Various and Sundry Update

Note of caution...if you are looking to read something deep and meaningful...like other posts ☺️ it may be best to simply move on to other more important things...

Canadian Masters Track Championships

I ventured out this past weekend to see Greg run in a couple of events...was fun...confirmed that on the Coast to Coast walk this Fall in England if confronted with a dangerous animal situation I will have to rely on something other than my blazing speed otherwise I am toast and Greg will be the one to notify next of kin. He is waaayyyyy faster than me...

800M - Was a fun race to watch...Greg was up against the current Canadian record holder in the M60 - 64 category. Greg M61...the other guy M62. Their personal best times are only 1.2 seconds apart. Greg got off to a  jackrabbit start and was leading the way for 80% or so of the race...at one point had a pretty significant lead. However his competitor was a wily character and watching the last 3/4 lap (of 4 laps) as the gap was closing...was trying to send good vibes to Greg to kick it up a notch but alas M62 passed by Greg and finished about 3 seconds ahead. No Canadian records here...Greg is #2 in the M60 -64 category in Canada.

400M - M62 for some reason pulled out of the race (not sure if injured or simply afraid of Greg...hope the latter). Greg simply outran the other fellow in the M60 - 64 category and finished in a personal best time of 1:01.17 so Greg is #1 in the M60 - 64 category in Canada.

4X800M relay - I did not see this race however Greg competed in the M55+ category with 3 other guys and they simply obliterated the existing Canadian M55+ Indoor record with a 9:50.22 time previous record was 12:22.78! Even better they bettered the Canadian M55+ Outdoor record which stands at 9:54.27. Not too shabby a result!

Now here is the tough part of what I have to report on...essentially outlining the “teamwork” challenges that Greg and I face heading into the Fall Coast to Coast walk. I will have to dig deep not overthink and react to the terrible treatment received from my “friend” 🤔. Here is an exchange that took place between Greg and I over a couple of days. Note that throughout I maintained the highest decorum...displayed a willingness to assist...essentially the team player that I strive to be...but you be the judge.

"Greg - First Insult

I may also try to put in a 4x400 team as there are a couple of reachable records in the M55+ category.  Unfortunately there are only a couple of relatively fast M60+ runners, so we have to move down a category.

Me - Expressing my feelings

Also a little hurt 😞 maybe miffed about your “trying to put a 4 x 400 m team” but there are few M60+ quality runners. AHEM from a speedster here M66…not even considered for your team. HMMM 🤔 possible fodder for a future story there…

Greg - Evasive Answer

I would have asked you, but I didn’t think you were a CMA member.  You have to be a member for any records to count.

Me - Hopeful and Trying to be Helpful

Just got this email from the Canadian Masters Association…maybe I am a CMA member? I will take a few practice runs this week to see what my 400m time might be…and we can go from there 😂🤣.

Also not up on running gear and all that…wouldn’t want to show up looking like a hillbilly!

Greg - Cutthroat Response

Lol!  Just because you signed up for the newsletter doesn’t mean you are a member! You have to pay money to athletics Ontario!!

Anyway you have until Saturday to become a member.  We have to name the team Saturday afternoon by around 2:00. So you have until then to prove your worthiness. (Autocorrect wanted to say worthless…lol!!!)

Greg - Final Insult

Since you backed out, we do not have enough for a 4x400 team.  But we should be fine for the 4x800 tomorrow (no you do not need to step up for that).”

Now tell me WHEN did I back out? 😇

Island Walk - Mid May 2023

Really minor preparation stuff here...of all my long walks this one seems like the planning process is the least involved. What can possibly go wrong in Canada? ☺️

Laminated Accommodations & Transportation - 👍

Sheet 1 of 6…sheets will be discarded one by one as I walk

Footwear - 👍

Have been fussing about whether to go with HOKA Bondi V8 vs HOKA Speedgoat V5. The Bondi’s have been my goto walking shoe for 3 years or so walking in the city...everywhere. The Speedgoat’s were great in the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador walks where the Vibram soles really helped with typical trial conditions...rocky...at times scree like, wet, roots (wet roots absolute worst).

