Catch up time

I got in trouble at home for not at least posting my weekly updates for a while :)

So quick summary for the last 3 weeks

11/9/2009 — 11/15/2009 66.8 km 5:55:47

11/16/2009 — 11/22/2009 71.6 km 6:12:00

11/23/2009 — 11/29/2009 91.4 km 8:09:40

Home life and work life have been pretty busy, and and don't forget puppy life. Strider is doing great, he is in what we call the "troublesome threes" - but a sweetheart of a dog.

I am happy with my training - Derrick has been pushing, but not too hard and I have been responding well. I had a 34km run last Sunday (15th) and then B2B this week with my highest ever weekend of 52.25km.

Christmas is just around the corner so things are not going to settle down, but it is a great time of year, so all good.

Weekly Summary Nov 2 - Nov 8

11/2/2009 — 11/8/2009: 78.6 km 7:15:10

A fun week of training that included a bit of everything. Tempo/ Hill repeats / Tire (kegger) pulling and FF run. Finished off the week with a 3:00 run in the Gatineau park trails with Eric, Sunday.

Sunday's run was tough - we did a lot of climbing - just what I wanted - but at then end my heel (where my stress fracture was) started to really bother me. I have had this once before and a couple of easy days and it will get better. Hope it is the same this time. Before the fracture I had no pre-warnings, so don't know if it is related or me just being paranoid - anyhow better safe than sorry.

We did have a light dusting of snow this past week, but the temperatures have warmed right back up so it will still be at least until December before the snow shoes come out.

To begin the Christmas season, everyone should get out and Elf Yourself

Have a great week.

2010 Plan

Well pick yourself up and dust yourself off, no time to be sulky.

I am still feeling very hurt about the R&I cancellation, but things happen for a reason, so I am not going to dwell on it. Gear will be stowed and time has come to refocus.

I have decided to switch gears and try and complete my 2011 goal in 2010 - running and finishing the Haliburton Forest 100 mile Ultra.

I have put together a list of races for 2010 that I hope combined with the training will get me to the finish line in Haliburton.

March 6th - Peak Snowshoe Challenge Marathon

April 19th - Boston Marathon

June 5th - Peak Adventure 50 Mile Ultra

Sept ??th - Haliburton 100 Mile Ultra

I find myself as scared and excited about this as I was with R&I, and also feel that this will help build a stronger base heading into R&I in 2011

One final note I'd like to add. This is not something I will be able to do myself. I have the love and support of the family which is critical, and have also secured coaching from Derrick Spafford, who has agreed to work with me through all the training and racing. Thank you all.

Cancelled

Temporarily Disappointing News

Hey Gang,

I'm afraid I have some disappointing news for you all. The crew and I will be scaling back the 2010 Rock and Ice Ultra to just the 1-day Cold Foot Classic; we have no choice but to cancel the K-Rock and Diamond Ultra next year.

The whole 'global economic crisis' has, in fact, been quite devastating to the mining and mineral exploration industry. Despite working in mineral exploration for nearly 20 years I have not been able to secure enough work this year to fund the Rock and Ice Ultra. We have the most amazingly supportive sponsors with BHP Billiton, MATRIX, Arctic Response and others but the operational costs for this event are many times more than that of a 'hot' desert race.

The crew and I have also just landed one of the very, very few exploration contracts in Canada and it will keep us working all through the winter. We have to take this work, there is nothing else out there and it will get us back on our feet so we can plan for Rock and Ice 2011.

This is very disappointing to me, the crew and our sponsors but we are committed to race again in 2011.

Weekly Summary Oct 26 - Nov 1

10/26/2009 - 11/1/2009: 80.3 km 7:13:07

First welcome back to Sara and Derrick from their first trip to the Rockies. I knew you would love it and never want to come back. Sara has posted a few amazing shots on her blog and Derrick on his

So the week in summary. Tuesday was a progressive run starting at 4:40/km and working up to 4:10. I did way better than I thought. Thursday was a tempo run on an easy trail, felt strong. Saturday was slogging through the Gatineau trails with pack at 7lbs in the rain, wind and mist, very tough hills and rocks and streams.

Couple of pics from Saturday.

In the mist

Water running down the trail

I was wasted after Saturday's run, but come Sunday the legs were not too bad and managed a respectable 1:34 run.

So I am in the strength phase now and as a result have just finished building my own Bubba - but mine is named Kegger.

1st pull in the backyard in fashionable guitar hero pants and mickey crocs .

So the pack is feeling good, doesn't seem to affect too much while running, but I can definitely feel is post run - tired.

No more to add