Monday, January 17, 2011

Nanaimo Training Day

Dec 4 - 2010

One thing I miss about living up at the Icefield in a staff accom was having friends around all the time, and training partners anywhere you look.  Want to hit a hike up?  5 people ready to go with you.  Need motivation for a 10k?  A buddy is pushing you out the door.  Living in a big city when you have to drive 30 minutes for 10k is a big big difference.

We were out on the island again this weekend and I had the chance to meet up with Josh (nailed IM Canada in 2009) to get a swim in together and some swimming tips.  Hit up Timmys drive thru for a quick coffee as I left the hotel at 745 and up to the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.  Beautiful facility here, 50m pool so nice!  We were swimming just after 8 and he was off like a cannon.  For a big guy more built for rugby I don't know how he swims so fast.  Our first 500m was my race pace pretty much.  We ended up getting over 2000m in by the end, felt awesome to be rolling back to the hotel free breakfast already having got a good workout in!


After watching a very mediocre Santa Clause Parade (there were multiple Santa's in this, which should prove traumatic for some kids, am I wrong?).  Even had the opportunity to watch a true redneck driving his John Deere down main street stroking a mounted deer head with duct tape on its nose, how did this 'float' get approved?  Or did he just happen to drive up and join in?  Baffling.

Met up with Josh again around 2 for a trail run around Westwood Lake.  Its a 6k loop around.  As he got there I let him in on the news that we were doing a 12k double loop, impressed he was.  Kept a good pace and of course lots of bs'ing along the run but saw about 12 seconds of sun the entire time as it had just ducked behind the ridgeline.  Frozen 'mid section' yet again!  Hit up his inlaws place for a shower to thaw out then out for some good eats and unfortunately, back to the mainland.

Westwood Lake - some serious climbing at one end
Solid day!

Opening Day Mt. Washington

December 3rd, 2010


Slightly tape delayed, sorry.

The first snowboarding since Apr 09 in Hokkaido, Japan.  Gave it a pass in 2010 what with no patience for overpriced underperforming nearby hills and having no job upon return to Canada. 










Opening day, but Coach was on the IR so just wife and I.  Got morning passes for $48 ($55 after HST) each, good til 1230pm. By the time we'd geared up, walked up the far parking lot, got tix.. we were boarding by 930. We went right down a nice powdery run, bad idea by me though as it was a little over her comfort level, and took us 1/2 hour of wasted time to get down. Deep breaths....

Took eagle express up to the top, some good runs but had to get some groomers in so I didnt get divorced before the fact. This meant over an hour of opening day powder disappeared before our eyes as the other riders thrashed it to bits. NOTHING like Japan when youd have the chance to find stashes all day long.  A few runs on the other side, then back again. Took off solo for a few tree runs but even in there it was carved out, any powder that was around felt pretty heavy and had to have a good run of speed to get through it. Cant really complain though as if its this good on opening day, this mountain must be awesome mid season.  O called it at noon with an injured ankle so I did a run more then went into the tech shop to get my bindings worked on. Somehow in my move/shipment my bolts/washers/plates went missing so the bindings shifted left right on each turn. They added a set of washers to make it work, then a nylon threaded lockbolt on my right toe which had been coming loose for years. $20 down but bindings good and ready!

Down to Cumberland for some homemade pizza slices, good kohi, then drove down to Nanaimo for an awesome night of good food and a Shane Philip concert (and got to meet the dude himself before he went on stage!)