Heading to Ottawa for the Marathon!

Well I'm packed and the bags are at the front door. All my vitamins, energy gel packets, electrolyte drink crystals, lucky socks and favourite running shirt have been counted, folded, placed in my bag, then pulled out and counted, folded and put back in the bag several times. The nerves are running a little higher than normal right now and so this is when I turn to my books.

I have always been comforted by reading and when I started training for my first marathon in 2005, I started reading everything I could find. I started with the books that my Dad had on his book shelves and then over the years have added a number of my own finds. My favourite and the one that I take with me to every marathon is the marathon bible, "Marathon You Can Do It!", written by Jeff Galloway in 2001. I have highlighted and sticky-noted 2 chapters that I reread before each marathon. Chapter 12 "Magic Marathon Words" and then chapter 14 "Countdown". Reading Jeff's words calm me right down and help me start the process of mentally focusing on the 42.2 km ahead.

The books that I have read have become very precious to me and have pulled me over many hurdles over the years. I am including a reading list for any of you starting out on the marathon trail. I hope that you find them to be as rich a source of inspiration, guidance and reassurance as I have.

"Galloway's Book on Running", Jeff Galloway., Shelter Publications Inc. 1984 - definitely the runner's bible written by the inventor of the 10:1 running method!

"Marathon You Can Do It!", Jeff Galloway., Shelter Publications Inc. 2001 - the marathon bible as far as I am concerned.

"The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer", David A Whitsett, Forrest A. Dolgener and Tanjala Mabon Kole., 1998. - a great book that follows a class of non-runners training for their first marathon. It was a great instructional and inspirational book to read as I followed my own training schedule which was week by week very close to their own experiences. An excellent book!

"Going the Distance, One Man's Journey to the End of His Life", George Sheehan, M.D., Villard Books, 1996. - an incredibly profound read.

"Canadian Marathon Stories, A Book of Extraordinary Inspirations", Linda Rainville Wagar, Editor., Linda Wagar, 2007 - proceeds from this book go to the CanFund.

"The Elements of Effort, Reflections on the Art and Science of Running"., John Jerome., Pocket Books, 1998.

"Running Start to Finish"., John Stanton., Lone Pine Publishing, 1999. - Another definite running bible written by the founder of The Running Room - full of training schedules, stretches, strengthening exercises, just about everything you need to know all in one package!

"Running A Year Round Plan"., Jeff Galloway., Meyer & Meyer Sport, 2006. - provides a clearly laid out system for creating a year round plan for running to meet your own specific goal, whether that be running consistently, to running your first 5k or your first marathon.

"Marathon, The Ultimate Training Guide, Advice, Plans and Programs for Your 1st Marathon or 50th"., Hal Higdon., Rodale Inc., 1993. - I think the title says it all!

"Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Third Edition"., Nancy Clark, MS, RD., Human Kinetics, 2003. - really great book!

So enjoy, and please send me your recommendations!

PS. Yes, I've packed my book!!

There is a debate that has been raging for decades about whether Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to stand on the summit of the world, or if George Mallory and Andrew Irvine were the first in 1924, 29 years before? We seem to be coming closer to the truth with the discovery of Mallory's body on Everest in 1999 and subsequent discoveries of camp and equipment remnants over the past few years.

For an intriguing read on this great mystery spend a few minutes on Jake Norton's blog "The Mountain World" http://blog.mountainworldproductions.com/2010/05/what-really-happened-to-george-mallory-andrew-irvine.html

Change Your Thoughts.

My Daily Fitness Journal is peppered with thought provoking quotes and words of inspiration. This past week's quotation was from Norman Vincent Peale and is simply this: "Change your thoughts and you change your world".

This was truly relevant for me as I had just come off the toughest training week of my schedule where I logged a total of 64km by ending the week with a 32km long run on Sunday. I turned the page of my journal and read the quote and made the decision to change my thoughts. I made the shift from "man, am I tired and I really don't want to run anywhere this week", to "OK, that's done and I made it through. This week will be easy!"

