#100happydays Day 68 – Family Photos
Photographer Phil was asked to take some family photos of the Mclaren clan. I went along as the assistant. We had so much fun with that group, what a nice evening with a crazy family!
Too funny, trying to get a family portrait of the Mclaren’s!
#100happydays Day 66 Surviving with a scratch!
Happiness is comparing warrior wounds! Too Funny! (Check out Glenis’s nails!)
A map of the war wounds from the last two races!
#100happydays Day 65 The Warrior Dash 2014
Another muddy day for the sisters! Only 6 days after the “toughest 1/2 marathon” we dove into the mud at the Warrior Dash!
Before and After!
Buses, crowds and lineups started the day but we were prepared for that and we just went with the flow. Before we knew it we were ready to run. It didn’t really matter if we were running at our 11:15 time, the race wasn’t timed. Just a free for all!
A few line ups
This is my fear, anything that is off the ground and I have to walk on it. So I crawled!
I’m almost through the tunnel, had to crawl sideways because my legs were too long to crawl on my knees.
We just had to take a selfie at the top of the cargo net, it just so happened that Phil took a photo of us taking a photo! Too funny!
Check out more pictures on philjarvis.ca
Ah, a nice shower!
Yet another wall to climb. Glenis is a warrior!
#100happydays Day 64 the Moose
Glenis and I haven’t run across any moose during any of our adventures. I think we are laughing too much and we scare they away. Once I though I was following the foot prints of another racer until I cam upon a pile of moose dung and I realized I wasn’t following a person! Another reason to laugh!
One of the cool things I saw on my recent camping trip to Algonquin was a moose swimming across Rock Lake. It was a pretty impressive thing to see.
The moose swimming Rock Lake. My little camera was pushed to the limit trying to get a close up. But you can tell it’s not a beaver. Very cool. I don’t think I will see this again.
I had decided to take a little run down a trail that started at the camp and ran along an old railroad bed between a beaver pond and Rock Lake. I was hoping to see a beaver but I did notice that I wasn’t the only one on the trail; either a large deer or a small moose had walked there before me. When I decided to turn about I heard a scuffle in the brush on the lake side of the trail but I didn’t think too much about it because chipmunks can sound huge when you are alone in the forest. As I turned onto the little beach and look back towards where I had ran I noticed what at first I though was a beaver swimming the lake. However then the ears flopped and they were huge compared to a beavers I realized I was watching a moose. I figured I must have spooked him into the water and away he/she went. I stood there for 15 minutes watching the effort and strength of this moose swim across Rock Lake.
This is the view of Rock Lake from atop of the Booth’s Rock Trail. Algonquin has a wonderful history.
#100happydays Day 62 The Photographer
Glenis and I often go places with our own personal photographer, my husband Phil! When we are lucky enough to convince him to come we always get some great photos. It’s a long day for him, waiting for us but I think he enjoys it too.
Phil takes photos seriously.
Here is a link to his web site with some of the amazing photos he took on our recent trip to Algonquin. philjarvis.ca
Feel free to browse his site and message him if you have an questions.
#100happydays Day 61 What’s up next?
The Warrior Dash this Saturday July 19th at Horseshoe Valley Ski Resort. Yup we are at it again this weekend, getting a little dirty and having a blast.
The Sisters leaping over the raging fire at the first Warrior Dash at Horseshoe a couple of years ago. We just had to try it again – what a hoot!
Stay tuned for results and photos!
The Warrior Dash – 13 fun filled OBSTACLES!
#100happydays Day 60 Did I see a Bear?
My husband and I went on a great camping vacation last week, while Glenis manned the fort and the blog. We have an eventful trip, and a great time.
On Thursday we moved from Algonquin Park to Arrowhead Park. On the way into the park, Phil noticed a large cut out bear sign warning people in the park that there was a bear that was in the park snooping around the campsites. I didn’t even notice the sign. When Phil mentioned it I sort of fluffed the warning off. I just thought it was used to try to convince people to keep their camp sites clean and to use the garbage containers supplied.
How could i have missed this bear sign!
Nope, not so, I wasn’t there 45 minutes and I found the bear! I was so surprised I didn’t even get my camera out! I was driving to the park store to buy wood and ice and got all turned around on the twisty park roads. The little guy, (I think he was little, just about hip high) ran out in front of my car, from one campsite to another then up into the trees.
It was kind of cool seeing a bear from the safety of my car. In all the times Glenis and I have run in the woods or have been on an adventure race we have never come across a bear. I was even thinking about bear safety this past week and picked up a bear air horn at an outfitters store. I guess the trick will be to see if I can use it when surprised by a bear when I am outside my car.
