May 31, 2013

El Capitan : Flintify!

Today is a very special day for me. This morning, I left my flat and closed the door behind me, for the very last time. I am now a homeless person.

I had to store away most of my belongings and leave behind some things I very much love, like my cigar humidor and my collection of crafts from around the world.

Upon stepping down the porch, I felt the urge to do something seemingly irrelevant and futile; I wanted to make sure El Capitan is really mine. I wanted to make sure it looked like me. So I decorated it. El Capitan got Flintified :)

For your viewing pleasure :

This is how El Capitan looks as of this morning. No more step boards, no roof racks, no frills.

Every vehicle I own gets plastered with stickers. It makes them unique and homey.

I could not have left home without my Caballo Blanco front plate and my Sweeney shovel.
Also of note; a sea turtle tattoo for the hood :)

When I was done, I realized that this was an important step for me. It's a statement. This means my home is everywhere. This means I am actively living the life I envision for myself.

This means I'm free.



May 27, 2013

Review : Skechers GoRun2

  • Type : Neutral
  • Use : Road running
  • Price : About $80-90


Introduction
This is the third Skechers shoe I get to review. The two previous models showed some promise, but also carried some flaws that prevented me from choosing to use the shoes after the review. The original GoRun was one of these models, so when I received a pair of GoRun2, I thought maybe I was in for a bit of the same.

First impression
The very first thing I did was flip the shoe and look at the sole to see if the “pods” were still there. Although there were still pod-like lugs, they did not look or feel like their oversized, protruding predecessors and were distributed differently around the sole. They resembled the rest of the sole pattern and went all the way around the forefoot area. Interesting.

It also seemed to me that the shoe’s profile had been considerably reduced, although it kept its signature upward curve at the heel.

Road test
I did with the GoRun2 what I had with the original model; I took it out for a couple run commutes. Immediately after putting the shoes on, I noticed they had a very different feel, which was closer to wearing a light neutral shoe. No more feeling the slightly-elevated, slightly-supported arch that I had disliked in the GoRun. No more “tilt-backward” feeling from the curved heel, either.

The slip-out insole got ditched early on
I took my sweet time to test the shoe out, at first to make sure I wouldn’t get all sorts of weird aches as I would up the mileage. But I quickly realized the GoRun2 is a very different animal than the GoRun; it felt increasingly comfortable and performed very well, even in winter conditions.

The only thing that went sideways (literally) is the insole, which was sliding out of the shoe as I ran, something I’ve never seen happen in any footwear. I was quick to throw the insole away, and I never looked back as the shoe is perfectly wearable without this mild annoyance.

Long-distance test
I grew fonder of the GoRun2 as I ran with it, and it became one of my first choices as a commuter. I also very much liked how the GoRun2 behaves when running fast, because I think it offers just the right amount of sole material to absorb the extra shock while remaining very light. My confidence in the GoRun2 increased enough that I decided to put it to an ultimate test; I wore them at the Ottawa Marathon yesterday.

Since I began trail running and strayed further and further from the roads, I find it increasingly difficult to run long distances on pavement because the hard, regular surface takes a heavy toll on my legs and feet. It requires a clockwork-type movement repeated to infinity, as opposed to the irregular, side-stepping, root-jumping dance of trail running. Wearing the GoRun2 made it a breeze by reducing my fatigue and allowing me to run as hard as I wanted in the downhills without feeling the added shock to my lower body. And I have to add that, after testing 3 models of Skechers shoes, I have become a fan of Resalyte, the soft, yet solid sole material they use in all their models.

Conclusion
I think Skechers has finally built a shoe that is a serious contender in the road-running world and that should be considered by ultra road runners looking for a softer ride on their long distance outings. The GoRun2 is soft, flexible, light, roomy and breathable. As an all-around running shoe, I’d be hard-pressed to find it any major flaw. This is the one Skechers model I have included in my personal shoe selection and will continue running in.


High points
  • Resalyte is simply one of the best sole materials I know
  • Roomy toebox allows for ample toe splaying
  • Surprisingly grippy for winter road running
  • Comfortable for both speed and long distance


Low points
  • Just ditch that annoying insole


The equipment for this personal review was supplied by Skechers, free of charge, without any conditions.

May 22, 2013

El Capitan : Interior Design

I spent last Saturday working on the interior layout of my soon-to-be home on wheels. It was a gorgeous sunny day and I was in good spirits, so I took the power tools outside and merrily got to work.

