Mr. Clumsy at Mount Sutton

Monsieur Maladroit au Mont Sutton (français ici)

October 2011, this klutz went to Mount Orford and did some Extreme Trail running.  Click here for details. It was a 20 km (12 miles) trek through water, mud, roots, boulders and some trail. I was falling down so many times I had to walk the whole frikking thing or break every bone in my body. I somehow succeeded in finishing in 4 hours 40 minutes… 10 minutes after the finish line was closed. You would have thought that I would have learnt my lesson?  NOPE… I believe Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”, well I went to a sister event of Extreme Trail at Mount Sutton on June 2^nd 2012. I actually did get different results… but my wife still thinks I’m insane.

We had “ideal” conditions for trail running. It had rained the night before and the trails were full of mud. During the race itself, it was cloudy but no rain to speak of until the race was over. At the starting line it was windy but as soon as we hit the woods… no wind either.

So here I was at the starting line with 200 other crazies and a few other those friends who like me mentor at Étudiants dans la course (Students on the Run). Like at Orford, we were all together at the start and after about 5 minutes in the woods swallowed them all up.

Right before I entered the woods, a gust of wind blew my baseball hat off and I ran back to get it. That separated me from my friends and put me almost at the back of the pack. So I hit the woods and the climb began. The first 3 km (2 miles) began with an ascent of 450 meters (almost 1500 feet). This time, I had made a change and bought some trail sneakers, a pair of ASICS Gel-Trabucco. These things are great. I did not slip in the mud; neither did I slip on rocks. For the climb, I was not running, but I was going slow and steady and feeling great. When I got to the first downhill, my legs were strong and I took off. I was zigging and zagging… I was smiling… “I am… A TRAIL RUNNER” was my mantra. I was so full of myself that I missed one of the gazillion roots out there and went flying downhill falling down on rocks, roots and mud. While going down, I tried to reach and slow myself down. All I succeeded in doing was pop my shoulder out. I then rolled right onto my right leg and scraped it all from mid-femur to mid-tibia. At the bottom of the hill I was screaming profanities while lying on my back in the mud.

I first dislocated my shoulder when I was 16 and in the last 30 years I have popped it out about 20 times. It took a few minutes to move my arm in just the right position while I was still on my back to succeed in sliding my shoulder back into place. After a few more screams of pain and a few more profanities, I explained to the runners behind me what had happened. I staggered up and trying to prove that I was functional then they pointed to the blood mixed with the mud on my leg. As fate would have it, I had fallen right almost in front of one of the first-aid technician that was stationed on the course. So while he cleaned up my leg for almost 10 minutes, I was sitting down watching the last of the runners pass me. For the first time I looked at my watch that I had hooked on my hydration pack strap. (5 km - 1 hour elapsed)

Two other guys were talking to me while my leg was being cleaned up. They were in charge of closing the course at the split where the 10 km (6 mile) trail goes back to the station and where the 20 km (12 mile) continues into the mountains. They were explaining that in about 1.65 km (a mile) I could head back to the station if I wanted to or just keep going. Sitting there waiting, I had made my decision; I was going back to the station. I was going to break some bones if I kept going.

After I was all cleaned & patched up, I started jogging slowly to the fork keeping my right arm tucked in more than usual. I was surprised that there wasn’t any more pain in my shoulder & neck. I kept thinking about adrenaline & “fight or flight” instincts and concluded that I was going to be in severe pain when the adrenaline wears off. The trail was nice and rolling slowly and the guys behind me were mentioning that I had the worst done. I wasn’t going too fast or too slow and I also concluded that the only damage to my leg was the huge scrape. I didn’t pull any muscles so my legs felt just great.

I have no idea what possessed me but as soon as I saw the signs for the fork in the trail, I turned and thanked the guys for running with me and I took off down the 20 km trail. The only thought that came to mind was if the trail didn’t kill me, my wife would for doing this.

There’s something liberating knowing you are in last place. The rest I had while they patched me up removed all the soreness I had from the 450 m (1500 feet) climb. I had a nice steady pace going up and down the rolling hills and I felt great. I didn’t feel rushed. I didn’t feel stressed. I was just going for a nice stroll in the mountains. A few times going down the steep inclines I questioned my decision when I fell on my butt but all in all I was smiling.

I started to smile more when I found some more runners and even more when I passed them. I succeeded in passing 6 people but one girl passed me right back after she found her second wind. That incident reminded me to stay humble.

After 16 km (10 miles) there was finally a downhill area without 5 million roots in my way and my pace picked up quite nicely. About 30 minutes later I exited the woods and saw and heard the finish line.

