Videos: Weekend Film Fest!

It's about time for another weekend film fest and I've got trail running on my mind!  I wonder why?  Here are 3 great trail running films to get you inspired for this weekends Perseverance Trail Run!

Happy Friday!
SS

Wonderland: Gary Robbins Run Around Rainier.
Intense and inspiring, this short documentary, from the Ginger Runner and Pace Films follows Canadian Ultra Runner, Gary Robbins, on his quest to destroy the FKT on the Wonderland Trail.  


Finding Traction: Niki Kimball's FKT attempt on the 273 mile 'Long Trail' in Vermont.  Will she make it?  You will have to watch the film to find out!

Fast and Light - Salomon Running TV S04 E08 

And now...for the sheer love of trail running...

Hike to Flower Ridge

 Have you been to Flower Ridge in Strathcona Provincial Park?  Well...you've got no excuses now...

I have written about Flower Ridge before- after my first trip up to this magical trail in the Park.  That day, Kim and I did a great ultra training run on the Ridge, covering 32kms of gorgeous alpine singletrack and falling in love with the route in the process.

Head over to The Outbound Collective to read the entire trip report and create your own 'bucket list' of adventures!

Hike to Flower Ridge

With a name like Flower Ridge, who wouldn't want to add this hike to their bucket list?
The Flower Ridge trailhead is located approximately 26kms down the Buttle Lake Parkway, towards Westmin Mine, in Strathcona Provincial Park. A classic Island alpine approach, you will be more than warmed up after the first few minutes. It is straight up through calf searing vertical terrain, but the views will distract you from the burn. Steep out of the gates, the trail gains 1200m in 5kms to reach the ridge. On the way up, the trail is sheltered in an ancient, peaceful forest, with giant trees and a green shag carpet.

Run the Stairs at Goose Spit Park

Do you know how many stairs there are at Goose Spit Regional Park?  If you know the answer to this question, you also know how rad the view is from the top of the Valley's 'stairway to heaven'!

Hiking to Century Sam Lake

Wow.  Just wow.  Have you been here yet?

Hiking to Marble Meadows

Last month, I finally made my way up to Marble Meadows, on one of the last warm weekends of the year.  This area of Strathcona Park has been on my list for a while now and I was stoked to get the chance to scout it out.  Check out my trip report on The Outbound Collective, along with my other adventures and recent articles.  Not on the Outbound yet?  Well, you best get on over there my friend!  Set up your own profile so that you can read, save and tick off your own adventure 'to do' list on this awesome online collective.  Hope to see you over there!

Cheers,
SS

Forest Fairy Strikes Again!

Here is an update from the Cumberland Community Forest Society!

Cumberland Forest Fairy Strikes Again!

The Cumberland Forest community is throwing an epic fundraising party on Sunday October 25th and the whole Valley is invited to be part of making history!  The 2nd annual Perseverance Party for the Forest takes place Sunday October 25th (following the Perseverance Trail Run) from 1- 6 at the CRI Hall in Cumberland.

The Cumberland Forest effort has attracted special attention from a very generous Forest Fairy! This Fairy has agreed once again to match 100% of funds raised through the Perseverance Trail Run, Perseverance Party for the Forest, Perseverance Raffle and all other activities that are part of the October 25th celebration! In 2014 this resulted in over $147,000 in fundraising in a single day and organizers and supporters are ready to do it again! 

inReach Canada Friends and Family Discount!

No longer valid- stay tuned for future discounts!

Race Report: MOMAR Cumberland 2015

 

Perfect day for an Adventure Race!  Image: Dave Silver

Wow.  What a great day.  MOMAR Cumberland was another fantastic event complete with a rad course, rad people and an uber-rad team mate:).

Video: Under Water

Saturday morning we woke up to another wet, grey day in the Comox Valley.  It's been drizzling for 3 days now. I didn't feel like riding my bike or going for a long run in the rain and mud.  There, I said it.  You know those days.  Instead, we decided to go for a swim with the fishes...

Under Water from Sarah Seads on Vimeo.

I have lived on Vancouver Island my entire life.  I have surfed the waters.  I have explored the depths via scuba.  I have swum the rivers.  I have explored oceans all over the world as a surfer...snorkeler...dive master...

And every year thousands of people travel from around the globe to snorkel with our pacific salmon...

And yet, I had never gone for a simple snorkel in my backyard until yesterday.  I just discovered my new favourite rainy day adventure...snorkeling, right here at home.

