Summitting The Golden Hinde in a Single Day

I had been there before...but had never reached the summit.  My last trip to the Golden Hinde was a 3 day, solo walk-about at a pace designed to clear my mind.  This time, the pace was set to try and get to the summit and back in a single day.  Of course, it had been done before by many adventurous (and impatient) fastpackers.  But, I hadn't ever heard of a woman's single day time...

"Hey!  Wanna go for the Hinde on August 27th?"  

...And so...

Music to Move You

A friend just gave me a mixed CD for my birthweek:)  How fun is that?  Remember the days where you made your friends mixed tapes for roadtrips, birthdays and just because (and didn't worry about being thrown into jail for sharing music with your peeps lol?).

Race Report: Orcas Island 50K

Another ultra, another EKG

I finally made it to Orcas Island!  And it was definitely worth the wait.

ELM Runners are 'Ultra' Fit

  Ultra runners, running to the finish at the Fat Dog in Manning Park.  Image: Brian McCurdy

ELM RUNNERS ARE 'ULTRA' FIT

Over the past two weeks, 6 local trail runners have made their mark on ultra distance trail running events around the Province. Coached by Kinesiologist and owner of Equilibrium Lifestyle Management (ELM), Sarah Seads, runners are finding a new challenge and sense of accomplishment with ultramarathon distances.

Secret Trails

Hands on thighs I push onward...desperate to see the view from the top.

W O N D E R

I wonder what is up there.  I wonder what views await me.  I wonder how much further it is to the top.

I can see the light breaking through the canopy now.  More light.  Less darkness.  I can feel it.  I'm so close.

Backcountry Running: Tips and Gear List

 

 Fastpacking Mount Septimus

Can you hear that?  The mountains are calling your name!  

If you are like me, you hear the call of the wild as soon as the snow begins to melt and the days start to stretch out.  Personally, I can't get enough of moving through the mountains and exploring new terrain, off the beaten path.  The further from the road you go, the less human distractions there are to detract from the raw beauty of the wild.  In the back country, the sky appears bluer, the air tastes cleaner, the sunrises are more delicious and the space is intoxicating.  Like I said, I can't get enough.

Taperland

Miles and miles and miles of single track under my sneakers.  Hills and hills and hills tattooed into my quads and calves.  Endless rhythms of breathe and footsteps and arm swings.  All of the uphill slogs and downhill smiles have blurred into one beautiful, miserable, soggy, sunshiney, wonderful run.

Videos: Weekend Film Fest! Adventure!

Happy Happy Friday!
Looking for a little adventure?  Here you go!
SS

Enduro Adventure from Mavic.  Ready to get off the beaten path?  Let this little film inspire you to start planning your next back country single track epic!  Kudos to The Adventure Blog for sharing this inspiring vid!

Elk River Trail

Holy moly.  I found another piece of heaven in Strathcona Provincial Park this past weekend...

Juan de Fuca Solo 'Run'

Good times on the Juan de Fuca trail yesterday!
I have been itching to fit in a day on the JDF trail since my first fast pack in 2009. That time I enjoyed a fun day with a couple of buddies, Shawn and Michelle, exploring, making memories, taking photos and taking in the scenery. This year I couldn't seem to convince any buddies to join me on the trek so I faced my fears and went solo. It turned out to be a fabulous day- I had a great long run on one of the most beautiful west coast trails imaginable. 47kms (and 2000m elevation gain then loss) of single track, mud, roots, ladders, bridges, beaches, rivers, mud...did I mention mud?

Juan De Fuca Trail in Pics...

HAPPY FRIDAY!
The weekend is here and I can't believe I haven't had time to post my Juan de Fuca blog yet...it has been a crazy busy week with the start of ELMs summer Fitness Adventures. Now that things are (relatively) under control I have had time to upload all of my pics from last weekend for you from JDF. I also shot some video so stay tuned for a little movie of our day on the trail.

The Juan de Fuca trail runs from China Beach (north of Sooke) to Botanical Beach, Port Renfrew, along the west coast of Vancouver Island. The trail is 47kms of classic west coast terrain including rocky and sandy beach sections, open cedar forest, ancient old growth timber, suspension bridges, ladders, boardwalks and countless river crossing that require descending and ascending up the other side. Although there are no long climbs, the total elevation lost/gained is over 2600m when all is said and done. That is a lot of up and down!