It's KIN Week in Canada!

Did you know... it's KIN WEEK in Canada! 

What the heck is a Kinesiologist anyways?

Kinesiologists are human movement specialists offering a wide variety of assessments and services to the public to assist with both injury/illness prevention and injury management. Their practice is based on the core sciences of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics and psychomotor behaviour. Kinesiologists work in the fitness industry, clinically, and in industrial environments.
Kinesiologists provide services through the application of the science of human movement and deliver quality solutions through prevention, objective assessment, and evidence based intervention.

What do Kinesiologists do, exactly? 
The field of Kinesiology encompasses a wide range of services and 'Kin's' may specialize in some or all of the following:

Injury Rehabilitation/ Exercise Therapy

•Perform job demands analysis and functional evaluation testing•Design, develop and monitor exercise, rehabilitation and conditioning programs•Rehabilitation program assessment, review and management

Ergonomics/Human Factors

•Physical demands analysis •Reduce/eliminate workplace MSI's •Designing, analyzing or adapting workplace conditions to reduce risk of injury •Identification and assessment of risk factors •Pre-employment/Post Offer Screening •Worker safety education and injury prevention training •Design workplace specific warm-up and stretch programs •Tool design or modification

Active Health and Fitness

•Design and conduct individual health and wellness programs •Teach and organize courses/workshops in health promotion including fitness, nutrition and wellness issues

Biomedical Applications

•Gait analysis consultation •Assist in the design/manufacturing and fitting of orthotics, braces and prosthetic devices

Rehabilitation Equipment and Technology

•Prescription and assessment for rehabilitation equipment including mobility devices with ergonomic applications

Research

•Plan and execute laboratory experiments and research projects

Disability/Case Management

•Planning and arranging services to facilitate a return to work/return to activities of normal living •Job Coaching services •Functional Abilities Evaluations/Functional Capacity Evaluations •Attendance/Absence management •Claims management

Facility Management/Owner


How do you become a Kinesiologist?   Kinesiologists in Canada are required to complete a minimum of 4 years University and obtain a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology,  Exercise Science or equivalent.  Registered Kinesiologists meet and uphold the standards of their Provincial and Federal Associations.     How can you find a Kinesiologist? Look no further...you are following one:)  LOL, besides myself there are hundreds of Registered Kins in BC- just go to the BCAK website to find one in your area.   Questions?  Check the BCAK website or give me a shout anytime!   Cheers, Sarah.

My Favourite Fall Gear

Hello ... Fall? 

First grey day in over 3 months it seems...time to light the wood stove, dig out the gloves and (gasp) try to find those darn tights.  If you are still in denial that fall is here and winter is on the way then look away my friends...I feel your pain.  Bookmark this blog and come on back once you have moved into the acceptance phase;)...

I often get asked what my favourite _____ is for _____.  Gear is super personal but I am always happy to share what works for me.  The following are items that I pretty much use on a daily basis.  They have been tested, tried and are true to me!

My Favourite Fall Gear

1. Salomon XT WP Jacket. 

You know those things that you just can't believe you lived without before they existed in your world?  They are the things that we use daily, reach for constantly, provide us with what it is we need- be it comfort or joy or both.  My favourite thing of them all right now is this jacket.  It is worth every penny and I wish I had one years ago.  Why?  Super light-weight, cuts the wind and manages to thermo-regulate in a wide range of temps, keeps the drizzle off, squishes up into a tiny pouch you can carry in one hand and...it has a hood:)  Love it!

Get one at Valhalla Pure (pssst ELM Members...you have an after hours shopping night coming up in November...)

2.  Magic  Shine Headlamp. 

OK it is crazy big BUT it is also crazy bright and the best value you will ever find for 900 lumins of light.  I wore this in the Canadian Death Race last year and like a moth to a flame, racers huddled behind it once they fell into it's spell.  Little headlamps seem awesome...until I turn on my Magicshine and their beams disappear into the glow.  Meant for biking but amazing for running as well - best worn over a headband/toque or hat because of the size/weight.  Be sure to purchase the headband and extension cord accessories to go along with the light.  Deal of the year.  Looks like this model is sold out right now but you can find similar ones here... Deal Extreme...

