHG5mtGURReIv7t9NmSUQygGH5Q5D5sO8PyqavP9eVKL2sh02U0_1fj6ZVy7n7Hj5_7S4BWPyqaP3dEz3r6p72nU6U1FiVNLsO2Rusweqd6SAzqPCyBw0xdb6iwvmrz0sfjY/w245-h400/PXL_20230704_192630969.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which is a shame, as they're so lovely and so close to home.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Or, I just deal with the itching, stinging welts and blisters as the price of getting to enjoy such beauty on a gorgeous summer day.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KX8QKdQ9mHaqTjIXv1TET2Tg2aFKzOpboP7L_srlTyZiFgUV2-T4qDLKbtBBHNGQfVXLDlYxddxRLWhxAXDrL7ETCZlBan0rnDoftUvmJKaRcMnXSd-u2e70kT5S4o42lcm5lfQiNrdW0hCDXVFBPOT5naschn6FzDwD9CvGBFRpZzwqzGS9NosLaUw/s1200/PXL_20230704_201001400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KX8QKdQ9mHaqTjIXv1TET2Tg2aFKzOpboP7L_srlTyZiFgUV2-T4qDLKbtBBHNGQfVXLDlYxddxRLWhxAXDrL7ETCZlBan0rnDoftUvmJKaRcMnXSd-u2e70kT5S4o42lcm5lfQiNrdW0hCDXVFBPOT5naschn6FzDwD9CvGBFRpZzwqzGS9NosLaUw/w400-h225/PXL_20230704_201001400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-44889853313993684622023-06-30T14:03:00.003-04:002023-06-30T14:03:47.086-04:00Upgrading<p> I can be a bit particular about the stuff I use for running - not just shoes and clothing, but other items like hydration vests and bottles that can make a big difference to comfort and happiness over the course of a long day out.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqutj_TIPxKX5jbYrw6DhiSajL-7IkTH_nEOVEqGoAkOiBh2WPZ8ur2nOLvqNN1-4XQ3JcL7gpTeJss88182Ee5fx4-9aE6vSe7ZtyDOxA38dVYAdwUMCe8MyEXa2-_LMd8UOaMJx6_uu6ZqWfBwa-JAGYWssksqYVW02FAXYMfVGf-ELb3_dlLkAJx4/s2688/PXL_20230625_210131231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqutj_TIPxKX5jbYrw6DhiSajL-7IkTH_nEOVEqGoAkOiBh2WPZ8ur2nOLvqNN1-4XQ3JcL7gpTeJss88182Ee5fx4-9aE6vSe7ZtyDOxA38dVYAdwUMCe8MyEXa2-_LMd8UOaMJx6_uu6ZqWfBwa-JAGYWssksqYVW02FAXYMfVGf-ELb3_dlLkAJx4/w400-h225/PXL_20230625_210131231.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not limited to blister or chafing concerns, either</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Almost two years ago, I picked up a new little vest made by <a href="https://lifesportsgear.com/">Life Sports Gear</a> out of Quebec. The <a href="https://lifesportsgear.com/shopping/clearance/torrent/">Torrent 2.5L</a> was exactly what I was looking for: light and meshy so it wouldn't hold heat, but with enough pockets to stash a bottle or two, my phone, and some snacks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWc0UlzHZyzXvBVXh3FwUOA0a8feAtK0GEjmQzKxtpWYFlEpKAX3cdzbwnk4XDRr5D1CjbjcIf9CL2aGb0v_J72Xn-ihJC1e-DFJ7yLwIEeKoNlg1b8wHunAo6vDDe3a2QeTqdP36JuM2Ycs6n8x2zGdodKbi-TZr5oPiS8HTDgkcvyDiK3TPc7Q_ZmY/s1200/PXL_20230630_144031364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="945" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWc0UlzHZyzXvBVXh3FwUOA0a8feAtK0GEjmQzKxtpWYFlEpKAX3cdzbwnk4XDRr5D1CjbjcIf9CL2aGb0v_J72Xn-ihJC1e-DFJ7yLwIEeKoNlg1b8wHunAo6vDDe3a2QeTqdP36JuM2Ycs6n8x2zGdodKbi-TZr5oPiS8HTDgkcvyDiK3TPc7Q_ZmY/w315-h400/PXL_20230630_144031364.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This poor sweat-drenched, bug-sprayed, salt-encrusted thing and I have had some TIMES since</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I use it quite a bit, but I was always dissatisfied with the <a href="https://lifesportsgear.com/shopping/running/running-hydration/soft-flask/?attribute_pa_volumes=450-ml">bottles</a> that came with it. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBK09cXcnOwMn0w0mW7v_tDc5EA_z3-0BktYLd0Qqox1qCAwihEMcHQdk5M93BlmKbJFvXIjnLauwrFbszcVXTOlo0szfntnTYV6s5DH4B2wcKr4sJ42vXCiJ064g2o4rAgF-FFqL6M9kn-cKJB8aHNNcWZUPN_D6CXJBGJOF7LFt_EUHelfJdwVyFRo/s879/Soft-Flask-450ml-800x1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBK09cXcnOwMn0w0mW7v_tDc5EA_z3-0BktYLd0Qqox1qCAwihEMcHQdk5M93BlmKbJFvXIjnLauwrFbszcVXTOlo0szfntnTYV6s5DH4B2wcKr4sJ42vXCiJ064g2o4rAgF-FFqL6M9kn-cKJB8aHNNcWZUPN_D6CXJBGJOF7LFt_EUHelfJdwVyFRo/w271-h400/Soft-Flask-450ml-800x1000.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of these are included</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The 450ml capacity is fine - it's about the maximum the stretchy pockets of the vest would support, anyway. The vinyl is sturdy, and I don't even mind <i style="font-weight: bold;">that</i> much that it seems to be the same stuff that waterbed bladders are made of, and imparts the same sort of odd flavour to any water left in it for any length of time. Ok that sounds a bit weird: Tank and I had a king size waterbed for years, and though I didn't make a habit of drinking from it the <b style="font-style: italic;">smell</b> of the water is the same. I can live with it, though; I usually wait until the last minute to fill them, and when I'm on the trail I'm thirsty enough that I don't really care.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwRluY6S1-6wPNQzeMiZjBFjDHJNdCdoDA0ARAHrl70kxNfDakpcTCyx-BfCTxgzMkdiBt_Jemn4of0q8txDMy2DvOFOX1njqCsDSBjUeHHGCAElvM_hNlVoNoMfC4gsGXTi5FN6DRbki7z4lOSpd9BmoNnNpxa8sdRk2XMlk4rn_A_Y0HU16SoMGwI8/s1200/PXL_20230625_230136616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwRluY6S1-6wPNQzeMiZjBFjDHJNdCdoDA0ARAHrl70kxNfDakpcTCyx-BfCTxgzMkdiBt_Jemn4of0q8txDMy2DvOFOX1njqCsDSBjUeHHGCAElvM_hNlVoNoMfC4gsGXTi5FN6DRbki7z4lOSpd9BmoNnNpxa8sdRk2XMlk4rn_A_Y0HU16SoMGwI8/w225-h400/PXL_20230625_230136616.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also don't have any others that will fit in the tall, narrow pockets of the vest</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>What really torques me about them, though, is the valves. They use Hydrapak's excellent design, where you just bite the silicone sleeve around the hard plastic core to distend the seal enough that water comes out. The problem is the silicone they used is the <b>stiffest</b> I've ever encountered. Where a light nibble is enough to draw forth water from every other bottle I own with this kind of valve, it takes a solid gnaw to release the precious liquid from these particular flasks.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-30tNuHPOZUf9gtIdh7w3P9TLbQ9YnGRptT6SvZVwrunAzHsDvpeVy8xntj4ilIwV5QHkywgp6zoyaycptBoLC37ut6Pn721vnboDZ26T1SyBQeaLNC99tKMH21tzt49Tgzvbi_1UaTgL3cd8EQvlKgGicdMxrvXZhchRBbsDZbbXvjpfEb7VwqTpZU/s1200/PXL_20230630_173203563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1050" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-30tNuHPOZUf9gtIdh7w3P9TLbQ9YnGRptT6SvZVwrunAzHsDvpeVy8xntj4ilIwV5QHkywgp6zoyaycptBoLC37ut6Pn721vnboDZ26T1SyBQeaLNC99tKMH21tzt49Tgzvbi_1UaTgL3cd8EQvlKgGicdMxrvXZhchRBbsDZbbXvjpfEb7VwqTpZU/w350-h400/PXL_20230630_173203563.