In my May Training Recap, I stated that my goal for June would be to simply to get back to consistent running after the injury to my peroneal tendon in early April. I’d been hiking plenty including frequent trips up the BCMC but not logging any real mileage.

I’m happy to report that I managed to do that by about the 2nd week of June, hitting 61k that week and 86k the following. My ankle is still only about 90%, but I’m definitely able to manage the inflammation as it slowly continues to get better with each day. I don’t think it’s feasible at this point to wait until I’m 100% better as I need to be logging miles again – just as long as I’m not setting myself back at all, of course.

In just over a week, many of the top local runners will be lining up to run on some of their favourite North Shore trails. The Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run (or Knee Knacker for short) takes runners from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove on the Baden Powell – 16,000 feet of vertical climb and descent along 30 miles of technical trails.

The race is hugely popular, with almost 400 entrants competing for 200 spots in each year’s lottery. I wasn’t lucky enough to get a spot this year after running it last year for my first time, but you can bet I’ll be trying again next year.

With so many great runners signed up this year, it would be impossible for me to try to predict a winner, and the nature of this particular race is that anything really can happen on the day. I did manage to connect with 3 particularly fast local runners though to discuss their strategy and goals for this year’s race; Oliver Utting, Graeme Wilson, and Mike Murphy.

After my recent peroneal tendon injury, my MD recommended that I get custom orthotics. I wasn’t sure at first, but my physio agreed that it could be a good temporary aid as we work to build up the strength in my arches.

It’s still not clear how my biomechanics are to blame for the overuse injury, but I’m using this whole experience as an opportunity to finally address a series of minor issues and weaknesses so that I can come back strong for the long-haul (poor tracking of the knees, weak glutes, etc.).

I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to use orthotics in my Salomon Sense Ultras though. While far from ‘minimalist’, they’re definitely on the lighter and more flexible side as a performance shoe and neutral, like most trail shoes. After a fair bit of experimenting, I’ve found them to be the absolute perfect fit. I’m a mid-foot striker and I like to feel the ground beneath my feet so I wasn’t about to put on a pair of Hokas!

The Sea to Summit trail is an extension of the Upper Shannon Falls trail to the top of the new Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, BC.

As a run or fast hike, it takes around 2 hours to summit and is between 6.5 – 9.8 km, depending on your route, with roughly 1,000 metres of elevation gain. It climbs almost double as high as the nearby Stawamus Chief, giving you a great view back down at the massive monolith. Karl and I recently did the hike starting from the Shannon Falls parking lot which is definitely the way to go.

After injuring the peroneal tendon in my left foot at Diez Vista in early April, I had been restricted to the pool for the first few weeks of recovery as I reported last month. I was starting to enjoy swimming to a certain degree but being stuck inside was the worst.

In May, I was finally able to start biking, first mostly on the indoor trainer and later on longer road rides. About a week and a half ago, I was able to start hiking again which had meant almost daily trips up the BCMC, because anything worth doing is worth overdoing. It’s been great to get outside again consistently with some of the friends I hadn’t seen in a while.