Extreme Hill Reps

Just in case you think I am here in Canada to relax, a wee update on the situation so far. I have now run 9 days in a row totaling about 50 miles (a big step up considering I have been struggling to run 9 days in a month for the past year). Feeling better and more like my old self everyday. Most of the runs have been in the Quebec ski resort of Mont Tremblant, venue for Ironman Canada and where 8 of us were sharing a wonderful lakeside apartment (Colin and Dawn doing Ironman and 6 of us supporters/hingers oan).

Mont Tremblant Training Run Profile

Biggest training run for me was a 10 miler up and down Mont Tremblant. 2000 foot ascent to the top of the mountain on a really rough trail through the forest in about 1:10 and then an "accident waiting to happen" descent straight down one of the ski slopes which took only 15 minutes! Dawn's boyfriend, GB International ultra runner Matt Williamson did the run with me and was kind enough to wait for me when I mamby pampied over some of the rougher bits.

Highlight of every training run has come at the end where it was a case of vest and shoes off and dive off the jetty into the lake for a swim. With the water temperature at 22 deg C and the air temperature at 30 deg C, this was not open water swimming as we know it in Scotland!

View from the top. Apartment is on the far shore of the lake below.

The important stats for the Ironman were that both Dawn and Colin set pb's, Dawn finishing in 12:40 and Colin in 10:18 which included a hugely impressive marathon time of 3:30 on a hilly course and 30 degree C plus heat.

See you all for the final Chatelherault of the season at 7pm on Monday.
Alan