Went out for the first of the 5 Peaks series today. The Enduro race was two loops around the Chicopee ski centre in Kitchener, ON. To call Chicopee (or any of the race venues in this series) a "peak" definitely depends on your context. I'm sure you folks out in Utah or anywhere in western North America would laugh at the insignificance of these "hills". We in Ontario don't have much to talk about when it comes to mountains! I'm not a very experienced trail runner, so being out on single-track, undulating terrain was exhilarating. I found the whole tone of the race a lot more laid back than some of the road races that I've run lately. That was very welcome. Unfortunately, my streak of bad races continued at Chicopee. I felt good on the first loop, and started back around for the second time. The wet/muddy/snowy switchbacks up the main climb "woke-up" my recovering calf injury enough that I stopped halfway up the hill. That ugly stretching/tearing feeling is something that I will never get used to. More rest and physio for me, as I try to keep things together for the race in Ottawa on May 24. I'll get another chance out on the trail at Horseshoe Valley in June. Time 37:00 Distance 5k (3.1 mi) Pace 7:24/km (11:50/mi) DNF the full 8.6k distance | 