too lazy to come up with a title

Last weekend should of been called, redo weekend. I prepared all my gear and nutrition on Friday night, ready to tackle Saturday's run with a new group that I have not ran with yet. I was invited by Tamara who I met at North Shore Enduro.

Side note, not really necessary I just want to wine, I do mean wine not whine :)

I have always noticed that my runs suffer when I do not sleep well and Friday night was an awful sleep. So what happens when you can not sleep properly the night before, yes you are correct my son, you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning.

Saturday morning, I jumped out of bed, running really late, no time to do anything except grab my nutrition & liquids out of the fridge and leave, grabbing breakfast along the way. I looked at the time, it was going to be close. I rush all the way to Nelson Creek and even took the toll bridge. Stupid toll, but at least it saved me time and I was only like five minutes late.

I was fine for first thirty minutes or so, but slowly my feet started feeling like lead. When I finally caught up to the group, I had let them know not to wait, I was not doing good. They all sprinted away, while I slowly kept making some progress but I was just not enjoying myself. So what happens when you are miserable, you quit. I made it about five kilometers into the Knee Knacker course in a whopping hour-forty-ish.

Only good thing was, I did not have any issues on the downhill, it took a hour and a quarter to get back to the car. When I got back to the car I started looking for some solid food, realized I forgot it at home, in the fridge. That could of been a really bad day if I kept going. I went home took a shower and wallowed in my own pity party.

Later that evening Gareth asked if I wanted to join for the same route, I had to politely decline since I figured I would be suffering, I should just go on my own. I did the smart thing and went to bed early.

Guess what, going to bed early and getting an awesome night's sleep helps a lot. I decided I was going to go conquer Black mountain, I knew there would be three friends on the mountain and I knew what time there were starting. Unlucky for me, by the time finished breakfast and getting ready, I was cutting it close if I wanted to start before them.

I was parked and on the trail by half past seven. I knew this is when the prey was meeting at Cleveland Dam to drop off a car. I sent them a text, letting them know they were being hunted.

Although I did not actually lose any weight overnight, I felt light on my feet. I made decent progress on the up hill. Hiking most of it with only a few sections of what can only be described as a slow, no slower, jog. I made it to my quitting point from yesterday in less than a hour and a half so I feeling good about myself. I was thinking they should be catching up to me soon, and I kept looking over my shoulder.

Then it dawned on me, I would make the worst hunter ever, I told the prey that I am hunting them, I am ahead of them in my bright neon yellow Frosty shirt and bright green shorts. They are going to spot me from kilometers away. Then there are my noises that I like to make that I am sure that they would recognize.

But never mind the details, I was determined to scare them. I marched onwards to Eagle Bluffs. Here I made a quick pit stop for food and a couple pictures. I was up in the clouds so did not get a view but did see a sign I have never seen. A couple friends were eying my food but I told them sorry not for you.

Where I came from

A friend trying coming for my food

No time to waste, the prey were slowly closing the gap and I kept wondering where they were. I passed the Donut Bluff trail where I think I will need to check this out one of these days, maybe take up some donuts. I had to keep looking behind me to see if anyone would be catching up. There were a couple groups heading towards Eagle Bluffs, I hope they weren't expecting a view.

As I was getting close to Black, I was hearing a lot of people and there was a couple big groups. I was going to break here but too many people, although the view was nice.

Beautiful view of the Lions

The world just disappeared

There is Vancouver somewhere down there

From here is where things got interesting. I made my break spot, Cabin Lake. Here I stopped off, had a sandwich and rested for a few minutes. I was only there for a seconds and I hear two women coming from Black. I knew there were no group that was just two women that I passed so I kept listening and then I hear a guys voice. I can't make out what they are saying but it was definitely a guy with two gals heading towards me. It had to be Nancy, Kyndra and Gareth. I kept listening. It felt they were taking forever but I think voices can just travel out there. I was not sure how long it would take so I decided to keep moving but kept my eye and ears open. I covered maybe a hundred meters and I finally make out a voice, it was Kyndra. I decided to hid behind a bush, I could not risk them spotting me.

I felt like I was waiting forever and then I heard runners closing in on me. I can make out human bodies coming towards but could not tell how was leading. As soon as they get to the bush I jumped up and yelled, "JR CHICKEN!!" I think I gave them all a heart attack, but it was only mild compared to later. :)

I still was not sure if I would be going all the way to Cleveland Dam with them but I said I would follow all the way to the lodge. Nice short downhill and I was moving the fastest I was all day, I figured this should be a good way to finish the day. We made good time all the way to Hollyburn Mountain, well, they were making good time, I was dilly dallying far behind.

Running in Hollyburn, far ahead

Now comes my fun part, we hit the Hollyburn chute and I decided to see what it is like to fire a bear banger. I pulled out the pen, preloaded of course, and all I can say it happened so fast, I was laughing pretty hard and it was loud. All three of them stopped in their tracks, worried there was a bear, um I might not get invited again. Safe to say they were scared, within three hundred meters, we ran into a very large group of people with the guy asking, "Did someone hear a loud bang?"

Gareth chimed in with, "it was that guy"

Me, "yep that was me, have a good day, the bears will now stay away"

About a couple kilometers from Brothers Creek, everyone was stopped. I initially just though they were waiting for me but it turned out Nancy hand a bit of a wipe out.  She is okay just a little bruised, but we did tape up her finger, duck tape, the solution to everything.

Now for all my horsing around, mother nature decided to take her vengeance out on me. By the time I made it down to Brothers Creek and up the very steep other side, my body was done for. My feet have not been this sore for awhile. So while they waited I did my walk / slow jog / walk and then walk some more. I finally got to Cleveland Dam, headed back to Nelson Creek to grab our cars and to home we all went.

Home was nice, I showered, shaved (shhhh do not tell anyone, I want them to be surprised) and slept. Well I did barbecued up some chicken and feasted before going to bed. Well technically it was more like passing out on the couch. Lucky for me I did not sleep for too long since I had plans for the evening. I ended up at Chuchill's Cafe & Bar in North Van for Holly's birthday. It was the an awesome finish to an awesome day, minus the last four-ish kilometers of pain.

Note, there may be more mistakes then usual. I'm tired and going to bed, need sleep for this weekend's adventure, same brown channel, same brown time.