Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #9

Bits & Other Bits of News

1. Okay all you ROC members out there, The Bastion Running ClubCedar 12k is on Sunday February 13th and we need to show our support.The Bastion RC has always been quick to help us and step forward to lendguidance and assistance when we need it, so please try and free up timeto either run or volunteer at their race if you can. Darrell still needs8 more course marshals. Please contact Darrell Orosz atjanddorosz@shaw.ca if you canvolunteer? If you are volunteering orrunning can you please let me know, as I would like to be able to letthe Bastion Executive know how many ROC members attended..thanks

2. Last Saturdays run in the rain or was it a swim in the rain, notsure? Those that ventured out on a very wet Saturday morning havereported back to me with glowing reviews of the run.. Here are a fewquotes from those that went: "Waist deep? For those of us that venturedto go through the 'Gunner Shaw'-type puddle... same length... samedepth... just not the rancid smell of the good old Gunner pond. Somerunners found a little round-a-bout and for some unknown reason thoughtthat they may remain 'dry???' for the run.... I believe that most of uswere soaked before we passed the yellow gate at the beginning of therun. We gingerly ran attempting to avoid the mud and puddles for aboutthe first five minutes and then just gave in...The run was great - lotsof different people leading us on a few of the known loops -RottenRooter and Space Balls were my favorite"..... Yes you missed the run ofthe year. Water up to my crotch on 3 sisters, slippery roots on RottenRooter, snow on Space Balls and mud on Bonsai. It was an epic struggleof strength and perseverance"... "We were thinking of you while we werewading - you would have loved it! Pissing rain, snow on the trail, andpuddles were over the knees on several occasions. We started as onegroup in the dark, and after 40 minutes through middle cut and rottenrooter we split into 2 paces. A really great time!"...!So, next time you are lying in bed, listening to the rain pound on theroof, wondering whether or not those "crazy buggers" will be runningtoday, you now know the answer. YES we will be, so get your sorry buttout of bed and come for a swim with us!

3. Marathon & Half Marathon training Clinics - still room left, sodon't delay any longer. You won't want to miss the great long runs westart to do on Saturdays as we increase our weekly mileage. Don't forgetthe regular Tuesday Clinics at Frontrunners, only $ 2.00 drop in fee.

4. Once the training clinics get underway, we could need to havesome "new leaders" step forward as some of the regular Saturday morningleaders will be taking the clinics and will be starting to lengthen thetime of their runs. What we have done in the past and what worked wellis I start to refer to the groups as The Long Distance Group and theMiddle Distance Group. The Middle Distance Group will be the group forthose of you that want to keep the distances of their runs in the hourand 20 minute range. The Long Distance group will start to lengthentheir runs up to increase their runs to about the 3 hour plus rangeeventually. The run schedule will be a little confusing as we get intothe later part of April and into May and those getting ready for PortAngeles need to do some Road Runs. I will try and make sure that we arestill able to offer a trail run each weekend.

5. Mill Bay 10K is this Sunday, 11:00am. Great 10k out and backalong the water. Good luck to all of you racing. Remember to register asBastion - ROC

6. LINLEY VALLEY - is the location of this weekend run. Lots of youasked for me to leave it in the run schedule, so weather permitting weshould see a good turn out. We will meet at Burma Rd at 7:30. For thoseof you that don't know, Burma Rd runs off of Lost Lake Rd. DIRCETIONS:Take Rutherford Rd to Vanderneuk, turn onto Vanderneuk, it quicklybecomes Lost Lake Rd. Follow Lost Lake Rd to Burma Rd, turn right, youwill see us right away.

Have a great week everyone.
Dan