Soiled Sport

Monica's January Fun Run

2012-01-12T15:33:00.005-05:00

If this is going to be what to expect for weather the rest of January, you better pass the sun block.

My running idol Monica Scholz has a monthly '20 & 4o km Fun Run' on the Sulphur Springs trail near Ancaster, during the winter months to get rid of the winter blues.

Well as you can see by the above photo of January 7th the only thing blue is the sky. With temperatures around +7 at the finish it was damn near spring like.

In the picture there are some of Ontario's elite trail runners:

Canadian female 100 mile record holder Iris Cooper (fourth from the left)
Record holder for running end to end of the 894 km Bruce Trail, Charlotte Vasarhelyi (fourth from right)
Trail Runner Magazine Series 2nd place female in ultra's is Kinga Miklos (third from left)
Trail Runner Magazine Series 1st place male 50+, Bill Wheeler

Also, both Kinga and her husband Stephan (2nd from right) were using this as a 40km taper run for the H.U.R.T. 100 Mile race in Hawaii the next weekend. Now tell me that this does not make you feel like a slug.

In the back ground is our newest addition to the Soiled Sport Trail Running Group, Danny Murphy. He is the one in the background with arms up and screaming "Wooooo!!"

Other than the three of us from London, I think everyone else did the 40Km yet look just as relaxed as Bill and Danny after our 20Km's.

Afterwards we were invited to Monica and Phil's home for veggie chili, cold drinks and 'Super Store' bread. (inside joke pointed at Bill Wheeler)

We sat around and basked in stories of running adventures from this group, that again makes one feel like we better kick it up a notch or three.

You all know I have nothing but praise for Monica as I love her to death, but the truth is I want to be adopted by her mom and dad.

Her father Dieter, does the aid stations for the fun run and weather is never a barrier and is like a mother hen when you are at the aid station making sure you get something or topping up water bottles. If you cant find something at his aid station from food to drink to sports gue, it must not exist.

Toni, her mom is just a saint, who just happens to make butter tarts to die for.

Play Dirty...Run Trails

Larry

Winter Fun on the Trails

2011-12-29T10:05:00.005-05:00

Picture #1:

Even on Christmas Eve we have what we refer to as "runners with no lives" showing up for a morning trail run at Medway.

Picture #2:
As you can see, Sue may be a great runner but she sucks on the balance beam.

Picture #3:

Wednesday night trail runs at Komoka Trail is year round, and here we have Richard Bird wimping out on a balmy -7 evening wearing winter tights. What are you going to wear when the cold weather come??

What was Santa thinking?

2011-12-20T14:57:00.006-05:00

I hope you were not expecting anything from Santa this year, as he got held up at US customs.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Saturday Trail runs will be at Medway Trails till March, and the Komoka Trail night runs continue year round every Wednesday at 6:00 PM.

Night Running

2011-11-14T15:49:00.002-05:00

You don't have to be to bright to run trails at night, but your headlamp should be.
This was a November 9th evening run starting at 6:00 pm at Komoka, and I am sure the singlets and short sleeves will be put away for warmer garments soon.
If you have not tried night running with a headlamp, you should try it, as I am sure you will be hooked.
I have a couple extra headlamps in my trunk, should you wish to come out and give it a try.
Komoka Trails, every Wednesday evening starting at 6:00 pm.

Champagne and Mars Bars

2011-10-18T15:56:00.005-04:00

Yes, everyone is getting excited about our season ender 'Champagne & Mars Bar' run on October 29th.

Always the best attended run of the year, since everyone knows we only run for chocolate or booze.

The picture here has two of our trail kickers, Nancy and Angie, volunteering at the Vulture Bait Trail Races on the 15th sporting the swag from our sponsor Mountain Hardwear for the volunteers, a warm micro fleece toque.

Wet, cold and windy did not deter the sold out field to set new course best times.

Thanks to the volunteers who kept everything running smooth all day to the delight of the runners.

I Command a Lot of Respect!

