A Solid-Footing Kind Of Weekend

   Last weekend was my first opportunity to try out my new CamelBak but, run-wise, I unfortunately had to cut things short due to unexpectedly icy conditions. So not much actual running last weekend.
   This weekend, I was all set for another run but we've had some fresh snow over the last couple of days and the temps were down around -3C so I wanted to be a little more prepared for the elements when I went out there.
   

Spent some time screwin' around
and then I headed out~

To this end, I found myself some hex screws, got my oldest and least favourite kicks (Nike Pegasus, if you really wanna know---I actually like them but I like the others more), and I drilled some screws into the bottom of them. Didn't feel like dragging out power tools or anything and found that a ratchet and socket did the trick quite nicely.
   Today I headed to Komoka Provincial Park, being somewhat content to pay the $5.25 for two hours of run'n'fun time there, no big deal. There were quite a few people there, way more than I expected, but I was the only one (that I saw) who was there for running the trails. Running into other people while I'm out is one of the things I enjoy about trail running. Lots of dogs, as well, mostly on leashes...

   The screwshoes worked awesomely. The first part of the run was fairly level so difficult to gauge their effectiveness. Once I hit the hilly spots, though, I found they made a huge difference. So much easier to run when self-preservation is not the foremost thing on your mind!
   This was my first trip to Komoka since early Fall and it seems like a whole different place in the winter, surprise, surprise! I ran there a fair bit back in the summer but with all the leaves now gone and with the ground snow-covered, many of the landmarks successfully disguised themselves and I'd have to stop and re-orient myself quite often. It's also a different experience when you can see so much more deeply into the forest---it gives you a totally unique perspective on the terrain and where you are in it. Pretty cool, actually.
   

The Steps--good time to turn around

I only really wanted to run 5K today, so I started on the white trail and ran west til I got to 2.5K and then I turned around and headed back. This 2.5 K took me right to the bottom of The Steps, a rather imposing (especially when you're tired) wooden structure which takes you up from the edge of the river back to the top of the valley. I briefly contemplated conquering them but....no. Quite happy to turn around there and head back.
   Part of the reason I only wanted to do 5K is that there were a couple of times in the summer I "overdid" it. Bad cramps ensued and, also given that I haven't really run in almost 2 months, it seemed like 5K was a good target. There was a little more walking on the way back but I figure I ran well over 4K and I'm happy with that.
   Afterward, I felt none the worse for wear. Knees were a little sore and the Achilles were letting me know about it a touch. Cramping was not an issue, likely at least due partially to the fact that there was not the same fluid loss as there might have been in the summer.

The Thames--much higher and faster
in the wintertime

   Best of all, fitting my shoes with screws has made it that much easier to contemplate getting back out there again. Knowing that footing will not be an issue gives me little excuse for not putting in more mileage than I might have otherwise. What I need to do now is suck it up when it gets dark and get out there on the occasional weeknight. Not going to get much accomplished by running once a week!

Just really pretty

   

Testing The New CamelBak

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This past Saturday was my first chance to hit the trails in this new year. Up until then, I had had this miserable cold and godawful cough and it's only been in the last couple of days that I thought I might be able to get out for a run and actually survive. I've also spent the last three weeks on the couch and feel so much better now that I'm back in my own bed.

Me, feeling a little more badass

   This then was also an opportunity to use my brand new CamelBak! We had ordered it online as my Christmas present back in early December and then watched it sit around in Auckland, New Zealand for almost a full month. It finally made its way to London, Canada a week ago today, to my great excitement (my wife thinks I'm very easy to please...)

The paved trail leading
to Kains Woods.

