Martin Parnell Finish the Race Attitude

Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 9 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Target: 888 race kilometres

• Completed to date: 6 events, 621 race kilometres

• Next up: TransRockies Tour of Alberta Sunday Sept. 8th

On August 12^th I was flying into Denver and still feeling the effects of the four-day Transrockies Challenge. I had got pretty beaten up, riding my mountain bike, navigating trail sections between Blairmore and Canmore. It had been just over a week since it was completed and the cuts and bruises were starting to heal.

Landing in the mile high city I was looking forward to doing an event on my feet, even if it was the 192 km, six- day TransRockies Run. This was event number six out of the nine I had scheduled in TransRockies Quest 888 and it was important I complete the full distance to help me towards my 888 race km Quest goal.

A three-hour shuttle ride took me to Buena Vista and registration at the Avery Parsons Elementary School. After receiving our race packages, the 400 plus runners, headed off to an information session. Aaron McConnell, TransRockies President, welcomed us and asked those representing the 17 countries present to stand and be recognised. He warned us about some of the challenges ahead; searing heat and running on trails at elevations of between 8,000 and 12,000 feet.

This event is a huge logistical challenge. It's like having six races in a row and the entire infrastructure must be moved every time. This includes the start and finish chute, breakfast tent, medical and massage tent, shower truck with 12 shower stalls, and 300 individual two person tents. I must admit I didn't sleep well the first night. A lot to think about.

At 8.25am on Tuesday August 13^th we were all in the start chute and, with two minutes to go, they played ACDC's "Highway to Hell", a song we would become very familiar with over the next six days. Stage 1 was 34 kms from Buena Vista to Railroad Bridge. The highlight of the day was waiting for me at checkpoint 2. At breakfast I had met Vince, a volunteer with TransRockies and told him my love of bacon. At the checkpoint Vince had a plate of crispy strips waiting for me. Bacon power.

The first day went well but I still had a tough time sleeping. Each day followed a similar routine; breakfast in the main tent, head to the start line, "Highway to Hell" and off. My run times ranged from 4hrs to 7hrs. Then the best part of the day, a shower. After supper we had the day's awards, preview of the next day's route and a slide show.

One evening I was asked to make a presentation on "Quests for Kids" and my work with Right To Play. I had a great response from the group and I was thrilled to call up sisters Kirsten and Karyn Dibblee. They had had set up a donation page on TransRockies Quest 888 and raised over $1,000.

Highlights of the event included Stage 2, crossing Hope Pass at 12,000 feet, Stage 3, hanging out in Leadville; Stage 4, running a creek for 2kms, arriving in Red Cliff and enjoying fish tacos at Mango's; Stage 5, running the meadow trails around the back of Vail ski hill and Stage 6 finishing in Beaver Creek.

Flying back to Calgary I was pleased that I had completed the 192 km and was now 621 kms towards my target. However looking forward I knew I had to change gears so to speak. My next event is the TransRockies Tour of Alberta, a 125km road bike race on Sunday September 8^th.

There's no rest for the wicked.

Quote of the Day

"Unless, someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not"

TransRockies Run, Stage 2: Vickburg to Twin Lakes, Colorado. Climbing up to the saddle on Hope Pass, elevation 12,000 feet.

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Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 9 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Target: 888 race kilometres

• Completed to date: 7 events, 751 race kilometres

• Next up: TransRockies Heli-Run Sunday Sept. 21st

Last week the Tour of Alberta rolled into the Province with a bang. Cycling is extremely popular around the world and this event was shown in a 150 countries and watched by over 50 million people.

There were 6 stages, from September 3^rd to 8^th. The start was in Edmonton and after riding 900 kms through rural Southern Alberta finished in Calgary. The race comprised of 15 professional teams and 117 participating riders. Some of the top names included Cadel Evans, Australian, winner of the 2011 Tour de France; and Ryder Hesjedal, Canadian, winner of 2012 Giro d'Italia.

On Sunday September 8^th I was at Seaman Stadium, Okotoks, with my buddies Kevin and Roy. We were there to participate in another event, the TransRockies Tour of Alberta. This was an opportunity for recreational riders to cycle some of the same terrain that the professional teams would be covering on the 6^th stage of the Tour of Alberta. It was also my seventh event in TransRockies Quest 888. If I could complete the 130 km course then I would achieve 751 kms towards my target of 888 kms.

Our start time was 7.00am. There were two distances to choose from, an 80km and the 130km loop and at 6.55am the 300 plus rides for both distances were in the start chute. With two minutes to go I heard a familiar tune, ACDC's "Highway to Hell" and we were off. As the sun was rising we rolled through a sleepy Okotoks and on to the country roads. The first hour we rode in and out of banks of mist, as we headed west.

Kevin, Roy and I set up a "mini-peloton" and the kms clicked by. We were then joined by Gerry and our gang of four ate up the mileage. I did have one little mishap along the way. After a nature call I was getting back on my bike and leaned the same way as my foot was clipped in. The fall was not graceful but I only received a flesh wound. Back on the bike we pushed to the finish line.

In the stadium, the crowds were gathering for the 1pm. start of the 6^th and final stage of the main race. A number of the riders were signing autographs and I had the pleasure of meeting Antoine Duchesne, from the Canadian National team. A number of these riders support charities. Mark Cavendish, winner of 25 stages of the Tour de France was not at there but he is a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador, in the UK.

