Perseverance

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.” ~ G.B. Shaw

Three years ago I competed in the Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run, a challenging 30-mile race along Vancouver’s North Shore mountains. Climbing 8,000 feet and descending another 8,300 feet in the process, Running Wild magazine has recognized the race as one of 25 toughest races in North America.

What started as a group run with eight participants in 1989 quickly grew into the largest ultra marathon race in Canada. As the course is run along the world famous Baden-Powell Centennial Trail, the organizers have had to implement a lottery system capping the field to 200 runners. In 2005, I was fortunate to finish 8th in a time of 5:43:39, but only 10’ shy of 3rd!

This year a good friend of mine was lucky enough the win a lottery spot but unfortunately ran into some difficulty less than half way through the race.

“About 10-15 minutes from Cleveland Dam, which was a mile before the first of the five road crossings leading into Cleveland Dam, I rolled over on my right foot. Hearing a snap, which I thought (hoped) was a twig, I continued to run as often a twisted ankle isn't bad. The initial shock wears off and you can run on it no problem. In fact, that exact scenario had happened not five minutes earlier with my left ankle. The pain was not in my ankle, but rather in my foot. After 500m of running, I knew my day was done.”

A full report can be found here.

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Training:
Monday: day off (scheduled)
Tuesday: hilly 57:42
Wednesday: easy 37:23
Thursday: hilly 1:05:21