Freakin Awesome Triathlon

Subject: "I call a FAT this Sunday."

And so, it began.

I sent out the email on a Friday afternoon to a few friends, all of whom are notorious for having extremely rubber arms.

Hike Mount Albert Edward

Let's go on an adventure!

New Adventure up on The Outbound Collective!  Read on for details on hiking the striking, Mount Albert Edward.

Happy Trails,
SS

Research: Injury Rates in Runners Wearing Traditional vs Minimal Footwear

Better late than never!  Thank you for your patience as we have been working through the ins and outs of conducting our first pilot study as well as publishing our first research paper over the past (very long) while.  We hope you enjoy reading about the study and our findings. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and resources to help us make this project happen.  From the practicioners doing the before and after testing to the volunteer subjects for joining the study.  Thank you so much.  Enjoy!

Sarah and Kim

A comparison of incidence of injury between runners wearing traditional versus minimal footwear during an introductory run:walk program.

Kim Senechal

Sarah Seads

Augerpoint Traverse Run Report

Magical moments in the mountains. Heading up Albert Edward.

This August, alongside two super gals, I finally ran across the spine of Vancouver Island.  The Augerpoint Traverse had been on my list for a while but not in the traditional sense.  Most people take 3-5 days to hike the Traverse, but I had my mind set on finding out just how quickly I could cover it.  I spent a few trips scouting out the route from both ends this summer to get a better picture of the terrain and approximate times for each section of the route.  Once I had it pieced together, I waited for a free day and a few crazy friends and we went for it! 

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.

Videos: Weekend Film Fest is back!

It's baaaaack!

I have been playing around on my computer on this rainy weekend, editing images, writing down words, and re-arranging my blog.  And I came across some of my favourite blog posts...the Weekend Film Fest Videos!   Short films just keep getting better and better and I absolutely love learning about new places, faces and wild spaces.  This is the perfect weekend to cozy up inside and watch a movie, so here are a few that I think you will find inspiring!


ICELAND by Drone. ICELAND from modern-atelier on Vimeo.
Oh how I want to go to Iceland!Thanks to the Adventure Blog for sharing this one.

Rachel Atherton's Winning Run - UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2015

Inspiration for your next ride.  I think I'm gonna barf

BALANCE: 2014 Western States Champ: Stephanie Howe 

BALANCE: A film about Nathan Sports ultra runner Stephanie Howe from TRINE Films on Vimeo.

Recipe: Maple Almond Trail Balls (or Bars!)

No bake.  All good.

Maple Almond Trail Balls (or Bars!)

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.

Snack Attack: The Best Foods for the Trail

Need some ideas to help you plan your next 'Backcountry Menu'?  Check out my latest article on The Outbound Collective to get your creative juices flowing!  

Not a member of The Outbound Collective yet?  Get on over there and join this awesome community of outdoor enthusiasts!   The Outbound is loaded with trip reports, articles and amazing images that will help you plan your next adventure.  Happy Trails!
SS

Image: Sarah Seads

Snack Attack: The Best Foods for the Trail

What is the best food to eat on the trail? The answer is, of course...it depends!

Singletrack Mind

"If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go." 

~ Terry Tempest Williams

This feels like the first moment that I have stood still in two months.  My laundry is folded.  I have groceries in my fridge.  My house is (as good as it gets) clean.  My shrivelled up plants have been watered and are returning to life.  The last of the blueberries are picked.  My big toenail finally fell off.  I'm ready to sit and ponder and reflect for a moment. 

July and August have been a wild and wonderful ride. I need to take a moment to unload the thoughts and images that have been rolling around in my singletrack mind...  I have been posting snippits of mountain moments in the little square boxes of my Instagram account (LOVE my new insta family!)...but I'd like to revisit some of them and reflect on this fantastic summer spent playing in the dirt...so far... Here are some (not so deep) thoughts, by Sarah Seads, on this lovely August afternoon... 

Fat Dog 50 mile Race Report

Fat Dog you've been a long time coming. 

My Fat Dog initiation was an epic adventure complete with monsoon rains, wasp stings, a Lynx encounter and a suprising finish.  It was quite the wild ride, but it was well worth the wait.  If you want to read the last page, you can check out the race results here and photo galleries building here.  If you want to avoid doing chores or some boring data entry task, then feel free to read on.  Warning: my race reports are my personal journal and a way for me to relive the adventures...80k is a long run so get comfy...