You may think that I am crazy, (or you may already be convinced that I am!), but these mind shifts are all part of the arsenal of talents that we need to get through difficult times, or physical challenges, or athletic events. As parents in the wee hours of the morning when we have been rocking and cuddling a sick child for what seems like hours we have shifted from ... "won't this child ever go to sleep!" to "one day I'll look back on this and miss it". As grieving family members we have moved from "I don't know what I'll do without her" to "I can still feel her smile!" As endurance athletes we move from "this has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever done in my life!" to "I can soooo do this!"

On Sunday March 28th I ran the Around the Bay 30km road race in Hamilton, Ontario. This race starts off just outside of Copps Coliseum in downtown Hamilton and circles the Hamilton Harbour and the Burlington Bay and ends with the finish line inside the Coliseum. This race is the oldest road race in North America and has been run on the last weekend of March every year since 1894! The first half of the race is quite flat, but as the course rounds the eastern end of the harbour and swings into Burlington a series of rolling hills start to taunt your resolve and break down your well made plans. The final hill is the true heart breaker and sits at a spot on the course a mere 3.5 or so km from the finish. The hill is only 400m long but as it snakes up the steep wall of the ravine you can't see the top until you are within 20m of the end.

When I hit the bottom of this hill in 2009 I slowed my pace, shortened my stride and started to run up the hill. As I passed a man on my right he called out to me, "you don't have to run this one you know. This is The Hill!" My response was to reply, "hill, what hill?" I kept on running, rounded the last curve and crested the top, gasping and sputtering, but I had bagged The Hill, and I felt great!

Shifting to the 2010 version of the race and as I hit the bottom of that same hill one year later I glanced up and was immediately struck by the line of exhausted, beaten and oh so very silent runners who were all trudging up the hill in front of me. No one was running. No one was talking. All you could hear was the beleaguered breathing and the heavy footsteps. I felt like all the air was being sucked out of me and I stopped running and started to walk along with the others. I felt so tired and so demoralized that I couldn't run. I fought with myself as I walked up that hill. I raged at myself for not running; for giving up so easily.

As I neared the crest of the hill I looked up into the face of a spectator and her look of pity and concern for us all was enough to switch the gears again. I changed my thoughts, ran the last stretch of the hill, rounded the corner and started down the home stretch back into downtown Hamilton. I felt strong and confident again and I finished the run with a smile on my face.

So when you face a hurdle this week, give it a shot ... "Change your thoughts and you change your world", Norman Vincent Peale.

Please make a positive change in the lives of Canadians living with Arthritis by sponsoring me at http://arthritis.akaraisin.com/p/HilarySadler.aspx

More Amazing Everest Multi Media

Thanks to Twitter I have been following a really great web site at www.everestthetrek.com which is home base for the highest photography and videography workshop in the world. This group trekked the traditional Nepal route to base camp in 2009, (same route as I will be taking this October) and are currently trekking to Base camp via the Tibetan side and will be exploring both the east and north face of Everest.

Please have a look at the website as it is full of amazing videos and photographs, as well as great blogs and pod-casts.

More News From Everest

Here is Alan's most recent posting and I encourage all of you who are interested in following the 2010 Everest climbing season to follow Alan or any of the climbing teams that he mentions in this posting. The larger teams have excellent blogs and it is very exciting to follow their progress up the highest mountain in the world. Enjoy!

Everest 2010 Weekend Update March 28

And the season begins. This week, climbers started arriving in Kathmandu. Some immediately tried to get to Lukla, without success, and others tried to get into Tibet, without success. As we enter Sunday in Nepal, the clouds broke and flights to Lukla started again. I am receiving notes from climbers already in Namache. Another normal beginning to the season.

Luanne Freer, of EverestER put it well in her Blog. This is Luanne’s 8th season of providing medical services to climbers, Sherpas and porters through EverestER.

