Running in Hyde Park - London

Running in Hyde Park is one of my favourite things to do in London. It always seems so peaceful - no bears, cougars, cars or wasps! Just a beautiful park with peaceful gardens. After the run we have the routine of stopping at Starbucks for the Latte and then head back to the hotel. Today we set out to visit the neighbourhoods of Notting Hill and Portobello Road. Very quaint on a Sunday with all the market stalls. We took the underground to Canary Warf, Greenwich (to see the meridian line which represents Greenwich Mean Time), Limehouse to visit The Narrows (Gordon Ramsay's Pub) and made it back to Knightsbridge for our 8:30 dinner reservations at a Thai Restaurant. A full day in London...tomorrow may be a bit more of a shopping day...of course after the run in Hyde Park!

STORMY 50 Miler! My favourite local trail event!

The Bear!

The 5am Starters!

The nice soft trails in Squamish!

Interesting terrain with large rocks and note the moss!

The dense woods...running over a swamp...glad there is a board walk!

It is thick with foilage.

This weekend was the 10th Anniversary of STORMY Trail Race. In it's origin STORMY was 64km, then 67km then it developed into a 50mile (80km) event, a 100 miler and a relay. It takes place over 2 days with the 100 mile event starting at 10am on Saturday, the 50 mile event and relay starting at 6am on Sunday. STORMY takes place in Squamish BC - known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada. Squamish is located on the Sea to Sky Highway (the road to Whistler). Neil and I decided to run this together again this year. The wasps can be nasty on this event and I now carry an Epi Pen due to some bad reactions to wasp and black fly bites. I am pretty nervous on the trails at this time of the year but glad I can have my own personal Dr. just in case I need the care! Neil and I usually spend the night before the 50 mile event in Squamish but due to competing demands on our time we had Saturday at home and left the house at 2:15am to make the early start that is offered at 5am. A bit Crazy! We arrived to a very quiet check - in with Wendy the Race Director being the only one awake just after 4am. Wendy gave us a briefing on how things have progressed in the event so far and who was in the lead and who had dropped out. There were only 4 early 50 miler starters, Neil and I and 2 others - we really like setting out in a small pack. We had the trails to ourselves for a few hours before the relay and fast runners started to catch us throughout the day. It was the first time for the 2 others who joined us - one was from Alaska and the other, a local. Wendy re-assured the runners that we knew our way and to stick with us for the first bit in the dark. Not long after setting off we were slightly off course ;-) it's easy to do in the dark as we have taken several different routes in this area throughout the year. We corrected our mistake and we were back on course! One of the runners fell behind and Neil ran back to make sure she would make the correct turns (nice guy!). The day light seemed to appear sooner than what I remember and we had our headlamps off not long after setting out. The course consists of a mixture of trails and some open road. When in the trails it is really dark with the dense forest and canopy over head. You pop back out onto the road and it is like the lights have been turned on. At one of the early aid stations we see Al, a 100 mile runner taking a break and we were uncertain if he would be carrying on. The aid stations were fantastic. After last weekends journey of 16 hours with no aid - we really appreciated them! The volunteers are a core group of people that really help Wendy on race day...awesome job volunteers! One of my memories of the aid stations is Bruce and Martha Grant's aid station at Edith Lake which appears to be in the middle of no where when we approach it on the run. Their potatoes were perfect and have you ever seen green Olives at an aid station before? Nice! I love Olives...usually in the evening hours...but they do go down well in the early morning on the trails! The temperature started to heat up just before noon when we were climbing 9 mile hill. (not quite 9 miles...but enough!) We did it well and we were pleased to see Dave and Helen who were volunteering at the aid station at the top of 9 mile hill. Dave (from the previous 2 Bagging outings) says his tummy is just fine despite drinking the swamp water! They had good cookies here and Advil - thanks Helen! My feet were acting up...they had been great on the previous long outings by smearing Vaseline all over them as recommended by Neal at the West Highland Way. I re-applied the Vaseline out there and it helped for a bit. Once the feet start burning it is really hard to do anything to make them feel good. After leaving the Powerhouse Aid Station for the second time for the last 12km I felt really determined to finish. Just a couple of distractions along the way. I heard a crash and a loud scream behind me...another 50 mile runner wiped out and fell hard...he said he was cramping badly and wiped out from the cramps! Ouch! He told me he was fine and to carry on. Once I caught up to Neil he said you go ahead...just in time to be first upon the Bear! The Bear was right to my left on the trail...it was so close I reacted with silence, I just kept running and said nothing, I was afraid to startle the bear. Neil a few seconds behind me comes upon the bear and shouts BEAR! BEAR! The Bear starts thrashing away and thankfully takes off in the opposite direction. The final few km's were all about getting it done! It was great to finish and to hear every one's stories of their day at the finish line. The post-race barbecue was a hit! Nice Chicken! ;-)
That was # 4 of the STORMY 50 mile event for both Neil and I. 7 STORMY events consecutively for Neil and a total of 6 STORMY events for me! Thanks Wendy for a great event!! Oh must report - Al who we came upon resting at the aid station did finish! Congrats to all those who participated in STORMY. We did not get stung by any wasps out there...but we were the lucky ones...others we met along the route had been stung by wasps nesting in the ground. Last weekend as I posted both Neil and Craig had been stung...Craig's bite turned nasty and he had to make a visit to Emerg...they are such a trail hazard! Be careful out there!

