Today's Ultra Runners Have it so Easy

Champagne & Mars Bar Run

As one would expect fro trail runners, the turn out is always good when there is alcohol and chocolate involved.

No Cost, No Support, No Sympathy

OK, Barb proved my slogan wrong.

The cost of running with minimalist shoes on trails, cost her two broken bones in her foot.

There was support of fellow runners who carried her until a complete stranger on a mountain bike offered her to sit on the bike while her entourage pushed her out of the trails to be picked up by car to get her home so John could take her to emergency.

And yes there was Sympathy, as a nun exiting Bresha College witnessed Barb laying on the lawn in her running shorts and top, with one leg propped up on Mike's shoulder for elevation and Tomas and Carl huddled next to her saying kind words. (I am sure the nun went in side and said many prayers for that fallen woman)

The picture above was one week later when Barb joined us for coffee after our run to say all is well.

Just a Little Tart

Need an excuse to come out and run trails?

After Wednesday evening's trail run at Komoka, we were treated to home made fruit tarts, made from scratch by Mel.

I had the pleasure of a berry tart over the popular peach tarts.

Now all we need is a liquor salesman with free samples.

Do you run for Cheesecake?

I do!

From a recipe from my Burlington Running Club newsletter.

I tried this and served it to the group after a loop of Fanshawe Lake Trails, and other than drooling and sugar educed euphoria, I think it was a winner. 

Here is the recipe:

Crust:

1 cup chocolate wafers or biscuits

3 tbsp butter

Filling:

3 pkgs cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 sgs white chocolate, melted

3 sqs semi sweet chocolate, melted

2 tbsp raspberry or orange liqueur

Glaze:

8 sqs semi sweet chocolate

1/4 cup butter

2 tsp vegetable oil

Crust: 

Combine crumbs and butter, press onto bottom of an 8" spring form pan. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes

Filling: 

In a food processor or electric blender, blend cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well with each addition.

Add vanilla.

Remove 1/2 of the batter to another bowl. Stir melted white chocolate and liqueur into this portion.

To remaining batter, blend in melted semisweet chocolate.Pour dark batter onto crumb lined pan, spread evenly.

Spoon white batter carefully over top, spread evenly. Bake at 425* for 10 minutes, reduce heat to 250. Bake for 30 - 35 minutes longer or until center of cake is just barely firm. remove from oven and run a knife around sides; let cool completely before removing sides. Refrigerate for at least an hour before glazing.

Glaze:

Melt chocolate with butter and oil over hot water, stirring until smooth. Place the cake on rack over waxed paper. Dip spatula in glaze and smooth over sides of the cake, making sure to smooth out bumps and fill holes, if any. Pour glaze over entire cake. Bang rack several times to smooth. 

For the vegetarians in our group you can add lawn clippings or tree bark, but remember most of us have a primal lust of sinful deserts.

I thank my trail running friends, Nancy, Mel, Jeff and Denny for being my guinea pigs on my first try at this cheesecake. 

I was going to take a picture of them, but they said they needed to run another 40 km to burn this off. 

August 3, 2013

This is part of the group of 35 runners who showed up on Saturday at Komoka Trails.

One would almost think the turn out was larger than usual because there was Champagne and Mars Bars as we do at the season end run in October, but there wasn't, so I guess its just because we are such a pleasure to be around.

You will note two woman in jeans in the front row who Bill Wheeler picked up on the trail. (one of them was about to go on her ass on the slippery boardwalk portion as the group were attempting to pass and Bill grabbed her and saved her from a bruise or two)

They were from Ohio and were visiting friends in London for a girls weekend and came out to walk the trails and were probably wishing they could have come for coffee with us at Angelo's after the run rather than go back to shopping and drinking wine with 'The Girls'.

OK, I may be wrong.



Summer is Here!

A cool Saturday morning at Westminster Ponds.

2013 Race Sold Out

SOLD OUT
Waiting List Available
http://vulturebaitrace.com/register.htm#wait-list

History Lessons on the Trails

London’s first Recognized Heritage Tree

Located in Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area, the majestic White Oak is estimated to be well over 250 years old. 

It towers 31.5 metres skyward and its enormous trunk is 471 centimetres in circumference. It received heritage distinction under the Trees Ontario Ontario Heritage Tree Program, which identifies and records the location of heritage trees in the province.

“Heritage trees are identified and assessed based on their age, size, appearance, and most importantly their cultural and historical significance,” says Robert Keen, CEO of Trees Ontario.

