“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
All Out Trail Racing: About the Organizers
All Out Trail Racing, in only their second event since their inception, have managed to generate a massive amount of buzz around Nova Scotia trail running scene and the trails local to the Halifax area. Drawing on the hype and the relationships gained thru HFX Hares trail running group and the community at large, the organizers have consistently raised the bar with their commitment to expanding the community and their love of the sport.
All Out’s first event was held in McIntosh Park back in November of 2022, selling out in less than a week and welcomed all skill levels to enjoy a trail system that is well maintained and tucked away into Halifax city limits. Their second event was to be held in another gem of a park – McDonald Sports Park in Waverley. It sold out on Race Roster in less than 24 hours! A testament to the excitement around future events, to be sure.
All Out’s mission is to make trail running accessible, affordable and friendly for all skill levels and they’ve really done a fantastic job of doing just that. Pictures of the event (though not many as you will read later) can be found in All Out’s Google Drive (LINK here).
Pick & Shovel Format, Date, and Forecast
The event took place on January 14th, 2023, at 9am with the intention of it being a Winter slog. The format was a 10km timed event followed by the completion of an 8-hour endurance event for total loops of the park at approximately 6 km per loop. Timing for the 10km would be used as a tiebreaker if there was a tie for the number of loops completed.
The weather was… odd. Mid-January in this region of the world you would expect snow at least, but at this point there was none. This day in particular? Rain. Torrential downpour and a rapidly changing wind direction to drop the temperature came a little later, but the day started wet… but warm at least…
Course Description
The course itself was not very intimidating. A full loop would be about 6km of low-technical trail on a wide and (usually) firm trail. There were several modest hills that will add up during repetitive loops but it is generally a highly enjoyable trail, well-draining and well-loved and maintained. I was very familiar with this Park as I live close and ran about 70 loops during my preparation for this event overall.
I wish I had taken photos of the carnage, but you just had to be there to believe it. It was not a day for photo taking – it was a day of grinding. The trail was always firm and well-draining but during my walk of the park the day before the event, I noticed the ground was starting to thaw – the ground shrinking away from rocks in the ground. I figured the deeper ground would still be frozen, limiting the drainage capacity.
It got muddy and it got muddy fast. We’re talking World War 1 trench warfare scene type mud – ankle deep, slippery, and no escaping it.
Race Day Atmosphere
There is always a unique vibration to running events. The morning of the Pick & Shovel was grey, wet, and electric. The organisers had secured the use of the Cheema Aquatic Clubhouse and runners set up everywhere. Music provided a dull ambience, but the energy of the room was palatable. I knew what was coming and I was in active mental meditation in order to prepare. Breathe with intent. Calm. I have been here before.
Pre-Race Stroll and Visualization
An hour before any race I like to walk the first part of the course. Runners were still showing up, fretting over gear and timing, and I slowly sauntered around soaking up their energy. The day promised to be wet and muddy. These walks are all about visualization and I was mentally preparing for the task at hand. Once I returned to the Clubhouse, several minutes before start time, my hair was standing on ends. I felt electric and was absolutely vibrating. I was ready.
Starting Corral
Looking around the starting corral, there were so many people that I consider to be inspirational, warriors, legends… all friends. We were here to do battle with ourselves, push each other, and share in this life experience. A pinnacle of existence where our unique journeys meet and mesh together, at least for a few moments. How blessed am I to be associated with such wonderful people? To be here, able in body and mind, connected so intricately with these heroes? Beautiful.
It was time for war, and I had my people with me. Calm. Committed. I was ready.
Reflection on the Event
The community atmosphere of these events is what it is all about. You see familiar faces, or people you know only as friends of friends, and continue meeting more people that just aspire to push their boundaries. It takes on the air of a family reunion (the kind you enjoy going to!) and the people involved become special presences you look forward to being around.
Just showing up to any running event is a measurable victory and everyone that signs up and follows through with turning up should be celebrated. Running is all about individual efforts but it is very much a team sport. There is no skill level, only the ability to show up and get after your goals. It does not matter how far or how long you go, only that you show up and go. In that goal there is a whole community willing to ride or die to leave nothing on the table – willing to go ALL OUT!
Mental Preparation and Goals
Personally, this would be my first official event since completing my Capes 100 adventure in August. The recovery of that adventure went far beyond physical and mental fatigue, to put it mildly, so the Pick & Shovel would be my benchmark for the rest of 2023 and training up for my goals of the year.
I had proven to myself how far I could go, but I want to expand on that and keep pushing forward. My first 100-Mile experience was humbling, but I need to get back to that arena. This is how it begins again, training for Sinister 7 in July, 2023.
My plan was to run hard for as long as I could, full on cavalry charge into the inevitable brick walls that come with running any form of race, but especially in Ultrarunning. I wanted to see what my body, and mind, had learned since Capes 100.
To Hell with the race, this was me versus me and I craved the process once again.
Strategy, Fuel & Gear
I am certainly no stranger to endurance running and my strategy for the day came down to one singular focus.
Step 1: Keep it simple.