Gambier Island Masochist Ubermensch - Done!

On the Water Taxi at 6am - on our way to Gambier Island.

The Water Taxi.

1st Peak of the Day - Mt. Artaban

Peaceful view from the top looking back to the mainland.

Running along the road on our way to Peak # 2

Neil and I at the waters edge - making Liddell a water bag too!

The trail going up Mt.Liddell.

Lost Lake.

The water stop - thank-you Craig!!

Coming Off Mt. Liddell - steep!

Lots of twigs everywhere!

Neil on Mt. Killam

The Water Taxi waiting for us - 10:15pm!

Thirsty in Horseshoe Bay!

Gambier Island is a small island off the coast of Vancouver that just happens to have 3 peaks on it that are included in the Bagger Challenge. There had been some discussion...could all 3 peaks be done in one day on foot? Neil and Craig started to up the discussion and curiosity so much that Craig actually did a reconnaissance visit to the island earlier in the week. While on the island Craig climbed one of the peaks (Artaban) and did a strategic water drop. At 6am on Saturday morning Neil, Craig, Dave, Wendy and myself boarded a water taxi at Horseshoe Bay which dropped us on Gambier Island. The first peak Artaban was interesting terrain of fallen trees, green mossy areas and that rock that is unique to the islands. I found myself wandering off the path a few times and noticed that I had to pay attention to the markers. On top of Artaban the view was so peaceful with the morning mist still over the water. I could have stayed longer to enjoy it but we had a mission to accomplish so off we went. We continued on a trail that crosses the island. Once off Artaban we went down to the water to officially claim the next peak a waterbag. We ran along a dirt road for a few km's and then found a trail that took us in the direction of Mt. Liddell. I was confused with my directions at this point and kept asking are we now going up Liddell? No...we are still crossing the island and will at some point come across the trail head. The day was warming up and we were all doing our best to not go through our fluid too quickly. Tough thing to do when all you really want to do is guzzle that bottle of fluid in your hand. Water was found at Lost Lake and Gambier Lake but I was paranoid to drink from it (had Giardia a few years ago!) The others used water treatments such as chlorine and iodine. Wendy very kindly gave me her remaining city water and she filled up with the lake water - nice friend! ;-) Dave lead the way and stopped when he saw some tape marking a trail to the left. He was asking Craig...is this where we turn?... when all of a sudden Neil shouted RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all took off like sprinters...I clued in very quickly that we had hit a wasp nest when Neil and Craig were swearing and ouching. What a freak out. Neil kept saying keep going...keep going...they were following us for a bit. Once we stopped we discovered Neil had been stung 3 times and Craig once. I always carry Benadryl tablets and an Epinephrine pen with me on these outings. I had a bad reaction last year from a combination of wasp and black fly bites. Both Craig and Neil took some Benadryl. What a freaky thing to happen in the middle of no where. We were hours away from the water and a taxi off the island. We now had to go back in the direction of the nest and make the left turn at the junction where the wasps were. We stayed high in the woods - all I could think about was that we were going to hit another nest. When you listened Wendy and I noticed you could hear a humming of wasps in this section. I was really freaked out but kept moving and tried to be brave like my fellow baggers! Not too long after this we found the water that Craig had dropped and a special treat of some taco chips! ;-) Nice salty ones! Once we started climbing Liddell it soon became obvious that we had to keep our eyes on the markers. There was plenty of decaying blowdown and