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I will also say my experience with this kind of valve is not inconsiderable</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I only recently picked up that <a href="https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6015-109/active-handheld">Salomon Active handheld</a> (mostly to test using a different kind of strap with a hand bottle), and noticed that Salomon uses the softer silicone - makes sense, since it seems the bottle is made by Hydrapak, like all the ones pictured above. I wondered about just buying a pair of <a href="https://www.salomon.com/en-ca/shop/product/sflask-500-17-std-42.html?CMPID=ps%7cpm%7cgoogle%7cSLM_PER-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-CA_MAX_LW%7c%7c%7c&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_content=aa-cc&utm_keyword=&utm_campaign=SLM_PER-PerformanceMax-ONG-ECM-CA_MAX_LW&gclid=CjwKCAjw-vmkBhBMEiwAlrMeF0TMNybC6vj03wn2KVFtA6AvDjlucL1K3eRMLMy4685ErIRDjXfn0xoCI38QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#color=70852&size=29062">Salomon soft flasks</a> to replace the ones the Life Sports vest came with, but balked at the price - it would be a minimum of $50 + tax, and I'm too stingy to spend that sort of cash replacing something that's functional, if a bit annoying.</p><p>Then, I found an alternative for only $8!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-NktGE3E7Ax8JUqHAqT9YyCHhvEI3SL5TQa0MiYh0FAdyJRCAFkunpULCifoSEYK5B6p8X2ZxbfudCahggJr93dl5RYMs67PppLPun5U53aSy7V2Mxg1hQFVnujSguG4_Cr_jXfIyqPos23JPuFX2PIMOnNHWk8-QM8lWBjFcegmrgYFsRZdWQt0xbU/s1200/PXL_20230627_161424629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-NktGE3E7Ax8JUqHAqT9YyCHhvEI3SL5TQa0MiYh0FAdyJRCAFkunpULCifoSEYK5B6p8X2ZxbfudCahggJr93dl5RYMs67PppLPun5U53aSy7V2Mxg1hQFVnujSguG4_Cr_jXfIyqPos23JPuFX2PIMOnNHWk8-QM8lWBjFcegmrgYFsRZdWQt0xbU/w324-h400/PXL_20230627_161424629.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6013-277/bite-valve-2-pack">MEC to the rescue</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>For $7.95 + tax (and with a free shipping promotion), I was able to pick up a two-pack of just the part I wanted to replace. Since the valve itself is just a friction fit over a hard plastic tube that extends upward from the screw-on top, it was a simple matter to just pop the old valves off (you can see the one with the black core above) and push the new ones on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgP-o7uwMAFsDoYcvWNmbbHRQb1t-QCP99f7k4c4MTpmcPV1-RWN4FF1963I1kHtDAZaW0fahO5asGX256zcTsb2LwHTyYUhWVmKUY2kR7QZgN7N5hleCqw9yEEyzWQnH_uriHtx7PRf9h3VZhsJ8jgWo95D3GVbLdURDcGjLE9-NCg-prXGbQt1ujYY/s1200/PXL_20230627_161636933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="917" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgP-o7uwMAFsDoYcvWNmbbHRQb1t-QCP99f7k4c4MTpmcPV1-RWN4FF1963I1kHtDAZaW0fahO5asGX256zcTsb2LwHTyYUhWVmKUY2kR7QZgN7N5hleCqw9yEEyzWQnH_uriHtx7PRf9h3VZhsJ8jgWo95D3GVbLdURDcGjLE9-NCg-prXGbQt1ujYY/w306-h400/PXL_20230627_161636933.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peel off the hygienic plastic cover, and voila! Problem solved in about 1 minute</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Of course it would be an issue if they didn't fit snugly enough to stay on, but I've since done some testing and I'm confident these are a direct replacement.