http://ryanatkinsdietrecipebook.blogspot.ca/2012/04/frontenac-perimeter-trail-041412-fkt.html
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Frontenac Provincial Park Perimeter Trail Trip Report
SO I was just about to sit down and write a late trail report of the run Ryan Atkins and I did last weekend (a week late) and I see he has already written a very good recap on our experience on the trail! Sooo here is the link to our trip report of our sub 5hour run on the Frontenac Perimeter Trail. Enjoy.
http://ryanatkinsdietrecipebook.blogspot.ca/2012/04/frontenac-perimeter-trail-041412-fkt.html
http://ryanatkinsdietrecipebook.blogspot.ca/2012/04/frontenac-perimeter-trail-041412-fkt.html
Sunday, April 1, 2012
2 days: 53km, 18000ft of ascent and 10 Mountains Later...
Wicked trip to the Adirondack's this past weekend with Ryan Atkins and Peter Demos. We drove down after work on Thursday evening and grabbed a hotel 20 min from our trailhead starting point. After a good sized breakfast, we hit the trail towards our first four peaks Mt Wright, Algonquin, Iroquois and Boundary Peak. We made good time going over the first four peaks and made our way down 2500ft to only have to climb almost 3000ft up the other side of Mt Marcy (highest peak in NY). We summited Marcy just before dark and made our way part way down the mountain to where we found a nice place to set up camp for the night. We woke the next morning to a light dusting of snow and fairly foggy conditions. We had a big day ahead and got right to the money by running up Mt Wright and topping out before 9am. We then went back to camp, packed up and headed over towards Little Haystack and Mt Haystack, all in full winter conditions! We then headed over Basin Mountain and Saddleback and navigated a few sections that we had wished we has a small rope and a ice axe (all we had was lightweight crampons). After cresting Saddleback we had a 16km trek back to the car... Most of that was downhill, all except for one small pass up through Klondike Notch. We hit the car around 7pm after 11hrs of continuous forward progress. We hit a local steakhouse for a "all you can eat prime rib special" and packed as much pr away as we could. We grabbed a hotel for the night and made our way home Sunday morning (all 5.5hrs of it).
Sunday, February 26, 2012
"When in Rome"
The past 6 weeks have been very busy trying to balance work, training, life, planning a wedding etc etc.
I started a new job last fall with a very reputable company (Able Tree Service) in the Arboriculture industry. I have thought about getting into the field of Arboriculture for the past 5 or 6 years and I had never taken the leap to seriously get in the world of trees. With my fairly extensive climbing background and my love of the outdoors I was almost certain it was a great fit for me. The past 6 weeks I have been climbing BIG red and white oak trees at the Toronto Hunt Club golf course almost 5 days a week and it has been very taxing on my evening energy that is left for any training. It is hands down the best job I have ever had and I am very excited to where it takes me in the Arboriculture industry.
On a kinda funny side note, I have been eating a small container of chocolate covered almonds after I finish work en route home. I have been buying them in bulk and usually would eat a couple handfuls daily. I knew that they would be fairly high in calories but since I had been buying them in bulk I didn't know their exact calorie content, or didn't want to know. Well the other day Eden bought me a big bag of the delicious chocolate covered almonds from costco which did have a nutrition label on the back.... 220cals for 8 almonds!!!!!!!! I quickly grabbed the container that I had been using to store the oh so delicious post work snack and tallied up my average total that I had been eating daily.... I had been eating between 40-50 which means I had been eating 1100-1350cals everyday after work. No wonder I would get home and be able to do 90-120mins of exercise without getting hungry! Gah!
3 weeks ago I also slipped 2 ribs while either trail running and slipping on ice, or rock climbing a ridiculously hard route that I hope I never do again, or maybe it was the combination of both of the events...? Either way it was extremely painful and I am glad that I am on the mend.
I had to take 2 weeks off of running because I simply couldn't run with the associated pain from the ribs. I was however able to ride my bike and given the spring like weather and increase in daylight I was riding outside 3 or 4 nights a week after work. Last week while almost home I stretched my back while still riding and I felt both of the ribs slip back into place! It was a very weird feeling, kinda hurt but I was almost immediately able to take a deeper breaths. Weekends have been usually pretty good, as I am able to get in a couple 3hr days to make up for the lack of hours in the week. Right now I am averaging 11-12hrs a week and I think that is my balance point for training stress considering that my day consists of climbing big trees.
Here is a pick of a coyote leg Rambo found me yesterday... Mmmmmm coyote leg....
