Stories of Family Adventures
An ultra-marathon doesn’t begin when the race starts. It begins when you decide to do it. For me, that was November 12, 2022. I had eight months to prepare, and now I am down to 6 weeks. In reality, I have 4 more weeks of training and two weeks of tapering. I’m nervous. I have…
I might start this story with an apology. I imagine that my great-grandfather, George Andrew McDonald, might wish this story remain buried with him. Sorry grandad. There isn’t much left of you and I would have liked to know you so I have to take what I can get. I wrote about George in relation…
After announcing my plans to tackle my first 100 mile ultra I’ve learned a few things. You might be thinking, “has he comes to his senses?” No. Clearly not. My ultra hero Jeremy Palmer suggested I pick up “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” by Jason Koop (second edition). I’m 9 chapters in and I realize I’ve…
I hope to have done it, anyway, by Sunday afternoon July 9th, 2023. All I’ve done at this point is signed up and paid the entry fee. There are eight long months ahead to be prepared for the Sinister 7 ultra marathon. It is 100 miles (161 km) with 6363 meters of elevation gain (20,876…
It has become clear that I need to do these last 2 days together else risk never getting this done. Day 7 The sun was shining when we got up. It continued all day. The water was warm at Rum Lake and people began swimming with the dawn. I put the triathlon suit on that…
The race is named after the train line that ran through this area of Northern Alberta, the Lakeland. The tracks have long been pulled up and the remaining line a multi use trail for ATVs and snowmobiles. Much of the race sticks to the Iron Horse. While sections are ideal compact dirt, keep in mind…