Early this morning, bags all packed and ready, we headed to the airport for our flight to Lukla, 2800m where we begin our trek to Everest base camp. Flying in this part of the world is always an adventure – from the crowded and chaotic terminal to the always stressful weighing of the bags (we’re set to take off with 220kg, which is kind of slim for us) to the hurry up and wait of the actual boarding process. Then there’s the biggest unknown … the weather. Flights to Lukla rely not only on skillful pilots and hardy planes, but on mostly clear skies, since the landing is purely visual, and the landing strip … well … downright scary – an inclined short runway carved into the side of the mountain (see below … I’m sweating already…) Today, for the 3rd day in a row, anxious folks waited in vain for the skies to clear in Lukla. And because of the backlog of the past few days there wasn’t a spare seat in the boarding gates.

A few new climbers to highlight.

Wendy Booker, who has MS, is returning after her attempt last year. She is climbing with RMI this time. Over on the north, a very small team of Julio Bird, Bill Fischer and 70 year-old Japanese Hoshino Kohei will be going for the top. This means we will see a 13 year-old and a 70 year-old on the same side!

Speaking of the north, China officially closed the boarder a few weeks ago and hinted it would reopen around April 10th. This delayed and even caused some expeditions to cancel other climbs. We will see when it really opens but this comment from Jantoon Reigersman tells us the current status. Jantoon is trying to combine cycling, a deep water dive of 1300m (4265 ft) and his Everest summit for a full 9000m experience.

Unfortunately, we are still having delays in getting the permits and due to possible strikes in China, we will not be able to file any paperwork until March 29th. Now I will have to start figuring out what the alternative plans would be if we cannot get the paperwork in time. Already (even if everything goes perfectly smoothly), entering Tibet on April 1st is very tight and will mean that I cannot take on any delays during the cycling. leaving much later will start making the planning a lot more complex and there will be a moment where I will have to decide to skip the cycling and go with the rest of the team. Now it is a game of wait and hope. Patience is not my strongest side, so I will have to start working on some back up plans.

Many of the commercial teams have started to post updates including AAI, Adventure Consultants and IMG. And a few of the individual climbers are sharing as well. Look for teams to get to Lukla soon and start their trek to EBC. It will take about 8 days depending on how the acclimatization process goes.

The trek to the Nepal base camp is a lifetime event for some people and always a highlight for Everest climbers. There are no paved roads as the route enters the Sagarmatha National Park. The Park is about 450 square miles and includes Everest, Ama Dablam and many other peaks. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the entrance fee is a bargain USD$13.84 (1000 Rupees). About 3500 Sherpas call the area home.

The tea houses will be full once again and the local Nepalese enjoying the business that comes from climbers and trekkers. But with all this popularity, there is a price.

According to Nepal SK 2993, 17000 trekkers employ 14000 porters, 2500 guides and staff, 2800 yak owners and 14000 merchandise porters (carrying goods for Sherpa lodge owners and other traders in the tourist region). According to a TED Case Study, four times as much fuel wood is needed to cook a meal for a Western tourist than for a Nepali due largely to differences in diet.

Many tea houses use yak dung as fuel and others use kerosene. Cutting of wood is mostly prohibited and there are tree farms that will hopefully restore the forests one day. However, overriding all the environmental concerns is the simple fact that tourism is now the major economic driver for Nepal. The people of the Khumbu Region know that protection of their area will ensure future tourism plus provide a future for their children. As always, it is about achieving balance.

Tourism is a double-edge sword. Without it, this area would be mired in deep poverty. With it, the struggle to preserve the future is real. However, the Khumbu is a beautiful area with wonderful people. Their charm touches each person and gives a gift. If you get a chance to go as a climber or a trekker, go. It will change you forever.

Climb On!

Alan

PS Remember you can read these update using an iPhone. It is the identical information on my website but easily viewed using the Everest app that can be download from iTunes.

Everest Climbing Season is Underway!

I have been following Alan Arnette on Twitter and Face Book and have copied his most recent contribution to share with you. Alan is a mountaineer, speaker and a fervent Alzheimer's advocate. (I think that he also writes well and is worth reading!)

I will be following in the footsteps of the mountain climbers and their teams that are piling in to Kathmandu this month, as I will be trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, "BC". Reading this piece really brings home how close I am to starting off on this life changing expedition.