I started a new job last fall with a very reputable company (Able Tree Service) in the Arboriculture industry. I have thought about getting into the field of Arboriculture for the past 5 or 6 years and I had never taken the leap to seriously get in the world of trees. With my fairly extensive climbing background and my love of the outdoors I was almost certain it was a great fit for me. The past 6 weeks I have been climbing BIG red and white oak trees at the Toronto Hunt Club golf course almost 5 days a week and it has been very taxing on my evening energy that is left for any training. It is hands down the best job I have ever had and I am very excited to where it takes me in the Arboriculture industry.
On a kinda funny side note, I have been eating a small container of chocolate covered almonds after I finish work en route home. I have been buying them in bulk and usually would eat a couple handfuls daily. I knew that they would be fairly high in calories but since I had been buying them in bulk I didn't know their exact calorie content, or didn't want to know. Well the other day Eden bought me a big bag of the delicious chocolate covered almonds from costco which did have a nutrition label on the back.... 220cals for 8 almonds!!!!!!!! I quickly grabbed the container that I had been using to store the oh so delicious post work snack and tallied up my average total that I had been eating daily.... I had been eating between 40-50 which means I had been eating 1100-1350cals everyday after work. No wonder I would get home and be able to do 90-120mins of exercise without getting hungry! Gah!
3 weeks ago I also slipped 2 ribs while either trail running and slipping on ice, or rock climbing a ridiculously hard route that I hope I never do again, or maybe it was the combination of both of the events...? Either way it was extremely painful and I am glad that I am on the mend.
I had to take 2 weeks off of running because I simply couldn't run with the associated pain from the ribs. I was however able to ride my bike and given the spring like weather and increase in daylight I was riding outside 3 or 4 nights a week after work. Last week while almost home I stretched my back while still riding and I felt both of the ribs slip back into place! It was a very weird feeling, kinda hurt but I was almost immediately able to take a deeper breaths. Weekends have been usually pretty good, as I am able to get in a couple 3hr days to make up for the lack of hours in the week. Right now I am averaging 11-12hrs a week and I think that is my balance point for training stress considering that my day consists of climbing big trees.
Here is a pick of a coyote leg Rambo found me yesterday... Mmmmmm coyote leg....
Monday, January 23, 2012
2012 Snowshoe Raid
A few months ago Ryan Atkins and decided we were going to sign up for the Snowshoe Raid at Blue Mountain. It was roughly a 2.5hr cross country snowshoe orienteering race. You had a 3hr time limit to attack as many checkpoints as you possibly can. I believe that it was their 5th or 6th year running the event and it was something that I have wanted to do for the past few years. Given the lack of snow situation I was only fortunate to be on snowshoes for a grand total of 4hrs leading up to the event... I am currently not on any specific training program and I am just fitting in what training I can manage here and there. I know Ryan and I work and race very well together and with some residual fitness from last the fall I was sure we would be one of the top teams to finish. We both had a brand new pair of shiny Atlas racing snowshoes for the event courtesy of Muskoka Outfitters in Bracebridge to help us through the roughly 20km course.
After being bused to the starting point,strapping the snowshoes on and making some finishing touches, we were off at just after 11am. From what I had heard there were 117 teams competing in the event! Some of the teams were more serious then others and would be going after most or all of the checkpoints, while some of the teams including a few family's and youths were after as many checkpoints as they thought they could collect while still making the 3hr time limit. It was really cool to see some little kids lined up with their parents partaking in the event. I had hoped that the way Ryan and I laid out the course would be the fastest and easiest way through the rugged Niagara Escarpment terrain. We did the course in a mostly clockwise fashion, which was a bit different then some of the other teams had in mind. 30 min into the event there were snowshoe tracks in every direction! Every team had their own path laid out and with it being a orienteering race you had to be savvy with your maps and compass. We hit almost all the 24 checkpoints precisely, all except 3 of them. We messed up a few of the checkpoints and probably lost only 7 or 8 mins in total as once we realized we were off course we were quick to get back on track. Because allot of the top teams took their own planned route we were racing people that we couldn't see, which can be quite nerve racking as you have no idea how you are doing in the race.
We came into the last section of the course before the finish line at the base of Blue Mountain and nailed the last 5 checkpoints! We crossed the finish line to be greeted and congratulated by the race organizer and race volunteers. We had been beaten by one team. Nick Duca and his teammate bested us yet again by only 10-20secs (unofficial just what I had been told). We had been racing these two guys for almost three hours and didn't see them the entire race! How cool is that!
