Nikwax Saturday

It's been great to finally have a weekend here in Squamish. Things at the studio are busy which is great. Each day is an opportunity to learn. Slowly but surely, all those little things are getting done and everytime I get to cross out one of those to-do item lists, I'm happy. With that said, I finished teaching 3 Saturday morning classes yesterday and then came home and hit the laundry room.I've been wanting to start on Nikwaxing all my jackets and gear because Spring will be here before we know it (crazy that it's March already this week.) Squamish is currently getting dumped on with snow so I thought that it would be a good time to take a few of my regular running jackets out of the mix for a few days and get them re-rain proofed.

My pet peeve is being outdoors playing and having gear issues. When you live on the west coast, it's critical to be able to embrace rain and crappy weather! Rarely does it mean that I don't go train, or have an adventure or change my plans. Norm and I were really excited when Nikwax approached us a few months ago. We've both used their products for a long time and love them. Because I end up doing so much wash after being out in the mud, the rain, the snow etc all the time, it's only normal that a fabrics ability to repel water will eventually decrease. In long expedition races, we typically end up in less then ideal conditions for hours at a time. Nothing more miserable then a soggy jacket and heavy, saturated rain pants in addition to be exhausted and hungry as you slog up the side of a mountain. Nikwax helps with the breathability factor of the fabric as well. Check out their website to learn about their products and what they recommend for different sports, fabrics and uses. www.nikwax.com

Over the next few days and weeks, we will be Nikwaxing everything - from jackets to tents to compression stuff sacks in preparation for more rain, upcoming expeditions up north and longer training days outside as the days get longer. Take care of your gear and you will have to replace it less often.

I ran, now I relax

Cheers from Costa! Thank you everyone for your good wishes and energy to get me through the TCC Coastal Challenge.

Day #6 - 24km

FINISHED!!!!! Today was the last day of the race and for the first time, I got to enjoy the day. Monica and I set out together with the intent to just run, get it done and enjoy. We were both pretty tired, I know my hip flexors were working hard to get through the beach sections. We finished together and I can't think of a better person to have gotten to compete against. Monica is a very strong female, a pleasure to race against her and call her a Salomon team mate.

All the support crews, friends, medics, family, logistics staff joined in for the run today which made it kind of neat. I am SO HAPPY that I made it through this incredibly wet race with perfect feet - that has never happened to me before after 6 tough days and it is so much more enjoyable when you can walk and not suffer. I got the sock/shoe combination right now!!!! The heat was a killer and it really took its toll on everyone early in the race. VERY proud of all of Team Canada, there is a great vibe here in Drakes Bay tonight as everyone gets ready to party and relax. The running is done.

Post run today, I stayed by the finish line so I could get pictures and give hugs to everyone who crossed the line. Very emotional day for so many people. I'm inspired by every runner here who came and took on this challenge. I know how hard it is to do your 1st stage race and I dont think it ever gets easier. Cheers to all these runners.

Dan, Jude and Stan won spirit awards for their great energy day in, day out. Jen J got the perseverance award. All she wanted to do was run each day, all her feet would allow was day #1 and #6. Team Canada #2 finished 2nd in the team category behind the Costa Rican's. Full result posted soon.

Quick blog, we have cold drinks waiting and its time to R+R. Thanks to everyone for their support to all of our runners. I'll get photos up as soon as I return to San Jose with a stronger internet connection.

Day #5 - 50km

Yet another big day on the race course. Today though, we left the mountains and experienced much flatter and undulating terrain. However, the distance remained high so it wasn’t exactly a short run. To get to the start line, we took a barge across a crocodile inhabited river and then got underway from the other side. Lots of red gravel roads and then eventually into a mangrove forest before farm-land, more roads and the final run into Drakes Bay. As promised, we arrived into paradise, a beautiful secluded beach near the tip of the country. Very remote, very hard to get to. I feel very fortunate to get to see this place, not touristy, very small and quiet. We will stay here for 2 nights as tomorrow, day #6, is a loop out and back. It should be a very scenic and great way to end this incredible race.

As for results today, Monica and I set off and ended up quickly realizing that we were in for a very long and hot day as we ran together. We decided rather then kill ourselves, it would be best to run this day together. She obviously has the upper hand with a 12min lead but to be honest, my tank was empty today and to battle it out for what would be 6 hours, was going to be very difficult. So instead, we trudged onwards, just getting the miles done, soaking ourselves in every stream we came across and for the first time for me in this race, actually lifting my head a bit to see some of this race course! HA - its funny what you don't see when you are racing. My body is feeling good, zero foot issues, no achilles troubles etc. I'm happy to be back running strong again and its been great having Monica to race against.

Team Canada as a whole also had a good day. Shannon was the second from the team in followed by Dan who near collapsed when he made it to the food tent. He wasn't even sure if he would be able to run this morning after a bad night yesterday where the days sun had hit him hard. The plan today was "just to walk" but he is extremely driven and was determined to meet his goal of a top 10. Jude was in shortly after and I can see her getting stronger each day which is so great. Barb and Mary ran together and Karen also made it back on course today which was so great to see. Kay also ran today's stage and I was so happy that she was in good spirits. A few racers did get lost today so I hope she finds comfort in seeing that "going off course" does happen to the best of us at times. Brad had a good time out there, stating that he had submerged himself in over 27 creeks thus far in the race. I'm trying to catch up with Cindy still tongith. She got the job done but her feet are a mess and I think she struggled today. However, the women is as tough as nails and I'm so proud of her. Toni has only 1 day left to go as well on the Adventure course and we are so proud of her. Stan also ran well today, I think its the seaweed he eats every night. Jen J managed to get her shoes on tonight so she will run the final leg which is great.