3. Sugoi R&R Knee High Compression Socks. 

Although I used to have to use these for compression and recovery for my varicose veins and for my compartment syndrome...I still use them on a weekly basis for rides and runs just cause they rock.  They fold down into short socks if need be...and when you need high socks you got em!  Awesome for cooler temps when you aren't ready for tights but want some extra warmth.  Perfect for mountain biking and a little extra protection from the terrain/elements (and mud!).  And the cat's arse for bushwhacking- cause you just never know!  I like these ones because they aren't too tight and they are nice and warm and breathable at the same time. 

Looks like they aren't listed on the Sugoi website anymore...but you can probably still pick them up at ELM Super sponsor, Extreme Runners...while supplies last...


4. Garmin GPS. 

So small, so acurate, so awesome to be able to track your route, speed, elevation, time and heart rate all at once!  If you don't have a Garmin by now you must really not know what you are missing.  Of course you CAN live without one...but if your biggest hobbies are all in the great outdoors and you like numbers (must like numbers) then why would you want to? 

I have the 405...which is now the 410 and love it.
Pick one up in Courtenay at Extreme Runners...


5. Spooky Mini Gloves.

You may laugh but I love these little gloves!  Thicker (and bigger) than those little $1 mini gloves AND covered in glow in the dark ghosts and goblins, these gloves are just perfect for fall and spring.  They keep my hands just the right temperature during my runs and while teaching outdoors.  Not too mention how cute they are;)
I just picked up a pair at Canadian Tire in Courtenay for $2.  Have also seen them at Capitol Iron on Victoria.





6. Larabar. Chocolate Peanut Butter to be exact. 

I love to make my own energy balls and bars but sometimes the cupboards are bare and I need to grab something to go.  I turn my nose up at most packaged energy bars but the Larabars are an exception- they taste great and are good for you.  No chemicals or preservatives or additives.  Just dates, nuts and the rest.  Like peanut butter...and chocolate...Need I say more?

You can check out all the flavours online here... and you can get boxes of them at Superstore...yum.










Those are my favourite fall things right now!  I would love to hear what gear is keeping you happy and comfortable out there right now!  What's your favourite fall gear?

SS

Victoria Marathon Weekend: Updated!

CONGRATULATIONS!!
BIG Hi 5s go out to all the ELM Members and Friends who participated in this weekends Goodlife Victoria Race!  We had peeps racing in the 8k, half and full marathon and it was a blast watching them all cruise by on the course.  The weather could not have been better and it was smiles all round at the finish line.  Well done- enjoy your post race bliss!

CONGRATS
 to all Valley racers with a special shout out to the following ELMers (let me know if I missed you out there!)

8k- Deb A, Rae W woot woot!

Half Marathon- Paula G, Karen T, Karen L, Jason W, Marieka H, Megan H, Charity M, Sasha D, Allison D, Kim S, Sarah S - yeeehaw!

Marathon- Murray G, Kiyoko & Marion - awesome!

Race results online here...

 And check out this crazy guy-Adam Campbell!  Raced the marathon in a suit...in 2:35!  Broke the 'world record' by an hour for fastest marathon in a full suit!  Barfed at the finish line before recovering quickly and giving this interview - looking sharp here! 

Crazy cheerleaders!  My family was out in full costume force on the sidelines to cheer on the racers at various spots on the course.  You may have seen my dad and this hair out there!  And may not have recognized me in my costume alongside!

And my half marathon...a 21k run to Cruikshank Canyon in Strathcona Park on Thanksgiving day with my friend Liz...my favourite kind of Half!  Get up into the alpine this week if you can...before the rains come...it is absolutely breathtaking.  Mother nature is really showing off:)

ENJOY THE SUNSHINE!

One Eighty:: MOMAR Cumberland Race Report

Some of Team ELM at Friday night registration at the Riding Fool Hostel.  MOMAR really isn't just a race...it's a weekend!

THANK YOU TEAM MOMAR for putting on another awesome Adventure Race in Cumberland this past weekend!  You really outdid yourself with this years event!  From the killer course and 'unique' mystery events to the prizes and fun afterparty, MOMAR went above and beyond once again;)

A week in pics

Played for hours and hours and hours in the trails and hills of Cumberland...scouting for MOMAR with friends!

