Training Log Archive: Bash

Timato and Aubrey dropped by for a visit on a sunny Sunday so we hiked over to Metcalfe Rock with the dogs. It's hunting season so we dressed brightly. So great to catch up!













(Both hikes today are logged at less than elapsed time.)

'Bent and I headed back out to do some assigned work on the Kolapore Wilderness Trails. We're very proud of our boardwalk improvements. :)

In 2008, I trained and raced ESAR with Canadian landscape artist Cory Trépanier and his brother Carl to help them prepare for a painting and backpacking trip to Ellesmere Island. That was early in his Into The Arctic project, which took him all over northern Canada for more than a decade. He painted almost 100 landscapes that have been shown in a dozen exhibitions in three countries. He created educational modules for schools and made three feature films.

Today was the launch of Cory's Into The Arctic book but it was more than that. It was a ceremony to celebrate his long journey and the significant body of work that came from it. Speakers and attendees included the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the Mayor of Caledon, the CEO of the Canadian Geographic Society, the CEO of the Trans Canada Trail, the President of Parks Canada and a smattering of us regular folks. Amongst other things, he was awarded a gold medal from the Canadian Geographic Society, one of their highest honours. It was a special day honouring a special person.



We went into Cory's barn studio to see what he's been working on.





There was a cool forest trail where we found page layouts from the book attached to trees.





And there was the book, of course, which looks fantastic.


https://www.intothearctic.ca/book/



Sadly, cancer has consumed a big chunk of Cory's boundless energy lately. We look forward to seeing him at the Grand Finale and Homecoming of Into The Arctic - the last exhibition at Science North from Nov. 13 to Feb. 21. After that, the paintings will be returned to their owners.
https://www.sciencenorth.ca/exhibits/arctic-exhibi...

Another gravel road run since my Achilles liked that better than trails last week. So far, so good.

As I write this, Reid Coolsaet has just finished a marathon. That may not sound unusual but (a) it took him 5 hrs 18 mins and (b) he still has 30 km to go. He's currently in 5th place in the 72 km La Mascareignes trail run at the Grand Raid on Ile de la Réunion. The Grand Raid course is known to be beautiful and really difficult.

Reid was leading overall for the first 15 km and he's still leading his age group as he runs behind 4 older Masters men. He's finished the biggest climbs and has done almost 2500 m of the 3900 m elevation gain. So cool to watch him kick butt!
https://grandraid-reunion-oxybol.livetrail.net/cou...

Speaking of top runners, 'Bent and I got to meet one of Canada's best trail runners on Sunday. Jeff Campbell, the son of our former neighbour in Collingwood, has an unusual story.

He's a lawyer who moved to Hong Kong in his early 30s. He wasn't an athlete at all but friends there convinced him to join them for some runs where he discovered a natural talent. Shortly after he started, his VO2max was measured at 79 - the highest ever measured at the facility - and after he lost weight, it got as high as 88. At age 39, after only 7 years of running, he has an impressive list of accomplishments in both trail and road running including 2:29 at the Berlin Marathon, 1st at the Hong Kong Half Marathon, 1st in the 100 km Oxfam Trailwalker and many more. If it weren't for the higher priorities of his legal career, wife and daughter, that list would be even longer. It was really fun and inspiring to chat with him.

It was a spectacular, warm autumn day and I spent most of it indoors due to first world problems:
1) Courier requiring signature, arriving between 8 am and 9 pm.
2) Internet technician arriving in the 12-5 pm window.

It was all done by late afternoon and I decided to try a run through Palgrave Forest to the Reddington mailbox at the edge of the forest. It wasn't much longer than my gravel road run last week but I'm feeling it more tonight. It felt soooo wonderful to be running trails though. I'll see how it feels tomorrow.

Vax Clinic report:

It's been almost 4 weeks since vaccine mandates were implemented in a number of settings in Ontario. More restrictions have been announced since then by private businesses and institutions. The people who waited until now to get immunized had no plans to come in - but at least they're here now.

About 1/3 of today's immunizations were first shots. A few weeks ago, it was around 50% of a bigger number so we seem to be hitting a wall. The people getting 2nd shots now probably got their 1st shots in September.

Some warm, genuine, friendly people still come in. An increasing number seem resentful or grumpy. When I asked, "Hi, how are you today?", there were a few "Terrible" responses. Several people volunteered that they were forced to come.

At least 4 clients said they were afraid - not always people who looked easily frightened. I suspect some of the grumpy people were afraid too. This didn't surprise Dr. 'Bent but I think fear of needles or health care settings is an under-appreciated reason that some people avoid vaccinations.