Fight Gone Bad

I received an email on Friday night asking me if I would be interested in helping local ultra athletes, Rob Mackay, Donald Peterson and Rumon Carter on team Length Matters - Endurance Athletes Gone Bad at the Fight Gone Bad fundraiser at Cross Fit Zone here in Victoria, B.C.

The event was raising funds for Running 300 for the Kids, where Rob and Don "will be running 7 days of 42.2 (a total of 300km in seven days) starting on Monday October 5th and ending on Sunday October 11th at the finish line of the Royal Victoria Marathon (RVM) to raise awareness and funds" in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria.

I believe that they raised over $1500 at the event and if sweat had a value, would have easily added several zeros to that total.

Although I opted for the lightest possible weight, Crossfit is as hard as I thought it would be.

For the curious, here is the Fight Gone Bad workout that we did:

1. Wall-ball: 20/10 pound ball. (Reps)
2. Sumo deadlift high-pull: (Reps)
3. Box Jump: 20" box (Reps)
4. Push-press: 75/35 pounds (Reps)
5. Row: calories (Calories)
6. 1 minute rest

1 minute at each station * 3.

Here are some (amazing as always) pictures that Rumon took of the event: http://www.flickr.com/photos/t_a_g/

Since this is my blog, these are the ones of me:





I

Unpacking

I went into my suitcase of hurt today and obviously packed for the wrong trip, since it didn't have what I wanted in there. I wanted ice cold blood and spiky veins, instead I got a sombrero and party hat.


The obscure analogy above is because I raced the Grouse Grind Mountain race today and was lacking the necessary skills to be competitive, but still had a blast while suffering.

It is a nasty little race. Only 2.9km, but 853 m elevation gain, for an average grade of 30%, in other words-steep and relentless.Don McPherson and Phil Severy built the Grind in the early 1980s, uninvited by the regional district or the owners of Grouse Mountain (thanks Wikipedia).
It is referred to as "Nature's Stair Climb", a very apt description, as it is almost entirely steps. You don't really run, so much as power hike and bound up it.It is a strange sort of fitness and is guaranteed to make you suffer.

I finished 8th in 30:37, and the winner went an insane 25:24, which crushed the course record. It has a sweet prize purse of $1500, so is well worth the hurt.

I had it reinforced that I am a bit more of an aerobic animal, a bit of a sad realization, because speed is sexy and it is over faster, but thems the breaks! Although I want to try my hand at the longer races, I'll always do these sort of short bursts of hurt, they are just fun and great fitness builders.








Sad attempt at a sprint finish (I lost)





(me with Team Groves)

Great Condom Ads

If you want to score-rubber up! Taken from Slate.com

Leaves

So this blog has become a deposit of videos, text and images that I have copied from other sites. I am just blown away by the creativity of others :)

Although this weekend speaks to the contrary, the weather has definitely started to turn. The mornings are a bit more crisp, the sun is setting earlier and my backpack is full of books again, this can only mean one thing, the seasons are changing.
I just saw this video over at The Backcountry blog and I love the sentiment and feeling of it.
Although the video is more about the pending winter months, I'll take it at face value and call it an ode to fall. I was talking to a friend the other day about how much I enjoy fall. There is something about the weather that makes me just want to get outside and play hard with my buddies!

So with that sentiment in mind, here you go:

Zimtstern "Leaves" from Zimtstern Snowboarding on Vimeo.

Appreciate while riding

Trail running with consequences

Wolves, boars and bears...oh my! Great commercial.

Slowing down and sample training

Not surprisingly, I have felt a bit tired the past week. I have had lots to do though, so it's been nice not to have to worry about "training".
Although I have been resting, I still like(need) to get out and get the blood moving around a bit. I get antsy if I don't have mud on my soles for a few days.

I met Jazz and little Finlayson this AM for a hike up at Caleb Pike in the rain. It was more of the West Coast mist that I associate with fall days. It is incredibly cleansing and it makes me want to play outside.

Finn is a 15 month old little stud. A lot of my friends have had kids in the past 2 years and I am constantly fascinated by them. Their ability to learn by pushing their limits is great. They are always observing, learning and trying...a good reminder that of how to keep life interesting and fresh.
Finlayson is beginning to get the hang of walking now and watching him waddle along the rocky shore, throwing rocks into the water, babbling away, happy as can be was a real treat. I spend so much time trying to move quickly through the trails and scenery that it was nice to slow the pace down and sit in one spot and just observe. . Although I try to soak up as much as I can when I am out cruising the trails, I also realize that there is a lot I don't see. The change in perspective is refreshing.

Although the TR finished over a week ago, I can still feel it in my legs, a nice reminder of the effort.
I have had a few people ask me recently how I trained for it. It was quite unscientific, more intuitive than planned, but here is a sample of what I did get up to for anyone who is interested. Short answer is lots of running, some of it fast, some of it hilly, with fatigue levels and terrain often dictating the pace.

I am going to have a go at getting back into some light training this week, to try and come around for the Victoria marathon, but I am in no way committing to that as a goal. I am just as likely to get into a season of fun races, x-country, some road racing...I'll let my fatigue and life as a student dictate that.