Battered and bruised I cross the finish line in 4:10:37; a full 20 minutes before they closed the finish line! I find out later that I was just 10 minutes behind my fellow buddy mentors from Students on the Run (Étudiants dans la course).

182 crazy people finished that 20 km trek through the mountains and woods at Mount Sutton. There were also another almost 500 people who completed the 5 and 10 km events.

I’m trying to find a moral to my whole crazy adventure and the only thing that comes to mind is that I love trail running… BUT EXTREAME trail running is just one of those love/hate relationships.

Grateful to be running

Je suis reconnaissant de pouvoir courir (français ici)


Looking back to my last year of running, I realize one thing. I am very very grateful that I CAN run. I know many people who would love to get out there and simply go for a jog, but can't for many valid reasons.


So...why do I run???


First one is an easy one... my health... I'm 45 years old and I have ZERO health issues. My blood pressure is in the OPTIMAL category. My weight is just right. (OK, I could lose a few pounds but they look good one me :-D )  As far as I know, no cholesterol or any other problems are lurking out there... so... obviously running is good for me. 


Next one is stress. After a crazy day, or simply after a "normal" day of worrying about... well just about everything, going jogging for 30 mins to an hour really does do wonders and helps me to think straight. I'm less cranky with family and friends and it really does help me keep a smile on my face.


Next one is tricky... It's all about keeping me sane... or making me go crazy... I'm still trying to figure that one out. Running to get rid of stress is awesome for my sanity... but running THREE marathons PLUS an Ultra Trail Marathon of 56 km in 2011 is NUTS... so the jury is still out on the sanity part.


EDLC - Étudiants dans la course (Students on the Run) The motivation I get from running almost a full year with these kids is indescribable. This is my 2nd year as a mentor and it's just plain incredible to watch these kids evolve from running/walking 20 minutes to a 5 km, to 10km, to 20 km and finally to the marathon. All the way, they evolve not only physically but mentally, socially and so many other ways. I feel privileged and really blessed to be on the journey with this group of kids. 


Last and certainly not least, running simply helps me to deal with life itself. I've completed in my lifetime half-marathons, marathons, an ultra-marathon and each one helps me to define goals, follow a plan, and achieve my goals. Running helps me to deal with the setbacks along the way and helps me to stay motivated when I'm down. It helps me to tolerate the stress that life has a tendency to throw at me. It also helps to make me be a better person with my family and the folks around me. 

I do not desire to imagine not running anymore. I'm just going to keep going and going until I'm hundred and fifty. 

I'm just grateful to be able to even imagine continuing to do so. 

Je suis reconnaissant de pouvoir courir

Grateful to be running (English here)

En regardant ma dernière année de course, j'ai réalisé une chose. Je suis très très reconnaissant que je peux courir. Je connais plusieurs personnes qui adoreraient pouvoir aller dehors et simplement faire du jogging mais ne peuvent pas.

Mais pourquoi donc que je cours…

Première raison est facile… ma santé… J’ai 45 ans et je n’ai AUCUN problème de santé. Ma pression sanguine est dans la zone OPTIMALE. Mon poids est parfait. (Ummm… je pourrais perdre quelques livres mais elles paraissent bien sur moi :-D ) Et autant que je sache, aucune problème de cholestérol ou autres raisons me guette à ce moment… donc… c’est évident que courir est bon pour moi.

La prochaine, c’est le stress. Après une journée de fou, ou simplement après une journée "normale" de s’inquiéter pour tout, aller faire du jogging pour 30 minutes à une heure fait vraiment des miracles et m’aide à penser clairement. Je suis moins grognant avec ma famille et mes amis et ça m’aide vraiment à garder un sourir sur le visage.

La raison suivante est plus compliquée. Il s'agit de maintenir ma santé mentale ... ou de me faire devenir fou ... Je suis encore à essayer de comprendre lequel est vrai. Courir me débarrasse du stress et c’est impressionnant comment sain d’esprit que je suis. Sauf qu’en 2011, j’ai couru TROIS marathons et un ultra-marathon en sentier de 56 km et ÇA…c’est DINGUE. Donc, le jury délibère toujours sur la question de ma santé mentale.

EDLC – (Étudiants dans la course) La motivation que je reçois en courant avec ce groupe de jeunes est indescriptible. Me voici rendu à ma deuxième année comme mentor et c’est incroyable de voir l’évolution de ces jeunes de marché/courir 20 minutes jusqu’un 5 km, jusqu’un 10 km, jusqu’un 20 km et finalement jusqu’au marathon. Tout le long du parcours, ils évoluent non seulement physiquement, mais mentalement, socialement et tellement d’autres façons. Je me sens privilégié et vraiment bénie d'être sur le voyage avec ce groupe de jeunes.