#100happydays Day 59 Running the toughest ½ marathon
It’s been a couple of hours since we crossed the finish line at The North Face Endurance Challenge – Ontario at Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Collingwood Ontario. Reflecting back on the race, yes it really was one of the toughest ½ marathons we have completed.
Can you tell we are sister? Consecutive numbers, how great is that!
The day started out early, we had to leave by 5:30am to get there for the 8am start and it was pouring rain. The only good thing about that was it wasn’t cold.
The full moon peaking behind the clouds on the drive to the race. A break in the rain.
Blue Mountain village had been transformed into a great race expo. The North Face knows what they are doing with their Endurance Challenges. The race was organized, it was easy to find everything and the race started on time.
This was day two for the Endurance Challenge, yesterday the 50 mile, 50k and marathon races ran in the heat and humidity. Today was the ½ marathon, the 10k and the 5k in the rain.
The trails were slick, which might be too kind a word; it was like someone had poured oil on them.
This is just one of the minor ski hills we slugged up
The course sent us across the ski runs, and through mountain bike trails on an angle that slowly climbed up the slopes. The MTB tails were crazy slippery and at this point a little crowded, so we did a fair amount of walking or should I say slow slipping. Eventually we crossed over Scenic Caves Road into the Bruce Trail, where the rail turned a good deal more technical with the added fun of poison ivy.
The 12th side road gave us a taste of things to come, it seemed like the road perpendicular to the horizon, a very steep climb that made me wonder how people who lived on it ever got up it in the winter.
The most delightful part of the race was running through Scenic Cave’s cross country ski trails, wide, soft smooth rolling hills what were a joy to run. Then it was back on to the Bruce Trail, more rock, waterfalls, steep hills and descents and greasy trails – in general fun!
Oh yes then came the ski hills! Looking at the map of the course is deceiving. These hills were long and steep. You were either running up them or running down, with a little bit of treacherous MTB trail and slick woodwork thrown in for variety. By then the sun had come out and was beating down on us. Water was scarce and we weren’t the only runners cramping up. Luckily I was carrying Lava salts, Glenis and I downed those and we even handed out a few to a fellow runner who was having trouble.
We were so thankful to find the last aid station to full up on fluids. With only a kilometer and a half to go we were home free, or so we thought. The way home was a single track, downhill, that must have had a hundred slippery stone steps on them. It took us what seemed forever to get down those steps. The relief we felt when we hit the bottom was immense.
Then it was around the corner and out of the trees for the last 1/2k only to see our wonderful Newmarket Team Running Free friends Sandra and Jeff waiting for us. What a treat to have them run us in to the finish line after such an arduous ½. Would we do it again, yup, next year!
#100happydays Day 58 Home Again!
Wow the week went really fast. Glenis had quite the week with her migraine and dealing with work. I know she will feel better by tomorrow, and I’m back!
I had such a great time camping with my hubby. Algonquin Park has to be my favorite place to camp. Not that I have had much experience, we have only really been camping for a couple of years, and when you think about it, what works out to 5 or 6 times.
This was the longest we have lived out of a tent. Other than the rain that hung on for the first 2 and a half days, the weather was pretty good. The best part was our tent didn’t leak; we had experience with that last year.
Back home, our little car not quite as filled as when we set out. You can see out the windows!
I have a lot of great pictures and stories to share in the next week but now Glenis and I have to concentrate on running a half marathon up and down Blue Mountain’s ski hills tomorrow. Apparently it is calling for rain too, so it just might be nasty! It’s early to bed for the sisters!
#100happydays Day 51 The Rebecca Run for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Today was a beautiful day, not only was the weather perfect but it was the 13th running of the Rebecca Run for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Once again Glenis and I were there volunteering. This year we were at the finish line to cheer all the runners, walkers and rollers across.
And they are off at the Start of the 3K
In the last 13 years we have watched these little ones grow up in to typical teenagers but the sad part is there are still youngsters coming out in wheelchairs. A cure hasn’t been found yet, but they very close!
Volunteers! Here were are with Sheila, the bag check gal. The three of us have been with the Rebecca run since the first race, 13 years ago.
Everyone involved is inspired by the little ones they are running for. The volunteers, the organizers, the runners all did a great job today. The total funds raise today was just over $100,000 bring the total amount raised so far in the last 13 years to 2.6 million.
Strips the Esso Tiger and Glenis whooping it up! Esso is one of the amazing sponsors of the race.
Here are a few startling facts about SMA from the Rebecca Run website:
Did you know…
Each year Glenis and I plan our race schedule around the Rebecca Run. It’s something we can’t miss.
Another winner in the 1k!
If you are in the area and want to help out or run in 2015, check out the Rebecca Run website. I know they would be so happy to have you come out next year.
(Click on the thumbnail to view larger images.)
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