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQQZHOrFpV-cAZ4FdEDDjGVWS8pUsQ_GsAAmjqacOBC5QyGhetbrmkwvzrjM57fWHOIDirZteUCOfjFc9RlbOoy0d9skzQRy5ythPXTmnnPSNP5PpQs5gmBhXCIM8BBhD6NyorizUSflGZDhBqn_bCmal2qZG3oYS32Q-Mt0rEB3eb0Ne8i57uNlFdWQ/s1200/PXL_20230628_205421171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcQQZHOrFpV-cAZ4FdEDDjGVWS8pUsQ_GsAAmjqacOBC5QyGhetbrmkwvzrjM57fWHOIDirZteUCOfjFc9RlbOoy0d9skzQRy5ythPXTmnnPSNP5PpQs5gmBhXCIM8BBhD6NyorizUSflGZDhBqn_bCmal2qZG3oYS32Q-Mt0rEB3eb0Ne8i57uNlFdWQ/w225-h400/PXL_20230628_205421171.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy girl!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>So if you - like me - have hated the bite valves on your Life Sports Gear bottles (as I know these vests are quite popular from having seen them on a lot of people at races), now you know there's an easy solution. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7AvPXhcuZTXgdG2QliTSHmaQU66RoDvSV3VOPD3Ke5BzTPyzWGq3ZDK00zU7xZiAndQOlCQOzh-0jMEvjxKCFl47LmscW7-CzzTeXFM6XWL4xbu9Yd0VLTp0cE565vyZcGVrgLp1g3emHICFnCfNuWh99Y7mqgnTkZunn22Y0bXUxoQ6kW431w7nRkY/s1200/PXL_20230628_205435075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="815" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7AvPXhcuZTXgdG2QliTSHmaQU66RoDvSV3VOPD3Ke5BzTPyzWGq3ZDK00zU7xZiAndQOlCQOzh-0jMEvjxKCFl47LmscW7-CzzTeXFM6XWL4xbu9Yd0VLTp0cE565vyZcGVrgLp1g3emHICFnCfNuWh99Y7mqgnTkZunn22Y0bXUxoQ6kW431w7nRkY/w271-h400/PXL_20230628_205435075.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..and if this is all just a bit too finicky for you, then feel free to hit the trail!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Happy long weekend, North Americans!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5490381344894221208.post-62948053672047235912023-06-23T21:23:00.004-04:002023-06-23T21:23:55.076-04:00Multitasking<p> The company that I work for throws us a summer party each year</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8V9MtiVgc1Djul_GMpopZCYZfYAOqslpFT9wuZhT1Mbu_XK80A8dFa_qCvviM-STGe7GX5didL3rgEtpHONp7iALjaNu_4UDHW9cP0xCpCHCNLf9qg28Hgu0KUh2YI_N7-vdZabM0X_TJU_leu4UnaDtXFc4USpBrJzeVB1YQi1abFHnYb-3BHIoOOc/s1200/PXL_20230622_211609281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1200" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8V9MtiVgc1Djul_GMpopZCYZfYAOqslpFT9wuZhT1Mbu_XK80A8dFa_qCvviM-STGe7GX5didL3rgEtpHONp7iALjaNu_4UDHW9cP0xCpCHCNLf9qg28Hgu0KUh2YI_N7-vdZabM0X_TJU_leu4UnaDtXFc4USpBrJzeVB1YQi1abFHnYb-3BHIoOOc/w400-h223/PXL_20230622_211609281.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, my workplace is pretty awesome</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When I heard that this year's would be a picnic and was told where it was going to be held, I was pretty stoked. I know Laurel Creek Conservation Area fairly well, and my excitement for the whole thing only increased when <a href="http://illadvisedracing.blogspot.com/2023/06/old-friends.html">I got my bike back from critical repairs last week</a>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtLIzyKvchNZDTzMuBl9ALMiGeVfT5Gyp9xGLrtq3eglrDBSrNoJAfLp9Yd9JdRodRZ3FAX9GY0MdzDmumzp6mdNrkDNegXtmOr-HE5FOCGg3p_l9StLEybA-gYaqy30GDA7thLlyUOrmQigUw6PuQiucq3wRmHoL4MDKFBSjKnEk76Yp0byW-JMuWRs/s1200/PXL_20230622_125432266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtLIzyKvchNZDTzMuBl9ALMiGeVfT5Gyp9xGLrtq3eglrDBSrNoJAfLp9Yd9JdRodRZ3FAX9GY0MdzDmumzp6mdNrkDNegXtmOr-HE5FOCGg3p_l9StLEybA-gYaqy30GDA7thLlyUOrmQigUw6PuQiucq3wRmHoL4MDKFBSjKnEk76Yp0byW-JMuWRs/w400-h284/PXL_20230622_125432266.