Experience has shown me that I would not need to over-think this. Calories are relatively easy if you know what you’re looking for versus what you can actually digest in an hour on the move. I feel blessed with the lessons of previous efforts to rely on. My feet are going to get wet and stay wet. Accept it all as part of the process.
10km Plan, First Hour of the Day
My plan was to go hard on 10km race as light as possible. I had a small collapsible flask filled with water and Tailwind to get a head start on fuelling for the day (which I ended up forgetting at the start line!) and just give ‘er. I had no pace in mind, just gauging exertion based on the upper end of my effort range. I wanted to push for as long as I could to get a baseline of my fitness level and mentality.
Highly scientific, obviously.
Plan for the Remaining 7 Hours of the Day
For the endurance event I had my running vest with every calorie I’d need for the day, which was essentially just Tailwind, a few Oreos, and Clif bars. I brought my hiking poles for the repetitive hills, dry clothes, a towel, and my rain jacket that I decided would be fine at the Clubhouse. I tended to overheat wearing it anyway (2nd mistake that almost ended my day as you’ll read below).
My gear all fit into a small backpack. Simple.
No matter how much you think you plan… sometimes “things” just hit the fan.
Starting Line thru 21k – 0 to 2 hours
The Start corral was a bit muted by the rainfall. There was a stubborn tenacity in the air as the race directors gave their pre-race speeches. I remember feeling humbled and energized in this setting among such special people, many of whom I consider good friends, some of the very best people I’ve ever met were were there with me. The Miles and stories we have shared had become such a strong bond, like the one that keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth, or the Earth around the Sun.
Deep.
10km Race Start
As always, we were all ready to fight the battle within ourselves. I was so grateful… hyped up in my own quiet and stoic way. I always feel like my eyes burn brighter in these moments. Fully embracing the battles I was about to fight with my mind, body and spirit.
This was sacred. I exchanged knowing glances with a few friends, fist bumps, hugs… and the start was a humble and quiet one.
I started out fast when the 10km race kicked off the day, more than once I thought that I went out too fast and then distinctly remembering my commitment to seeing where it takes me. “This is where I wanted to be,” I thought, “keep pushing.”
I finished 15th overall. By far my highest placement in any short distance race.
21km Check-In
The blessings I have in having so many friends is that I don’t usually go long without seeing a friendly face. I realized that around 20km that I was going to run my fastest 21km time (under 2 hours) and I was absolutely shocked that I had run that fast in these conditions. I laughed along with my friend whom I consider a trail running mentor at the craziness of it.
There was an amazement there that I never quite felt so vividly – my body’s abilities were humbling me. It was a beautiful moment of self-realization shared with a great friend.
A Day of Personal Bests
I ended up with a whole laundry list of Personal Bests from 5 km all the way up to Half-Marathon. Given the conditions of the trail, with the hills especially, but the mud and weather on top of it, there was not many people chasing PRs out there that day.
Needless to say I was quite satisfied with my effort so far and focused on eating and moving. The bill was going to come due eventually, but I did not expect it to happen the way it did… I literally never ran so fast as I did that day. To do it as part of an Endurance Event was even wilder.
The Wheels Falling Off ~5 hours.
Around 42 km my legs were starting to feel the exertion from navigating slippery mud pits. The scene was out of a World War 1 trench warfare movie – ankle deep mud, slippery, deep, and unforgiving. My hips and hamstrings were singing a twangy tone reminiscent of a Dwight Yoakam song.
The Winds of Change
On loop 6 I was in tune and trudging along in the rain. I am well prepared for running in rain and conditions that are not exactly favourable. It was as expected – until it was not. In what seemed like a blink of an eye, the temperature dropped at least 5 or 6 Degrees (Celsius) and the rain came down in sheets. The wind shifted and it turned cold.
So cold.
Be Careful what you Wish For
My clothes were so wet that they clung to me, sapping my warmth and my energy further. My gloves had become soaked right through, and my hands became painfully cold. This is where I realised my biggest mistake of the day.
The dedicated rain jacket I had – taped-seams, fully waterproof piece of absolute art – was back at the Clubhouse on the chair. I had used it during my pre-race walk, but I suspected that if I really needed it throughout the day, the loops were short enough that I could make it back before too long. Oops!
I began to shiver uncontrollably and was stuck out in the Biblical downpour and the Hellish cold. I was only halfway through the loop and legitimately getting concerned for myself. I wasn’t feeling great as it was but now the weather had laughed at me for daring it for more. “Well played,” I thought as I had no choice but to keep moving.
I desperately needed damage control back at the Clubhouse. Was it even worth it to continue?
Blue Lips and Perpetual Shivering
I could not stop shivering back at the Clubhouse, and thankfully I had a small but mighty crew tend to me. There was legitimate concern for my health at this point – nothing serious, but I just could not stop shivering. “Sometimes it’s not worth it,” someone mentioned. Several runners had dropped at this point due to the cold. I was determined to assess and at least attempt to go back out. Eventually.