The Island path is basically flat...with good amount of road walking...was definitely leaning towards the Bondi’s...similar to walking in the city. I consulted with the creator of the Island Walk who suggested Goretex shoes as walking on the side of the road...early morning...grass can be wet.

Well like many I have tried Goretex shoes and am no longer interested...feet get hot in them...don’t think the rain protection is worth it. Shoes will get wet...do the best you can with non goretex shoes and dry them out overnight.

As so often happens the answer came at exactly the right time...local store’s Family Day 20% off sale was ending Feb 26th and they had the HOKA Bondi V8 in my size in a new snazzy colour. Done!

Another potential shoe which has caught my eye...🤣...and one that I would consider wearing walking with my Brazilian friend Paulo...just to look better than him...it is a track shoe though ☺️

Socks - 👍

This one was a little tougher to solve as I ventured on the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador with high quality Smartwool brand socks...so only 445 kms on 3 pairs of socks. Sooo...I thought why not see what Camino Forum members have to say about when they choose to replace socks. Note I had no idea what to expect with the post 🤣😂 so I tried to head off the obvious replies...

My Camino Forum Post

When to replace socks 😳

Ok I know very well that many plausible responses such as…when there are gaping holes…when people leave the room due to the smell…when the socks stand up on their own in a corner…when the dog refuses to touch them etc etc are possible AND all deserved for asking 😂

But this is a serious question! For shoes ie light trail shoes such as HOKA’s I can feel it when they start to go and the 1,000 km maximum has served me well.

Socks…well I screwed up badly on my 2018 Portuguese Camino when I started with the same 3 pairs of quality socks that had seen 2,600 kms total and that did not work out well 🥲 at all!

In Oct 2022 walked ~ 440 kms on the Camino Primitivo and Camino San Salvador using 3 new pairs of SmartWool PHD Outdoor brand socks. Recommended by none other than @davebugg …they were top notch!

During this walk my walking friend and I “may” have cut a few corners in laundromats..using dryers etc. Considering the clothes washing/drying training received not my brightest move 😳. The socks look ok but they have had a bit of a go…

Leaving mid May to walk 700 kms on the Island Walk in PEI Canada and I simply don’t know whether to buy new socks for the walk?

Ok I know this may well be seen as a crazy post however am wondering how you approach the “replacing socks question”

Holy moly this may well be my last post ever 🤔🤣.

Guy

Last edited: Yesterday at 9:23 AM

Via Jacobi - 2013, Via Gebennensis - 2013, Via Podiensis - 2013, Camino Frances - 2014, Camino Finisterre - 2014, Kumano Kodo - 2015, Camino Portuguese - 2018, Camino Primitivo - 2022, Camino San Salvador - 2022
Blog :www.caminolongwalk.blogspot.com/
Instagram - caminolongwalk

Reply Summary

New socks always - 8

Nothing about socks but Island Walk questions - 5

Absolute mishmash...most off topic - 7

So new socks it is...this was honestly always going to be the answer however again fortune smiles...well sort of. I have 3 pairs of Darn Tough socks which are incredibly long lasting socks that have countless kms on them...in the city...not on Caminos. They are starting to show some wear and well shedding in little tuffs on the floor here and there 🤣...have been questions about “what are these pieces of lint etc...finding them all over the place”.

The answer is obvious...ditch the Darn Tough socks...replace them with the 3 pairs of Smartwool socks from the two 2022 Caminos and start the Island Walk with new socks...brilliant outcome!

I did get a few rather interesting replies to my posting...