The new 4-bin base
I started be re-doing the base under the bed. The plastic bins I found were way narrower than the slots I had created, and too much space was wasted. I figured I better pull the base out and improve storage capacity while I still had the time. I unscrewed and moved the inside panels and added an extra one, so the base now has 4 bins as drawers and an extra slot for tools at the back.

Toe killers. Not good.
I also noticed, after removing my passenger seats, that 4 big screws stuck out of the floor, just high enough to destroy a pinky and make my life miserable. I didn’t want to saw them off, in case I ever wanted to put the seats back, so I cut a piece of plywood and created a flat space just in front of the sliding door. I covered it in floor mats for comfort. Bonus : it also prevents the bed base from sliding off and keeps everything in its place.
Smooth floor holds everything in place

I finished up “the kitchen” by cutting cupboard panels in the base and adding a plywood countertop that can be used as a cooking space or as the base for the stove, in case I want to cook inside. Right next to it is a stack of cheap plastic drawers that I will use to store utensils, tools and all sorts of useful little things.

Kitchen and stove
I switched the fridge to the side of the bed, because I find it’s a better use of the available space. However, it makes it the furthest possible away from the 12V outlet and the eventual battery bank, so I’m going to have to wire an extra outlet at the back, which should be no biggie.
Mini drawers

The first test of El Capitan’s coziness is coming up this weekend, as my Belle and I will drive up to Ottawa for the marathon and spend two days on the road. I’m sure I’m going to come back from there with a ton of improvements and modifications, but I’m looking forward to it!

Next up : a visit to the mechanic’s shop and some body work :)

May 15, 2013

Project : El Capitan

You guys already know it : I’m dropping out. I’m swimming out of my usual pond and into the unknown. I’m off to meet my running family, make new friends and explore the world.

The now [in]famous El Capitan
I decided the roof over my head would follow me everywhere, so I merged two old dreams together; traveling the world and having a camper van. That’s how I came across El Capitan, also known as The Flame, an old ’98 Safari box van, already converted with a smooth interior and camper windows. At $1,300, I couldn’t hope for anything better.

I drove it home, then down to New York State for The Leatherman’s Loop. It drives awesome. It needs a little work here and there, of course, but El Capitan is in great shape :)

I started the work by getting rid of all the extra stuff that just adds weight or decreases gas mileage. Gone are the running boards and the roof racks. I removed the two passenger seats, the seatbelts and their plating. I even opened the side panels and discovered an old, broken heating / air conditioning machine. 15 more pounds out the window. I must’ve removed at least 150 pounds of stuff.

My bed, in Hobo-mode
Then I got to work and created a retractable bed. It’s 30-inches wide for when I’m alone, but it can expand to 48 inches when I’ll be on the road with my Belle. Pretty neat. The bed sits on a storage compartment with plastic bins as drawers, so I can take them out of the van easily if needed.

Next in line was “the kitchen”. I made a 38” countertop with a sink (I bought a $10 stainless bowl and cut a whole at the bottom for the plumbing), under which 2 sets of drawers will be used to store kitchen gear. There’s also room for extra propane tanks for the stove.

Le fridge.
So far, so good. Yesterday, I went out to the outdoor store and got a 2-burner fold-away stove, a 2-way electric cooler (as a fridge) and a bunch of other stuff to make things nice and cozy, like new seat covers. I ordered a custom-made mattress, too, that will double as a couch when I’m not sleeping.

The next big thing after all that will be to take care of the rusty side panels, which I will scrape with a steel brush, putty-up, prime and re-paint. While I’m at it, I’ll also cover the back doors in stickers, Flint-style. Then it’ll be a big, nice wash, 3 good layers of wax and a rustproofing treatment.
Le stove.

There’s still a lot of work to do, but things are looking good. My Belle and I will get to test my new layout in 2 weeks, when we go run the Ottawa Marathon. It’ll be my first running gig sleeping in El Capitan, and my Belle is going to be with me. Life is good :)

I’ll keep you posted on the work being done and make new pics as I go!

May 8, 2013

Bear Mountain 50K 2013 Race Report

Photo credit: Marie-Christine Ruffo
Donald and I had been chatting and joking while driving all the way down New York State the day before the race. We had both just finished the Ultra Marathon Caballo Blanco with reasonable success, and saw this coming run as a baby ultra, a nice long run in the woods with a lot of our friends. At one point, we even talked about how 50K’s are to ultras what 10K’s are to road running.

