Ice Hockey in the Desert

At the end of two years, I'll have little to say about my time in Doha. You will notice by the lack of posts that adventure here was slim. I intended to write about marathons in the Middle East but even that passion was gone. However, there is one thing I will truly miss about my time here, and that is playing ice hockey. Yep, ice hockey...in the desert.  Given this place is more expats than locals, and a good amount of them from Europe (as engineers and pilots), and many from Canada (a college here), a large amount of people familiar with the game could play.  What started as humble beginnings in a mall (and continues in a mall, just a better rink), now is 10 teams across two divisions battling multiple times a week for the illustrious title, given out twice a year, for the Qatar International Ice Hockey League Champions.  There are even tournaments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for groups to travel.

Qatar Team - Abu Dhabi Fall 2015

Qatar Beer Team - Dubai Spring 2016

It's adult hockey, so no hitting, but it does get pretty physical.  Each game has 1-2 referees with a few of them pretty permanent staples; other times it is just a player coming out to help ref before his game starts. A score keeper runs the clock and keeps stats, but don't expect credit on that second assist. Skill level runs from beginner (in the B/C league) through decent guys that have gotten somewhat older and slowed a bit, right on through former collegiate and junior players in the top division.  This year there were even some former semi-pros and Olympians in the mix.  The A-league makes for some fast hockey. The Qatari National Team plays in A and is coached well and continues to get better and better. Guys are drafted by team captains behind closed doors at a local pub while the rest of the league sits at the bar and watches names come up, round by round (and drinking the same) on a tv. The same bar also hosts a party during the Desert Cup (Doha Tourney) and at the end of the season, a couple of dhow boats are rented - BBQ, swimming, and lots and lots of beverages accompany awards out on the water, ranging from most valuable player to best dressed.

For two years I have been playing in the A league and enjoyed every minute of it.  Drafted very late in my first season as an unknown, I put up some numbers and got noticed, finishing 11th in scoring. We played well the first season but lost in the finals. The next season I was drafted higher and played a more complete role, setting up the puck and helping on the defensive end. I finished 12th in scoring but we won the title after finishing in 3rd out of 4 in the league regular season.

First trophy - Season 2 Spring 2015

Then I was drafted on a dream team. The top line was full of Finnish players, two of them over 6 foot 6. The other guy had played semi-pro. It was disgusting. Remember when the Russians came to the NHL and the passing was so fast you couldn't keep up? That is what these guys made our league look like. They passed 5 times before a goal, and they got one nearly every shift. I played on the 2nd line with only one job to do - shut the other guys down, which was easy to do as we were backed up by strong D-men. We won nearly every game and playing the finals was a formality as we crushed everyone. Our top line finished 1, 2, 3 in scoring. I was a distant 17th in scoring but very content in my defensive and team role.

Dream Team, Second Trophy - Fall 2015

My last season was the best. I went in the top 5. After the draft, there were mumblings that we were going to get killed based on the paper. Our team had a few unknowns and while it had 2 stars, everyone else's team looked deeper.  Our concerns were unfounded. We destroyed it, losing only 3 games (of 28) all season (I missed 2 of those 3 games). Our team passed well, back-checked, got loose pucks, and rebounded. Everyone contributed and it paid off. I played on the first line with another fast, head's up winger and our center, a tall, strong, skilled player. I finished tied for 7th in league scoring while our top two guys went 1-2 (the second guy 9 points clear of third). We won the finals 12-4.  It was hands down one of the most fun, cooperative, unselfish teams I have ever played for (in any sport).  In the end, I played 4 seasons - made the finals in all of them and won the championship in the last 3 of the 4.

Third Trophy, Best Team Ever - Spring 2016

I'll remember this time as my saving grace in Doha. I got to play some amazing hockey in my 30s with guys from all over the world and skated against, and with, Kristian Wallgren and Anze Emersic, two of the best players I have shared the ice with. I have never played as well as I did with my wingman of the final two seasons, Charles Fullerton, and got to play great games, shinny, and tourneys with my buddy Andrew Woodrow, who along with my brother is one of the guys I most enjoy seeing both on and off the ice. Thank you to the organizers of the QIIHL and its members - I will never forget this awesome group of guys and the privileged to play the greatest game in the world in the harshest of landscapes.

Thanks to the fans!