Enjoy!

Everest Climbers Arrive in Kathmandu

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By Alan Arnette
Mar 25, 2010

Comments (1)

Climbers continue to stream into Kathmandu from all around the world. I updated the expedition count and can already identify over 150 named climbers just on the south side and over 50 on the north.

But the true number could easily exceed 350 total on both sides. To put this in context, in 2009, we saw about 400 total summits and sadly, 5 deaths. Nearly 500 summits set a single season record in 2007.

First order of business is for teams to gather and meet at their hotels in Kathmandu. They usually spend a few days waiting on late bags and/or members before flying to Lukla to start the trek to BC.

Sherpas are already at base camp reserving their spots and building walls. As strange as it sounds, teams wall off their camps to prevent people from wandering through. There is a lot of foot (and yak) traffic in base camp. There are also many special tents to be constructed. Kitchen tents are usually four to six foot high stone wall with draping tarp providing the roof.

Early reports coming from base camp speak of heavy snow, which is normal for late winter at that elevation. Peak Freaks report:

More snow has fallen this time than last year (same period). There is new snow on Everest at present. We had thunderstorm, hailstone in Kathmandu 2 weeks ago and up in the mountains there was fresh snowfall. There was snowfall up to Namche which remained for about a day (snow melted quite quickly once the skies cleared and the snow melted rapidly). Again 2 days ago we had thunderstorm in Kathmandu (windy conditions & scattered rains in the valley). Up in Khumbu there was fresh snowfall again which came down as far as Namche. There is fresh snow up in mountains (the snowline has come down). Now, however, everything is clear and sunny weather up in the Khumbu.

IMG writes of sending tons of gear to BC and the anticipated cooperation amongst teams:

Good news, our shipment of oxygen cylinders has now arrived in Nepal and cleared customs. Just getting them halfway round the world requires special documentation and packing, since they are considered dangerous goods for flying by the FAA and the airlines. These high tech aluminum/carbon fiber composite cylinders were tested, valved, and filled in California, then specially packed for their long journey. And since the yaks do not read the warning labels, our Sherpas will be wrapping them in additional foam to protect the cylinders for the trip to Everest Base Camp!

Among the loads is a large quantity of climbing rope (several thousand meters or a few miles!), which we have purchased on behalf of a group of the Everest operators. We hope to work together this year with as many other climbers as possible, to get a good route fixed up the mountain. Prior to sending the rope up to Khumbu, our Sherpas stripped it off the spools and stacked it into bags, so it is easy to deploy without kinking.

As usual, the early season flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are suffering weather delays. This week flights have been delayed for the past four days. Not a huge concern becasue most teams build a few weather days into the schedule but it can be frustrating for climbers wanting to get out of noisy Kathmandu and onto the trail.

Great Race!

Well I did it! I ran the Chilly Half Marathon in Burlington Ontario this morning and it was glorious. The weather was perfect with a wind at our backs for the first half and then in our face for the home stretch half. I hope that doesn't sound masochistic or anything, but the wind felt good because by the time I was heading back it was approaching noon, the sun was shining in a clear blue sky and things were heating up!!

The route was a closed road route this year that took us from City Hall out to the east along Lakeshore for a few kilometers and then we turned around and headed west along Lakeshore to the second turn around point at 12.6km. Lakeshore is blanketed on both sides by incredibly beautiful and stately homes, some complete with stone entrance gates and driveways that went on for ever. It was a really beautiful place to run and the people of Burlington were out on the sidewalks cheering us all on, clapping and giving us "high-fives" as we passed by. One young girl held up a sign that read, "Go ... insert your name here ... Go!!" (A sense of humour is appreciated when you're running long distances)!

And best of all, my wonderful husband Jerry was there at the finish line ... what more could you ask for!!!!

So how did I do? Well my finish time was 2:27:14 which I am very happy with. It wouldn't scare any Kenyans or Ethiopians, but for me it sure felt fine!!

Next race ... Around the Bay 30km in Hamilton on Sunday March 28th.

Oh, and yes, the gear worked perfectly!!!!