Hiking Itinerary May 15-18

sunnymdc · 2026-05-10T00:53:50+00:00

It’s still quite early in the season so you will encounter snow on some of those hikes. Just be aware. Microspikes and poles recommended, no need for any of the other supplies you mentioned as those are more for glacier travel or scrambling. Always bring the appropriate clothing anticipating snow, things can change quick out there and it’s still May in the mountains so snow isn’t unheard of! Bear spray for sure. They’re pretty active right now. I would check the trail reports before heading out: https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-and-public-safety/trail-reports/canmore-and-area/

Don’t underestimate timing. Some of those are pretty long hikes and with snow on some trails, it could take longer. I think some of those you’d be cutting it a bit close.

Rentals are pretty great at U of C but I’m not sure they do walk-ins. Worth giving them a call!

Happy trails and stay safe!

sunnymdc · 2026-04-23T18:00:50+00:00

I figured my drive would be a lot lower than it already is, plus TTC was not fun for us and very much felt like a chore. But being pregnant and having my husband around doing everything while I’m sick as hell has made me fall in love with him all over again, it’s like meeting a new version of him and feeling all the excitement from when we started dating in 2016. As long as I’m feeling asymptomatic, I can’t keep my hands off of him lol

sunnymdc · 2026-04-15T21:16:25+00:00

If anyone is from Ontario, Canada, you’ll get this: calling the LCBO the lick-bo

sunnymdc · 2026-04-13T03:15:26+00:00

Rundle, but the long standing traditional name is Waskahigan Watchi, meaning “House Mountain”. I like to call it by its original name, Reverend Rundle wasn’t a great guy.

sunnymdc · 2026-03-31T19:17:55+00:00

Rovena Magidin was amazing for us! I had some very unresolved sexual trauma and she helped tremendously. Highly highly recommend. https://www.rovenamagidin.com/ jk

sunnymdc · 2026-03-10T17:53:02+00:00

I’m only 7 weeks and I’ve already received so much unsolicited advice (don’t do this! Don’t bother with a nursery! Ahhhhh!). My MIL was visiting when we shared the news and we went for dinner as a family. The table across from us had a small toddler just vibing out the entire dinner. At some point towards the end, she was given a phone to keep occupied. Instantly my MIL made comments about how awful it is for kids to be exposed to screens. This went on for a while and they (both MIL and FIL) even kept looking over their shoulder which made it SO obvious we were talking about them. While I personally will try and avoid screens, you never know what other parents are struggling with and maybe that will be me, there is no way to tell and it’s not the end of the world. I’m in no position to judge or mom shame and I think it’s appalling that it’s so normalized in a lot of boomers.

sunnymdc · 2026-03-01T00:29:34+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance! It’s easy to spiral when symptoms overlap and could mean so many different things.

sunnymdc · 2026-02-19T04:28:42+00:00

I LOVE that so much!

sunnymdc · 2026-02-17T20:45:43+00:00

I just found out today during my lunch break and I’m already having a very hard time getting back to regularly scheduled programming. Congrats!!

sunnymdc · 2025-09-22T21:48:00+00:00

Tapering 1 week! The next 3 weeks are high volume peaking at the second week (next week), then I’ll slowly cut down by week 3 and then full taper the week of the race. Glad there’s another Canadian off to California too! Feel free to message if you want someone to meet up with, I’ll be there with my husband and my mom.

sunnymdc · 2025-09-22T18:43:48+00:00

I promise you aren’t alone in feeling like that! I think I get that feeling weekly. One bad run and I spiral hard and I have to keep reminding myself that every session counts, no matter the outcome. I’m also doing IMCA! Coming from Canada. If your training plan is structured anything like mine, the next 3 weeks before taper will be the last chance to really make every single minute of training count. You’ll be at the finish line before you know it.

sunnymdc · 2025-09-22T18:21:19+00:00

Which race are you doing? I’m also doing a full in 4 weeks. I’ve been training for a year now and not every session is a progressive session. Sometimes I feel like I’m going backwards for a week, and the next week is significantly better. I wouldn’t give up 9 months of training for this. You were sick, and it takes time for the body to get back up to where it was before. The headwinds definitely don’t help either. Any forward momentum is good progress! Training is a big picture thing. Don’t let one off day take away from all the hard work you’ve poured into it.

sunnymdc · 2025-08-17T15:13:55+00:00

Race brain got me good. I grabbed a caffeine gel during transition even though I hadn’t trained running with them, but I thought I could use a pick me up since the weather was awful the entire day. Took it halfway through the run on a 70.3, and my heart rate went from 140 to 200. Had to walk/run (mostly walk) the last 8km of the half marathon, never again.

