Climbing and Running and Whiplash

Hello all, I hope everyone who reads my blog whether out of interest or boredom have been doing well. 

I think my blog title should be rearranged to Whiplash, Running and Climbing. Apparently as my doctor tells me, some whiplash victims are subject to variances in weather. It got cold in Canmore on August 31 and shortly after that things took a turn for the worst. After 2 months of being pain free from soft tissue damage, symptoms came back with a vengeance. Enough for me to be sitting in the doctor's office looking for something far stronger than robaxasol to help me make it through the day and night. More than the physical aspect it's emotionally demoralizing to have a physical set back. I wasn't prepared to feel bad again, I didn't handle it too well. 

Physiotherapist and Acupunturist were left shaking their heads uncertain as to why I was feeling bad again. Doctor says that cold weather tenses up the muscles and can start the nasty tightening process which leads to knots yada yada yada.

Anyhow in the midst of this I decided to use a new therapy I hadn't tried before... denial. I am firmly practicing denial. Don't get me wrong, I'm still getting some treatment but I'm also refusing to acknowledge that I hurt. No energy for the sore shoulder or elbow, none nada. I've started doing what I like to do which brings me to running and climbing. Movement actually helps me to feel better, loosens everything up for awhile and it means alot mentally. I'm not necessarily recommending this strategy but we all have to do what works for us.

I am climbing stronger than ever in the gym which is encouraging. My strength doesn't seem to be effected although one side tires out sooner than the other. No worries if I'm strong enough than tiring out is all relative, I can still be strong albeit not equally balanced. I am a hold away from completing my own route end to end, with a more difficult start to it as well. Its pumpy, requires open palm holds as well as a few crimpy ones and shifting body positions. I have to admit being proud of the route. It makes me smile that it's still so challenging for me. Eventually that climb will start in the cave and force the climber to be strong, have endurance and good technique.

I have been completely in love with Trail Running. I've been super encouraged to find my legs are strong and not that sore after I run. Now the lungs are a different matter, they feel like they're exploding and I'm going to throw up - perfect! I ran in my first ever Trail Run Race - the 5 Peaks in Canmore. I was just there to run and had no expectation of my time. Unfortunately my chip didn't beep at the start so my time isn't official but according to the stats I would have come in 6th out of 18 in my older-than-I'd-like age category, and I would have been in 7th out of 32 for the next younger age category. So I felt fairly good about that since I've never considered myself that speedy. But before I could rest on my laurels too long I checked out the 50 - 59 category and the winner in that category beat me by over 4 minutes. That actually put a big grin on my face because I was pretty stoked to know I could still be kicking some serious ASS when I reach that age. For me trail running adds a new dimension to running. I get to be in the mountains, its far quieter and you have the added spice of wondering about bears!

I should note that my fancy-pancy climbing partner Karena came in 3rd in her age category for the Half Marathon Trail Run. It happened to be her first ever Half Marathon. It doesn't help matters that she's super smart too and just got a great scholarship to do her MBA. Did I mention she has a PHD and is pretty? Ya.. I'd like to hate her too but darn it all if she's not nice as well. Sigh... whaddaya do? 

Catherine did the Half as well and I imagine she was probaby the only gal in there who'd had a baby in the last 5 months. Seeing how all encompassing having a baby is I have no idea how she managed to fit in her training. Colin would have been so fucking proud of her. Nic and Tom looked after Claire during the race and apparently she gave them a run of their money as well. Tom claims to have ran over 20laps on his 3 flights of townhouse stairs to keep her moving and mollified! I think we were all proud of ourselves and it was a great day with good friends. After the race we all went out to have lunch, sit in the sun and enjoy the mountain views.

This Saturday I went out and did the Sulpher Springs run, which I remembered as being tough and about16km in length. But when I got to the trailhead I read the sign and in my bad math I calculated it to be10km. Famous last thought; "How hard could it be?" Ya right Lise. I remembered it being 16km because it was fucking ARDUOUS. I finished dog tired, out of water and out-gunned by the seemingly never ending elevation gain. All 700m of it to be exact, over 11km rather than the 10 my bad math had determined. Lots of up but the subsequent down didn't feel equivalent to the elevation gain.  The route contours along the mountain so there very well could be more aggregate up than down. I came off of it thinking my running sucked since I was much slower than I expected to be, but once I came home and researched the route I decided that my running wasn't so bad all things considered. I do know there there is vast room for improvement so I'm interested in going out and tackling it again. 

Oh and thinking about Karena I don't feel so bad trailing her when we go for runs now, she is obviously one fast critter.

My ultimate goal at this point is to get in as many trail runs before the snow flies and then figure out which trails can be ran in the winter. Really when one thinks about it, with a good headlamp, your winter clothes and some studs on the runners there is no reason why someone can't keep trailrunning in the winter. I ran this by Karena and she completely agreed. We're ice climbers after all, why let some snow and elevation deter us?

With my new "denial therapy" in place I think its going to be a great season.