Half Marathon Training #8

It’s been 10 days since I went out for a run. I thought I was getting shin splints so I got new shoes and took a break from running (although a 30 km hike up and down hills last Monday probably does not constitute as a break). I went out again for the first time and ran 6.2 km at a pretty decent time (for me, that is; it’s all relative, of course). The enw shoes were fine and I think it wasn’t shin splints that were bothering me but a bruise on my shin. Time will tell. Perhaps tomorrow or Tuesday I will squeeze a long run in.

A Good Day

I woke up at 6:10 AM, had a shower, packed my bags and read a book. At 7:30 AM I returned my room key and went out to the place where I hoped to meet Tim for a ride to the airport. He was already there. A quick drive ot the airport, then straight to check-in: windows seats were still available! Then off to find breakfast. Bacon and eggs (bologna was an option) at a reasonable price, even if it wasn’t the airport. Read the Globe and Mail and boarded my flight - I was happy to see that we got to walk out to the airplane - sort of makes me feel like I’m in the Casablanca movie or something.Here's St. John’s on a gloomy morning.

The view from the window of a part of Nova Scotia - the Annapolis Valley, I think, above. Viewing the world from above is always a treat. It looks just like a map - without the text, of course. I find it amazing to watch the different landforms drift by with the incredible dark blue sky above that indicates the edge of space. Everything seems small and interconnected.


And, below - what a treat! - our fair town of Peterborough, as seen from 12,000 m. Drop me off here! Twenty minutes to fly from here to Toronto, 90 minutes to drive back.



I’m happy to be home again.

Afternoon Trip to Cape Spear

Petty Harbour, a little fishing village south of St. John's.
World War 2 gun enplacement at Cape Spear.
The lighthouse at Cape Spear.
See? I was really there, marking the spot with my GPS.

St. John's Day 3

It's 8:40 AM and I'm sitting in the pleasant surroundings of the Memorial University library. There are a number of concrete pillars about, each one boasting a couple of book or library related quotes. Such as: "I don't believe that libraries should be drab places where people sit in silence, and that's been the main reason for our policy of employing wild animals as librarians." That taken from Monty Python.

The conference is going well. For a more technical view of the proceedings, visit the CCABlog. Also included are some photos of the ice breaker reception, held in the Newman Wine Vaults - basically a glorified cellar with a gravel floor. Very nice.

My Geo-caching Tour of St. John's

What better where to see a place than with a local guide? Or a few local guides? The locals have put quite a number of geocaches in and around town and I was up for it. I began my trip and stopped at the first geocache on campus at 8:18 AM - an easy find underneath some loading dock. Then, off towards the downtown area for another geocache and some breakfast. Another easy find, along with my first view of St. John's harbour.

Down at the harbour's edge were a number of fishing trawlers and some small container ships - no really big boats in the water.
The military has a presence here and has since the 1600s when countries began recognizing the strategic importance of St. John's.
After breakfast I set out on what proved to be an ambitious hike to what are called the South Hills. The view from the lighthouse was spectacular.

I met a couple from Barrie who recommeded hiking around Signal Hill, then heading off to Quidi Vidi on the other side and stopping by the only pub there. Amherst, the dog at the house that was next to the lighthouse seemed rather placid and content - inpsite of what the sign of the left says ("Do not feed our dog Amherst He's too fat!!!" under which Amherst supposedly wrote "Pssst! I'm not! Woof! It's just fur!").
Then up along part of the East Coast Trail to find three more geocaches. After a climb of about 150 m, I managed to find 2 of the 3. The third suggested an alternate route back to town that seemed shorter but proved to be a bit challenging (especially when confronted with 50 m drops) so, in the end, I probably walked as far as I would have if I had gone back the way I came from. Nevertheless, I did have some spectacular views of the city.

I was back downtown by about 2 PM but wasn't feeling hungry in the least because of my big breakfast (I always recommend having one for a busy day). Off to Signal Hill to do some more geocaches.

The skies had cleared and the wind had picked up considerably. More great views from some of the defenses and from the top of the hill.

The wide, flat expanse of the Atlantic Ocean on a clear, blue day is truly impressive. I went down the other side of the hill to go to Quidi Vidi to llok for the pub. I found the village but not the pub. Since it was about 4:30 PM I thought I should head back to the campus and get something to eat. But wait - here's another geocache along the way - only 150 m off the beaten path . . . .

Ten hours, 30 kilometres and 8 geocaches later (that should keep me ahead of you for a bit, doubleff!) I arrive back at the residence, still hungry, very tired and with sore feet. A quick shower, a slow walk to the neighbourhood pub, a leisurely dinner and back to the residence. I have little energy for anything else.

Tomorrow the first sessions of the conference begin and play time is over.

Monday Morning . . .

Memorial University Campus, Barnes Residence

I have arrived safely and have had satisfactory sleep in the somewhat spartan settings of a university dormitory. Even before I left the airport in Toronto I ran into someone else attending the conference. We chatted and hooked up with each other after the flight. It's nice to hve someone you know when coming into a strange place.