So that wraps up today! We are all excited to have a 7am start tomorrow (as opposed to 6am) and to have a "shorter day". It's then swimming and party time!

Day #4 - 37.5km ++

So today was the hardest day yet for me and for most others. Up at 4am and it was a 5:50 start. We had huge elevation gains today to deal with. I knew that I would have to go strong off the start and get Monica out of eye sight. Luckily this worked and the hills really favored me. We climbed up to 1000 and then it was hours up on a hilly ridge, up and down, up and down. Thankfully there was a good midst and breeze to help and it was still early in the day. After leaving CP3 and a final water station, it was an ankle twisting descent in a cow pasture, then back into a final climb. From there we dropped all elevation over the course of 1.5km. Steep and narly. Monica caught me ½ way through the descent, she is a solid descender and I have no trust in my achilles yet to just open it up. Anyways, we hit the bottom together and decided to run the remainder 5km of exposed roads and pavement together. We were both totally done, over heated and really nothing left to give. I had eaten a total of 150 calories today, NOT GOOD. My stomach just wouldn’t let me intake anything except for water and fruit. I have no idea how I even survived. Thankfully she was in the same boat and we did a walk/jog to get to the finish, stopping for 2 cold cokes on the way! HA – I can tell you that had we tried to race through the extreme heat, it wouldn’t have been pretty. It was like an oven right to the finish line.

So as I type this right now., lots of people have made it to camp. Not too many smiles until post shower and massage. It’s the same kind of suffering for everyone, regardless of if you are out there 6 hrs or 12hrs. Dan had a great day of running, as did Shannon. Everyone suffered in their own way. Tonil finished the adventure run, yet another day done for her. Jude and Cindy just rolled in together and I just saw Jude jet across camp with a handful of coconuts from some near bye kids selling them. They are both moving strong though, showing me that their training is working. They are getting it done and day by day and its just a matter of moving forward, always with purpose. Brad said he had a good day as well and I think he headed straight up to the food tent. I assume the next bus into camp will have Mary and Barb on it and they always arrive in good spirits.

People’s feet are falling apart and sun burns seem to be the normal. My feet for once are in perfect condition but I got torched today in my legs and arms. I’ve borrowed Mary’s spandex shorts to help with chaving issues and they are working like a charm.
So……we have 2 days left to go. Day #5 will be long but we are done with the mountains and into more rolling and flat terrain. We will end in Drakes Bay tomorrow. The last day takes on a 25km run in the area of Drakes Bay, so we return to the same beach camp once again.

I’m off to take an afternoon nap and try to restore my energy levels so that I can bring something to the table tomorrow. 2 days left to go and I have 13mins or so to try to make it up. Crazy battle.

We will all adventure onwards from Costa Rica.

Day #3 - 49km

Sorry folks, last night in camp we had no internet connection so I wasn’t able to give the debrief. A very hard day, extremely hot once again and it took its toll on most racers. We lost a few of Team Canada members which was very unfortunate. Despite starting at 5:30am, it was a still a 7 to 12 hr running day. Un-relentless hills and some tough downhill’s. We spent lots of time in the jungle, kind of cool cause you hear all the monkeys but really, never see them. We passed by the foot of a HUGE waterfall which everyone says was amazing. Sucks for me because I had my head down, trying to take in as much water, dunk my head, wet my hat and get out of there before Monica could see me, she was only 30seconds behind at that point. While we were supposed to head up and in a river for 5km very close to the start, the medics directed us out of the river accidently and most of us spent 1 hr at least on a steady paved climb! Lots of energy expelled for nothing. Other people near the back did do the river and lost time. So in the end, it was a re-start with times only counting from CP#1 onwards. We spent most of the day doing several epic climbs until eventually, we dropped back down to the coast and ran a 10km beach stretch. Unbelievable, stunning beach with lots of sun tanners and families hanging out. For us runners though, what a different story, It was head down and suffering. The beach had a hard back sand which was great but there was no shade and my lead on Monica was only about 5mins. No time to take a walk break as much as my body begged for it. After the beach we had a final jungle climb up and then a paved road to logging road and then finally arrived at the most gorgeous beach ever, our tent and hammocks set up right along the edge. I managed 3mins on Monica so at the end of day #3, she continued to lead overall by 13mins or so.

It really was a brutal day out there and so here is the update on the team.
Jen J didn’t finish stage #2 due to some really messed up feet and the risk of infection. She was advised by the doctor to not continue. Really hard on her but she has been in great spirits and still hopes to finish running the second day.
Karen Hasty (our token Texan) ended up with an IV around CP#3. She pushed on as far as the body would allow but eventually, it just said no. She is recovering well and it was good to see her with a smile on her face when we got into day. Its hard not to get to run as we all no.

Kay has been a true rock-star out here and during this stage, she along with 2 others went off course and ended up having to take a vehicle back to the finish line. My heart breaks for her as she was running a very smart race, doing everything right, managing the heat and just putting one foot in front of the other. However, these things to happen and I think Kay can say with confidence that she is ready to tackle anything. Its only time until Mary Betts throws another race out there for her to join in on. Kay plan to run the next 2 days after sitting day #4 out.

Chris was also forced to withdraw after an IV was given. He was in pretty rough shape, saying again and again, how humbled he is by this sport. He’s got a great attitude, its just a learning curve to figure out how to do these stage races.
So we enjoyed being into camp #3 and watching the best sunset ever. We got a hard hit of rain that night that made for a crappy and wet sleep on my part. I had hoped to sleep in my hammock but instead ended up with 4 rocks under my back and broken thermarest! HA. Anyways, onwards we go.

Sorry, the connection is not strong enough to upload pics!