Ultimate XC

Experiencing Quebec's Trail Running Scene

I thought that I might have made it out to Quebec's Ultimate XC race last year but due to the nagging injuries that I was having back then, it made no sense to head East. This year however, I was determined not to miss it and my opportunity to see Mount Tremlant on the 58km course. I'd heard it was going to be narly, super technical and that I should be prepared for a long day of running. In the big picture, participation at this race would be great training for the Sinister 7 Ultra in July.

I set myself up for a bit of a training camp in order to tie all my goals together. I've been needing swim time and swim help with Ultraman being only 6 weeks away now. I wanted some sunny weather to ride my bike in and I needed time on my feet for the 148km Sinister. I decided that I needed to head to "Camp Sellars" in Vernon - the perfect place to bike and swim at being that their house is situated right on the lake and in prime road cycling country. It would also give me a chance to catch up with Andrew and Ginny and pick their brains about all things "tri" related.

I packed up the car with loads of gear last Tuesday and made my way out to the Okanagan. Unfortunately, I missed my evening swim and instead, spent the night with my feet up catching up on some coaching. Wednesday was a great day of training as I did a morning swim with Ginny beside me on the SUP board, a great road ride and then another evening swim in a stormy lake with Andrew. This was great for the confidence and for me to practice all those things that I hated about my 1/2 ironman in Oliver. Thursday morning I was up at 5am for a little speed work on the road to flush my legs before driving to Kelowna airport and hopping on my flight bound for Montreal.
Fellow Salomon Flight Crew team mate Phil Villeneueve was there to meet me and drive us the 2hrs to Tremblant that evening. Phil won the 58km race last year and was a huge help in providing me with course knowledge and terrain for Saturday's race. We spent Friday doing some pre course scouting so that I could build the mental image of the route and come up with a bit of a game plan. The number one challenge I was nervous about was how my ankle was going to hold up. Phil warned me of how technical (off road, not really a trail, more like just following flagging) the first part of the race would be. We would then head for about 3km up a river bed bringing us to CP1 at 15km. My dilemma was this: do I tape my ankle from the start to provide support but do I risk getting sand and silt into the tape and then having to race like that for another 40km. Hmmmm

The remainder of Friday was super relaxed as I got to meet all the Eastern Salomon crew. Fun group of people to be around and to learn more about their world of trail running.Following dinner, it was back to the chalet to figure out clothing, pack and shoe choices. I decided after much debate to not tape my ankle and to just hope that if I stayed focused enough, I might get through that initial section and up the river sprain free. I decided to start in the Speedcross and then change into my S-Lab's for the last 43km. I went with the 1 bottle waistbelt to start and then planned to change into the skins pack at the 15km mark when I saw Phil.Saturday came early but being that we were so close to the start line, it was stress free. 5am awaken for cofffee and oatmeal. Back to bed from 5:30am - 6am. Shower at 6:15am, clothes on, out the door, start line for 6:40am. Race start 7am.

Within 30mins of the race, my heart rate had settled and I was cruising. I was only just slightly behind the lead males and was really enjoying the navigation of the flagged out trail while 4 other runners sat on my heels as I led the way through the forest. Suddenly, it was all over as I went over hard on my left foot, my worst nightmare coming true at 6km. I persevered on but my pace dropped by about 30%. We entered the river which was fun (really adventure racing like) but I had to be so cautious. I saw Phil at 15km and changed my shoes, telling him that I was now in for a long day ahead. The one thing though I WAS and COULD still focus on was going to be my calories. I didn't need a repeat of what happened in Australia when I went into pain management mode or this race would end up being 3x as long for me.

Off I went, climbing to to the top of the mountain on some grown over double track trails and descending back down to the 25km mark. Phil told me I was only 15mins back of the lead guys, not bad I thought but it was then that my race took a turn for the worse! The next 20km was a loop from hell. I don't think I could have gone any slower if I tried. There was a very faint trail somewhere beneath the deadfall, leaves and rocks. I ran with another Quebecer but our conversation was limited. As focused as I was, I missed some flagging and made a 20min error off course. Pair this with a fatigued ankle, when I finally hit the 7hr mark, I was still 14km from the finish line! Unreal. I knew that if I had been healthy and un-injured that 7hrs was a very attainable FINISH time for me. Never mind that, I just had to get to the end now. There would be no new PB or record set today. With 10km to go, I saw Phil again, just as we crested up to the top of Tremblant one last time. It was a 9km technical descent down to the finish line and yet again, I managed a 8min error by going off course! WTF was going on!!!! I never go off course - this clearly was not my day. Anyways, I got my head back into the game, told my ankle to smarten up and get me home as I just focused on the finish line.

Despite missing my goal time by over 1hr30mins, I had really enjoyed my time at the Ultimate XC. 1st place is nice but not when it doesn't come with a good performance! I think that is what I am still so hung up on. I had set goals for myself and when they aren't met, I feel like I've really let myself down. My fitness has been at an all time high and I had been ready for this race. Now, both Australia and the Ultimate XC had not gone as planned and I have an ankle injury that is going to need some serious attention. I want to perform, not just run. I'm eager to go back to this race again when I am 100%, I'll be eager to re-test myself!