 “We’re aware of references to this tree as far back as 1793, when Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and his wife camped at Westminster Ponds before hiking to the forks of the Thames." (now there's a guy showing a lady a good time)

The Series starts and we can be thankful for Canada's Health Care

The opening of the 2013 Series proved to have had a few of us testing the law of gravity at Meadowlilly Trail.

I of course fell, but that is to be expected, Don tested his landing technique early on in the run as well.

 Cathy Q did a face plant and almost rolled down a ravine, I think she was counting stars the rest of the day.

But leave it to Eric to get all the attention, as he fell and hit his head causing a nice trickle of blood, but it was his dislocated finger that got him a leasurly afternoon sitting at the hospital. Granted I am sure the story grew by the hour, as he had Doctors and Nurses in awe of his trail running skills.

Twenty people were out for the opening day, a few we have not seen since October, so spring must really be here.

This Saturday is Fanshawe Lake Trail, so who knows what will happen there, but it will be fun.

30 Weeks of Running Bliss

Soiled Sport's Fat Ass Trail Series 2013

We here at Soiled Sport head office, are pleased to announce the start date of the much anticipated Fat Ass Trail Series 2013.

Due to a colder than expected winter  we can expect to wear our screw shoes at the start this year.

As in past years the season opener will be Meadowlilly Trails in south east London.
Saturday April 6th 

Located off of Commissioners Road, just east of Meadowlilly Road, across from Rona. Drive down to the bottom of the hill and park at the bottom where it dead ends at the river. Or click on the 'Directions' link on the right hand side of this page and you will see all trail locations on Google Maps.

Start time is 8:01 am

Distance is approximately 10Km

All 30 weeks will be posted in the right hand column. (your other right,Danny)

Please remember this is all 'Fat Ass Style' running: No water stations, No volunteers, No sympathy

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:

1. No fees


2. No awards


3. 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
  
• 10 bonus points for wearing Soiled Sport/Vulture Bait/London Pacer shirts, when instructed via this blog before the trail run


• 25 points for wearing the recalled LuLu Lemon yoga pants that became see through when worn. (sorry Ken, woman only)


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

Get your racing shoes on!

For those who are itching  (hopefully not because of a medical condition) for a spring road race here is one from our friends at MEC London.
Sunday March 23rd the first of the MEC Race Series will take place at their store on Wellington Road South.
The 5 km and 10km course is flat and fast so dust off those racing flats.
Start time is 9:00 am

For more details, visit the store and bug Bill Wheeler while you try on new shoes, or visit the web site for details and online registration.
http://events.mec.ca/event/2324/mec-london-race-one-5k10k-mar23#.UTYiv6Lkt2A

Did I tell you that it only costs $15.00

Also, as in all races, volunteers are needed, so check in with the vivacious Emily Hinton to see if she could use your expertise.

February Blues

Is it just me....but don't you just look forward to the runs where you don't have to be all bundled up.

Ok, so I have decided that I would run all this winter in shorts as I did last year. But let me tell you, that there  have been more -20 wind chill days in January as there was all last year. So next year when I have this brain storm again, please remind me to read this entry on the blog.

Wednesday January 30th Komoka night run was in +14 degree weather with the trail being one part river and the one part she sucking mud. So you ended up wet and coated in thick mud, and yes I loved it.

The following morning on my way to the gym, there was 10 cm of snow and a temperature of -5 and falling.

I was thinking of having some sort of trail runners get together so we can tell tale tails of former greatness as well as sipping on a beverage some place. Just something to celebrate half way through winter or something. I will keep you posted.

New Years Day Fun Run

Well leave it to runners to show up in droves when there is food and alcohol.

Doris and Peter Benson offered up their home in Delaware as the gathering spot for the New Years Day Fun Run.

They kept it a secret that the last 1/2 km had one hideous hill, but the course was scenic other than that.

For those who keep forgetting (Treena) to send in the 2013 Pacer membership so you can get in on the winter training program for Around The Bay training.

Here is a link to the PDF membership form: http://www.londonpacers.on.ca/AdditionalFiles/MembershipApp2013.pdf

Saturday morning winter runs continue at the Indian Archaeological Museum, off Wonderland between Gainsborough and Fanshawe Road.

Start time is 8:00 am

And Wednesday evening runs continue at Komoka at 6:00 PM 

ps: word of advice, dress shirts do not make good running tops. Just sayin!