Everyone seems to be contemplating how their year has gone, or thinking of the year ahead. But for the past two weeks I’ve been back in Vancouver (Canada) visiting friends and family and thinking of nothing but beyond the day after tomorrow.
Snow
So I have to constantly tell everyone in the UK that I’m from Vancouver and we don’t really get snow or insanely cold temperatures like the rest of Canada. Sure, there’s snow on the mountains, but down in the city or the suburbs we’re lucky if we get a dusting of snow in the winter. So of course last winter there was record breaking snowfall and it lay for months. This year there was a big dump of snow two days after I arrived.
I’ve done everything from snowshoeing to trail running in my new Yaktraks this past week and far more running that I’m capable of yet. In fact I’ve taken today (December 31st) off because my left knee and achilles were sore yesterday and #IAmAResponsibleAdult.
Vancouver got back to normal fairly quickly though and all the snow got rained away. The ensuing avalanche warnings put paid to a few night hiking plans, but I went for a slushy trail run with a friend – calf deep in melting ice; it was dreadful and beautiful all at once – and a crisp, sunny Richmond Olympic parkrun with two more friends yesterday.
Social Life
The Richmond Olympic parkrun is along the riverside by the Olympic Oval and conveniently close to a Skytrain station and a Tim Hortons. After coffee and a chat with some other parkrunners, we went into the local mall for some katsudon and a shopping trip to Daiso, the Japanese dollar shop.
It’s still a pretty small parkrun, but it’s taking off. We met some lovely people and I nabbed 2nd place in my age category despite running a 30:24 time and taking lots of selfies.
I’ve had copious cups of coffee and beers with friends – including a kombucha shandy, which I doubt I’ll find back in the UK – and tomorrow I’m going to join in for the start of the annual New Years Day Fat Ass 50km with a few friends and then dive into the ocean at English Bay for one of the world’s oldest annual polar bear swims.
I’ve also spent hours cuddling my two furbabies, whom I shamelessly left in the custody of my parents years ago. Gus (orange) didn’t seem to have noticed that I’d gone – he’s dumb, but I love him – and Izzy, who’s terrified of everyone unless she’s sitting on your chest at 2am, had no idea who I was (I’ve won her over with catnip).
Sushi
Bath is a lovely, beautiful city, but it’s very white and very British. I’ve been eating everything from spanokopita to sashimi and reveling in the unique westcoast hippy cuisine leads to things like kombucha on tap in the local supermarket and muffins with kale. There are few places in the world where so many cultures mix together between snowcapped mountains and the ocean and if I’m lucky, then one day I’ll be able to come back.
Check out my Instagram for some snowy trails.
The New Year
So I haven’t really thought about 2018, or what I’m going to do next year. I do know that I’m going to follow a proper training plan for London and that I’m going to cap my mileage so I don’t injure myself before it. I’ve also signed up for the St Illyiads’ 50km two weeks after that, which I’m looking forward to. Beyond that I’d like to finally take some trips to Europe, which will mean fewer races and limiting my train travel around the UK to save money. Part of the reason I moved to the UK was to travel more, but I couldn’t afford it last year.
Final Stats!
Mileage: 2,638kms / 1,639 miles (I was aiming for 2,017 miles – I don’t blame my injury for this, I didn’t feel that I was pushing myself)
Elevation: 37,662m / 123,563ft (that’s 37.6kms uphill)
Races: 11 (including three while injured – walked or walk/jogged)
Unwanted New Year’s Advice: Don’t wait until January 1st to start something, start when it’s a good time. (If you’re a procrastinator, start right immediately!) Remember: Chinese New Year is February 16th this year.
Alison in the long run 