I flew back to Kelowna on Sunday morning, arriving into Vernon just in time to congratulate Norm on his 1st place at the Kalavida Classic SUP race. We chilled for the afternoon before he left and I remained in Vernon. I hit the bike on Monday with Ginny for a great ride up through Predator Ridge followed by a lake swim and then repeated the same workouts on Tuesday before driving home. My 7 day training camp was complete and I was happy to have been able to put a race in the middle of it.

My plan of attack now is to tape for my future races, including the Scorched Sole 50miler this weekend and Sinister 7 on the 9th of July. I'm busy pumping my Udo's Oil right now to try to help with recovery and I've got a series of exercises to strengthen all the little foot stabilizers from Coach Andrew. I love running more then anything, I just want to be healthy.

Sinister is only 2 weeks out now and I feel confident that if I can manage the ankle, I can have a great day out there!

ONWARDS, the ankle will just have to deal!

My first Triathlon

It's funny how many people continuously ask me how many triathlons I've done or what my Ironman time is. Well the truth is, I've never done a tri until the past weekend when I hit the Oliver 1/2 Ironman as a way to finish up a great week of training. I was originally hoping to have climbed Mr. Rainer with my team mates of "nuun Sport Multi" and then hussle back across the border in time to collect my race package. However, after several emails to the race directors asking about a late package pick-up and getting no response, I realized that I might be cutting it a bit too close. So instead, I declined on Rainier and drove Saturday morning to Oliver to check in and get sorted.

I've never had much interest in triathlons purely because I love off-road racing and the freedom of the trails. I enjoy working with tri-athletes though, as the principals of training don't change and the multi-sport world just keeps everything super interesting! One of my athletes was racing this weekend so it was a great opportunity to see him in action and learn a bit more about "tri-athlon" in terms of all the do's and don't do's on the race course. The weather in Oliver was super hot and it was great to get out for a swim and to test some new goggles and to ride a bit of the course. We spent Saturday evening watching the hockey game and then I retreated to my campground for the night, having the greatest sleep in the back of the old Subaru!

5am Saturday morning I got up, ate my oatmeal, banana and dried fruit and then headed over to the TA to set up my bike and get ready. I was feeling good and full of energy. I was in the 2nd wave start at 7:07 with all the women. Now......not being a great swimmer and never having swum with hundreds of people, I was a little nervous. I positioned myself on the far right hand side. However, I only made it out about 100m before a full panic attack set in. All I could see was hands and water flying, people were on top of me. My heart rate went through the roof: it was my nightmare come true. I thought seriously about turning around for fear of drowning. But then, I took control of myself. I started to breast stroke, calmed myself down and did that for about the next 600m. I just knew that I would be out there for a LONG LONG TIME. Sure enough, I eventually got my own water to swim in and I settled down and actually swam. 44mins later (10mins off what I knew I could do) I was out of the water, charging through the TA and onto the bike.

My new Cannondale Slice had only just arrived the week before. Thanks to Dave and the Corsa Cycles team, we had done a few bike tweaks and adjustments to get me comfortable on this fast machine but I had no idea if I could hold aero position for 90km. However, I got on the bike and felt amazing!!! I put the shitty swim out of my mind and then just focused on the job at hand. I had to put time on the bike and start catching people. I had a great ride. I ate and I drank, I climbed the few small hills well and I pushed big gears on the flats. My confidence was up for staying in aero on the descents. I actually didn't even care if I were to launch off my bike, I just wanted to fly!!!! I was about 6mins slower then I thought I would be on the bike but that's ok, it was onto the run. I came up less then 5mins slower then the top females! I'll take it, all things considering.

My pure goal on the run was not too be passed by anyone! I found my running legs at about 5km into the 21km. I felt relaxed, the breathing settled and because there were people all around, I just started to give 'er. My pace increased each Km and by 15km in, I was wishing that I had another 20km to run because for me, that is just when I start to feel good. I really disliked the flat road though...where are my hills?!!! Anyways, I ran strong to the finish, 10mins slower then the winning female but not too far off the other women. Decent.

Just a great way for me to complete a 19 hr training week. Can't help but wonder, had I actually been fresh, how different the race would have gone! I for sure need focus time on the swim though but luckily, the Ultraman 10km will be nothing like that! I've got a great support network of friends here in Squamish who are helping me with this swim aspect.

Thanks to Volker and Jane for a great weekend. Congrats to all the other CBC athletes who hit the Whistler 1/2 marathon too, your excited post race emails were on my mind throughout this race!

Next up? All my attention turns to final prep for the Ultimate XC race in Montreal's Mount Tremblant in 2 weeks time! I'm really looking forward to seeing the extremely tough course that awaits. We also have our Women's Running + Conditioning Camp in Tofino this coming Fri-Sun and I can't wait to meet everyone on the west coast for a great time!

Busy busy, as usual :)