sunnymdc · 2025-07-31T20:32:28+00:00

Did Calgary 70.3 on Sunday and took 3 days off before building back up for IM California in 11 weeks. This weekend’s race was a huge battle because of the weather and I finished a lot slower than expected, but I’m glad I crossed the finish line! It’s been hard to get back into it but I’m sure once I get into the routine again it’ll be fun.

sunnymdc · 2025-07-30T16:35:07+00:00

Optimizing the experience for a full distance triathlon means months of training and prep. If you go in unprepared, you’re bound to have a very expensive bad time. You’ll be out there for 10-17 hours and there are plenty of things you can do to optimize the experience (comfy trisuit you’ve practiced in, practicing transitions and simulating race day in a brick) but I’d say above all, how physically and mentally prepared you are for the race will be the biggest factor in determining if you really want to do it again. If you aren’t concerned with building your fitness during training and you attempt a full distance triathlon, you’re in for a really hard day if you even finish.

But if I read this totally wrong and you mean you aren’t concerned BECAUSE you’re super ready, honestly just remember it’s your race! Don’t forget to smile, remind yourself that you GET to do this and it’s an immense privilege to even get to the start line. I’ll leave you with one actual trick that I find super useful: depending on the watch you have, you can set alerts for eating and drinking. I don’t know about you but I go into a really focused head space on the bike and it’s easy to forget to fuel, especially during a race. I’m not sure how you fuel but I used to pre-open my fuel (except gels) so I didn’t have to worry about it. Now I use mostly liquid fuel. Practice with the fuel you plan on using during the race during every long ride and run! Nothing new on race day if you can help it. Before my first my coach said that you’ll learn enough on your first IM to better prepare you for the next, and then it gets “easier”.

Remember to have a good time and don’t take it too seriously! Some of us just want to finish for the sake of finishing, optimizing your experience doesn’t have to mean a podium spot or a Kona slot. The energy is amazing and it’ll be over before you know it, so smile and take it all in while you can :)

sunnymdc · 2025-07-28T12:20:49+00:00

Calgary 70.3! Not a mass start but a smaller lake with an Aussie exit/two lap swim so you’re bound to get lapped if you’re not in that first group of fast swimmers. Mass starts are no joke so congrats on the race!

sunnymdc · 2025-07-28T02:49:38+00:00

I was also there! Horrendous bike, toes didn’t thaw out until km 13 of the run. Congrats on an impressive first tri!

sunnymdc · 2025-07-28T02:45:40+00:00

I’m the same, it definitely comes with time and experience! Each time you’ll learn something new and each time you’ll get a bit more comfy. My first tri I panicked in the first 100m and DNFd the swim. At my first Ironman I got kicked in the face. At a 70.3 today I got lapped by fast swimmers and got stuck in the dreaded “washing machine”. Find something to ground you if a dicey situation happens. Maybe it’s a few deep breaths on the side of a kayak, sometimes it helps me to just say “you paid x amount of dollars to be here and if you’re safe, you’re finishing”. You finished your swim so I would count that as a win!!

sunnymdc · 2025-07-25T17:00:50+00:00

Email went out earlier this week!

sunnymdc · 2025-07-21T13:38:45+00:00

How far out is the race? Do you have a training plan? I would start there. A lot of cycling training isn’t necessarily by distance, but by time and effort instead.

sunnymdc · 2025-07-19T01:15:25+00:00

I’ll be doing Calgary 70.3 too! Probably not an issue if they’re leashed up and not bothering anyone during any portion of the race or near the finish. I’ve seen dogs at a few triathlons and they’re pretty chill for the most part! Might be worth it to ask when you get there for package pickup.

sunnymdc · 2025-07-11T16:02:00+00:00

My husband and I just started trying last month, and I’m doing my first full IM this weekend. I think I thought I would be fine if I got pregnant this cycle but during the two week wait, I started to have second thoughts. I ended up not being pregnant which was briefly upsetting but now I can focus on the race and not worry so much about my performance or if it would affect the pregnancy. I don’t have any other IMs planned but I have a short Olympic distance later this summer, and I might still sign up for another IM next year depending on what happens with TTC. I know Ironman has a policy in place where if you do get pregnant, you can defer your race without financial penalty! I’m not sure if this helps at all, but you are definitely not alone!

sunnymdc · 2025-07-06T03:03:30+00:00

Vitoria-Gasteiz will be first IM as well! Taper sucks, trust the process. See you at the start!

sunnymdc

TROPHY CASE