Dernier point et non le moindre, courir tout simplement m'aide à faire face à la vie elle-même. J’ai complété des demi-marathons, marathons et un ultra marathon et chacun mon permis de définir des objectifs, suivre un plan, et d'atteindre mes objectifs. Courir m’aide à faire face au revers le long du chemin et me permet de rester motiver quand je me sens déprimé. Il m'aide à supporter le stress que la vie a tendance à jeter autour de moi. Il m’aide également à faire de moi une meilleure personne avec ma famille et les gens autour de moi.

Je ne désire pas imaginer ne plus courir. Je vais juste continuer et continuer jusqu’à ce que j’arrive à l’âge de cent cinquante ans.

Je suis simplement reconnaissant de pouvoir imaginer à continuer à courir.

This is what happens when you like to run too much…

Voici qu’est-ce qui se passe quand tu cours trop… (français ici) 

On Sunday Nov 20^th, my body let me know that running is OK. It also let me know that if I ran too much it was going to stop me.

This is how it all started. I started running in 1998…. ran 5 marathons… stopped in 2001. Started up again in 2009… I ran my first marathon since 2001 in May 2011.

My summary for 2011 before the Route 66 marathon was a couple of 10K , a 12K trail run,  a 20K, a half marathon road race, a half marathon trail run, 2 marathons and a 56K trail run… all of this since March 2011.

When I did that half marathon trail run in Orford, Quebec in October in 4:40 minutes, I was questioning my sanity. I did the Montreal marathon 2 weeks before, so a nice ½ marathon would be easy….right?  Aaaaaack ! NOT !!

I was kinda exhausted after. No pain in the joints but I was just exhausted. I took it easy for a week right after the run but I thought I was still good. My long runs went well and I was feeling pretty good.  As they say the marathon begins at mile 20… it did as well for me.

The day started quite fair. Temperature was lower than 40F (8C) instead of the above 40 that I was expecting.  I’ll plan on gloves next time.  

But I still felt confident. Start slow and finish strong was my plan. It was a good start (or so I thought).  I loved the atmosphere of the Route 66 marathon. The route in Tulsa showed lots of beautiful areas of the city and of course quite a few of their hills.

At 10 km, I was at 1 hour and 1 minute. So far… so good… The wind was annoying but I was moving so I was OK. I felt a tad tired just before I got to the half finish line. Of course, some thoughts popped in my head. It would be so easy just to stop and go to my wife, who is sitting there waiting for me… but I’m too stupid to quit… so I keep going. My time at the half is 2 hours 12 minutes so my goal of 4 hours and 15 is gone. I figured I still had a good shot at 4 hours 30 minutes.  I kept checking in with my wife over the cell phone… she worries you know. 

After the half, I got my second wind and felt better. Not too long after I hit the 30 km marker at 3 hours 15 minutes. I WAS on track for my 4 hour 30 min. I made it to the 20 miler and called my wife saying all is good. I had barely hung up when a “weird” feeling started in my right knee. Not pain… just a LACK of feeling. I know my body and when I feel funky stuff that I’ve never felt before… PAY ATTENTION TO IT.

I kept jogging until my knee started collapsing under me. So the walking began…  I was not alone. There were quite a few other walkers out there… so I felt a “tad” better. (OK… then again I felt like crap!!)  I kept trying to jog for a bit and my knee kept telling me “NO WAY YOU FRIKKIN MORON… YOU ARE WALKING NOT RUNNING.”  It kept collapsing under me.

Finally I got it in my head that I ran too much this year. I’m VERY lucky right now. There’s no pain and nothing’s torn. If I would have been pig headed and tried to keep going, it would have been nasty. So it took 2 hours to do the final 12 km )I got a final time of 5:12:52) but I got a great look at the University of Tulsa walking thought there.

Here I am, two days later, almost all symptoms gone. I know the knee is not right, but there’s still no pain and I’m walking normal. Ankles feel a little funky but all in all I’m good.

Each and every time I do these things, I keep asking myself “Why the bloody hell… Do you do this crap?”  Each and every time all I can come up with is “Running helps me believe I can”

Voici qu’est-ce qui se passe quand tu cours trop…

This is what happens when you like to run too much… (English here)

Dimanche, le 20 novembre, mon corps m’a laissé savoir qu’il aime courir. Il m’a aussi laissé à savoir que si j’en fais trop il va m’arrêter.