"could you please post the photos taken from the different angles of your current set of socks, otherwise there is no sensible way to answer your question  Thanks 🙏

- on this reply I didn’t have an inspiring comeback so thought better to just let it go as I simply wasn’t sure if this was a joke or an honest suggestion

"It's a bit like the brakes and tyres on your car. As they wear down you get used to the difference. It's only when you get a new set of pads or new rubber that you notice how much the performance had deteriorated. 

Get yourself a new pair. Put them on. If you can feel the difference use the new pair. If you can't? Put the new pair in a drawer and use them later. You've lost nothing. It's not as if the price of socks is going to plummet any time soon.”

- On this one I thanked the guy who replied...creative and helpful

Soooo....just going to putter away until mid May comes...the decisions one must make sometime when retired are just mind boggling 🤣

Walk around the world - Alexander Campbell

Here is an incredible story that had just started unfolding...

https://www.worldwalkexpedition.com/about

"Hi, my name’s Alexander Campbell and on the 12th February 2023, I will embark on a 4 year journey to circumnavigate the world on foot.

My walk around the world will begin and end in my hometown of Sydney, Australia. Along the way, I’ll be raising money for the Fred Hollows Foundation to support their efforts to restore sight to those who are needlessly blind.

The expedition will be self-supported, so I'll be carrying everything in my backpack and resupply on food in towns along the way. My chosen route will see me walk roughly 40,000km, through 30 countries and across 4 continents."

His Instagram feed (essentially the only one I really follow 🙂) is alexander_campbell...it’s fun to see how he is already progressing so quickly 16 days 552.20 kms walked or 34.5 kms per day...not to shabby! Might be the kind of adventure that is of interest to others...

On a tangent...again...I took a look at the Instagram folks who are blog subscribers and found the following...

- 18 Blog subscribers have Instagram accounts that I “follow” 😳

- 8 of these have never posted...not once...in particular I am trying to encourage one person to post...”anything will do” but alas nothing

- Of the 10 accounts that have posted the average last Instagram posting is March 5, 2022 so a full year ago!

Sooo...I will keep following Alexander Campbell...and maybe the odd post from blog subscribers 😂

Japanese Documentary

The tension...anticipation...is rising with every day as March is just around the corner now. For me the feeling I have matches the weeks leading up to Xmas (same feeling when a young kid, in my teens, 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and now 60’s). Starts in October so usually a full 3 months of anticipation.

Ok the Japanese Documentary is now moving into its 6th month but this is an opportunity of a lifetime...this is how I categorized the potential outcome in an earlier post.

"There are 3 possible scenes where Paulo and/or I could be in the film

1) Tineo - Camera crew filming Patricia and Japanese Pilgrim (he was in all 3 2020 documentaries) walking down the street. Cameras turned to me sitting in an outside patio while “Buen Camino’ was shouted to me.

Chances of being included - Rate as Medium

2) Sit down interview with Paulo and me - Maybe half hour in length answering various questions individually.

Chances of being included (in part only) - Rate as High

3) Paulo cresting the hill coming into Campiello with Patricia and Japanese Pilgrim - Essentially 3 Amigos arm in arm.

Chances of being included - Rate as a Certainty...no question as this scene is priceless

So I must just calmly wait...I will let you in on what I secretly hope will happen.

Scene 1) not used, 2) used but only when Paulo speaks and 3) used in documentary. In other words I am 100% shut out! If this happens I will have one of the best laughs ever and an amazing story to tell!!! It would be priceless...”

When the link is received...after giving this much thought...I think the best way to first look at the Documentary is with my two grand-daughters Rose (8) and Elodie (5)...Rishi grandson will likely be 11 months and more interested in other things…like anything he can chew on!

To ensure their Japanese Documentary interest I must have chips, chocolate, ice cream etc. and stress for Rose the Japan angle as she was born in Tokyo. For Elodie I may have to stretch things a bit and suggest that I am hoping that both rainbows and unicorns are prominently featured in the Japanese Documentary. I can’t over promise though however if either show up this will be a major winner for Elodie!