I put on my dry long sleeve shirt, my rain jacket, and changed my socks. It took me about 45 minutes to an hour to settle down my body and mind. There was a lot of time left, enough for at least 2 loops, perhaps even 3, but I’d have to hurry.
One More Loop…
Walking out of the Clubhouse I felt unsure if this was wise. Are my motives based out of ego or logic? Is there value in going back out or is it a fragile attempt at preserving some perverse image I had for myself? What have I got to prove?
As my crew and I walked up the hill from the start line, hot soup and coffee were in my future after this loop. We discussed the risks and benefits, there would be no shame in dropping at this point. I almost dropped out here as my body felt the cold tension of sitting idle and I thought it would be a shock to warm it up and run again. I went through my mental checklist.
I felt OK in my dry shirt and my actual rain jacket. I could do one more at least – my core felt stabilised, and I had proper gear on. My mind had settled into remembering that this is what I came for. My body was tired, not necessarily sore. No injuries. There was value here in the big picture of training for 100 Miles. I must continue. I had to at least try.
I thanked my small but mighty crew as we separated and I tore off down into the trail. Back into the muddy arena. I almost immediately felt giddy after starting to run, and seeing the expressions of familiar faces that thought I was done only spurred me along even more.
I was back! I pushed through the wall.
Resurrection and Strong Finish
Loop 7 was among my strongest loops of the event. I felt fantastic! My long-sleeve Dry-fit shirt was perfect, and my rain jacket kept me perfectly dry. It was magical – every other time I ran with it I would overheat, but it was like a warm (and DRY) hug after a miserable intermission. I warmed up quickly and bounced over mud puddles, charged downhills and surprised runners along the way that thought I was dead (not literally, but almost?) back at the Clubhouse.
I greeted them as happily as I could and just kept moving.
The Purpose of Perseverance
The giddiness here formed from a pride that I logically processed what was happening and made the decision to push on. That was the worst wall I have had in any event and here I was flying along. I almost beat my crew back to the Clubhouse, but before setting out again I took some time to enjoy some soup and coffee as I knew I still wasn’t physically 100%. I had time for 1 more full loop before the cut-off… if I hurry, I could even start a final loop just before the cut-off.
I ended up finishing the last loop strongly, but I just couldn’t manage the pace to fit in another full loop after the cut-off time (this would have been my 3rd loop after my shivering episode). My second prideful moment came when I set out anyway, knowing I could not manage the pace to complete the whole final loop – I was 2 minutes before cut-off which left me only 32 minutes to finish a full loop – but the time was not up.
I couldn’t just stop, I needed to go the full 8-hours, no matter where I ended up.
8 Hours on the Clock and the Finish
Time ended as I was out in the middle of the trail, and I just walked back to the clubhouse. Far from defeated, I was just feeling tired and cold again. My small but mighty crew tried to meet me along the way, but I ended up cutting across the trail once the time was up. I got back to the Clubhouse and let my blood pressure and temperature settle down.
I had an apple fritter donut and sat in a fog as volunteers cleaned up and awards were presented. There were no cheers or fanfare when I came thru the finish. It was a perfect ending to such an effort. Low-key. Silent. Humble. My crew came back to find me drained but in high spirits. My friends, once concerned for my well-being, exchanged fist bumps and tired grins.
It was over. For now. The battle was won.
Final Thoughts
Having an endurance event like this so early into the year is a terrific way, at least for me, to gauge where my fitness level was. It took me a while to get back into running at all after Capes 100 in August, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. My effort was satisfying but it was only a benchmark for further events and training for Sinister 7 in July. The push most certainly continues.
The efforts and the attitudes of the people I call friends continue to inspire me to not only push my running limits, but to live so fully and deeply to further enhance my relationships with them. Throughout my experiences, there are many more mental obstacles than physical ones in Ultrarunning, and I believe that it is a great metaphor for life in general.
It is not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to feel this way, the perceived discomfort and mental anguish. Accept the burden of the challenge and persevere. Keep going. Believe in yourself, and when you cannot do any of those things, rely on your friends to remind you how badass you really are. Rub shoulders with legends, humble up, and remember – if you want to be the BEST, go alone, but if you want to be a BEAST run with a pack.
Happy trails to all! Stay weird, get dirty, and when in doubt – CAW CAW! – Nicholas
THANK YOU
As always, the volunteers make these events possible and the crew that worked this one was no different. The outstanding energy and support is second to none in the trail running community and All Out tends to attract the very best people to its events.
Cheema Aquatic Clubhouse for letting us use their facilities and the well-loved McDonald Sports Park.
A special thank you to All Out Trail Racing for lighting the fire of many new trail runners and Hfx Hares Trail Running Group for being so inspirational.
A SUPER SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY SMALL AND MIGHTY CREW! (You know who you are!) Without you I don’t know where my mind would have went to and you helped ground me and remember what was important. I look forward to sharing more adventures with you.
Thank you all for being part of my own journey and reading words that I write! I hope you enjoyed it!
CTV even came out to say hi (LINK to the video), although the portion of trail they showed does not indicate the brutal conditions of the trail deeper into the route.