scruff everywhere. It was a completely canopy covered forest climb where we were constantly going over/under logs and stumps. I put my foot through several rotten stumps and broke several branches that I thought were good hand holds. It was steep at times but the challenge was really trying to stay on the trail. There were a few cliffs near the top where we were completely off the trail but made the decision to keep going. Wendy smashed her ribs at one point. Ouch! Craig gave me a couple of good pushes to get up and over a few obstacles. Neil was pulling and Craig was pushing at one point. Once back on the trail it was a bit tamer. On the top we fueled up. Wendy packed a bag of Salt and Vinegar chips in her STORMY bag. Nice treat!! We made the decision to not go down the way we came up as we realized it was completely wrong. The way down was very steep at times. Dave lead the way and we never did find the trail until we were off the worst part. We just swung through trees and went down on our butts. Once off Liddell it sure felt good to get out into some open trails again. We followed a nice gradual trail for a few kms. Craig wanted to explore a potentail short cut over to Mt. Killam and we explored (I should say Dave explored first) while we re-fueled. At this point Craig pulled out a can of Red Bull. We had now been going for 12 hours - thankfully he shared it so we didn't have to take him down!
We couldn't find the trail we are looking for so there was team consensus to carry on with the route we knew. We found the trail head for Mt. Killam. Wendy and I were somewhat cautious with the night drawing near and of course one little glitch - I forgot my headlamp at home! We had 4 lights - 5 people - should be OK? Craig had mentioned that Mt. Killam would be a treat compared to Liddell. I guess I was expecting a flat sandy trail. I was a bit crabby that it seemed to really resemble Mt. Liddell. The terrain was very similar, just a bit less full of junky trees and stumps. A few steep bits with many stops for looking for the markers. We took turns looking for the markers throughout the day - oh the games we play to keep us going! Once on top there was a rumble in the skies - oh my here comes the Thunderstorm. Minimal time was spent on the top and we descended through the forests. It was getting dark...it was dark. Craig forgot his light down in his pack that he ditched at the bottom of the climb. Hmmmm...we now had 3 lights and 5 people and it is getting hard to see. Dave was being awfully quiet and he was falling back a bit. Wendy thought he needed fluid. I offered him a gel, food...no thanks...I feel nauseated he said. I told him that sometimes the best thing to do is to puke and you will feel much better. Not long after this conversation I heard projectile puking behind me. We were all out of fluids but Craig ran ahead to his pack down below to get some fluid for Dave. Good team work Baggers!! We stayed close together to get us all off the mountain. Craig stopped to phone the water taxi and they promised to be there at 10pm for us. Nice! Once off the mountain we were able to run on the dirt road to the dock. Dave was feeling better and we were all relieved we would soon be able to get some fluids. Once on the water taxi the captain mentions he will reduce our fee if we do a side trip to Gibsons to pick up more people. An extra 20 minutes. What's 20 minutes now! Once in Horseshoe Bay we were heading to the car when we passed an empty Pub that was very welcoming to us dirty, smelly baggers. That pitcher of water was fantastic! We turned the lights out at 1:45am - we left home at 4:15am.

It's been a couple of days now, several baths and I still have dirt and sap that won't come off. My legs look like I have been in a fight with a big cat. I think it will be long pants to work this week. Well Done Fellow Baggers...it was a good team effort out there! (16 hours from water taxi to water taxi).

