Winter...Not Winter

It's November in Nova Scotia. I put on the long pants today for the first time since late April...so the season's have officially changed. It is now Winter. Yesterday, while still in shorts...it was Not Winter...the other season that we get get to enjoy out here on the East Coast of Canada.

I wear shorts from Apr.23rd to Nov.02nd every year, and have been doing so for many years. My defense for this lack of flexibility? As a long-time runner, hiker, camper, bike commuter, I am in the habit of ignoring the day's weather and how I actually feel. If I only ran on nice days, when it's not too cold and I have someone to run with and feel pretty good...well you could count my annual runs on a few hands.

Working out consistently implies discomfort. Yes, there have been many frigid days on the bike, this fall and all the shoulder seasons going back 20+ years. I don't strive for comfort, just consistency. Having a set day to wear shorts gets a little harder each year, as the internal furnace struggles to cope with declining levels of testosterone.

The weather here in Halifax is so variable and so consistently lousy in the Spring and Fall...that I consider that we only have 2 seasons here...Winter, where one needs gloves, long pants, a hat, the furnace running in the house, etc....and Not Winter, where we revel in barbeques on the deck, shorts, sandals, trips to the beach, puttering in the back yard and hoping it is still cool enough to sleep at night.

So, it is Nov.02. It must be Winter...cause I'm wearing long pants.

Bruce
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Simpler is Better

Wascally Wabbit Ultra 50/50

How much fun can you have in one day? Well, as it turns out a 50 km run in the woods does not actually take all day. I was back in my house, sitting in the tub, drinking a beer before 2:00 PM. That being said...I was done for the day. The beer did not get rid of the pain. For awhile, it did take my mind off that pain.

The race was organized by Jodi Isenor, all around great guy and amazing athlete. His dad, Dwight was the timer and it was easy to see where Jodi gets some of his personality. Jodi used to organize the Elmsdale Relay, a multi-sport race (MTB bike, run, kayak/canoe). The Gonzos liked it so much that we setup up a similar race called the Pedal/Paddle/Plod.

The course was marked to perfection. I spent minimal mental effort keeping track of where I was and where I had to go. Can't ask for more than that in a trail race. The course was a demanding mix of logging roads, ATV trails and single track, with a fair bit of water, some decent grades and hills and a good share of bugs (It is May in Nova Scotia).

I was very pleased with my performance in this race. My longest trail run over the years was maybe an hour, so I had no real idea of what to expect. My running the past 2 years has also been quite inconsistent, as I have been off backpacking a lot. I just spent 30 days walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Good basework for a 50km trail race? Who knows.

As it turns out, the body parts were fit enough to handle the terrain, and the stamina level was deep. My 15 km loops got faster as I gained confidence and I finished strong. It has been 20 plus years since I ran a marathon distance. So nice to be able to say that my most recent marathon was just this year.

All in all a great day. Met some new people, had a very social day and earned some rest.

Skating Oval is a Fluke

I am enjoying the HRM Skating Oval on the Commons, but it is a fluke. It works because it is new, it is central, lots of people are using it, it's big, it's outdoors and yes, it's free!

Would I like to see the Oval stay? For sure, if not on the Commons, then in a smaller form in the Grand Parade, or across the street on top of Citadel High School's football field. Imagine skating on an outdoor oval around a football field!

The reality is, this would make it an HRM-planned facility, parking, insurance, multi-use, taxes and yes, user-pay. Would I should up at the current Oval if I had to pay $10. Sure, once or twice a winter. Would I drive out to some location outside the Peninsula. Nope. Most of the people who have written in to this paper have admitted that they love the idea of the Oval...even if they haven't actually been skating on it yet.

Face it, the Skating Oval is a fluke. Enjoy it while it is here (and free!). It will be a memory soon enough.