Got into the Alpine for (what should be) an annual run of the traverse from Forbidden to Washington with my old Adventure Racing team mates John and Trina!

Bought my very own kayak!!!!  Woweeee!  Hopefully this will make me get out on the water more...

I grew up on Tex Mex food because my mum is from California...and this week I made my Mums homemade pinto beans for the very first time!  I can't believe I have been eating canned beans for so long!  My house was filled with the smells of my childhood;)

Made these AWESOME new super hardy Lentil Walnut Veggie Burgers from Scott Jurek's book 'Eat & Run'.  LOVE these!

AND....

 I made THIS unbelievable Peanut Butter Pie from Beyond the Peel- It is vegan and gluten free!  I actually changed it to a Peanut Butter Banana Coconut Cream Pie with more of a custard cream and a fat layer of bananas at the bottom cuz my coconut cream would not thicken using the recipe...must have used the wrong type of coconut milk?... some kitchen mistakes turn out to be the best recipes however!

 The mad 'off the grid' packing mission has begun and is slowly but surely spreading across our entire house:) 

That is what I have been up to!  And now, we are heading off the map for a couple of weeks!  Catch up with you all when we return from the wilds:)

SS

Savory Inspiration



 Are you sweet or savory? 

You know what I mean.  When cravings strike, we tend to be either sweet or savory types.  I think I fall somewhere in the middle...well...ok...if you know me you know I LOVE natural baked goodness so I suppose I swing more towards the sweet end of the scale.

However, during long workouts, rides, runs and races my taste buds switch teams and all they can think about is salty... savory... salty... savory...you get the picture!  Endurance exercise lasting longer than 1.5-2hours can leave you soaked in sweat and salt as your body works to cool it's internal temperature through this amazing mechanism.  The hotter the day and the higher the intensity, the greater the rate of sweat output.  My theory is if your body is screaming at you for salt then you need more of it- listen to that voice!

Don't get me wrong- I love me some sweet energy bars and balls.  If you have been reading my blog for any period of time, you will surely know that by now:)  Peanut butter and chocolate balls, granola bars, coconut cream pie balls, chocolate chili balls.  Most of my ball recipes are made with a base of dates which are packed with quick release sugars that will flood your blood with glucose and rapidly pump your starving muscles with the rocket fuel they are begging for during endurance exercise.  Fast fuel makes happy muscles during long hard workouts.

But after years of epic adventures requiring constant fueling for hours at a time it is impossible not to get absolutely sick of sweet.   A few years ago my taste buds revolted and I stopped consuming energy powders and drinks.  Probably turned out to be a good thing- my taste buds have saved me from consuming litres of extremely highly processed sugars, additives and impossible to pronounce chemicals. 

I changed from consuming primarily sports drinks for fuel to drinking pure water and eating quick energy snacks.  There are a few very healthy store bought options such as sunripe fruit bars and Larabars which I enjoy along with all of my homemade balls, bars and natural snacks.  Last year I discovered S-caps which allowed me to increase my electrolyte intake during longer, harder or hotter workouts as well. 

Nutrition is an evolution...a journey you might say.  Just as taste buds can change, so can our values, knowledge, opinions and ideas about food.  We pick up new pieces along the way and create our future of nutrition as we go along.  I still throw a bottle of e-load on my bike now and then for epic adventures to add some variety, but in general my fitness fuel as evolved to match my daily fuel.  Real food, close to nature, as often as possible.  After all, shouldn't we be giving our hard working bodies the highest quality fuel when they need it most?

  

Back to my sweet and savory thing. 

So, I love my 'Sarahbars' but maaaaaan is it nice to have some savory on the long days!    My go-to unsweet snacks have been:

• Boiled potatoes with olive oil and salt.  New potatoes are the best:)  Toss with a bit or Parmesan and increase the yum factor.  Peel them first if you don't want to deal with the benefits of fibre out there:)
• Tamari almonds mixed with pretzels.

But what about energy bars and balls that are savory instead of sweet?  You can't buy any that I am aware of.  So I have gone back to the drawing board recently to try and create some savory energy snacks to itch that salty scratch when it arrives.