Drink from the Cup! - Rink Rats QIIHL Champions

22 and 11 - Walker (RW) and Fullerton (LW)

Rink Rats - Production Line (Justin, Kristian, Charles)

From O to Ultra in 30 Days - The First Race in the Middle East

After 2.5 months off, I resumed running but for the first time in the Middle East. An opportunity to run an ultra presented itself so I signed up. Time to start running. The first day I went out for a 40 min run, the minimum allowable time for my normal run. Things went well for the first 15 minutes, then I got a bit tired, then I got downright shuffling. The next few days I was so sore with shin splints (those things beginning runners get) that I had to bike, use the elliptical and treadmill. After a week I worked up a few more decent runs. I went over an hour twice. Overall, 21 days of running leading up to the race.

21 days. And now I had a 50K. 31 miles. In one day.

31 miles, 11 miles more than I ran together in any of the first 3 weeks. I did crack an epic 34 mile week (with a 10 miler) in week 4. But it was go time.

No info came out on the race. My plan was to get up on Halloween, suffer through this race, nap, and take the kids trick or treating. Then, 4 days before the race, I get the packet, and find the race starts at 6, at night! This was a blow to the plan. But dropping the kids off at the Halloween party, I went to the race, collected my number, and milled around. I headed to the start line and, with about 150 others, set off into the night. It was 86 degrees Fahrenheit with 68% humidity.

The course was 10 x 5K loops with little elevation gain. I set off at a reasonable pace with the invited athletes (this was a world 50K trophy race) blasting out. I settled in with Hugh Hunter, a worldwide known ultra runner (who runs most races in a kilt – he has done the Sahara, Paris to London (run Paris marathon, run to London, run London), Badwater, Ironman, Mont Blanc, and 160 or more marathons), chatting the whole way. He started to flag after 3 laps but I really wanted to get through a lot of the run with my mind elsewhere so we stayed together though most of lap 4 before he walked. After dropping the pace and getting done with 5 laps, I was halfway there in about 2:13 but now alone. If I had jumped into a pool and came out, I would not have been dripping as much as I was during this run. When it cools about ½ a degree per hour, hot is hot and mid-80s is hot.

From here, the difficulties started to come in. I was tired. By 28K my quads really hurt. It was that dull hurt that gets only subtlety worse with each step, whether you go fast, slow, or just walk, so might as just go. The course had a decent amount of brick walkway which really made the feet ache and the ankles scream. While the course was closed, there were a few sections of annoyance, like the fat local kids roller blading on the course, or when women in full abaya wander into the course, either oblivious or indifferent to the many barriers crossed and runners coming their way. Another sad moment was when I saw locals throwing large rocks on the course as runners went by. There is just that lack of empathy here that is frustrating. And then when I saw flowers uprooted and tossed on the pavement– so sad to destroy the little plant life put here for our enjoyment. In true Doha fashion, this was cleaned up soon after, though.

Dead legged and struggling, I pushed through the marathon in 3:45 – slower than I ever thought I would run, but yet somehow faster than I should go with no running. From here, the last 2.5 laps put me in the hurt locker. I gritted through it and made the most of my last lap, hanging on with the best I could muster. My time was just less than a minute off last year’s winner, and I could have raced him for it. Hell, even a bit of training could have saved me 10 minutes. I wobbled after crossing the line and headed to medical. My legs were shot – nothing like the sudden shutdown of my previous ultra follies – this was a slow, steady demise of the body as a result of not training very much. I tried to get into an ice bath but it was too cold. Instead I sat and chatted with other lost souls, glad to see the vomit come from someone else for a change.

A woman walks in and asks me to wait 10 min before going to the ceremony. I had no idea what she was talking about. Turns out, there were two races – the invited Championship race and an open version. Despite running about 40 min slower than I would have in top shape, I took 2nd place! I hobbled over to the podium to accept my prize – a miniature trophy of the Torch Hotel and a bouquet of flowers, and was invited back the next day for a ceremony at the hotel. Full press conference, all of the big wigs of athletics in Qatar were there. Photos, cake cutting, speeches. I then found out that not only was there the trophy and open race, there was a Golf Coast Countries (GGC) Championship. Being a resident of Qatar, I then won the GCC 50K Championship! There may be better people out there, but for one day, I am the top ultra runner in Qatar and the Middle East!

Still sweating 1 hour after the finish

GCC Champion!

It was my original resolution to move away from running and focus on other things. But there is something special about running, about pushing yourself to your limit. There is something, after all, life affirming about almost dying. I would prefer, however, to be in a little bit better shape the next time around.

2nd Open Male, 1st GCC, and the fun little Torch Hotel trophy to go with it

Getting the championship trophy from a big shot in Doha