Vancovuer, Squamish & Fort Langley

Friday February 19

6:00 AM - laying in bed

Would I rather:

A) speak in front of an audience of 600ish people or

B) go for a night run with a chance encounter cougar or bear?

Answer: night run with chance encounter, at least when I crap my pants, the cougar or bear will still think I taste delicious, where as when I crap my pants in front of people, they won't think I'm delicious and look at me funny while backing away.

5:00 PM - outside Centennial Theatre in North Van

The whole day has passed without any of the nervous energy being dissipated. I walk around the skate park next to the theatre, reading the speech over a couple times to make any last minute changes that lets the story flow a little better.

6:00 PM - inside Centennial Theatre

Dry run on the stage, were half way through the speech I had already screwed up. I'd better stop before the organizers realizes I have no business being up on a stage.

7:00 PM - still inside Centennial Theatre

Yummy beer, wish I could have another one

7:30 PM - standing next to the stage

Ean 'Action' Jackson on the mic, going over what will be in the show. It's now minutes before I will be called up to the stage. I stand on the side listening for my queue to hop on to the stage, I ask myself, "why did I agree to this?"

Common theme in my life, wouldn't you say?

I hear my name, and I just smile and let whatever happens to happen.

Looking out towards the audience, all I see are outlines of people and can't make out anyone. With a deep breath I start to speak, everything was a blur. With a few laughs at the beginning helping ease the pressure. I feel like I am talking quicker then I should, trying to look out at the faceless shadows, but looking down at my sheets of paper. The all important pause, one, two, three, four, five.

Well that didn't feel as bad as I thought it would be, get your head back you need to finish the story.

Glad that's over, time to relax.

11:00 PM - Queens Pub

Would I rather:

A) speak in front of an audience of 600ish people or

B) go for a night run with a chance encounter cougar or bear?

Answer: I'll take public speaking over a hungry cougar or bear, as long as I am wearing my Depends :)

Saturday February20

1:00 AM - crawling into bed

“Why did I stay out so late?”

5:00 AM - laying in bed

 

“Why did I stay out so late?, okay 30 minutes and I'll get up”

5:30 AM - in the kitchen

Time to make my special coffee for the trailhead and let's get this show on the road, get my stuff together and out the door by 6:30 to pick up Kyndra for our adventure up in Squamish.

8:30ish AM - in the donkey

Heard that there wasn't snow until the trailhead, I should be fine to get the donkey up the hill. We are close, the last bend before the parking lot there are cars stalled, after seeing what was happening to other cars, I either had to put on chains or with my tail between my legs go back to the lower lot.

The upper lot is just around the corner, so lower lot it is.  Going back we realized the lower lot was a lot further then expected so bonus kms :)

Lucky (or unlucky) for us, Dylan was able to save our bonus for another day.

10:00 AM - Elfin Lakes trailhead

By now the first two waves of people have already started, I passed around the coffee to warm up the rest of us. Between the coffee and maple whiskey, I was fueled up for the climb up the Elfin Lakes.

Kyndra and I decided to stick together and be the sweeps for this fun run. Even though we were the slow ones in the group, no one outside of our group passed us.

We made exceptional progress all the way to Heather hut, where we were told there would be an “aid station” to fuel us up again.  The hut had a fire burning inside and was smelling amazing. We knew gong inside would mean the end of our day, so we decided to continue on with our adventure.

Shortly after leaving the area, we began to wonder if our aid station was inside the hut, oh well we'll check on the way back.

We spend the sections taking in the scenery and chat-chitting away.

just passed the trailhead

mini waterfall

look at who we ran into

Kyndra's new hat

helping to fatten the birds

Squinkle joins in

blue sky's (sort of)

Kyndra takes the lead, towards the white abyss

looks a little gray, hopefully there will be more blue in the next shot

and there's more blue sky

snow, snow and more snow :)

follow the tracks

the beauty of Squamish

someone is making new friends

I just liked this shot

onward to clear sky

is there any wonder why I do this

I was little camera happy

but with view's like this, can you blame me

untouched snow

snow for miles

more tracks to follow

nice hat, where did you get such a fine hat?

what is wrong with my face?

almost at the lakes

getting closer

at Elfin hut, our turnaround

excited to see us, thanks for the drinks :)

I'll take some more food

thank you

Once we got to the Elfin Lakes hut, we were treated to some important fluids, tequila. I offered my lukewarm coffee.

The return trip seemed a lot shorter by the time we made it down to the parking lot, I was exhausted. We found out that we left a helper behind. There was someone running an aid station at Heather Hut and unfortunately we forgot to check inside Heather hut. Sorry :(

Afterwards we all when out for some food before heading back to Lower Mainland.

Distance covered: 20k with 900 metres of gain, in the snow in just under 5 hrs.

Sunday February 21

6:00 AM - laying in bed

“Why did I sign up for this, 30 more minutes and I'll get up”

6:30 AM - in the kitchen

What should I have for breakfast? I know brew up some coffee with Irish cream.

7:15 AM - the fort at Fort Langley

"yummy coffee"

8:00 AM - start line

I picked my place firmly at the back, I knew I wasn't in right shape to set a personal best today so I just was going to take the day as it comes. No watch no way of knowing the time.

Some boring slow jogging, we'll skip over this part.

8-9k mark, "Why did I sign up for a road race?" According to the Bald Guy in the Forest, pavement is evil.

Some more boring slow jogging, we'll skip over this part.

15k mark, no idea what time it is or how I'm doing. All I know is if I start to walk I don't think I'll be want to start jogging again.

16k mark, screw it I'm walking whatever happens happens.  At this point I was really thinking what should I eat when I get home.

18k mark, I see a familiar minivan on the road heading towards me. 

Andy, "How's it going?"
Me, "I'm doing great, I'm done and taking it easy. How did your race go?"
Andy, " It was good, I'll see you Thursday?"
Me, "That's great to hear, yeah I'll see you Thursday"

Mini van drives off.

20k mark, okay I should start jogging again.

21k mark, metres to the finish line. Am I going to sprint to the end, na.

As I am getting my timing chip removed I hear, "What are you taking it easy?"

It was Bald Guy in the Forest. I responded with, "Yep :)"

Summary

Race 1 of at least 11 done..

On to race # 2, Bagger Mountain 50mi, I figured it's a logical progression to increase my distance, 21k to 80k :) I hope every is ready to hear about my sufferfes.

For those who were wondering why there was only one picture up on the screen, I did have a slide-show that was suppose to cycle through pictures from the area but sadly I screwed something up. I learned about this screw up on Sunday.