Training Log Archive: Bash

Snowshoe trek to Metcalfe Rock with 'Bent, his sister Mimi and her husband Frank - a combination of windy fields, open deciduous forest bushwhacking, cedar-lined Bruce Trail and clifftop views. We lent them our guest snowshoes, which are half the size of theirs, and they loved them. They don't do many winter outings but I think they appreciate the magic now. Lots of family fun and conversation.





Look who's off leash - everybody! This winter BazingaDog has become a good off-leash dog for the first time since his early puppy days. Today we trusted him to bushwhack on his own for the first time in a decade. Although he sometimes hesitated before coming when called, he didn't run off like he used to. Good boy. Of course, AdventureDog was good too but he's always been super reliable. He was abandoned by his original owners and he's not willing to risk separation ever again.



Then we had a post-snowshoe campfire with takeout pizza heated on the grill.

This was probably the final Kolapore ski of the season for us. I went out with 'Bent - although he was cold so he would ski ahead and ski back to me. Also, he took 11 Strava segments so maybe he made up the part about being cold. The wind chill was *real* and there were occasional snow squalls. I always carry a good-sized pack on these wilderness trails. I rarely open it but today I threw on an extra layer and put on mitt covers.



After some glide wax, I started with decent glide that progressed to excellent glide by the end of the ski as the fresh snow in the tracks got skied on. I didn't have much grip on uphills though so it was more of an upper body workout at times. (I was wearing crown skis so it wasn't a grip wax issue.) We did one more loop of the Winter Only trails that often close before the other trails. It looks like this year the whole trail network will shut down in the next few days. We can't really complain. It's been a blast.



Time deducted for a chat with Bruce & Val King and Richard Ellen, as well as a polite discussion with a couple who had brought their German Shepherd, which is sadly verboten due to trail damage.

Solo ski around the north end of Kolapore including some bushwhacking, trail breaking across fields, a daring descent of New Chute and a Kolapore Church / Paradise Highway loop. Time deducted for a nice chat with Susan M., one of my friendly Strava segment rivals, and a porch visit with our neighbour Marla, who had baked fresh challah for us.

I can exhale now! Jasmin Paris just finished her 3rd loop at the Barkley Marathons with only 10 minutes to go before the 40-hr deadline. She becomes the first woman to finish a Fun Run since 2013.

Thomas Dunkerbeck finished his 3rd loop 22 minutes earlier. The most recent Barkley finisher, John Kelly, arrived much sooner - around 35.5 hours - and could have started his 4th loop before the 36-hr deadline. But he knows what that involves so he decided not to.

Ahead of them, Karel Sabbe started his 4th loop at 32:40 and Greig Hamilton (an Attackpointer) started at 34:54. They are the only runners left on the course now. They have until 7:54 pm to finish 5 loops and become the first Barkley finishers since 2017.

Treadmill run including a replay of Jamil Coury's film, "The Year The Barkley Won - 2018 Barkley Marathons".



The conch was blown at 7:54 am this morning - the earliest date ever. The field includes top ultrarunners John Kelly (the most recent Barkley finisher), Courtney Dauwalter and Jasmin Paris (both good candidates to become the first female finishers), Guillaume Calmettes, Harvey Lewis, Karel Sabbe and Canadian Jodi Isenor.

As per tradition, the official news source is Keith Dunn on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/keithdunn

There is occasional news from others using Twitter hashtag #BM100
https://twitter.com/hashtag/BM100?src=hashtag_clic...

Howie Stern has posted a few photos so far.
https://www.instagram.com/howiesternphoto/

Jamil Coury will do occasional live streams on his Run Steep Get High Youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoo0wb-sHBq5rZ6La...

John Kelly led out on Loop 2 at 8 hrs 17 mins followed by Karel Sabbe and Albert Casas. Michael Dubova left 5 minutes later. Courtney Dauwalter left at 8:41 in 5th place overall. These are good times for Loop 1 but it was daylight with good weather for Frozen Head State Park. Tonight it's going to rain - a lot.