2011-10-03T16:03:00.005-04:00

You have to admit that it is flattering when a co-worker asks for your suggestions on how to improve their running.

Well a couple months ago, Tanya, (who is our laser department lead) asked such a question.

Turns out she had taken up running to improve her cardio fitness and felt this running thing was just not coming to her as easy as she thought.

Well first off she was running roads, and we know how freaking boring that can be.

So we started off with the basics, setting up a small 5km running program that had some achievable milestones along the way that would all come together with us doing a 5km run together on October 2nd.

Well, I must say she was impressive. Her finishing time was better than the goal set out in the program and has now a bench mark to further improve her time and distance.

She plans to join us on the trails soon as she does find the road work boring and repetitive.

She was kind enough to send me this photo showing how I am #1 in her books.

It's great having friends.

Mountain Trails

2011-09-07T09:26:00.002-04:00

Ok, the only reason I have added this picture, was because so many people complained that the bear attack photo was so graphic and disturbing. So since I don't have pictures of kittens and puppies playing with little children, please gaze at the above photo.

While doing the mountain skills course this was what it looked like from the top of Heart Mountain looking west toward Canmore.

Now get out there and train for the Vulture Bait Trail Races, its only weeks away and you should pre-register now. Looks like another early sell out year.

The Limberlost Challenge

2011-07-22T09:13:00.005-04:00

The Limberlost Challenge or TLC for short, is a 14, 28, 42 & 56 km trail race in the Huntsville area. Beautiful area with some great trails that have a bit of everything. Hills, hills, switchbacks, a little mud, rock, and heat.

As long as you kept running the deer flys were not a problem, but you dare not stop to long at aid stations.

I think I speak for the group of us that went, it is a race worth doing, good course, well marked trails and friendly race directors and volunteers.

Creemore Vertical Challenge 2011

2011-07-04T09:14:00.005-04:00

Photo's courtesy of Judy Wilson

The race you love to hate, Creemore Vertical Challenge.

After about 4 km of rolling roads and trails that has you sweating profusely, you come to a sign that says "Hill #1" Ha ha ha, very funny, until you notice that it is a two km gravel road that stops short of flight paths of airplanes.

As you trudge along cursing the race director, you come to other amusing signs,

"Hill #2, O2 hill"but should have said lack of oxygen hill.

The humidity started to kick in about this point so every breath seemed short of needed oxygen.

On the plus side, there was some beautiful homes and farms along the way that made you think that somebody out there has some money.

The views from the vistas, when you finally got to the top of the hills were spectacular, but soon reminded you that you will have to come down from these lofty places to only climb to another.

Temperatures were in the +30's with a humidex closer to +40, and it did take a toll on runners.

Smart ones pulled the pin and called it quites while others were whisked away for medical attention by ambulance.

By focusing on my heart rate monitor I managed to keep myself on a steady pace to ensure I would be able to sit in the Mad River at the finish line sipping my Creemore Pilsner as my finish line award.

Bill Wheeler pulled out a fantastic race winning age group and 4th overall. And I was not to far behind, if you use a calendar rather than a stop watch.

Next OUS race is Limberlost in Huntsville, will have to see if they have a beer sponsor before I sign up.

Last month mud, this month water

2011-06-13T15:08:00.003-04:00

Can you spot the Fat Ass?

2011-05-11T15:25:00.000-04:00

Week 5

2011-05-11T15:22:00.000-04:00

Westminster Ponds trail run was a little muddy and wet.
Nancy is showing how the final leg of the trail allowed for some shoe cleaning.

Week 4

2011-05-02T15:27:00.003-04:00

Mud, blood and sweat....all in a good day of trail running.

Week 3

2011-04-19T15:24:00.004-04:00

This is a picture of Bill Wheeler and myself before the start of the Seaton Trail 29km Mud Puppy Race.

You will pleased to know that hardware was taken home and our trail group well represented. One of us finished in third place overall and one of us did not.