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now I could have fun on the way to and from the picnic, too!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I rode up to the office yesterday morning and entrusted my steed to the parking garage behind the office (which carries a $15/day charge, so I'm unlikely to cease taking transit as my usual way to get there), worked until 3-ish, then set off for the park.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIHDhkD-_PFjf3Q0Kk00mNHrR8WdPFpC7JAiS1yHUy9k2SqQsKm7Nn1v-7I8XWGNqPF3A45mRUk2BUnziaBFAQIpsoiI_MQWYoS0KPo9WVySoV4gMej5xtFx-vlNaTarEjvaTztDmc5lpyY6YcobizbLJul0Pn8iDMiJfBRZhHfFhGxNIllVs3qEPuCE/s1200/PXL_20230622_191244358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIHDhkD-_PFjf3Q0Kk00mNHrR8WdPFpC7JAiS1yHUy9k2SqQsKm7Nn1v-7I8XWGNqPF3A45mRUk2BUnziaBFAQIpsoiI_MQWYoS0KPo9WVySoV4gMej5xtFx-vlNaTarEjvaTztDmc5lpyY6YcobizbLJul0Pn8iDMiJfBRZhHfFhGxNIllVs3qEPuCE/w225-h400/PXL_20230622_191244358.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortunately no-one seemed to have fussed with my ride while I was in the office</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Despite some construction-related road closures, a light sprinkle of rain, and the gravel-strewn driveways in the park, I arrived safely for the picnic around quarter to four. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WjU3xkIWU3mEPyjGRB89MT6shqsbV9MXV55jrBycoTIC3Ne7MIAhBT3OOgmbmKny1eVoZeVXuwJg__XtaqDvHwJH2kH2CvznhVup6Qwdr58DqIwVm6unAjWCsMp1hfLo8Cr2c04-X_sl_EGvmKORmyKj8MXFAHXK289LwTq4PovLkS-1RKvVK6YNEQA/s1200/PXL_20230622_211237324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="925" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WjU3xkIWU3mEPyjGRB89MT6shqsbV9MXV55jrBycoTIC3Ne7MIAhBT3OOgmbmKny1eVoZeVXuwJg__XtaqDvHwJH2kH2CvznhVup6Qwdr58DqIwVm6unAjWCsMp1hfLo8Cr2c04-X_sl_EGvmKORmyKj8MXFAHXK289LwTq4PovLkS-1RKvVK6YNEQA/w309-h400/PXL_20230622_211237324.jpg" width="309" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, the rain fell out of sunny skies. Just my luck!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I did hang out and chat with my coworkers for the actual event - which was scheduled for 3-7pm - taking part in the big group photo, and having a burger from the grill (because the committee that plans the events specifically checked in with me to make sure my food allergies would be accommodated).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI35OuQ9wTEzoXRh-W6-XfFDiD84XWdoWa05YU6eUciUVJ1uVbrXuTjNf-uD5-FNKvKEXPdbaq5EUgpksvFHJdhQ1PIIzKh4fCOI38sFcZ2pgRHmuQDRrrAWgD52euEI2zIM2tJbIrUrcX61BZdxm2wpSymL_wBFA3bCdKXqh6gh9Uy-SzAb2z1Tp1W8I/s1200/PXL_20230622_204918262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="1200" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI35OuQ9wTEzoXRh-W6-XfFDiD84XWdoWa05YU6eUciUVJ1uVbrXuTjNf-uD5-FNKvKEXPdbaq5EUgpksvFHJdhQ1PIIzKh4fCOI38sFcZ2pgRHmuQDRrrAWgD52euEI2zIM2tJbIrUrcX61BZdxm2wpSymL_wBFA3bCdKXqh6gh9Uy-SzAb2z1Tp1W8I/w400-h336/PXL_20230622_204918262.