Training update – Sunday April 21, 2013

When will winter end? It’s hard to train for a heat race when even spring doesn’t want to arrive. Last week was filled with all types of weather which made for a challenging training week. I ran through it all: sun, rain, freezing rain, snow, hail, extreme wind (I had to run twice as hard just to move forward) and of course, temperatures that ranged from -3 to +18 degrees Celsius. The weather didn’t deter me from running because even though I know what it will be like in Death Valley, California… HOT! The weather conditions for most ultra races cannot be predicted.

Having a busy work week along with other commitments I was still able to run close to my overall objective of 150km.

Day - Distance
Mon April 15th - 19.3km
Tues April 16th - 9.6km
Wed April 17th - 16.5km
Thurs April 18th - 9.6km
Fri April 19th - 12.1km
Sat April 20th - 49km
TOTAL - 116.1km

Up to this point in my training I have been concentrating on one speed workout a week, while the rest is focused on endurance and long gradual inclines. Over the next two months leading up to Badwater, I will include hill training to prepare myself for the three mountains that I will have to scale.

Even though I don’t like to take the time to stretch, this year I have been stretching at least 30 minutes after every run and even on my days off. I believe it has helped me recover quicker so that I can continue to train on consecutive days, with only minimal rest periods.

If you have any questions regarding my training or stretching, please do not hesitate to email me. In a different posting I will discuss what works for me with regards to nutrition while running.

Until next time… Happy running!

Julie, Sam and I having some fun at Wasaga Beach

Running can be a lonely activity

Running alone is great, it gives you time to think or just unwind from a long day at work. But there are times when having someone to talk to or just keep you company on those trail/roads, would make for a more enjoyable run.
My wife Julie really wanted me to have a running partner, so she decided to give me a rescue dog for my birthday. Our close friend Tory is a volunteer dog walker at the K-W Humane Society and was on the lookout for a dog that could keep up with me running and had a gentle heart. (Did I mention at this point I was terrified of large dogs I don’t know?!?!). We got the call that a beautiful Sheppard was up for adoption and we took her home that day.

Our second day with Sam (my actual birthday) was a memorable one. I went golfing with Julie, her uncle Tony and his daughter Nicole. Little did we know we were coming home to a disaster. Once we opened the door to the basement the smell was recognizable and revolting. Sam had pooped everywhere, stepped in it, and then proceeded to leave paw prints on the walls. I believe the words that escaped my mouth were…”this is not what I wanted for my Birthday!”  Its funny looking back now…Sam was the best birthday present I ever received, and her new crate was the second.

Sam is a German Sheppard, Husky, Doberman, Collie, and Labrador mix. The best of everything! She is 4 years old and such a great runner. In the beginning I didn’t want to push her too far because I didn’t know much about dogs and their ability to run long distances. This week, I took Sam on her first 20km run. I was quite surprised. We only took minimal walk breaks, and easily finished in 2 hours.

Running with Sam, pushes me to be a better runner. My pace has increased and she’s a great reminder to stay hydrated. In the winter while running, she will dip her nose into the snow, flick it up and eat it. On my long days when I run 60 km, I usually pick up Sam back at the house for the last 10 km. Its great motivation to finish those long runs.

And the best thing about Sam…she never turns down a run.

P.S.

If you’re interested in adding a canine to your training runs, I highly recommend adopting a dog from the KW humane society:

http://www.kwhumane.com/adopt/

In the Beginning...

Growing up, I loved running! Today I love it even more! When I was young, I used running as endurance training for hockey. It wasn’t until after I stopped playing hockey competitively that I began to run longer distances. It all started during a long weekend camping trip when my sister Stacey invited me to join her in running the Scotiabank Marathon in Toronto later that summer. What I didn’t know at the time, was only six short years later, I would be running in the 2013 Badwater 135 Ultramarathon. For those who don’t know, this race is 135 miles long (217km) non-stop from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney, CA in temperatures up to 130F (55C). The Badwater course covers three mountain ranges for a total of 13,000 feet (3962m) of cumulative vertical ascent and 4,700 feet (1433m) of cumulative descent. It is the most demanding and extreme running race offered anywhere on the planet.

After completing my first marathon with my sister, I told her I would never run that far again. I honestly thought that was the truth. Yesterday, I ran farther then a marathon distance, by myself, in the rain, as part of training.

It only took a couple of weeks after that first marathon to realize I wanted to complete harder and tougher marathons with challenging environmental elements. While researching races such as The Great Wall of China Marathon, the Mount Everest Marathon, I eventually came across the website for the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon. At first I couldn’t believe anyone would run that far, but after reading the majority of the website, I was hooked. It was love at first sight. I knew that completing the Badwater 135 would be my next athletic goal.

Having a goal in mind was one thing, but completing a goal like this is another. Criteria for your application to even be reviewed it must include: a minimum of three completed 100 mile races. Additional endurance adventure races and experience crewing for another Badwater participant probably doesn’t hurt. The application is then reviewed by a panel of judges, who only choose up to 100 runners a year. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy, considering I never ran further then 42km, and I struggled through the final kilometers during that race.  After researching training, nutrition, stretching, and recovery, and the help of family, close friends and of course my loving wife, Julie, I knew that getting to the Badwater finish line was achievable!

Throughout this blog I will tell you about my journey to Badwater.  I will also provide current training updates, gear recommendations as well as anything I find interesting in the world of running. Please follow along on my journey from the rural roads in Cambridge Ontario to the hot roads in Death Valley California….and beyond….if my wife lets me ;)……Just kidding Julie J