I found some great inspiration from two new books:
Scott Jureks Eat & Run and Allan Lim's Feed Zone Cookbook.  Both of these authors have extensive experience with food and endurance training and racing.  Awesome resources  that I have just begun to explore.

This morning my Saturday foodie inspiration struck and I hit the kitchen to play with some new ideas.  I made up a few of Jureks 'Eat & Run' Rice Balls which layer sushi rice with salty miso and are wrapped in nori seaweed sheets.  I experimented with his recipe and made them into balls stuffed with miso and wasabi then rolled in sesame seeds and soy sauce...yum!  I can't wait to try these on my next long trek.  They are in the freezer and we shall see how they withstand the icebox experiment...

Next I played with Lim's Bacon & Egg Rice cake recipe.  You can see a video of him making them here.  He worked with elite tour cyclists as an exercise physiologist and nutrition guru.  He has some awesome ideas for simple, natural, real fuel...that have been tried and tested by the best.

Here is my twist on his recipe...

Savory Breakfast Rice Cakes

• 1 cup sushi rice cooked with 1.5 cups water
• 4 eggs scrambled with salt and pepper
• 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup of diced smoked salmon
• 1 tsp olive oil
• Yields 10 cupcake sized cakes

1. Cook rice and scramble eggs.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Mix all ingredients well and press into a greased muffin tin.  I thought this idea would be easier for creating individual cakes- and it worked great!  Just press them in firmly using a jar or glass to ensure they are packed together well. 
3. Remove, wrap individually and store in the fridge for a delicious mobile, savory snack! 

Note: Eggs and cheese probably shouldn't be out of the fridge too long for food safety reasons unless you have a strong stomach lol.  These will be best eaten within a couple of hours of leaving the fridge.  You could stash them in a cooler if you have access to drop spots during your long training sessions as well.

What are your favorite salty savory fueling snacks?  I would love to hear your ideas!

Cheers and happy trails,

Sarah.



Congratulations IronELMers!

WOW.

Over 2600 racers of all ages, sizes, abilities and experiences left everything on the course this past weekend in the 30th and final Subaru Ironman Penticton event.

3.8km open water swim - legs and arms of hundreds of swimmers clawing at them, waves covering them, wet suits restricting them and thick water dragging against them....

180km road bike-sun beating on them, pavement radiating it back up at them, bikes forcing them into contorted aerodynamic postures, long epic climbs searing their quads and stretching their lungs to the very edge...

42.2km marathon run-shredding quads and calves, throwing a wall of inertia at them, beating out every last bit of energy in them.

And that is just what their bodies go through. 

The physical strength is absolutely nothing compared to the mental strength that is required to complete this type of endurance event. 

The human body can do this and much more.  It is the mind that sets the limits and boundaries.

Congratulations to all Ironmen and Ironwomen!  Especially to ELM'ers Audrey E and Paul L of the Comox Valley for finishing this years race.  You are amazing!

http://ironman.com/results/#axzz24leltBIV

Sarah

ELM Members River Run Half Marathon Challenge!



Well that was super duper fun!

BIG Congrats to all of the ELM Half Marathon Clinic participants who put their training to the test this past Sunday at the ELM River Run Half Marathon Challenge!  Woohoooo you rocked it!

21kms of single track, double track and dirt roads following the beautiful Puntledge River on both sides- starting and finishing at the Comox Lake Dam.  This is the perfect 21k trail route to test your stamina!  It was a great day of running, celebrating, eating, drinking and playing with friends and family at the lake.

BIG thank you to the ELM superstar volunteer leaders for making race day happen!  Rae, Kim, Lynn, Maya, Naomi, Deb, Diana - you ROCK! 

BIG Congrats to all the finishers wearing gold chocolate medals at the finish line: Karen T, Karen L, Vicky S, Marieka H, Sarah V, Paula & Murry G... Enjoy your post race bliss!!

What next?  How about a PB at the Victoria Half Marathon in October!  ELM is offering a special 6-week prep clinic for those who want to reach for the stars in run their best half in Victoria!  Check out the details online and be sure to RSVP or register by tomorrow- WEDS- to avoid disappointment!

 Post race celebration!