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right down to sending me an ingredient list to confirm, and serving the allergen-free food first<br />(there were also veggie burgers and halal burgers to accommodate other people's needs, too)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I took part in the the team challenge: we broke into 8 groups, then took on a few interesting tasks like assembling small items, completing a small jigsaw puzzle, guessing a list of terms that relate to our company's products, and - last but certainly not least - trying to thaw a t-shirt that had been frozen in a lump in a plastic bag enough to get it on one of our team members! Thanks to the knowledge and competitive spirit of my teammates, our group took first place overall - way to go Running Buffers! Our prize was first whack at the piƱata.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovnHgb-4kbliHVfUhsy2h_d1uPbj4pUcYkTvNi3XX36KLu2nOL3A1GUjebipb5KnPQLeylV_syll2hyGALw2o2-PcrqTWBCYsO4y-btbAeIjrsOgvt6r_tqb5tCHnQuBEIF9XOpHgdgsZPqqxG-H39xAP4gTcSfzmNosLzp7Ia2rJ5zVgl_5V9UyjThA/s1200/PXL_20230622_225155136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="908" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovnHgb-4kbliHVfUhsy2h_d1uPbj4pUcYkTvNi3XX36KLu2nOL3A1GUjebipb5KnPQLeylV_syll2hyGALw2o2-PcrqTWBCYsO4y-btbAeIjrsOgvt6r_tqb5tCHnQuBEIF9XOpHgdgsZPqqxG-H39xAP4gTcSfzmNosLzp7Ia2rJ5zVgl_5V9UyjThA/w303-h400/PXL_20230622_225155136.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..which turned out to be surprisingly resilient.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>When it was finally persuaded to give up its contents, it was nearly 7pm. While a lot of people were still playing lawn games - cornhole, ringers, monkeybones, and spikeball were all on offer, though there were unfortunately no suitable trees for me to set up the slackline I'd brought along - I had other plans.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV7JUo1cHfbfKEJPdAiXv99pbMZWdNtrS6UhYeFd6W9KJa3oYUGDB37p7KzqzWJyMXRoSk1EMF2KdWFOrxEyKxq18Xa9phr8Jz6ZUHAWj_DKfLDD14vhufn_WqtAe_d0UTR8sw5dVD-UfPtR4uhAcXBy9mliZaGsP2rg8bSNpVwDfsGjLnrrlUa9zJM8/s1200/PXL_20230622_225639989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="810" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqV7JUo1cHfbfKEJPdAiXv99pbMZWdNtrS6UhYeFd6W9KJa3oYUGDB37p7KzqzWJyMXRoSk1EMF2KdWFOrxEyKxq18Xa9phr8Jz6ZUHAWj_DKfLDD14vhufn_WqtAe_d0UTR8sw5dVD-UfPtR4uhAcXBy9mliZaGsP2rg8bSNpVwDfsGjLnrrlUa9zJM8/w270-h400/PXL_20230622_225639989.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The trails are calling, and I must go.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I'm not sure what it says about me that, when faced with the option of either playing fun games with coworkers (whom I actually like - it's a fun company to work for, and the culture is pretty great) or blasting off on my own to get eaten by mosquitoes, you'll see me loading up on bug spray almost 100% of the time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTDl8Y4Y0BHzmWltwlLtEH0eR3RB48DKswUNDCZTCbu5_LX05kYCdeqmai2X_83H-PYVj0doqMnDWP1QSHS5uRT-pyIrBUaO5lil_XQo8BS0r6GEqgiBIk8sOsdGh2Q0NFswkeuUk3_szRtbs3hMPlTcHf-MMtviCfdeWjIe4ZPHkoJP-5hEJOaEXUXI/s1200/PXL_20230622_231302555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTDl8Y4Y0BHzmWltwlLtEH0eR3RB48DKswUNDCZTCbu5_LX05kYCdeqmai2X_83H-PYVj0doqMnDWP1QSHS5uRT-pyIrBUaO5lil_XQo8BS0r6GEqgiBIk8sOsdGh2Q0NFswkeuUk3_szRtbs3hMPlTcHf-MMtviCfdeWjIe4ZPHkoJP-5hEJOaEXUXI/w400-h225/PXL_20230622_231302555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I mean, it's probably to everyone else's benefit - they don't have to put up with me!