Week 28: A career change?

Exciting news for me, I took a decision which I have hesitated over for a number of years.  I am going to take the exam to become a mountain guide, not the high level guide.  I love the mountains and really feel alive while I am in them.  I have looked at the guide qualification a number of times but always listened to the doom-mongers who say how difficult the entry test is.  Anyway this time I am feeling positive and motivated, maybe because of the running.  I have spoken to a neighbour who is actually a guide and he encouraged me to go for it.  I now need to reinforce my navigational skills with the compass, as this is part of the test.  I also have to complete a certain number of hikes to take the entry exam, so I will be working on those as well as running.  There is not doubt the two-day entrance exam is hard but with a positive attitude and a bit of preparation I think I can pass it.  Then maybe I will be able to move out of teaching business English and into something I feel more passionate about.

As part of my exam preparation and to take a rest from running I went for a 2-hour snowshoe work at the beginning of the week.  We had a good late snowfall over the weekend, and as the sun was shining the conditions were ideal.  I also took my compass and map to practice.  I hiked quickly up from the cross-country skiing base at the Col du Barioz onto the plateau and the Crêt du Poulet.  An easy 265 metres of ascent.  As it was a weekday I was completely alone.  The snowshoe tracks are well defined which takes away from any idea of challenge or adventure.  Once on the plateau I practiced with my compass, not as easy in cold, windy conditions as at home in the warm.

Unfortunately midweek I found myself struck down by flu.  Not really surprising as I have been looking after my flu struck kids for the past week.  I have read that taking a weeks rest every four weeks is a good idea when training hard so maybe I should do this.  I have also been having a lot of muscle pain recently and found this article about Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness that reassured me, and would suggest that I ease things off a bit.  I also found this 24-week marathon preparation program that I quite like for its gradual preparation approach.

For my last run of the week I followed a new trail path.  Sylvie dropped me off 15 kilometres from home and I ran, and walked, back through the mountains. It was quite a hilly path, total elevation gain 450 metres, so I had to walk some parts.  I also had a fair amount of problems with dogs running out and barking at me.  I stopped and walked at these points while hurling abuse at the dogs.  I am sure the owners heard me but did not want to pay attention.  I might invest in a can of mace for these little darlings.  I have two admit to being a little annoyed at being threatened by these slobbering beasts on a public path.  Most advice on-line seems to be to stop running and talk calmly to the dog without being menacing.  If necessary turn around and change your run.  Personally I do not see why I should change my run on a public path so I think pepper or mace spray is the way to go.  

My legs were very sore after this run with pain on the side of my shins and a new pain behind my knee.  I wonder if these are a result of training too hard or over stretching.  I put some Chinese Chinese Red Flower oil on my knees and ankles that seemed to help, although I woke up with a burning sensation in the night.