Driving back to Cochrane I started to think about the ninth event in TransRockies Quest 888, the Heli-Run on September 21^st. This race involves teams of two. One runs up a mountain 21 kms and the other flies up in a helicopter. They then swap places, the runner flies down and the other runs down. Should be fun.

Stay tuned.

Quote of the Day

"Life is like a 10 speed, most of us have gears we never use"

Enjoying a break at Check Point 3 during the 130km TransRockies Tour of Alberta.

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Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 9 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Target: 888 race kilometres

• Completed to date: 7 events, 751 race kilometres

• Next up: TransRockies Heli-Run Sunday Sept. 21st

As a young man, one of my greatest pleasures was hitting a winding road in a two-seater, open-top sports car. On Sunday September 15^th., I volunteered at the Cochrane Classic Car Show and Shine and, seeing some of the wonderful vehicles which took part, certainly took me back to the days of my youth. Ken Hutchinson, President of the Cochrane Classic Car Group, asked if I could get some volunteers, who regularly represent Right To Play to help out. We were only too pleased to give a hand, especially as a portion of the proceeds would go to the charity and help kids.

Mid-morning, Sue and I headed to downtown Cochrane and signed in. Our job was to control the barricade to one of the side streets, re-directing traffic coming into town and making sure vehicles, turning up for the event, knew where to register and park. After our allocated time was up, we decided to wander around the Downtown and check out the cars. My dad was a car enthusiast and thanks to him, I had the opportunity of driving some great little sports cars. These included an Austin Healey Sprite, Triumph Spitfire and MG Midget. As we walked around, we saw all these models represented, in pristine condition.

In total, there were over 250 cars and it was terrific to see so many people milling around Cochrane. A number of roads had closed and the crowds were enjoying a wonderful, warm, fall day. However, when I came to the end of the show I must admit I was a little disappointed. My dream car was missing, the classic 1970 VW camper.

My parents bought this vehicle new and took the family on a number of trips to see our relations in Bavaria. I remember many a night eating Smash (instant potatoes), beef mince (canned) and peas (canned) at camp sites across France, Germany and Austria.

We've all heard about Transformers, robots tuning into cars. Well, our VW camper was the ultimate transformer, going from boxy van to three bedroom house, kitchen and all. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast but it did become part of the family. As kids we at ate, slept and played in it and when it came time Dad sold it to a young couple who also wanted to head across Europe.

When I got home I checked out the Autotrader on line. No harm in looking.

Quote of the Day

"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a Cop in it"

The dream machine. A VW camper.

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Next Quest:

TransRockies Quest 888 (Quest #8)

• 6 months (May to October 2013)

• 9 trail running, mountain biking, road running and road biking events

• Target: 888 race kilometres

• Completed to date: 8 events, 772 race kilometres

• Next up: TransRockies Moab Rocks Oct. 12 to 14th

One of my favourite shows this summer has been Bear Grylls "Get Out Alive". Bear is a British adventurer, ex SAS Officer and youngest ever Chief Scout. In "Get Out Alive", Bear took ten teams of two to New Zealand. There, they had to endure many physical and mental tests, including being dropped into a freezing lake from a helicopter, crossing a gorge on a rope, traversing a glacier full of crevasses, building a raft and riding it down a raging river. The winning team collected $500,000.

On Saturday September 21^st I participated in the TransRockies Heli-Run, a sort of one day "Get Out Alive" Canadian style. This would be my 8^th TransRockies event this year and give me 21 more kms towards my goal of 888 kms. Seventy courageous individuals had signed up for one of the most unique events around. The majority of the runners were in teams of two. My partner Ally Johnson had returned from a trip to the UK, just the day before, after having competed in the ITU World Triathlon Championships in London. Our team name for the Heli-Run was "Thunderbirds are Go!" and we were ready.

Early Saturday morning, the participants started to arrive at the Cline River Heliport, just west of the David Thompson Resort in the Canadian Rockies. The event required one team member to complete a 21.00 km route to the Lake of the Falls, an elevation gain of 3,900 ft. The other team member would take a helicopter ride to the Lake and wait for their partner. They then switch and the runner who went up would ride down on the helicopter and vice versa.

Ally had decided to run up and at 8.58am the familiar beat of ACDC's "Highway to Hell" pounded out, she set off. While half the group were headed up the mountain the rest of us prepared for the chopper ride. On "Get Out Alive" Bear is seen riding outside the machine while standing on the landing skid. This is not recommended. Icefield Heli Tours had us go through a step by step safety orientation. I headed up on the 11.00am flight with Glenda, Richard and Derek Zamzow and another runner, Katie. We were put on a scale, weighed and then taken over to the craft.

Once strapped in, the rotors started and we were off. The flight up was only six minutes but it was exhilarating. We were dropped off at the edge of the Lake and the pilot immediately headed back for the next group. Ally hadn't arrived yet but as it was cold we were given the green light to head off on our leg of the race. The first 10.00 km were brutal. Flood damage had destroyed large sections of the old paths and we were scrambling up and down the river banks. Ally and I passed each other and I wished her luck.

At the mid-way point the terrain changed and we were running in the forest on a path of pine needles, my favourite running surface. I came in after 3 ½ hours and was ready for food. In "Get Out Alive" they had to eat deer heart, eel and maggots. We had BBQ chicken, corn-on-the-cob and Caesar salad. Yummy.

Quote of the Day

"Fortune favours the brave"

Heading up to the Lake of the Falls during the TransRockies Heli-Run

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