We Are In!!

Today we received emails from StanB informing Neil and I that we are in the 2010 West Highland Way Race! I am perhaps feeling similar emotions as all entrants...Fantastic!...good timing for a goal for 2010...95 miles is a long way...I better figure out how to tape my feet...what will the training plan be...how many days should we arrive in Scotland prior to the race...what about crew...how long will we stay post race...

And the biggest thought of all...I really would like Neil to run his own race this year. He stayed with me last year to help me through my first 100 miler (well almost!) It was a team/family effort and we did it! I am concerned about getting lost for the first bit before the support runner can join in...maybe I will find a runner with a similar pace to run with...this also means 2 crews.

This news comes at a great time. I have been immersed in my student assignments and upcoming final exam and a big reorganization in the work place.

WHW...2010...our Olympic Event!

Lost in Pacific Spirit Park!

A myriad of trails!


One of the many trail options!


The "Start".



Kitty enjoying the fire at home!!


After a busy week and both Neil and Kitty coming home on Friday (Neil was in Alberta - Kitty has spent the last week at the Veterinary Hospital) it was a bit chaotic trying to get out the door at an early hour. We were heading out to Pacific Spirit Park at the University of BC to join up for a flash event with Club Fat Ass. A few crazies were planning to do a 100 miles on a 10km loop in this park. Neil and I attended this event last year and were so impressed with the plentiful and beautiful running trails in the park. We anticipated several paces and runners coming and going throughout the day to keep the 100 mile runners company. A very informal just "come out and run event". We arrived a few minutes after 9AM but missed the official start time. We set off with no directions or map - forgot to print off the details of the 10 km route they were all running. No worries - we will recall it from last year we said. ;-) The trails were covered in Maple leaves and puddles after all the rain we have had in the last few days. It was raining lightly -then heavily - then torrential (should have brought my hat!) To cut to the chase - we ended up being completely off the 10km loop and think that we ran most of the trails in the park by the time we were done! We were totally surprised that we could be out there running the trails for 3 hours and not run into another person in this event! We must have gone terribly wrong! We finally (I did) ask someone for directions and the dear lady sent us in the direction of our car. About 15 minutes from the car we ran into a group participating in the outing. Tim, Wendy, Sibylle, and Lori. It felt great to see others out there! Amazing how you can be on a network of trails and never run into each other. It was an awesome run and wow could I feel my hamstrings from the continuous stride in the cold - just a couple of degrees above zero. As I write this from the comfort of my couch with the fire glowing, the wine poured (in my WHW goblet), Heartbeat on TV - the sound of the heavy rain hits the roof...those going for the 100 miles today are still out there! My feet hurt thinking about them. Hope they are well bundled up. Record snowfall at Whistler for this time of year (507cm of snow) and on our local ski mountains - very exciting to have a good snow base for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics now less than 3 months away!

Club Fat Ass - Go Deep!

Today Neil and I joined up with Club Fat Ass for the run "Go Deep". Cheryl a long time running friend is the host of this event so we always make an effort to participate in it. It was great to have a run with both Cheryl and Rhonda. Good conversation on the out and back and great to catch up with their lives. One of those classic outings of special people, good conversation and some good exercise! The run starts in Deep Cove in North Vancouver and does a steep climb for a long way - we ran into our first snowfall of the season! Today we only had a couple of hours so we cut the run short and do what the Fat Ass Club calls a "custom" - we did 2 hours. Our cat Kitty (who is in his 20th year!) has been diagnosed with Pancreatitis. He was not a happy cat and Neil took him to the small animal Veterinarian on Thursday. He has been hospitalized since then. Neil said to Kitty tonight when we were visiting him - staying over in the animal hospital is just like being at camp! Fortunately, the treatments seem to be working so hopefully Kitty will return home soon! Flood warnings issued for the next few days due to the snowfall in the mountains and high rainfall predicted for the next few days!

Crewing for A 100km Road Run - Haney to Harrison!

Today Neil and I had the pleasure of crewing our local 100km road race - Haney to Harrison for Andy Bachmann. It was Andy's 5th consecutive year he has participated in this event. As all you Ultra Runners out there know...100km on the road - Nasty!! It is Canada's National 100km Road Championship. Last year Andy finished 2nd in this event. He has many top ultra finishes in his accomplishments. Last week when we were in Calgary I emailed Andy...are you doing the 100km road event?...the entry closes in 4 hours! He signed up. Neil has completed this event 5 years in a row and decided to take this year off from it. Andy wanted to do the same...5 years consecutively! This event is well known for the weather. When you sign up - you sign up for wet, wet, wet! Today it lived up to it's reputation! Enjoy the Video Clips that capture the highlights of the day and the demanding funny moments of crewing for an Ultra Runner! Well done Andy...ouch! 9hrs 48mins. Amazing for a guy who likes to ride his bike and only did 2 road runs in training for this beast! Of course I can not mention Andy's achievements without highlighting his most incredible support Anke and their 5 children. Andy and Anke also run a dairy farm...so every time I have a moment when I think oh...I'm busy...can't run for a few days...I think of the Bachmannn's and all that they accomplish and I get myself out there!


Instructions from the runner at the start...ALL BETS ARE OFF IF IT RAINS! :) It poured rain all day ! 5 degrees and Windy!


