Training Log Archive: Bash

Dee, Amber and Nicole came to Kolapore for some orienteering practice before Raid The Hammer. The race sold out before I decided to go but 'Bent and I were happy to join them anyway to offer some tips and local knowledge. I designed a short course on the O map, which was made in the late 1980s for the World Masters Orienteering Championships. It held up better than I'd expected although the start/finish (our house) is not on the map. What a beautiful morning!



We wore our "Don't Shoot Me" colours even though it's just bow hunting season today. Nov. 2-7 is deer rifle season and we'll be staying away. Unfortunately, we hear gunshots on most days up there at this time of year, including next door where we think they do target practice.



Conditions were perfect for Raid The Hammer practice.









This intricate thing on the forest floor had us confused. I photographed it, thinking that Mrs. Tiny might be able to identify it for us. Turns out it was a fancy frost formation - cool!

Hoo boy, this was a mistake - at least for the first half. I've been wanting to ride the Northwest Passage ever since Dee mentioned that she preferred it because it is less rocky than other Kolapore trails. That is probably true earlier in the season but today it was full-on adventure racing mud at its absolute worst - the kind that sticks on your bike in increasingly thicker layers and gums up your gears and tires until they don't want to move. Also, there are some super steep climbs and descents that weren't compatible with muck. My winter bike shoes don't have a good tread for mud, which made for some extra hell hike-a-biking on the hills. The cherry on top was guilt because this is also used as a ski trail that we plan to help maintain. I might be able to see this part of the ride as Type 2 Fun with the passage of time.

The second half of the ride on the east side of Kolapore was soft in a few low places but mostly quite nice other than occasional boulders, which 'Bent was riding very well.

Since treadmill runs haven't made my heel hurt any more than running errands, I went for a quiet gravel road run including a short section on the old road in Palgrave East. Around here, that's almost as good as a trail run. It's fairly smooth but most importantly, I could watch my foot placement, which isn't possible in the leaf litter. There were hills and nice autumn scenery, and I only saw two vehicles in more than half an hour. Best of all, my foot doesn't feel any worse (yet). I stretched my heel before and after. Maybe that's part of the secret.

When gyms and fitness programs were shut down due to the pandemic, our friend Caron Shepley of Personal Best Health & Performance began posting free workout videos by some of the fitness instructors who work for her. There's a good-sized collection now, most of them about half an hour long with a variety of workout types - cardio, yoga, boot camp style, core, Pilates and even a breathing meditation by Caron.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAI1BCIlXpWb79B5m...

I decided to try a bodyweight Tabata session and it made me push a little harder than I do on my own so I'm going to try more of these sessions. They should be easy to fit into a day. I finished off with some heel stretches.

My heart goes out to my progressive American friends.

P.S. I wondered if there was a better word than “progressive” and was somewhat shocked at the results when I googled “conservative antonym”. The first suggestions were “radical” and “socialist”. Hmm, maybe some bias there.