Primal Exercise

So since I’ve changed my diet, I’ve also been thinking about what I will do this spring and summer in terms of exercise.  I am rethinking my plans to do ultras.  I had been planning to do at least a baby ultra (50K) this spring.    Perhaps, yes, ultras can do some damage to the body which is not quite natural.  Though, there is still something that draws me to them, so maybe someday.  But the question that really gets me thinking is when would a hunter-gatherer have had to run for 24+ hours straight?  The only instance I can think of is the Tarahumara tribe (who incidentally kicked ass at Leadville many times) because they historically ran to deliver messages across long distances…  Unfortunately in terms of my running career, my heritage is not Tarahumara, it is half-Estonian serf and half-Canadian (and if you go way back, logically, British Isles of some sort.) so maybe my genetic stock is less suited for long-distance running and more suited to cutting wheat in fields and going fishing.  No wonder I’m such a slow runner.

The idea of exercising primally is:

• move around a lot at a slow pace
• lift really heavy things
• run really fast once in a while

This idea is meant to mimic how we would live if we weren’t in technologically advanced modern civilization, which is a relative blip on the genetic timescale of humans.  So perhaps a primal exercise plan might look more varied than training for an ultra and focusing so much time and effort just on running.

My husband is planning on doing a 24-hr bike race in June, so focusing on cycling again would be good so we can do a bit of riding together.  Cycling definitely fits into the idea of moving around a lot, but slowly.  I did some sprints with my friend on Monday, and doing some sprinting once a week or so seems pretty do-able.  Also looking into adding swimming and whatever other fun exercise opportunities come along.  I’ll still probably end up going to the gym to do weights 1-2 times a week.  The lazy part of me that likes to stay inside during winter really likes the fact that a primal diet seems to allow one to maintain muscle mass with much less exercise.

Screw Shoes

screw your shoes

Tonight my husband helped me put screws into the bottom of the treads of my winter runners.  I found this idea on Matt Carpenter’s page.  The idea is that the screws are supposed to help with traction for running on ice and snow.

To do this you will need either 3/8″ or 1/2″ sheet metal screws and a drill.  A screwdriver is handy for putting the last tightening turns on the screws.  I used 1/2″ screws on my Brooks Cascadia shoes and none of the screws came through to the footbed, except when we tried to put a few at the very top near the toe of the right shoe, so we left those out.  I favour my right foot so the tread was more worn on the right side than the left.

Lessons learned from my first ultra*

This would have been a great pic if my lips weren't so dry and I wasn't trying to hold back tears of happiness. I don't always look so strange and ugly. Even after running 26K.

This is what I learned today after running my second ever trail race, Haliburton Forest 26K.

1. Carry water.  Carry water.  Carry water.

2. After running 13K through rough terrain, gummi bears and red licorice look like food when there is no fruit left to eat at the aid station (and they taste delicious).  Oops.

3.  The trails in Dundas Valley are a walk in the park compared to those in Haliburton Forest.

I had a great day in the woods and managed to keep my attitude positive about 98% of the time.  It was a lot more challenging and took way longer than I had anticipated.  But I met my goals, which were to finish the race and not to come in dead last.  I got to visit the Haliburton Wolf Centre while I was there, which was amazing although I was really tired so I didn’t get to spend a lot of time.

Haliburton County is amazingly beautiful and I was really happy with the way the race was organized.  The laid-back vibe really appealed to me and the crowd at Haliburton was a lot different from Sulphur Springs.  The course was full of big steep hills, rooty sections, rocky sections, slippery log sections, tonnes of nice single-track, some not-so-nice single track, loose rocks, poor footing and sections of muck.  Yeah!  My only complaint is that the aid stations seemed few and really far apart but it was probably my own fault for not carrying water and relying on aid stations for hydration.  Even though there were times during the race where I was cursing myself for deciding to run it and vowing to never run a race again, I am already thinking of what my next race will be!

*OUSER gives series points to the 26K Haliburton Forest as an ultra, even though ultras are usually 50K or more.

Running with Wolves

Today’s food;

4 banana/blueberry smoothie

.5L orange juice

about 3/4 of a watermelon

4 banana/blueberry smoothie

No exercise because I am resting and fruiting up for the race on Saturday!  I didn’t eat any overts today and I will eat none tomorrow.

I have been feeling all day as though people and events have been sent into my life to test me.  That comes across as sounding more bitter on the computer than I intended.  What I mean is that I feel as though I have been tempted today in more ways than just food.  I have remained strong and I will feel great mentally during the race for that fact!

I have my bag packed, with two different shirts to wear for the race, herbal first aid kit items, socks, shoes, toiletries.  I have the cooler ready to hold cut-up watermelon and banana smoothies. Oh, and I have a couple almonds to stick in my shorts pocket to put on the Forest Shrine which is at around the 10K marker of the course.

I am really excited and pumped and feeling really differently about going into this race than I was last week.  Last week I was filled with hesitation.  Matt was supposed to be coming with me to Haliburton but there were unforeseen obstacles which is entirely understandable considering he is moving himself and his business across the country and across the border.  I am pumped about running in the remote Ontario wilderness with wolves and bears!!!  But mostly I am looking forward to seeing my husband on Sunday night.