Voici comment tout à commencer… J’ai commencé à courir en 1998… J’ai couru 5 marathons… et j’ai arrêté en 2001. J’ai recommencé à courir en 2009… et j’ai couru mon premier marathon depuis 2001 en Mai 2011.

Mon sommaire de l’année 2011 avant le marathon de Route 66 a été quelques 10 km, une promenade en sentier de 12 km, un 20 km, un demi-marathon sur route, un demi-marathon en sentier, 2 marathons et un ultra marathon de 56 km… Le tout depuis mars 2011.

Quand j’ai fait ma dernière course en octobre à Orford, Québec en 4 heures 40 minutes, je questionnais ma santé mentale. J’ai fait le marathon de Montréal 2 semaines auparavant, donc un petit demin-marathon aurait dû être facile…. Oui???? Ummmmmmmmm…. NON !!

J’étais pas mal épuisé après cette folie. Pas de douleurs dans les joints mais j’étais pas mal épuisé. J’ai pris une semaine de congé après cette course mais je me pensais toujours correct. Mes longues sorties ont bien été et je me sentais encore bien. On dit que le marathon commence au 20ième mille… c’étais le cas pour moi.

La journée a commencé pas pire. La température était en dessous de 10C au lieu du 10 au-dessus tel que prévus. Je vais planifier d’avoir des gants la prochaine fois. 

Mais j’étais toujours confiant. Commence lentement et fini en force.  C’était un bon début (ou du moins j’y pensais)  J’ai adoré l’atmosphere du marathon Route 66. Le parcours à Tulsa montra plusieurs beaux quartiers de la ville et bien sur de très collines.

À 10 km, j’étais à 1 heure et 1 minute. Jusqu'ici tout va bien ... Le vent était agaçant mais je bougeais donc j’étais OK. Je me sentais un peu fatigué juste en arrivant à la ligne d’arrivée du demi. Bien sûr, des pensées ont commencé à se manifester dans ma tête. Ce serait si facile d’arrêter ici et rejoindre mon épouse qui m’attendait avec impatience… mais je suis trop stupide pour m’arrêter… donc je continue. Mon temps au demi était 2 heures 12 minutes donc mon but de 4 heures 15 était peu probable. Je pensais avoir quand même une bonne chance à 4 heures 30 minutes. Je continuais à téléphoner mon épouse sur mon cell… elle s’inquiétait bien sûr.

Après le demi, j’ai eu mon second souffle et je me sentais mieux. À 30 km, je me trouvais à 3h 15. J’étais encore en route pour 4h30. Je me suis rendu au 20^ième mille et j’ai appelé mon épouse lui disant que tout allait bien. J’avais à peine accroché quand j’ai ressenti  une sensation bizarre dans mon genou droit. Pas de douleur… juste un MANQUE de sensation.  Je connais mon corps et quand j’ai une sensation bizarre… JE L’ÉCOUTE.

J’ai continué à courir jusqu’à ce que mon genou mon genou a commencé s'effondrer sous moi. Donc commença le début de ma marche… je n’étais pas seul. Il y a avait plusieurs autres marcheurs sur le parcours… donc je me sentais un ‘’peu’’ mieux. (Ummm… d’accord je me sentais comme de la merde!) Je continuais d’essayer de courir et mon genou continuais de me dire ‘’MON ESPÈCE D’IDIOT… TU MARCHES…TU NE COURS PAS.’’ Il continua de s’effondrer sous moi.

Finalement, c’est rentré dans ma tête que j’ai couru un peu trop cette année. Je suis TRÈS chanceux maintenant. Il n’y a aucune douleur et il n’y a rien de déchiré. Si j’aurai été un peu tête de cochon et pousser encore, s’aurait été dégelasse. Donc, ça m’a pris 2 heures pour faire le dernier 12 km (J'ai finif avec un temps de 5:12:52) mais j’ai vu l’Université de Tulsa de très prêt en marchant dans le coin.

Me voici, deux jours plus tard, tous les symptômes sont partis. Je sais toujours que mon genou n’est pas tout à fait correct, mais il n’y a pas de douleur. Les chevilles sont un peu en garnotte mais tout vas bien.

Chaque fois que je fais ces courses, je me pose la même question ‘’Pourquoi diable que tu continues à faire ces niaiseries?‘’  Chaque fois la seule chose qui me viens à l’esprit c’est "Courir m'aide à croire que je peux."

Ceci est pour l’épouse/époux de nous les coureurs

Here's to the spouse of us runners - English here

AVERTISSEMENT: Le blog qui suit contient du contenu qui pourrait être considéré comme romantique. Nous préférons vous en avertir.