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It's a wonderful place to run - with a number of campsites around the park, there are toilets and water taps at multiple points easily accessible from the trails - and a decent variety of groomed and less-structured bits.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQeTY7WDoLHM12zQQPCKRziIZviObiG3whfPCKmkAtcCu1dVWGiyD4cGRX3nOYHq9VgLg_539CphBTpYGMPPeUXYS2zlKxksVkX6sIwOHMYbrF7rEyEAymD75eHS-fft1ynUvhl_dyD2inlfbeHbu8FWrvAdN_58gLUNI52FvCh1kwEBh74NpW2PnRDc/s1200/PXL_20230622_232834662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQeTY7WDoLHM12zQQPCKRziIZviObiG3whfPCKmkAtcCu1dVWGiyD4cGRX3nOYHq9VgLg_539CphBTpYGMPPeUXYS2zlKxksVkX6sIwOHMYbrF7rEyEAymD75eHS-fft1ynUvhl_dyD2inlfbeHbu8FWrvAdN_58gLUNI52FvCh1kwEBh74NpW2PnRDc/w225-h400/PXL_20230622_232834662.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narrower path from the boat launch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAOZMeTmOE6lXNU3SgrOtoqyvMoy9SidCvQ5XNrn2e7yGVzaQv1_1FHkJ-bAuVDrqSYgFYVWupuNLGWMzBe3cWc6zQHWivNDs6v2CaHyOIsrCknFyr50meZM-0Q8OJ_p7FRXhKw_LdKkPNjCzansLHHAFTiFgb9pyuioxZ9MnixDU7v0aNiRYENdG6R0/s2688/PXL_20230622_232048585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAOZMeTmOE6lXNU3SgrOtoqyvMoy9SidCvQ5XNrn2e7yGVzaQv1_1FHkJ-bAuVDrqSYgFYVWupuNLGWMzBe3cWc6zQHWivNDs6v2CaHyOIsrCknFyr50meZM-0Q8OJ_p7FRXhKw_LdKkPNjCzansLHHAFTiFgb9pyuioxZ9MnixDU7v0aNiRYENdG6R0/w400-h225/PXL_20230622_232048585.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lookout over the far end of the lake from the picnic shelter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table>The wind began to gust and the clouds moved in, making me wonder if the few drops of rain I'd had on the way up to the park would bring reinforcements.<br /><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAhv6s3snhBnNR3ra-XeOt2tA0C-kopKUZI7Nith1XAltItii1p7D5Mh_ONOPc39B1IwcU6IHX_k1ocDVLMAPJrOMaUairHO9X9iNEejXhL9YIst2N4Oe2wXguCO1Y_lFVttTlayAINhJ848Hqmd3D1SH3ZYU7NjG6lp0xNZ5sql1Ja11KdD4qZFmNs/s1200/PXL_20230622_234322531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="796" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAhv6s3snhBnNR3ra-XeOt2tA0C-kopKUZI7Nith1XAltItii1p7D5Mh_ONOPc39B1IwcU6IHX_k1ocDVLMAPJrOMaUairHO9X9iNEejXhL9YIst2N4Oe2wXguCO1Y_lFVttTlayAINhJ848Hqmd3D1SH3ZYU7NjG6lp0xNZ5sql1Ja11KdD4qZFmNs/w265-h400/PXL_20230622_234322531.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk over a marshy area</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PR6o2szzGYpkR65enDqYW-LrqtafArqUOHmvZjQEJ77SNOwQUUzLsC7zkwB3mwm3aoxkibuAgSgXykkACvp5MfG4KE5dZ6xCUtGo3TdXzmSjyRxYpw8ejrCYVsRkEdxcEV6pIBq0pGmh11dTuvGj_w26tErHSz1P65EBMxiu4tjElA43_BhhnOLoZ1g/s1200/compare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1200" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PR6o2szzGYpkR65enDqYW-LrqtafArqUOHmvZjQEJ77SNOwQUUzLsC7zkwB3mwm3aoxkibuAgSgXykkACvp5MfG4KE5dZ6xCUtGo3TdXzmSjyRxYpw8ejrCYVsRkEdxcEV6pIBq0pGmh11dTuvGj_w26tErHSz1P65EBMxiu4tjElA43_BhhnOLoZ1g/w400-h356/compare.