 Ready...set... GO!!

 Marieka and Vicky at the turn around!

Gold medal winners all round!

Team ELM Takes on the Squamish 50 Mile Relay!

Is it possible to have TOO much fun in a weekend?  Well, if so, we came pretty darn close this past weekend in Squamish!  Team ELM sailed across the sea to the Comox Valley's sister city, Squamish.  With big trails, big wind and a big Chief towering above, the Squamish Valley is my second favourite playground;)

Team ELM entered the 5 person Squamish 50 mile Relay and I got back in my racing sneakers for the 21 (AKA 25) km trail run.  It was my 'celebration' run and first footrace after a year of recovery from my bizarre ankle fracture.  I am happy to say I crossed the line in one piece!  My ankle was making me aware of it's presence during the final kms, but I have not had any symptoms since crossing the finish line so I am one happy girl:)

Team ELM Glowbots rocked the costumes and won without contest the TEAM SPIRIT award!  Props to our 'artistic director', Kyoko, for putting together fab, look-at-me, flourescent costumes:)  And props to the boys and girls for wearing bikini bottoms outside of their shorts during their epic legs- in epic heat!

Good times, good, friends, GREAT race and great memories from an awesome weekend!  If you are considering training for your first ultra next year...this is the one- right in your backyard and along some of the most fun single track you can find anywhere:)  The route was pretty technical in places as it followed the top biking trails, but there were also long sections of gravel road and wide park trails to rest the brain and the legs.  No huge mountains on this course- just constant up and down and up and down and up and down:).

BIG thank you to Gary Robbins and his awesome team of volunteers/organizers for putting on this fantastic event.  We hope to be back next year!

Race results and pics online here...

Here is the weekend in pics!

 Riding with the boys on Friday in the super sweet single track of Squamish!  Never been on Half Nelson before?  Get your arse over there!

 6am and the ELM Glowbot Girls are bright eyed and bushy tailed!  Amazing team spirit!

 Chris survives 2 legs and 20kms wearing womens clothing ... what a trooper!  Passing off to Kiyoko for leg 3 in Alice Lake Park!

 Me crossing the finish line after running 25kms of sweet trail in crazy temps...best moment of the day!

 Taking the long route up the Squamish Chief on Sunday morning after the race!

ELM Sunrise yoga on the Chief!

Thanks for a great weekend Team ELM!!  You ROCK!!!!!

SS

Orienteering in Comox this Weekend!

NORTH ISLAND ORIENTEERING EVENT: AUGUST 11TH!
Cunning running. A school room favourite, touching on math, geography, physical fitness, and consequential decision making. One of the current off-beat adventure sports. An easy way to demystify compass use and map reading. Gain confidence of being alone in the woods. A life-time sport for all ages: 6 to 90. This and more is ORIENTEERING.


Comox valley will have a unique chance to get a taste of orienteering the weekend of 11-12 August. Saturday, in Comox, there will never be a more opportune chance. An orienteering meet will begin and end at the very accessible parking lot near Guthrie and Torrence Roads, east of the Highland School playing fields. A free short (10 - 20 minutes) Model Course will be available for first-time beginners. Instructors will be on hand to help out and explain the simple basics.

After the short course, you may want to register for one of the three regular courses: Novice, Intermediate and Advanced. The courses are designed for an experienced orienteer to complete in about an hour; and for others about two hours time Registration and start times are anytime from 1:00 to 3:00.


On Sunday, the 12th, the action moves on to Top Bridge Park, in Parksville. Once again, a Model course and three longer ones. This terrain has much more variation than the Comox N. E. Woods. The advanced course is full of adventure and has two fords of the Englishman River.(and a cool swim afterwards) Registration at noon.


For further information call Comox 250-890-0983, Victoria 250-592-4944 or visit www.orienteeringbc.ca/vico

Client Profile: Back on Track

I work with individual clients from all walks of life, who have a wide range of goals, dreams, limitations, schedules, lifestyles, body types and personalities.  Time-squeezed parents, candle-burning professionals, age-class athletes, weekend warriors,  mid-life mortals and those rehabilitating from motor vehicle accidents, surgeries or acquired brain injuries...no two people are the same.   The only things that remain the same is everyone of them has goals that keep them moving forward and that I am inspired by each of them every single day.  