Le 25 octobre, était le jour national d’appréciation d’épouse de coureur.

Il n’y a aucun doute que j’apprécie mon épouse. Vous connaissez l’histoire, vous quittez votre épouse,

Vous l’embrassez et vous la dîtes que vous l’aimez et dehors à la course pendant qu’elle se retourne et se rendors. J’arrive tout juste d’une sortie de 2 heures 45 et je jette ma pile de vêtements pleins de sueur devant la laveuse. Elle sourit simplement et me demande ce que je veux pour le brunch et le prépare pendant ma douche.

N’importe quel coureur sait que s’entraîner 3 à 5 fois par semaine est difficile. Ceux de nous qui ont un époux/épouse qui nous supporte dans nos efforts sont TRÈS chanceux. Mon épouse s’inquiète…c’est son boulo. J’ai un cellulaire avec moi quand je cours.  Non seulement  çà, j’allume le GPS pour qu’elle peut voire où je suis rendu. Je ne la blâme pas. Les médias font la GRANDE nouvelle quand quelqu’un meurt dans un marathon. Même si nous les coureurs savent les chances sont mineurs que ce sera nous à être mis dans une ambulance si on s’entraîne bien, nous épouses s’inquiètent.

Combien de fois avez-vous planifiez une vacance de famille autour d’une course? Ceci sera ma deuxième vacance de la sorte. En juillet j’ai trainé mon épouse avec 3 autres amis sur une promenade de 7 heures en voiture pour une course de 56 km. (SEULEMENT 56 km je lui ai dit… c’était une course de 56 km en SENTIER ) 9 HEURES et demi plus tard,  elle a attrapé le PIRE coup de soleil jamais vu même si elle était à l’abri sous une tente.  Les “joies” d’être une rousse.  Je mis la crème après coup de soleil TRÈS souvent. En novembre, je vais faire mon 3^ième marathon cette année. Elle va faire le pied de gru pendant 4 à 5 heures pendant que je vais faire le tour de ville de Tulsa Oklahoma. J’adore son dévouement.

Ce n’est pas trop tard de dire à votre époux/épouse que vous l’aimez. Faites quelque chose de spécial… vas cherchez des fleurs… faites le souper… ou écrivez un blog!

Je t’aime Julie! Merci pour souffrir avec moi chaque kilomètre que je fais. Merci pour faire cette brassé de lavage de plus pour mes vêtements de sport. Merci pour réchauffer les parties de mon corps gelées après une course dans une température sous zéro. Mais avant tout… merci pour être toi.

Here's to the spouse of us runners

Ceci est pour l’épouse/époux de nous les coureurs - Français ici

WARNING: The following blog post contains content that might be considered romantic and/or mushy in nature. Viewer discretion is advised.

On Oct 25^th, it was National Married-to-a-Runner Appreciation Day!

I do in fact love and appreciate my wife. You know the story, you leave your spouse, kiss them and tell them that you love them and off you go while they roll over and go back to sleep. I just came back from and 2 hour 45 minute run and dropped my pile of sweaty clothes in front of the washer. She just smiles and asks me what I want for brunch and makes it while I shower.

Any runner knows that the schedule of us crazy folks that train 3 to 5 times a week running is hard. Those of us that have a spouse that supports us in our endeavours are so VERY lucky. My wife worries… it’s her job. I have a cell phone with me when I run.  Not only that, I turned on the GPS so she can track me. I don’t blame her. The media make BIG news when someone dies during any marathon race. Even though, we runners know that the real odds are slim that it will be us being carted to the hospital if we train correctly, our spouses worry.  

How many times have you planned a family vacation around a race? This will be my second such vacation. In July, I dragged her with 3 of my friends on a 7 hour drive for a 56 km race. (ONLY  56 I said to her… turned out to be 56 km TRAIL race ) 9 and a half HOURS later, she has the WORST sunburn even though we had a tent for her and all that. The “joys” she has of being a redhead. I put on the after burn treatment as often as I could.  In November, I’ll be doing my 3^rd marathon this year. She’ll be there standing patiently waiting for 4 to 5 hours while I run around the city of Tulsa Oklahoma. I love her dedication.

It’s not too late to tell your spouse that you love them. Do something special… get some flowers… make supper… or even write a blog post!

 I love you Julie!  Thank you for suffering with me each kilometer I go running.  Thank you for doing that extra load of laundry with my running clothes. Thank you for warming my frozen body parts after a run in below freezing weather. But most of all, thank you for being you.