   I drove to the nearby Kains Woods, parked, and began a brisk walk to the start of the trail. I had brought along an empty water bottle stashed in one of the front pockets of the vest just to see if it would get in the way of my arm as I ran. This was not really an issue but I did find that my arm action tended to squeeze the bottle out of its pocket but it could very well be that a full bottle and a tighter cinch will fix that. I also found that I needed to extend the straps to their limit, just to get them done up. What I have is the Camelbak Circuit, so not the largest hydration vest and I am a large man (hopefully getting smaller!) The overall fit, however, was quite comfortable!

...but ice was a little different.

   

Mud I could have handled...

We've had quite a warm spell here in London the past few days and almost all the snow has disappeared. Because of this, I was under the assumption that the trails would be reasonably clear but, alas, this was not the case. The trails had been used while the snow was still there and consequently were packed down. The recent thaw had done nothing more than turn them into wet, slippery ice. The only white stuff in the whole forest was on the exact same spot I wanted to run on. Had I known about this, I either

A small animal skull, attached
to a tree. It probably meant
"go no further"...

would have worn more appropriate footwear or I simply would have stuck to the streets. I have had a couple of horrendous falls due to ice this winter and the prospect of any more greatly distressed me. So gingerly I stepped! I actually managed to run just off to the side of the actual trail up until the forest seemed to close in on me and I basically turned my run into a hike. Still, it was wonderful being out in the woods and be able to wear shorts, no less! Can hardly wait for spring!

What in blue blazes?!

Down by the Thames

Ran on that boardwalk
into the forest, returned
by a different route.

Running up the side of a hill.

The obligatory coyote warning

The afternoon was not without incident...

One missing Yak Trak---they
probably went through the
dryer...

The Coughing-My-Lungs-Out Blues!

   Well, we're already into the new year and I would love to be able to describe to you all the snowy running I've been doing but the fact of the matter is...I can't! I've actually been sicker than a dog (not sure where that expression comes from) since about Dec. 31, as the woman who was sitting right beside me in the movie theater that evening can attest to.
   What started out as just a small tickle in my chest progressed rapidly to full-fledged, gut-wrenching hacking attacks that are still ongoing (but somewhat diminished) as we speak. I've spent the last four nights on the couch so that Doralyn, my wife, could get a little sleep and basically have slept sitting up because any time I lie down my lungs start to whisper to me (they sound kind of like elephants, trumpeting from afar) and this always leads to another attack. Got bad enough that I even followed my wife's request that I visit the doctor.
   So, there has been no running. This has been okay because when you can't even imagine running you don't miss it all that much!
   I did engage in some running-related stuff over the holidays, courtesy of receiving a CamelBak  hydration vest from Doralyn, a Running Room gift card from my son, Bryant, and a Sport Chek gift card from my stepson, Keenan. 

Hopefully it's left New
Zealand by now!

   After my trail-running experience this past summer, the CamelBak became almost a necessity. Running trails meant being out much longer and prior to that I'd been getting by with an armband bottle. This more or less had been doing the trick while I was only doing 5K runs but was problematic out on the trails. I had my water run out on me a couple of times before I got wise and started carrying a larger bottle in a backpack. This, however, necessitated constantly stopping, removing the backpack, etc. Hence the need for the hydration vest. Oddly enough, we ended up searching all over the internet for the one I wanted and ended up having to order one from New Zealand. And, a little sadly, it is still in transit!

Running Room commercial?
Should I have been paid for this?

   With my Running Room certificate, I went out and bought CamelBak bottles I`ll be able to use in the front of the vest. Then, with a little left over on the card, I was able to pick up some socks, some Nuun, a lock (in case I accidentally actually use my gym membership) and a couple of protein bars the cashier threw in. Good stuff.

And should Sport Chek
pay me, too?

   Then it was on to Sport Chek. There, I was torn between putting the gift card toward hiking boots or trail running shoes. Couldn't find the shoes so bought myself a pair of Merrell Moabs. My wife and I have talked at length about hiking the trails in the London area so this was kind of what I had in mind. If not for being sick, I would have used them by now!
   Hopefully, the lungs will mend soon and I'll actually feel like running!