I came down to run Bear Mountain (the official name is The North Face Endurance Challenge) after my friend Jocelyn offered me his bib when he decided not to run it because of a nagging injury. Jocelyn is one hell of a runner, and I made sure he was OK with my finish time in his track record. “No worries”, he said, “just have fun”. These words stayed in my head and I didn’t overly research the race. I thought I was fit enough to do a comfortable 50, that it would just be a nice long run in the beautiful New York State forests. So I took things lightly and smiled all the way to the starting line, where many friends were lining up. Just before the gun went off, I was hanging out with my running sister Little Wings and her husband Dean, and they asked if I had prepared. “It’s a 50K, man”, I replied, “How hard can it be?”

I was just about to discover.

I could go on telling you about how this trail race is insanely technical and rough, about how I’ve been told it’s known as “The single toughest 50K in North America”, about my wanting to go home 15 minutes in or about the dozens of times I feared for my running season, trying to negotiate my way through the rockiest, most treacherous terrain I have ever seen. But I won’t. Instead, I will pay homage to the people who’ve run it and to the inspiration they gave me.

Christy Little Wings is one of my favorite runners in the world, and an overall beautiful person I consider myself lucky to count as a friend. She packs a hell of a lot of punch in a small package and a heart like a mountain. She kicked some serious butt on the course that day, and definitely ate the bear. Her mantra, “The only way out is through”, will stay with me always on the trails.

Augusto is not only a trail brother; he is a shining example of what I call a “reconstructed runner”. Tired of being injured all the time, he began a couple years ago an incredible journey to improve his running form and technique. He rebuilt himself into a graceful, powerful running machine and inspires me immensely. I can’t even keep up with him anymore. He completed the 50-mile physically and mentally exhausted, but performed an amazing feat of strength and determination.

I met Kent at his Halloween race, Rattle Me Bones, last year. A fairly new acquaintance for me, he came across as strong-willed and a quiet leader type. The Bear was his first ultra ever, and I spent the day worrying about him out there. Not only did he pull it off like a boss, but he did it in an awesome time, looking strong. My running hat way up to you, man!

I consider Donald an old friend. We’ve been running together for a couple of years now, but it’s the stuff we’ve gone through that has made our relationship. I often refer to him as my own personal drill sergeant, and it’s true that he is one bad ass trail runner. But he’s also a man of heart with a deep care for human values and his passion for running and outdoor living truly shined last weekend on the trails. He finished bruised and bloody, but he finished strong and proud. And most importantly, way ahead of me ;)

I didn’t see as much of Pierre as I would’ve liked, but he had traveled down with his wife and a group of other runners. As usual, he glided over the trail with grace and speed, making little work of the treacherous terrain and quietly conquering an extremely tough course. His humility and generosity are real guidelines to me.

I must add a tribute to Singing Man, an unknown runner I shared sections of the course with. Very muscular and dressed in a black skeleton technical shirt, he ran the trails laughing and singing out loud, mentally unbreakable. He lifted the spirits of every runner he crossed, spreading words of encouragement or making quirky, funny remarks. When he crossed me at my worst, zombie-walking up a section they call “The riverbed”, I confessed I was just about ready to sit down and quit. “And here you are, singing!” I yelled as he passed me. Without even turning his head, he replied “I’m sure you can sing, too”. So I started screaming a phrase or two of “Please Play This Song On The Radio” from NOFX, at the top of my lungs. “There you go!”, he exclaimed, and I pressed on, grinning and laughing at my predicament, happy to be following the springy steps of the Singing Man. Thank you for your resolve and for reminding me this is about fun in the face of adversity!

Lastly, I want to acknowledge everyone I crossed paths with on that gorgeous, sunny spring day and celebrate your accomplishments. Martin St-Pierre for being the great guy he is, Alister Gardner who runs like a deer, Hélène Michaux for being a tiger, Sereena who kept battling against that cutoff, Gerry who got injured early on and to whom I wish a strong, speedy recovery, everyone in Team Bromont, the Montreal runners and Daily Milers and everyone who shared the effort, pain and joy of a beautiful, but very tough day.

“How hard can it be?”

Bear hard.


May 7, 2013

Tribesports Giveaway - I Train Because...

Our friends at Tribesports have launched a contest to create a new "inspirational image". By completing the phrase "I train because...", you could become the instigator of that new image, or win a Tribesports t-shirt or elasticized laces.

You can participate just by completing the phrase on the site, in the comments section. Give it a shot!