Obstacles and struggle and challenges are the norm.  Times of low motivation, schedule changes and unexpected life situations are, well, to be expected.  We all face challenges along the way.  It is how we choose to deal with these challenges, that determines the quality of our lives.

I would like to share some of my client stories with you as a way to motivate and inspire you as you create your own.  Sometimes, just knowing that someone else is working through the same things that you are is enough to help buoy you up.  I learn something from my clients every single day and  I would like to share some of this knowledge with you.  Watch for more client stories on the blog in the future.


Client Stories: Back on Track

Client profile:  Female, mid 50's, retired, new grandmother.  Compounding health conditions stemming from Fibromyalgia.  Loves to garden and walk/hike.  Goals: decrease pain, increase mobility, functional abilities.  Lose body fat, maintain lean body mass. 

 
Q: You made significant changes to your body composition and lost 11 pounds over the last 3 months!  How did you manage to make such significant changes?

It was made a little easier when others in my family joined me in making their own commitment to change. We don't all live in the same house but made the pact to keep in touch and encourage each other. We also choose a date a month down the road where we decided that we would go out and have a fancy meal and celebrate our first month success... The goal was to go a month without cheating - no sugar, no white stuff (bread etc) and no alcohol. Just clean eating... After that month we would go to one meal a week where we would have that glass a wine and dessert maybe.


Q: What strategies kept you on track?

I used an app on my phone (loseit.com) and kept track of everything I put in my mouth. We all talked and emailed each other about what we were eating.. we exchanged recipes.. kept telling each other how much better we felt. I did keep thinking about that dinner date a month down the road and wanted to feel successful when that night came. I used my Clean Eating magazine as a good guide to what kinds of foods to eat and what a day of clean eating should look like.




Q: What did your nutrition plan look like?


Ate 5 - 6 small meals a day. Half way thru the 3 months - I actually cut wheat and a few other things out of my diet as I had been to a Naturopath physician and found out I was sensitive to them. I noticed quite a difference when I did that. It also caused me to eat more vegetables in place of the grains. I was working with the ND on healing my gut as I had been on many antibiotics in the past few years (taking probiotics etc.) Made sure I was getting enough fibre each day and healthy fats.  I love chocolate - so I ate a little square of organic dark chocolate every afternoon.



Q:  What obstacles did you face and how did you overcome them?


I have some physical limitations - so my workouts were modified.  But I just kept telling myself that every little bit helps. I may have been limited in what I could do physically.   But I did work within those limits regularly. And it worked :-). Proved to me that you don't have to be out running miles etc. to see changes in weight and overall fitness.



Q:  Any advice for others who are struggling to reach their weight loss goals?

You don't have to starve yourself... you need to eat often and eat good healthy foods. The most amazing thing about eating well is how you feel. Yes - you can lose weight too - but the difference in how you feel is powerful.   Food - the right food has so much power to improve our health. Get help if you need it from a professional - find a friend to join with you in your goals.

What is Better than Chocolate?

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls!

Yup, that's right folks.  I finally realized that I could make my homemade Larabars (aka Sarah Bars) into my favourite flavour combo...Chocolate & Peanut Butter!  It only took me 5 years, but it was worth the wait;).  The base for Sarah Bars (or balls if you like spheres:) is usually almonds and dates, but it changes to peanuts for this recipe.  You can find a bunch of tasty variations in my little cookbook, NRG Foods that will move you! from Apple Pie to Banana Bread and Chocolate Cherry.  The sky really is the limit.  But now...drum roll...here is the recipe for my new favourite flavour...

ORIENTEERING & MOMAR 101 WITH ELM

“I’ve never been lost, though I will admit to being confused for several weeks.” - Daniel Boone.

We are offering our popular Orienteering and MOMAR 101: Adventure Race Training courses this Saturday, July 28th. Orienteering 101 runs from 10:00-12noon followed by MOMAR Adventure Racing 101 from 1:00-5:00pm.


