Training Log Archive: Bash

Two thumbs up for Rocketman! (But don't take the kids.)

The Québec Megatrail is one week away so I double-taped my injured ankle and tested it on trails in Palgrave East and West. The trails aren't rocky so it wasn't the toughest test but my ankle seemed fairly solid. The reduced mobility from the taping led to some soreness in ligaments - or maybe that's just the remnants of the injury. Anyway, I'll do the same taping for the race.

Beautiful day! It was summery enough that I sincerely regretted forgetting my hat.

Still protecting my ankle so I ran gravel roads again. Beautiful day! I was aiming for a tempo run but turned my watch off when two phone calls came in so I'm not sure it counts. My ankle felt more solid. I bought two new boxes of Leukotape yesterday so I'm ready to mummify my lower leg for next weekend's race.

My ankle isn't fixed but I needed to test it running so I did an out-and-back to the west on Finnerty Sideroad, turning around at Innis Lake Road.

There was a bit of messing around at the 1 km mark when Otis the adorable, overweight chocolate Lab puppy started chasing me and torpedoed me in the popliteal. (Google if you must.) Some people in a driveway said he belonged to their neighbours - the people who bought the cool log house that used to have a mini-barnyard in front with goats and donkeys wearing little coats.

Finally, a woman came out to the road and we had a little chat. (OK, it may have been a bit of a lecture on my part.) Otis wasn't wearing a collar, which meant that when she tried to take him home and I tried to continue on my run, Otis came after me again. She had a heck of a time trying to drag the poor fellow away by the scruff of his neck.

I asked if he had a collar. "No." (Her husband doesn't think it's necessary.) I asked if he was microchipped. "No." He's almost 1 year old so I asked if he was neutered. "No." When necessary, they use a leash with a slip collar; otherwise there's nothing around his neck. They just don't understand why he's started chasing cyclists and runners down the road near the blind hill where they live. I told her about the dead Lab puppy I found in the middle of the road nearby. That driver didn't bother to stop. I forgot to tell her that if Otis had nipped me in his excitement, and he wasn't wearing an obvious rabies tag, it would have put a major strain on neighbourly relations.

Anyway, I hope Otis' owners smarten up because the poor guy deserves better than that.

My ankle felt fine for the entire run. Then I walked out to our mailbox as a cooldown and felt my ankle start to turn within a few seconds of switching off my Ambit. It didn't go over but it's just waiting to do it again. Boo. You may want to buy shares in Leukotape.

Best ball golf tournament raising funds for C3's young triathletes. Luckily, I wasn't the cart driver so I took every opportunity to run to pick up balls and bushwhack into creeks to find balls that others had left behind. It meant I got some exercise. I managed to resist the frequent visits of the beer cart and maybe that's why I think 9 holes would have been plenty.

It was my 2nd time golfing in the past few decades so it took a long time for my body to remember how. I didn't know the rest of my foursome, who were longtime work colleagues, but they were friendly and very polite about my poor skills and rare good shots. The woman driving my cart was from St. Andrews - yes, *that* St. Andrews - so she really knew her stuff.

Given my inconsistent track record, my teammates looked a little shocked when we got a par on the 18th hole using all 4 of my shots. Of all the sports I've done, I guess I was most competitive at golf but that was a very long time ago. Today proved that I wouldn't have the patience for it anymore but I'll try to get to this golf tournament every year. Maybe it will help if I drink the beer next time!

At 6:40 a.m., I was awakened by the sound of dog growls and shattering glass. Mom passed my great aunt's decorative bowl to me - probably close to 100 years old - and it survived exactly one week out of the box at our place. This is why we can't have nice things. :(

On a happier note, Coach LD cooked a lovely dinner and we had a great catch-up with her, Goose and VO2Max.