I did not have to wait to long after my long hot shower and change to dry clothes and I was thrilled to see Bill as he finished, because it truly was a tuff slug, running in ankle deep shoe sucking mud for the entire course. Bill was really bonked, unlike myself was well hydrated and had taken ample gummy bears at the water stations.

The day started bad, rain, high winds and temperatures that did not come above +3 all morning.

The out and back course just got deeper in mud as the morning progressed and water levels during the river crossing rose very quickly.

As in any race but even more so on a crappy day like this, you have to give credit to the volunteers who were water logged and cold but endured to make sure the runners in all three events (29k, 58k, 50m) were looked after.

So my recommendation to beating Bill to the finish line at a hideously difficult race, is to pull out around 20k and get a fast ride to the finish from some poor soul who lets a soaking wet runner covered in mud to sit in their car for a ride to the finish area.

Bill did a fantastic job of staying upright for a majority of the race and resembled a walking soil sample at the end. He said he may have damaged a tree that jumped out at him when he was sliding down one of the zillion hills.

Next OUS race is the Pick Your Poison Trail Races in Orillia on April 30th, one that has now moved down a notch of being a nasty & tuff race when it rains.

Week 2

2011-04-11T18:22:00.004-04:00

It's the kind of turn out for the season-ender that provides Champagne & Chocolate! Former Pacers Val Cotta and Bill Nightingale graced our 2nd trail run of the series by flying in from Vancouver and Edmonton. (sure they said they were in town due to other reasons, but I know they just wanted to be part of the Fat Ass Series)

Soiled Sport's 2011 Trail Series has a new look

2011-03-25T09:37:00.010-04:00

Welcome to Soiled Sport 2011 Trail Series - Fat Ass Style

Don't take offence, I am not referring to the fact that your ass looks big in those running shorts, but refers to a no nonsense version of doing races.

Fat Ass events started back in the late 70's when a runner was fed up with rising costs of running a race and the rising costs of holding a race.

There are three basic rules to a Fat Ass event:

No fees

No awards

No whining

And you get what you pay for, no shirts, no aid stations and no sympathy.

As in previous years, the rules I just dream up after a drunken stooper, such as:

10 points for completing a Saturday trail run

10 points for completing an Ontario Ultra Series race

10 points for volunteering for a London Pacer hosted event

20 bonus points for finding the hidden immunity idol (more details to follow)

10 bonus points for wearing Soiled Sport/Vulture Bait/London Pacer shirts, when instructed via this blog before the trail run

Extra bonus points for attempting to bribe me with cheesecake, booze and winning lottery tickets

The race schedule will be posted this weekend, but will start with Meadowlilly Trails on April 2nd, 8:00 am sharp.

Damn Snow

2011-03-16T16:49:00.000-04:00

March Madness

2011-03-16T16:47:00.003-04:00

How NOT to train for the 2011 Soiled Sport Trail Series

2011-02-26T11:48:00.005-05:00

Should the snow ever stops falling and temperatures decide to ever rise above freezing, the start of the Soiled Sport 2011 Trail Running Series will start on April 2nd at Meadowlilly Trail.

Our 2010 Trail Series winner, Chuck Edwards, will cut the ribbon at the trail head to start our 31 weeks of trail running bliss.

As always, you will be awarded points for each Saturday trail you attend and complete along with any Ontario Ultra Series race. Bonus points are also awarded when you run or volunteer for London Pacer sponsored events when identified on this blog.

New this year will be aditional bonus points for wearing our series sponsors gear. More details to follow.

So put down the chip dip and start training.

Night Trail Run on Wednesday

2010-11-04T10:03:00.001-04:00

Deer hunting season has opened and so has our night trail runs.
So this must be what we look like as the hunter is looking for Bambi.