It was a stellar event and I would recommend the snowshoe raid to anyone who would be keen to try their map and compass skills navigating through some of the most beautiful terrain that southern Ontario has to offer.
After being bused to the starting point,strapping the snowshoes on and making some finishing touches, we were off at just after 11am. From what I had heard there were 117 teams competing in the event! Some of the teams were more serious then others and would be going after most or all of the checkpoints, while some of the teams including a few family's and youths were after as many checkpoints as they thought they could collect while still making the 3hr time limit. It was really cool to see some little kids lined up with their parents partaking in the event. I had hoped that the way Ryan and I laid out the course would be the fastest and easiest way through the rugged Niagara Escarpment terrain. We did the course in a mostly clockwise fashion, which was a bit different then some of the other teams had in mind. 30 min into the event there were snowshoe tracks in every direction! Every team had their own path laid out and with it being a orienteering race you had to be savvy with your maps and compass. We hit almost all the 24 checkpoints precisely, all except 3 of them. We messed up a few of the checkpoints and probably lost only 7 or 8 mins in total as once we realized we were off course we were quick to get back on track. Because allot of the top teams took their own planned route we were racing people that we couldn't see, which can be quite nerve racking as you have no idea how you are doing in the race.
We came into the last section of the course before the finish line at the base of Blue Mountain and nailed the last 5 checkpoints! We crossed the finish line to be greeted and congratulated by the race organizer and race volunteers. We had been beaten by one team. Nick Duca and his teammate bested us yet again by only 10-20secs (unofficial just what I had been told). We had been racing these two guys for almost three hours and didn't see them the entire race! How cool is that!
It was a stellar event and I would recommend the snowshoe raid to anyone who would be keen to try their map and compass skills navigating through some of the most beautiful terrain that southern Ontario has to offer.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Gear For Sale
Mountain Hardwear Gear For Sale
MHW Brono Jacket Gore Windstopper softshell mens small only used once. Retails $240 Asking $100.
MHW Monkey Man Heavy Weight Fleece, Used but in great shape.. Retails for $160 Asking $50.
MHW Brono Jacket Gore Windstopper softshell mens small only used once. Retails $240 Asking $100.
MHW Monkey Man Heavy Weight Fleece, Used but in great shape.. Retails for $160 Asking $50.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Merry Christmas
It is Christmas Eve and we have almost zero cm's of snow. I think people are generally more excited that there is no snow and that it has been a very green December then they are a white snowy Christmas. I love snow, period. Large amounts of deep white fluffy gold, the more the better. I much rather have -10 degree temps and 3 feet of snow then have 2 degrees and rain. It is already crappy enough that the days are so short.. (thank goodness winter solstice has past) without having almost freezing temps and rain. If it were only a few degrees colder it would be snowing where we can nordic ski, snowshoe, downhill ski/ snowboard etc. Anyways I just find it sad when I am making small talk with people on the lack of snow topic and they actually seem happy for it to be grey, almost freezing, raining and overall shitty out. I just cannot comprehend that mentality.
Anyways enough of a debby downer... On a much more positive note, friends of ours just had one of the most special gifts imaginable. They welcomed their first child, a son early this morning.
I am very fortunate to be sitting here trying to decide what to do today. I am ready for Christmas with my shopping done and all I have on the skeddy is visit with family and friends (after a wee bit of exercise).. Now if we only had some snow I my exercise options would be more plentiful then run or ride..
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Cheers.
Anyways enough of a debby downer... On a much more positive note, friends of ours just had one of the most special gifts imaginable. They welcomed their first child, a son early this morning.
I am very fortunate to be sitting here trying to decide what to do today. I am ready for Christmas with my shopping done and all I have on the skeddy is visit with family and friends (after a wee bit of exercise).. Now if we only had some snow I my exercise options would be more plentiful then run or ride..
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Cheers.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
1 month ago today with photos
1 month ago was my last entry into my blog. Quite a bit has happened in the last 31 days. I am going to make a solid effort to post more frequently from now until I start to slack off and the posting gets more spaced out...again..
Lets start off with the fact that I am engaged! Big step in a small life, probably one of the biggest I will ever make and it will define who I am from this point onwards. I am more excited then I ever could of imagined I would be for something so simple and yet satisfying. I truly look forward to spending the rest of my life with someone so special.