I am notorious for not keeping a training log, but here is what a sample of my training, based off of emails I sent to Aaron.
May 30-June 7
Saturday: AM 90 min bike with 6*1 min fast 20 min steady--transition run 4*3min steady 1 min fast with 2 min EZ 30 min cool down; PM 35 min EZ
Sunday: AM 90 min 75 min very strong over hilly trails; PM 35 min EZ
Monday: 50min EZ—PM drills+strength
Tuesday: 20 min wu 15*1:15 on/1 off 15 min cd 35 min bike to work; PM 65 min hilly ride home
Wednesday: 90 min EZ on hilly trails; PM 30 min EZ on bike
Thursday: AM 45 min AM run on trails; lunch 35 min run with 6*60 strides; 45 min bike home
Friday: 45 min with 1 * 4:15 min up hill TT just to see; PM 35 min EZ +drills and strength
Saturday: 20 min wu strides 10* 3min hard (very fast group) 1 min EZ 20 min cd; PM 35 min EZ
Sunday: 2:05 EZ at UBC endowment lands; PM 45 min EZ bike

June 8-June 14
Mon-AM 50 min; PM 45 min with strides
Tues:-2*45 min bike to-from work; PM 1:40 run with 6*3 min and 6*20 sec hill strides
Wed: 1:30 hilly on trails
Thurs: 2:00 hard and hilly bike—PM drills and strength (30 min)
Fri: 60 min with strides
Sat: 2:15 run with Canmore Challenge race 9th-bloody hard-Great to be racing on trails again. Afternoon hike 1 hours.
Sun: 3:15 run Canmore/Banff with Sulphur Mountain run to finish.

June 14-June 21
Monday: 1 hour bike
Tuesday: 2 hour hard hills on the bike; PM 1 hour run
Wed: AM 90 min; PM 30 +drills and strength
Thurs: AM 75 min with 6*3 min hills --felt awful
Friday: AM 30 min EZ trot (back sore)
Saturday: PM 90 min
Sunday: AM 1:50 tempo bike; 2.5 hour run

June 22-June 28
Monday: 60AM; PM 30 with some strength drills after
Tuesday: 90 min with 15*75 sec fast at the end--PM 60 min bike
Wed: 75 min with some tempo on the bike; PM 45 hilly run
Thurs: 70 min with some tempo (3*8 min w 2 min); PM 30 EZ with strength and drills
Fri: 45 EZ with strides
Sat: 25k trail race-Comfortably Numb -I won in 1:55-legs were a bit tired, but I was pleased with the effort-technical running was much better;
Sun: 2:30 with Kevin Titus-hilly run

June 29th-July 3
Monday-day off
Tuesday-2* 40 min bike (to-from work) & 2*40 min run (EZ)
Wednesday-AM: 30 min EZ run; 30 min swim; AM 2 run with some turnover (back sore); PM 70 min EZ bike with Simon
Thursday-AM 1600m swim with some effort; AM: 40 min hilly run—PM: 65 min VERY hilly 35 min up(ran hard) and 30 min down
Friday-AM 30 min drills& strength; 2* 40 min bike (to-from work); PM: 55 min build run.


July 13-20
Sunday: 1:45 very solid; PM 2.5hr ride
Monday: 2.5 hours hilly-legs were smashed
Tuesday: AM 45 with drills and strides; PM 60 min EZ
Wed: 60 min EZ
Thurs: AM 75 min with 8*2 min hills; PM 75 min
Friday: AM 30 min swim- PM 60 min bike
Saturday: AM 90 min with 6*1 mile fast; PM 3 hour bike with some tempo and 5* 6 min hills with a group; PM 45 min run
Sunday: AM 2.5 hours tempo second half; PM 70 min with some faster stuff in the second half

July 20-26
Monday: 50 min AM; PM 75 min bike
Tuesday: 2:45 hilly
Wed: 60 min with hill strides; PM 1:20 bike
Thurs: AM 90 min with 5*5 min; PM 90 min with Mt. Finlayson TT effort
Friday: 50 min EZ PM
Saturday: AM 3:05 1593m ascent/descent; PM 70 min EZ bike
Sunday: 4:15 with 1669 m ascent/descent-the descent here was tough. Quite steep and exposed, I had to take a couple walk breaks.

July 27-Aug 2
Monday: 45 EZ (super tired)
Tuesday: 50 with strides; 45 min swim
Wed: 2:15 with 10*3 min uphill then 20 min downhill hard (1600 m +/-)
Thurs: 3:15 with 1,850 m ascent/descent
Friday: 30 min EZ
Saturday: AM: 80 min with 35 min tempo (10.3 k) on a hilly grass loop; PM: 90 min bike with 5*2min with Lauren-35min run off EZ
Sunday: 2:10 hilly hard run; 30 min swim; PM: 40 min EZ


August 3-10
Monday: 60 min run with 2*8min at 3:30/km pace helping Lauren; PM: 80 min bike hilly
Tuesday: AM 55 min; PM 45 min with 10*30 sec hills up and down
Wednesday: AM 1:30 with 10* 75sec hard/1 min EZ and a long climb +/- 600m really worked the downhill; Pm 30 min EZ
Thursday: 30 min EZ swim & 1 hour EZ bike (tired)
Friday: AM 45 min with strides; PM 70 min hilly with 6*30 sec uphill strides
Saturday: AM 90 min with 5* 1 mile at Elk lake on 5:45 (4:56-4:55-4:50-4:47-4:44) fastest I have run in a long time; PM 2.5 hour bike with 40 min tempo with Lauren, then 6*2 min intervals on a steep uphill.
Sunday: 2:30 run 30 min solid climb in the middle-tried to work the second half-legs were tired from the day before
Monday: 30 min build run; 1 hour swim; PM60 min bike with some sprints; 50 min EZ run.

THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA'S BEST IDEA

Happy National Parks Day-The U.S. has some amazing scenery indeed.

She said yes!

"Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it"-Beyonce

What a great video

This race looks bloody hard, but amazing. Never say never, right!