Category Archives: Training Runs

So I pretty much walked the 5Peaks Devon trail today in order to measure it using two devices in order to check the accuracy and also because I am training for a personal Ultra this year which I shall run towards the end of July. So I needed to know with reasonable accuracy the distance to various extraction points, that is, points where after the first trail loop I could repeat then quit before completing a full loop in order to ramp up my kilometers without having to finish a whole loop since increasing a 7.31 km loop by doubling it is no way to train. I walked the route today and measured the extra distances I could add to any particular loop. These exit points will be useful as I begin to ramp up the distances and run more loops. The official 5Peaks measured distance for the half marathon … Continue reading →

Could it be me? Actually it was a really easy run today because it is on an indoor track and very flat and cushy. But I have given myself permission to brag a little. I did 13 laps again (3.055 km) in my VFF’s before switching back to my regular Mizuno Waveriders for the remainder of the 7 km run. My first 3 km pace was 5:17 per km, my 2.5 km pace was 5:30, my 5 km pace was 5:40, and my overall 7 km pace was 5:52. Using my extremely acute powers of observation and scientific deductive skills (do not try this at home, folks, I am a professional) I noted that I slowed down over time. I know this because when I got home I laboriously drew a giant x,y coordinate axis with my crayons on a piece of construction paper and plotted the pace time along … Continue reading →

Today’s gym workout was the usual barefoot running on the track followed by an upper body weight session, stretching, and rolling plus mini bands. It was the usual Wednesday workout. So I added 2 laps today to my barefoot running (at a 5:50 per km pace) for a total of 3055 meters followed by finishing the rest of my usual 7 km after stopping to change into my Mizuno running shoes. That final pace was 6:01 per km for the indoor run. As I have said before, I seem to be having fewer issues with barefoot running after my initial crash course in it. Probably because I am only adding a lap or two at a time. One lap is only 235 meters so it is not an excessive amount. I am still of the opinion that barefoot running is helping me with my hill climbing abilities. I agree with … Continue reading →

First of all, I have to say that 5Peaks trail racing just keeps getting better and better. This is one awesome group of race directors with consistently amazing volunteers. The race on Saturday in Edmonton’s Terwillegar Park was the best experience yet from my perspective. I really give them 10/10 with no reservations. The weather: The weather was warm with temperatures in the teen degrees C, and sunny, but with a 35+ kph desiccating wind which was brutal. The course: The Enduro course which I ran was 16 km, which is exactly two laps of the 7 km Sports course. The course had changed from last year. It is basically the same as last year except that the portion which runs along the steep North Saskatchewan River bank was much longer. However, it was very much more interesting, beautiful, and technical. I really wanted to stop for ten minutes and … Continue reading →

Today’s run was a lot of fun, although my arthritic big toe started acting up again around kilometer 9. I decided to ignore it rather than go with my first thought which was to stop and rip the useless thing off and fling it into the woods. I managed to measure an average pace of 7:04 per kilometer at the 6 km mark, and an average pace of 6:57 per km over the 12 km, so I guess you can call that a negative split. I will be spending the rest of today hacking out a round circle out of a piece of paper with a dull knife and using my crayons to create a nice medal for myself which I shall present to myself later on in honor of myself. You are all invited only if you bring me fabulous gifts and sing my praises. No ill effects were … Continue reading →

So far I have run 403 kilometers this year, down a lot from last year at this time. Nevertheless, I ran 2.5 of those kilometers today barefoot (in my VFF’s) on the indoor track and the rest of the run I slipped into something less comfortable, that is, my regular running shoes. I did not keep track of my time since I was without my usual gear (a stopwatch) but I think I spent around 48 minutes at it. I will be staying at the 2.5 km mark barefoot for at least another couple of runs before I increase again the distance. My biggest problem is that I get sore lower calf muscles (Soleus) if I increase the distance too fast and too much. I am now officially in taper mode for my first trail race of the year in Terwillegar Park in Edmonton, Alberta. I will run my usual … Continue reading →

Today’s run was quite pleasant because of the weather. I could have worn shorts and a T-shirt today, but I overdressed and wore a long sleeved shirt over top of a T-shirt. I had to take off the outer layer. It was also a fast run for me, which felt good. I ran 12 km in 1:23:30 for a 6:57 per km pace. My Salomon XT wings trail running shoes have only about 250 km on them and they are causing me blisters now. I could not understand why because they never caused me blisters before. I found out why. They are worn out on the heel, which is exactly where I am getting blisters. Here is a photo of the problem which is identical on both shoes, although the left shoe is not as worn yet. So does any one have a means of repairing this? I have in … Continue reading →