Vulture Bait 2010 a HUGE Success

2010-10-21T09:09:00.003-04:00

Vulture Bait Trail Races was sold out again this year and records were broken.
Pictured above is Kasia Zajac finishing the 50K in 4:10.51 breaking the course record by 13 minutes.
Ms. Zajac is from Poland but lives and trains in Germany with her adventure racing team.
Hundreds of pictures will be linked on the VBTR web site shortly. www.vulturebaitrace.com

Special thanks to all the volunteers who put in a long day to help make this an event the runners have been e-mailing praise about.

On another note, our Soiled Sport Trail Runing Series is down to two events.
Saturday October 23rd is at Westminster Ponds and the Champagne and Mars Bar season finisher at Komoka Trail on the 30th.

The coveted trail running jacket will be awarded at the Pacer Banquet next month. Details on getting your tickets coming soon.

Midnight Sun

2010-07-09T12:54:00.006-04:00

So, I thought I sucked at running trail races.... well you should see me in a kayak race.

The Yukon River Quest is a 740 km canoe and kayak race from Whitehorse to Dawson City in the Yukon.
Bill Nightingale and I joined on a whim last October not really knowing what we were getting ourselves into.
Karen asked if I looked at the videos on You Tube about Five Finger and Rink rapids along the course, or the warnings on Lake Labarge, but told her I did not because I did not want to scare myself out of it.

When we arrived in Whitehorse three days before the race to get our gear in order and do a 20km test paddle of our rented kayak, it was mid 20's and sunny. And sunny around the clock since it was Midnight Sun in the north. I have a picture of me standing in the main intersection of town showing the time on my watch (midnight) with daylight equivalent to an afternoon here.

But on race day the temperature plummeted to +8 and rain with river temperatures about the same.

To make things interesting the start line is 400 meters away in the park with a sprint to your boat. Being gentlemen we let everyone else go ahead while we strolled down to the waters edge, and casually got into our kayak. This turned out to be a smart move because we passed people on the water who were trying to paddle and get their spray skirts on or readjust gear that they inadvertently kicked or nudged out of position.

My biggest worry was Lake Labarge because of stories I had heard.
Well the stories were tame compared to the lake.
Five foot waves coming from behind, with a wind that came from the side and a kayak that wanted to act like a submarine.
I had a death grip on the paddle and stroked like a mad man just so I could get off the section of water. Problem is that it is around 50km long.

We made it to the end of the lake and went ashore at the checkpoint. We were both soaked and frozen.
A change of clothes and some hot tea got us back into the right frame of mind.

We were told later that a large number of boats (21) had scratched by the end of the lake. Weather and water conditions took its toll on even the hard core teams.

Now with 12 hours under our belt we would paddle through the midnight sun, finding out the hard way of sleep deprivation. Oh... the things you think you see.

We took a number of short cat naps trying to keep us from falling asleep paddling and rolling the kayak over.

Around noon we decided we had to get out of the boat to stretch only to find a patch of grass that made a nice mattress.

At the second last checkpoint we were told we had 60-ish km to Carmacks and only 4 1/2 hours to do it in. But then a huge black sky rolled in over the ridge with promise of lightning and heavy rain. We may not be the sharpest knives in the drawer but we knew not to be on the river during lightning activity.
The storm was fast and furious and ate up a half hour while Bill and I sat under a ledge.

Now we are paddling our guts out to make the deadline.

Our dash to the finish with everything we have, was to a bend in the river. But turned out short by approximately 2km's. I had miss read the map!

Now we try to keep the power stroke going but as we turn the last bend to the dock in Carmacks a fellow on the dock is shacking his head.

We were 35 hours and 5 minutes. Five minutes over the cut-off time.

They apologised as they cut our race numbers off.

We are officially out of the race.

Over 340 km's we had paddled in one of the most remote river conditions in Canada and we are short by 5 freaking minutes.

Were we disappointed?
No, because we now know what to expect next year.

We Never Said We Were Smart

2010-06-07T11:19:00.002-04:00

On June 30th Bill & I will try our hand at the Yukon River Quest.
This is a 740 km kayak race from Whitehorse to Dawson City on the mighty Yukon River.
A challenge indeed since Bill and I are the least competitive people I know, so the goal is to complete the race in the 4 day time limit.
Thankfully there is the midnight sun, so we can paddle around the clock. Oh joy!
My ass is sore already.