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lynn Peak and the South Needle - 2 Water Bags in the Bagger Challenge!

Well it is about time I managed to Bag some Peaks in the Club Fat Ass - Bagger Challenge. Last year I was the female "baguette" for being the female who bagged the most peaks. Up to today I have only done one but we did 2 more today! Progress is happening! Not only did I add 2 more to the list we also did what is known as a "Water Bag" which means going from sea level to peak. Wendy, Neil and myself started at the Park and Tilford Mall and ran down to the mouth of the Lynn River and made our way via trail to join up to the familiar Dirty Duo route and joined up with Craig, Heather and Dave Berg at the Gazebo. We left from there to head up Lynn Peak. Neil and Craig had been out bagging on Thursday so they were a bit tired and wow it was a warm day! 30 degrees and full sun! Most of the route up Lynn is in the shade so that was nice. It is a good climb up. Once at the peak we headed on to the South Needle which we had approached from a different way last year. We met the junction where the Hydraulic Creek trail that we came up last year joins in. We stopped for a bite to eat - PBJ sandwiches for Neil and I! Up we went for some more climbing. Once we hit the open rock we all managed very well. Neil reminded us not to look down as we approached the summit and we scrambled to the top in good form. It was a beautiful clear day so we stayed on top for a bit taking in the views and appreciating the warm sun. We made good time coming down the Hydraulic Creek trail - it is steep but I don't mind it as there is always a way to negotiate your footing down. Once down we ran the 5.5km road to the finish which felt so refreshing to run on a flattish surface after all the climbing and descent we did. A total time out there of 6.5 hours consisting of a run, a climb, a descent and a 5.5km run to the finish. A great day out - a quick wash up at Craig's before some much needed sustenance at the Black Bear.

Craig and myself heading up!

Nice view on the way to Lynn Peak!

Myself, Wendy, Heather, Craig and Dave...Neil taking the picture.

Craig and I - the top of Lynn Peak!

Coming Down!

The top of the South Needle.

This is Peak # 3 for me - #7 for Neil!

Craig, Heather and myself on the top of the South Needle.

Craig, Wendy, Heather and myself wandering around the top of the South Needle

Heather and Wendy traversing the terrain very well!

Craig and myself working our way down...lots of fun!

The End!! We are all watching Craig hose off the dirt...we were all content to stay dirty!

From Beach to Peak - a fun filled Saturday in Vancouver!

Grouse Mountain and Range from Jericho Beach

Crossing the Hikers Parking Lot - nearly finished!

A Glimpse of Howe Sound from the Trail.

Nice view through the trees!

It's a warm evening - Margaret, Francine and me!

The crazy ones on a Saturday night! Neil, me, Margaret, Francine, Wendy, Al and Paul taking the photo.

Beach badminton...many of us had a go!

A view of the city from Jericho Beach.

The proud Aunt and Uncle!

Kendall and Chris - speech time!