I am currently fighting a wee chest cold, nothing serious but with a increase in some sleep and a bottle of cold-fx I should be good to go. I have been holding steady with the running miles, with a weekly average around 110km's. All of those km's are on trail, in every condition that winter can throw at us. Wait... the weather has been quite pleasant, hasn't it? It feels more like October or the beginning of November then it does the middle of December. Christmas is creeping up with 11 days till Jolly old Saint Nick raids my cookie stash. I haven't started Christmas shopping and plan on doing a 60min blitz and get everyone a LCBO gift card or a Swiss Army Knife.
I have been trying to lay out my racing schedule for 2012 and.... WAY too many wicked cool events to choose from. I want to do a few 100 milers (trail running), a handful of bigger multi-sport adventure races and then most of the highlights on the MTB circuit. I also have a shoebox full of maps that are just begging to be explored. I have 4 or 5 epic's in mind for the winter and a few for next summer/fall. I am going to have to lay it all out on a calendar and see how things shape up.
This is going to be the most random mishmash post as I am literally just typing as things pop into my mind.
I got a iPhone. Sorry Blackberry, but the iPhone is just to sweet a rig to hold out for the simple reason that BB is Canadian. Oh and BBM. I am blown away by the usefulness of this little heavy device. It can do almost anything. ANYTHING!
Now for some more useful info:
I have changed the way I have run completely. I mean I have taken the way I used to run and tossed it in the trash. I read the book "Born to Run" and it got me thinking, researching and learning more about why we are the way we are. (Bio mechanically that is). We have evolved a very certain way and nobody really knew why until recently. (Or nobody cared). I stumbled across a Russian guy who seemed to have his bio mechanics more figured out then all the other research I was engulfing put together. His name is Dr. Nicholas Romanov PhD. He has dedicated his entire life to running mechanics. I took a weekend course with him in August and learned way more then my money's worth. I left with a overwhelmed brain full of techniques and drills to help me run more efficiently. He has started the "POSE METHOD" and teaches you how to run the way nature meant us to. Fast forward to today and I am really starting to feel the effects of time spent training myself how to run rather then just running to run.
Below are a few recent photos to check out.
Lets start off with the fact that I am engaged! Big step in a small life, probably one of the biggest I will ever make and it will define who I am from this point onwards. I am more excited then I ever could of imagined I would be for something so simple and yet satisfying. I truly look forward to spending the rest of my life with someone so special.
I am currently fighting a wee chest cold, nothing serious but with a increase in some sleep and a bottle of cold-fx I should be good to go. I have been holding steady with the running miles, with a weekly average around 110km's. All of those km's are on trail, in every condition that winter can throw at us. Wait... the weather has been quite pleasant, hasn't it? It feels more like October or the beginning of November then it does the middle of December. Christmas is creeping up with 11 days till Jolly old Saint Nick raids my cookie stash. I haven't started Christmas shopping and plan on doing a 60min blitz and get everyone a LCBO gift card or a Swiss Army Knife.
I have been trying to lay out my racing schedule for 2012 and.... WAY too many wicked cool events to choose from. I want to do a few 100 milers (trail running), a handful of bigger multi-sport adventure races and then most of the highlights on the MTB circuit. I also have a shoebox full of maps that are just begging to be explored. I have 4 or 5 epic's in mind for the winter and a few for next summer/fall. I am going to have to lay it all out on a calendar and see how things shape up.
This is going to be the most random mishmash post as I am literally just typing as things pop into my mind.
I got a iPhone. Sorry Blackberry, but the iPhone is just to sweet a rig to hold out for the simple reason that BB is Canadian. Oh and BBM. I am blown away by the usefulness of this little heavy device. It can do almost anything. ANYTHING!
Now for some more useful info:
I have changed the way I have run completely. I mean I have taken the way I used to run and tossed it in the trash. I read the book "Born to Run" and it got me thinking, researching and learning more about why we are the way we are. (Bio mechanically that is). We have evolved a very certain way and nobody really knew why until recently. (Or nobody cared). I stumbled across a Russian guy who seemed to have his bio mechanics more figured out then all the other research I was engulfing put together. His name is Dr. Nicholas Romanov PhD. He has dedicated his entire life to running mechanics. I took a weekend course with him in August and learned way more then my money's worth. I left with a overwhelmed brain full of techniques and drills to help me run more efficiently. He has started the "POSE METHOD" and teaches you how to run the way nature meant us to. Fast forward to today and I am really starting to feel the effects of time spent training myself how to run rather then just running to run.
Below are a few recent photos to check out.
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