Tortoise and the Hare

2010-05-27T16:44:00.004-04:00

Ok, so it was Chuck and not a hare.

But as the photo shows, Chuck is behind the tortoise.

This was taken at the start of Saturday May 22nd's trail run of Gibbons Park Trail.

2010 Trail Series

2010-03-20T17:16:00.007-04:00

Let's get this party started!!

Kiss winter goodbye, spring has sprung and even monkey pants has come out of hibernation.

Saturday March 27th we will start our 2010 series of trail runs around the London area.

Some things will remain the same, like having a laugh at other peoples expense, and poking fun at Carl for being so uptight on leaving on time, but one thing has changed.

The 'Black Ball' is what you want to get this time.

Each week all runners who show up at the designated trail will be asked to pull a ball from the orange pail white ones go back in and the black one is a keeper you get to hold on till the end of the season.

This will be critical to who wins the coveted trail running jacket. (guaranteed to make you pee your pants)

March 27th will be Meadowlilliy Trails, off Commisioners Road one block east of Highbury Ave.

Google map link when you click the title block above picture.

How NOT to finish a 100km race

2010-02-08T14:20:00.002-05:00

Jennifer Anne Meneray showing off her bandages that were put on at an aid station so she could complete the 100Km portion of the HURT 100 in Hawaii.

Canadians Break Records at H.U.R.T. 100

2010-01-18T14:42:00.003-05:00

100 Mile Finishers:
-Gary Robbins North Vancouver BC 20:12 1st Overall; new CR (photo)
-Tracy Garneau Veron BC 24:06 3rd Overall; 1st Female; new CR (photo)
-Jamie Nott Calgary AB 31:40 17th Overall
-Monica Scholz Jerseyville ON 32:02 18th Overall; 2nd Female
-Matthew Session Burnaby BC 32:10 19th Overall
-Charlotte Vasarhelyi Breslau ON 32:28 22nd Overall; 3rd Female
-Tasha Nott Calgary, ON 35:50 46th Overall; 5th Female

100K Finishers:
-Alan Haner Mindemoya ON
-John Turner Burlington ON
-Tammy Sieminowski Toronto ON
-Phillip McColl Jerseyville ON
-Sharon Zelinki Toronto ON
-Jennifer-Anne Meneray London ON

It's all in the training

2009-12-24T11:34:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Swimming now part of our training for Medway

2009-12-15T13:56:00.004-05:00

Minus 5 degrees
A frozen creek
A dozen trail runners ready to cross via rocks and tree limbs
One runner wants to show how to run across the ice
He now finds out that ice can be slippery
His feet fly up & lands on his back and breaks the ice
That sinking feeling
He is OK but soaked
PRICELESS

This never happens on our trail runs!

2009-11-20T13:19:00.005-05:00

Come out and run with us on trails, where it's safe.

Saturdays 8:00 am @ Medway Trails

Wednesday's at 6:00 pm @ Komoka Trails (headlamp required)

Map of trail location map, just click on the title block above this picture.

SHOCKING

2009-11-16T16:46:00.002-05:00

The overall winner of the 2009 Soiled Sport Trail Series is Carl Keevil, as announced at the Pacer Awards Brunch on November 15th

First female is Barb Newall.

Go to the Pacer Brunch or the cat get's it!!

2009-11-10T15:41:00.004-05:00

You forced me into this.

The cat get's it, if you do not reserve your seat at the Pacer brunch on Sunday.

UWO Invitational X-Country

2009-10-09T09:48:00.003-04:00

UWO hosted this annual event at Thames Valley Golf Course, and had a stellar turn out of athletes.

Pictured here is Guelph Gryphons, Lindsay Carson who set a course record in the womans 5K that has stood since 1987, at 17:01.6

This event is free and open to all, and I am amazed at how few show up.