At about 3-4 hours in...Andy wants Licorice and Coke! Neil forgot to turn off the video and he questions? Did he say Licorice...that's a first! Thankfully we found the Licorice in his supplies!


A Classic...a request for coffee with cream at the finish line!He had completed aprox 92km at this point with 8 km to go

Thankfully we found a place that had coffee! Congratulations Andy...Welcome to the H2H 100km 5 Year Consecutive Club! Amazing!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Today was October 31st - HALLOWEEN! Where those who are inclined get dressed up in their favourite costume and Trick or Treat or attend parties! We had a few party options but chose to stay home tonight. We had been in Calgary Wed - Friday where I was speaking at a Public Health Conference. Unfortunately I came down with H1N1 earlier in the week with thankfully fairly mild symptoms of a cough, tiredness, and shivers. I missed one day of work but really wanted to make my speaking engagement. Neil came along as he has clients in the Calgary area. It was cold in Calgary but we did get out for a run Thursday evening on a bike trail along the freeway. The prairie provinces are always interesting to visit - usually the weather dominates the interest! We arrived in Vancouver last night to a horrendous rain storm to drive home in. Overnight the skies cleared and we had a beautiful run on a local trail for a couple of hours, the Maple Trees are looking bountiful in colour and the trails are covered in the fallen leaves. Another highlight this week was the lighting of the Olympic Torch with the Vancouver Officials in Greece and the torch was flown to Victoria for the start of the Torch Relay which will travel throughout communities across Canada. Olympic Fever is here! (or is it H1N1?) Today Neil and I submitted our entries to the West Highland Way Race...WOW!Exciting! A great goal for 2010! A new procedure is in place so we will wait and see the outcome! HAPPY HALLOWEEN! And a bonus extra hour of sleep for us tonight as we "Fall" back our clocks!

The Baggers Banquet!

Ken Legg the Winner of the Bagger Challenge! David Presenting the "Squashed" Quaich to Ean for 2nd Place! Neil having a Sip from the Quaich! Wendy and I tied...But I did a few "extra" Peaks! A Toast to "The Baguettes"
The Cake with the Map and Rescue Helicopters.

Friday night after work we headed off for the Baggers Banquet. Neil had arranged a hotel for us to stay in as it was over an hour drive back home and we were anticipating the potential for a late night. The party was hosted by David and Julia who live in North Vancouver the creators of the Bagger Challenge. We were no sooner onto the Freeway when the traffic came to a halt. The traffic was blocked all the way to North Vancouver. We were an hour and a half late but did arrive just in time to eat! Excellent food and sharing of Bagger outings. Great to catch up with fellow Baggers who had accomplished some great challenges. David did the ceremonial prize giving of the Quaich to the overall winner Ken Legg. Good work Ken...41 out of 44 Peaks! There was another Quaich to give away - the original one that arrived in the post from Scotland - the base squashed - the lop sided Quaich! David managed to get another one delivered (in a box this time) for presentation to Ken. The winner of the squashed Quaich was Ean Jackson who placed second and showed great spirit of competition throughout the challenge. Ean and David were also presented with a few gifts that resembled "Rescue Helicopters" to remind them of their early morning lift to work! The lady Baggers the "Baguettes" were celebrated with a toast in the Quaich. The cake was brilliant - a map of all the Peaks in the competition with a "helicopter" strategically placed! Eric (Ean and Sibylle's son) won the "bag" that Neil donated as a prize. A great night...and a great Bagger Challenge! Wow did I sleep well for a solid 8 hours! Neil and I went to the LSCR which was very close to the hotel and did a 2 hour road run which felt so good! No maps, no route finding, no rock faces to scramble over...just me and my iPOD working the road!

The South Needle - the Last of the Bagger Challenge!

Where the trail head starts.


Heading Up!


Climbing Over!


Making our own trail down!


The Top!

Today Neil and I met up with Wendy Montgomery at the Gazebo (the location of the former Gazebo - it was demolished in the snow this winter!) in LSCR with our bikes to ride 5km to Hydraulic Creek where the trail head is located for the climb up the South Needle (1163m). It was a misty day but no heavy rain like yesterday. We found the trail head and then stashed our bikes in the bush. The climb went straight up. It was very dense forest with "needles" covering the trail. There were many fallen decaying trees along the trail that we managed to maneuver over. It was a steady steep climb for aprox 1hr:45minutes. I needed my hands to pull myself up several times. Wendy and I bush whacked a few times to avoid the wet exposed slippery rocks. Those little blueberry bushes are quite strong - they must have deep roots as I choked many of them today on the way up and down! There were some sections today that had a very steep drop off. Ean described it as a kilometer drop without a bounce! Today the fog disguised the steep drops which really helped Wendy and I. I'm sure if we could have seen what was below us we would not have been happy climbers! Coming down was not as slippery as I had anticipated when we were going up. I kept thinking this is going to be terrible going down but the thick "needles" really helped prevent severe slipping. When in doubt Wendy and I just go down on our butts and slide! This is a technique we have used on a few descents now! Round trip back to the Gazebo approximately 4 hours. A great way to end the Bagger Challenge for us. The weather forecast is for a few good days this week but Neil and I have a full slate at work and can't get away - unlike a few other Baggers we know! Bagger Challenge wrap up party and prize giving is Friday night!