More and more people are heading to the hills and looking for an escape off the beaten path. Recreating in the bush and exploring new trails requires a solid but basic base of orienteering and map reading skills. ELM's orienteering clinics will offer important skills for both novice and intermediate navigators.
Orienteering 101: is an introductory course designed for individuals who want to learn the basics of orienteering and discover how to use a map and compass correctly. No previous experience is required for this great course that mixes theory with fun orienteering exercises.
MOMAR 101: is for new and experienced Adventure Racers who would like a comprehensive workshop covering adventure racing and navigation skills needed to successfully complete a MOMAR race and other one day adventure races.

Space is limited in both workshops & the registration deadline is July 25th. FMI or to register go to www.elmhealth.com or call 250 338 8998.
 
http://www.elmhealth.com/groupfitnesscoedmultisport.htm

Salomon Test Ride Event

 Last night the Salomon demo fleet arrived in the Valley like a pack of wild animals on an African safari.  Zebra stripes, wild colours and dirt chewing tread- these sneaks were ready to run free!

J.P., the Salomon rep for BC, was in house at Valhalla Pure last night for a fun Test Ride event.  It was a great opportunity to learn more about the latest trail runners in the Salomon fleet and to take them out for a short run!

After J.P.'s tech talk I took the group of test riders down to Simms Park for a little trial run on different surfaces and pitches.  It was an awesome way to get to know the differences in the shoes and see which ones fit the best.  Just like a good wine tasting...the best way to find your flavour is to try a few side by side!

 We were testing out 3 main shoes- the XT Wings Lab, the Speedcross3 and the XRMission.  Three completely different shoes with very different applications.  I loved them all of course:) .  And now I have a pair of shiney new Speedcross3's on the way...

Good times!  Thanks so much JP for coming up with the Demo Fleet and great swag for the test riders!  Big thanks to Valhalla for hosting and offering the ELM Members an awesome shopping discount and prize draw!

Happy Trails;)
SS

Back from Nootka Island

Hola Amigos!

Been a long time since the last post...You know that Johnny Cash Song?  "I've been everywhere man"... that is what it feels like:)  Busy busy- no time to blog! 

We took off for a chillaxin holiday to Nootka Sound a couple of weeks ago and catching up is hard to do after an escape off the map...but oh so worth it:)  We had an amazing time and I was thrilled to check out another area of the island that was new to me.  Nootka Sound was beautiful- in the sun and the rain:)  We spent hours fishing, reading, walking, chilling:)  Half way through we did an epic out and back on the Nootka island trail in 2 days and took things from zero to a hundred in no time flat.  Wowza!  That was epic! 

We had our little boat so we just tied up at the south end of Nootka Island in Yoquot/Friendly Cove then went up and back on the trail.  That ain't just any old trail- especially with a fully loaded overnight pack of 40-50 pounds!  Sure there is a good path there (better than I expected from the reports) and sure they have placed some sturdy ropes at about 6 or 7 climbing sections 40 foot rappel with a 40 pound pack on anyone?)...but I don't think anyone actually maintains the trail.  An old growth tree falls across the trail and it is staying there...and you are climbing up and over it (with your giant man eating pack).  A river washes across the trail and no one is building a bridge for you- you are swimming through it (carrying your ridiculously gigantic pack).  You get the idea...rugged, steep, supernatural...flipping awesome!  I would say as risk goes- it is pretty high.  Because it is rough and there is absolutely no cell coverage and only very few road access points.  Only one I think.  But man oh man if you want to get off the beaten track and explore Canada's rugged west coast- this is the place to do it:)  Beautiful and epic!

Not sure why or how but we ended up hiking 35kms north over 10 hours on the first day to reach Calvin falls then return to Beano creek to camp.  Then we did 15k (ish?) and 5 hours back to Friendly Cove the next day.  We cut our trip short and made it super condensed because the rains came...we got out just in time:) 

Check it out.  If you like raw adventure you will want to make this trip:)  Beautiful!

And now...back home...running running running, riding riding riding...summer is finally here!

I have had a few big days in sneakers and on the bike with friends and solo...dirt, views, water, swims, laughs, homemade energy bars and balls (new recipes to come!).  Here are some pics of my favorite views along the way... more blogs to come soon...lots of fun stuff happening!

Get outside (and don't forget the sunscreen:)

SS