The flight from Toronto to Halifax was full as was the one from Halifax to St. John's. It's no surprise, then that WestJet continues to make money. We arrived in St. John's at around 10:00 PM local time and grabbed a cab to the university residence. Apparently it's a flat rate to get to the university from the airport by cab which explains the cabbie's driving behaviour. He was generally doing 80 kmh most of the way, even though the roads were wet and the signs said 50 kmh. "If I make this light, then we're okay and we'll make the other three lights. But if it's red then we'll go this way; otherwise we'll have 3 more red lights." I'm thinking, "We're not that much in a hurry. I don't have to go to the washroom or anything." Of we we go, like a rocket along dark and glossy streets, always keeping an eye out for stop lights and police cars, all the while telling us the best way to go. He seemed intent on setting some sort of personal record; the passengers were simply funding the ride.

And now it is morning and my one free day beckons along with the sporadic sunshine and the cool breezes. Let's see what this place is like.

On My Way . . .

Outside gate B18, Terminal 3, YYZ

Laura and the kids dropped me off and left right away. I immediately checked in, went through security (I have metal in my shoes, apparently) and now I am in the waiting area waiting, of course. Any one who knows me knows I love airplanes and airports and I can't help but feel excited when I look at the window and see the big jets being loaded up and taxiing, or when I look at the departure screen and see all the destinations in store for the many people waiting in the check-in lines. I was hoping they'd have a window seat available because I would have my eyes glued to the window for the entire trip but, alas, no, they only had an aisle seat in the emergency exit row. I am excited about this but don't want to appear too excited lest someone mistake me for an out of town hick who never flies. Having a laptop to pull out and work on helps to fool people, I guess.

Deck Building Progress Report #8

It may not look like much has been since a week ago but some of the trim at the bottom and the pergola at the top is finished. The angled stairs and the railings are tough to do.

The boards you see on the steps are just there temporarily. They still need to be nailed down. Sadly, I won’t have time to work on until next week Saturday.

Deck Building Progress Report #7

Aaaaaaah! I don’t know how to do all this! Richard, my skilled volunteer labour that came by last week to help me put up the deck, email me some instructions on what to do with the steps. Suddenly, it feels like he’s talking about things that I have no clue about and don’t know what to do with. I feel a little panicky because I want to get the job done but, more than anything, I want to get the job done right. I couldn’t stand it if it were only okay. I’ll keep you posted on my progress today.

Half Marathon Training #7: Rest Time

Well, I think I have shin splints. I have a very mild feeling of pain or discomfort in my shins, particularly on my right leg. That means a couple of things: time for new shoes (which I bought yesterday; the old ones had about 500 km on them) and time for a rest. Since I’m leaving for St. John’s, Newfoundland for a week to attend the annual CCA conference, it probably is a convenient time to take a break. Not that I want to: I want to stick to the training schedule. But, better rest now than suffer longer later.

Deck Building Progress Report #6

No, the deck’s not finished yet. And yes, I have been working on it. When the free skilled labour goes, it’s a little harder to move things along. But progress is being made, albeit slowly.

Photos will come on Saturday after I’ve worked on it in the morning. Hopefully, with a few willing hands I’ll have some of the stairs nailed down, if not more.

Half Marathon Training #6: Hill Training

Well, it sounded worse that it really was, much like that gastro-intestinal thing I had done awhile back. An easy 2 km run, followed by 3 hill repeats (i.e. running up a 200 m long hill, 3 times) and an easy 2 km run back. After which I thought, “You call that a hill? It’s only half a hill!” Perhaps I am in better shape than I give myself credit for.

But I do need new shoes. These ones have about 500 km on them and are starting to cause me blisters on the longer runs.

Half Marathon Training #5

I went out for a long run this morning but it got too hot. It was very humid and uncomfortable. In spite of that, I managed to run 14.4 km in about 90 minutes - a slow pace for me but my longest distance to date. I thought I wouldnÂ’t be able to make two-thirds of the way in. How will I ever be able to finish 21.1 km? In any case, my 5 km runs are a breeze now.

Deck Building Progress Report #5

The top is finished! Looks nice, doesn’t it?


But the stairs still need to be completed.


The reason they aren’t finished is because it’s 30°C out and there’s a pool close at hand.

Deck Building Progress Report #4

It might not look like much was done yesterday but really - we were busy. There was much hammering and much hammering still needs to be done.


It should be in a fairly useable state by the end of today.

Deck Building Progress Report #3

Richard contemplates the day’s activities.


The state of progress to date.

Deck Building Progress Report #2

Materials - $1,300 later (that’s cedar deck on the right - it smells wonderful).


Laura pitches in.

Deck Building Progress Report #1

After a hot and humid day of slow work, the footings are in.

The disappearing deck

This:



Minus this:



Equals this:

Half Marathon Training #4

Well, this is going swimmingly, I must say. Last month’s run totals surpassed the 100 km mark for the first time in recorded history (for me, that is). And last evening I went out and ran 13.4 km, the most I’ve ever run at any one time. I averaged one second less than 6 minutes per kilometre so it hasn’t been my fastest, but I felt good and very pleased with the effort.

The running group is starting to gel for me. I am recoginizing faces but still can't remember people’s names. It all starts to get a little obsessive. I find myself thinking about running most days for it never feels far away from a run. I guess that’s the plan.