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little bit of everything, really</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I was in no big rush - still rather full of burger (with no interest in seeing it again), it took me about 45mins to ramble around the 4-ish miles of trails I could do without having to go for multiple loops or retracing my steps much.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8_VvQOvZcrslK3Wjy5X2YH-j-NWqIdMdEyRA4rgATPJk20C5Bq3pCLDIj9V0GwN0GDM3a5kz57g9nAtj1459VGgvhGyXmV53yP2WUEb235EW8TpBBsVo3LxdJOn6rQVXEd1sFDgD400eocAaL91TuxnVYPeWJa4CnrWjqei1f088LAODj6WSRTHA0xo/s1200/Screenshot%202023-06-23%20210458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1200" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW8_VvQOvZcrslK3Wjy5X2YH-j-NWqIdMdEyRA4rgATPJk20C5Bq3pCLDIj9V0GwN0GDM3a5kz57g9nAtj1459VGgvhGyXmV53yP2WUEb235EW8TpBBsVo3LxdJOn6rQVXEd1sFDgD400eocAaL91TuxnVYPeWJa4CnrWjqei1f088LAODj6WSRTHA0xo/w400-h271/Screenshot%202023-06-23%20210458.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..while also mostly avoiding the park roads.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>By the time I got back, there were only a handful of people left, but at least my bags - one of which contained my work laptop, another of which had my slackline and leathers - hadn't been left unattended. I had a quick post-run snack and bade the last people goodbye, left to myself to get changed back into street clothes from my run kit.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs2kM7JYYWV225hpF9OioXeAAZpvVKaZpNmCsVkHhOfCvyzQQUk5ukx8xXeCvfSpDz8Y6JaPPkBuP9ll7XO6zslOI6a5y8t5DL_Der-QLTI-bdi4b5Da6eGXExp8sdLR-upnUN5DA4yuunNIr6Om2jnetLdWe_7DD2syHYCcpFhxCAnV5xpUo3VRpx9Y/s1200/PXL_20230622_225841583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="675" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQs2kM7JYYWV225hpF9OioXeAAZpvVKaZpNmCsVkHhOfCvyzQQUk5ukx8xXeCvfSpDz8Y6JaPPkBuP9ll7XO6zslOI6a5y8t5DL_Der-QLTI-bdi4b5Da6eGXExp8sdLR-upnUN5DA4yuunNIr6Om2jnetLdWe_7DD2syHYCcpFhxCAnV5xpUo3VRpx9Y/w225-h400/PXL_20230622_225841583.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No-one showed the least surprise that I'd bailed to go run</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I actually ended up catching a few minutes of rain while I rode home, which wasn't particularly enjoyable - I probably could have avoided it had I not gone for a trot around the park.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvvHZ-NJubTHPatfPtbg1xqgEOS26EjG-KBuXpzuYvKQxYad_J0mbIH8CPlqWvJRFSL6_lnbrcwbhZlnMh6qyIR4XqW1sXrY5U2FVvF3sR1_x347XiWn-GOZOu_uX2Oif3gl3xRBtvRIa8abCAY2mypyiY2WlzIFb3L0mV4oqU0CjaeULr5LLLkgG8nA/s1200/PXL_20230622_234328861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvvHZ-NJubTHPatfPtbg1xqgEOS26EjG-KBuXpzuYvKQxYad_J0mbIH8CPlqWvJRFSL6_lnbrcwbhZlnMh6qyIR4XqW1sXrY5U2FVvF3sR1_x347XiWn-GOZOu_uX2Oif3gl3xRBtvRIa8abCAY2mypyiY2WlzIFb3L0mV4oqU0CjaeULr5LLLkgG8nA/w400-h225/PXL_20230622_234328861.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">..but what fun would that have been?</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I still made it home safely - even managed to ride out of the rain, and the wind from the last few miles before home dried out my leathers nicely - so while it may not have been a perfect day, it was still a pretty heckin' good one. </div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0