Kendall and Chris

Saturday the weather in Vancouver was perfect for 2 planned outings. First our niece Kendall and fiance Chris' engagement party on Jericho Beach. It was a fun filled afternoon of meeting their friends and a gathering of relatives. Chris is Australian (living and working in Vancouver) so his relatives were missing but we will be meeting many of his family and friends next June. Thankfully they chose the weekend after the WHW for their wedding - that was close! which will take place in Vancouver. It was a great beach party with Gordie barbecuing burgers, lots of mingling and the competition of beach badminton on going. It was a good mix of people - neighbours, family, friends and their co-workers. Neil and I had packed our running gear with the option of joining some runners who were planning a night run in Squamish starting at 7pm. The party wound down as planned late afternoon and we did have time to drive to Squamish. Traffic was heavy getting away from the beaches due to the popular Folk Festival taking place. We made it to the start of the run at the Brennan Rec Center in Squamish with 5 minutes to spare. Others started to appear and Wendy informed us of the planned route for the evening and that it would probably take us 4.5 hours. It was a beautiful clear warm evening about 23 degrees at 7pm. We set out about 7:15 and wow it was warm. My pack felt heavy with the extra shirt/vest/lights all the possibilities for the night. After some climbing the temperature started to cool which was a good thing! Brian met us at the half way point with some water which was so appreciated by all of us - I would have ran out. It was so warm I was drinking more than I anticipated. I put my head lamp on at this stop and was turning it on soon after. Wow did the lights go out in the woods! We were out there to practice some night running for a few in our crowd that are doing the STORMY 100 miler in a few weeks. Neil and I are planning the 50 mile event but saw this evening as an opportunity to run on the course and to do something a bit crazy! I have heard from others who have done this very technical section in the dark how tough it is and how scary it is with the wildlife out there. The forest is quite dense and wow is it dark. It was the first time I experienced some nausea from running in the dark - I think because the trail is so twisty and technical. The faster runners went ahead and Wendy, Francine and I were pulling up the rear. It was very magical watching the headlights ahead of us weaving through the woods. Note to self - if you ever do STORMY 100 - have a pacer through the night! I would die of fright out there on my own. We were trotting along quite nicely when we hear a bird singing - we comment that it's a bit strange to hear a bird at this time of night when all of a sudden to our right there is a big GROWL...we all confirm with each other did you hear that?? Yes - we all hear it! It was definitely a bear out there somewhere. Within seconds we hear it again GROWL...Wendy shouts it's above us on the rocks. WOW did we kick it up a notch. We hit a section of stairs and I think I was taking them 3 at a time. We caught up with the guys and they go...what's up?? BEAR we shout...keep moving!! I have come upon many bears in my trail running experiences in the day light. But I have never been growled at! It was so freaky only hearing it - so close but I didn't dare take my eyes off the trail or I would have been in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. We heard a few other grunts and noises in the dark before we finished exactly as Wendy had predicted in 4.5 hours. Neil and I had to drive back to Maple Ridge...2 hour drive. We stopped at the 24 hour Tim Horton's drive through for a coffee to keep the driver and co-pilot awake. It was 2:30am when I last saw the clock once home. That was a full day - a beach party and a night run with trail friends and wildlife!!

Have you ever been asked WHY?

This past week many of you who participated in the WHW and other Ultra events have probably been asked by friends, family and collegues...WHY? Sometimes we ask ourselves this too! I found a couple of good explanations while reading some running blogs tonight. Enjoy!

“Perhaps the genius of ultra-running is its supreme lack of utility. It makes no sense in a world of space ships and supercomputers to run vast distances on foot. There is no money in it and no fame, frequently not even the approval of peers. But as poets, apostles and philosophers have insisted from the dawn of time, there is more to life than logic and common sense. The ultra runners know this instinctively. And they know something else that is lost on the sedentary. They understand, perhaps better than anyone, that the doors to the spirit will swing open with physical effort. In running such long and taxing distances they answer a call from the deepest realms of their being — a call that asks who they are …” ~ David Blaikie


It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.” ~ George Sheehan

Today is Canada Day! Yippee a Stat holiday in the middle of the week. We have been dragging a bit since our return home. Perhaps a combination of a 95 mile run and jet lag. ;-) Last year after WHW we spent a few days shuffling around London listening to our bodies perhaps a bit better. This year we flew home on the Tuesday and started back to work on the Wed. So the holiday today was brilliant! Slept in...run/hike mid day...nap...caught up on a few chores...fantastic day. Even better we both took tomorrow off too! So a nice 4 day weekend of nothing. I start a new position at work on Monday so the timing is perfect for a restful weekend. Next weekend is the KneeKnacker - Canada's knarliest 30 mile/50km trail race in North Vancouver on the Baden Powell Trail. We are both registered but my knees are feeling a bit knackered from WHW so I will see how they feel in the next few days. Neil is good to go (as always!) I hope to do STORMY 50 miler in August. STORMY takes place in Squamish BC and it is one of my favourite courses. This year we did a few training runs for WHW in the Squamish area and what a network of trails there is. Tonight as it gets dark the skies will light up with Canada Day fireworks in communities across the country. As we say...I AM CANADIAN!