The course switchs back and forth allowing the spectator to see a number of different views along the route.

The mens 10K was won by a Windsor Lancer, Dave Watson, in 32:10.9. (funny I only have a picture of the womans race winner)

The same day had the Fanshawe College Invitational out at Fanshawe, so I unfortunatly was unable to fit both in.

Next year I think our trail run will be at Thames Valey on the x-country course.... or maybe I should not embarass myself this way. Anyhow next year we all should attend to cheer the 'Stangs' on.

You crack me up!

2009-08-18T13:37:00.011-04:00

So there I was pondering life's mystery's, when it dawned on me.... you lazy bastards have not signed up for the Vulture Bait yet!!

We are looking for volunteers for the races as well.

So, your uncle may just be getting out of prison for a weekend and you have no room in your double wide at the trailer park.... or maybe you would like to get grandma some fresh air while you do the 50K race, we can use them.

http://www.vulturebaitrace.com/ and you will be whisked away to the fantastic world of Vulture Bait.

Note to American entries: NO PASSPORT REQUIRED to enter Canada.
(but you will need one to get back in to your own country. Hey they are your governments rules not ours)

Each month leading up to the race, one lucky entry will win a Vulture Bait running jacket.
(I don't understand why Jennifer Anne wants to measure the male winners inseam though)

Last but not least, Trail Runner Magazine, August issue, page 12 says it all.

Click here for a map to all trails

2009-07-09T16:21:00.009-04:00

July 11th
Gibbons Park Trail

July 18th
Killaly Trail

July 25th
Komoka Trail

August 1st
Fanshawe Trail

August 8th
Kains Woods
or
Dirty Girls 6 & 12 hr Trail Races www.ouser.org/

August 15th
Meadowlilly Trail

August 22nd
Westminster Ponds
or ITT 32k http://www.ouser.org/

August 29th
Gibbons Park

September 5th
Medway Trail

September 12th
Komoka Trail
or
Haliburton Forest 25/50/100/160 km Trail Races
http://www.ouser.org/

September 19th
Kains Woods Trail

September 26th
Meadowlilly Trail

October 3rd
Medway Trail

October 10th
Fanshawe Trail

October 12th
Turkey Trot in Springbank Park (points for running or volunteering)

October 17th
VULTURE BAIT 25 & 50 Km TRAIL RACES
*did you see the write up in the August issue, page 12, of Trail Runner Magazine?
www.vulturebaitrace.com

October 24th
Kains Woods Trail

October 31
Season Ender @ Komoka Trail
Champagne & Mars Bars

Who let me have a Camcorder anyhow?

2009-07-07T16:35:00.003-04:00

Betty, win's / loses the Black Ball Challenge.

Of course I had fun...It was a non stop wet T-shirt contest!

2009-06-22T09:29:00.003-04:00

Saturday June 20th was the Niagara Series of Races in Niagara on the Lake, and four of our finest went to run and three of us went to swim.
This was the first time in my recollection that the race did not start in temperatures in the high 20's and so humid you would be gasping for air just standing at the start line.
For those who have not done this race in the OUS series, you miss out on a well run and scenic course.
Yes, I know that the race is on pavement, and it eats up those expensive trail runners, but it is worth it in the end.
Distances of 10K, 1/2 Marathon, Marathon and 50K, you should have no problem selecting one that fits your schedule.
Early entries are eligible for either a sweat shirt or hoodie, depending on distance, a finishers memento with your name engraved and beer and pizza.
The turn out this year was huge, so much so the race organizers may put a cap on it next year. (so enter early)
For those who look for a Boston Qualifier, I am told this is a good pick since it is flat and fast.
Congratulations to Betty who took home the hardware in the 10K.
My first wife Karen along with Alita and James did our group proud in the 1/2 Marathon, while Bill, Louise and myself stood in the pouring rain proving that Gortex is not 100% water proof.
Next race in the OUS series is Creemore Vertical Challenge 25 & 50K on July 4th.

Click Here For Shocking Photo's

2009-06-05T10:10:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to announce that I suck almost as much at kayaking as I do at trail running.
Our trail kicker friend from Alberta, Willy Bill, came to South-Western Ontario to whip LuLu into shape for our upcoming hike in the wilds of the Yukon.
This included a kayaking trip down the Grand River from Cambridge to Paris.
Normally a slow paddle, the recent deluge of rain caused for a pretty fast current. So much so, that the outfitter we rented some of the kayaks & canoe from, sent along a guide.
( I think he was there to recover the equipment rather than the person.)

All went well until Ken & Jeniffer decided that when coming to a bridge column located in the centre of the river, about at the halfway point, the front paddler wanted to go left of the massive stone structure while the rear paddler wanted the right.
Well the river decided neither and they collided the structure and capsized, causing the guide to earn his keep. He did recover the canoe but Jen & Ken were lost.
Kidding about the last part, they swam ashore and others down river captured their gear as it floated by.

This was a fun way to spend a day since upon 'Two Beer Nancy's' demand, we then proceeded to a licensed establishment to sample some beverages and chicken wings.

The evening concluded with a BBQ back in London to solve the worlds problems.

On a Trail Running note, our motley crew took home the hardware at Sulphur Springs Trail Races.
And I can't wait till Alita comes out to Saturday morning trail runs wearing her Sulphur Springs shirt.
Coming up in the OUS is Niagara Ultra on June 20th.
https://www.onlineregistrations.ca/niagara/
Sorry no trails here, but a fast course for a 10k,25k, marathon and 50K
Great prizes that come from local wineries and early entries get a warm hoodie.
And rumour has it that there may be some beer to be had at the end.
And speaking of beer.. Creemore Vertical Challenge is on July 4th. If you like scenery and hills..never ending freaking hills.. then this is the race to do.
The only thing that compels me to do this race is that the kegs of Creemore are at the finish line.
http://www.onlineregistrations.ca/creemore/

Click Here if you think you are an Ultra Runner

2009-04-24T08:48:00.004-04:00

The Fun Continues

2009-03-10T14:25:00.008-04:00

2009 Soiled Sport Trail Series

Start Times: 8:00 am sharp
(or maybe 8:02 because Cathy Q is late again)

OUS race start times, you need to confirm for each race @ http://www.ouser.org/

May 16th,
Meadowlilly Trails

May 23 rd
Komoka Trails
or
Ontario Ultra Series Race #4
Sulphur Springs 10K, 25K, 50K, 50M, 100M

May 30th
Medway Trails

June 6th
Fanshawe Trails
or
OUS Series Race #5
Kingston 6hour endurance race

June 13th
Westminister Ponds
or
There is a new trail race, http://www.trailsdaywoodstock.ca/
1 Mile, 5K, 1/2 marathon
*Trail points ONLY if you wear Vulture Bait or Soiled Sport running shirts during the event

June 20th
Kains Woods
or
OUS Race #6
Niagara Ultra 1/2 marathon, marathon & 50k

June 27th
Medway Trail

July 4th
Medowlilly Trai
or
OUS Race #7
Creemore Vertical Challenge (please note the word Vertical.. this means hills, long never ending hills)

July 11th
Gibbons Park Trail

July 18th
Killaly Trail

July 25th
Komoka Trail

August 1st
Fanshawe Trail

Cannon Balls & Brass Monkeys

2008-11-04T09:05:00.003-05:00

When you are out running trails with some one new, who you wish to impress with the depth of your knowlwdge of some very deep subjects, please feel free to use this.

It was necessary to keep a good supply of cannon balls near the cannon on old war ships. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck was the problem. The best storage method devised was to stack them as a square based pyramid, with one ball on top, resting on four, resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others.The solution was a metal plate with 16 round indentations, called, for reasons unknown, a Monkey. But if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make them of brass - hence, Brass Monkeys.Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey.Thus,it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. And all this time, you thought that was just a vulgar expression, didn't you?