Notes from Dan the Trail Buy #14

Trail Bits

1. A Great showing by all the Nanaimo runners at the Stewart Mt. GutBuster on Saturday. 4 out of the top ten were from Nanaimo. It looks like about 16 runners from here went down for the race. Amazing times and efforts were turned in by all that went down. Apparently some crazy fools even did the double and ran in the Bazan Bay 5km Race the next day. A total of 882 runners showed up for the Bazan Bay race, unbelievable. Those of us that stayed here ran the trails in behind the ridge for 90 minutes and ran a new route which featured more big views, lots of twists and turns and some great downhill. We will be doing this “new” route again as a two hour run in the next few weeks.

2. Notice of Road Trip – I have been speaking with Super Dave Kuhawly in Duncan about running the Cowichan River Trail. We would drop some vehicles in Duncan at Dave’s shop and then drive up to Skutz Falls and run back to Dave’s shop along the river trail. The section we will run will take us just over two hours. Please notice that we are heading down stream, not up stream, that is for things that spawn. The Cowichan River Trail follows the river the whole way, it is a beautiful run with amazing river views if you have never done it……
Date to be decided, but watch for it coming in mid April.

3. This week’s run – For those of you not going to Comox, but wanting to get in a two hour run, there will be a run of Humility Abyss starting from the Morrell Nature Sanctuary parking lot starting at 7:00 am. 2:00 hours in length. The entrance to the parking lot is off of Nanaimo Lakes Rd, right after the over pass. If you decide to come along, please remember to bring water and some sort of Gel, Gu, or whatever it is that you choose to replenish your body with (whiskey, beer, Starbucks coffee) . Two hours is too long to go without reloading the body. The route will be through Morrell, out to the power lines, a loop of Humility Abyss and back to the parking lot.

If you want to have a bit shorter run (1hr and 20 minutes), you can meet up with us at the start of the Humility Abyss on Harewood Mines Road where we normally run in from. We should be able to meet you there by no later than 7:10am – 7:15am.

4. Is Two Hours too much? Now that a lot of us are well into marathon training mode the runs will occasionally get longer. If the thought of running off road for an hour and a half or more is too much for you, but you are still wanting to get out and run trails (other than the Westwood loop) drop me a note and I will see if I can hook up a bunch of you together to run. Let me know if you are able to lead this group.

5. ABS Class –Sean Lunny is going to be offering another ABS & Stretching class starting April 14th. This one is 3 weeks longer. Oh Joy! Limit is 20 people. Time is 6:30 am. The cost is $25.00 for the 9 weeks left leading up to the Port Angeles Marathon. If you are interested please contact Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca you will be amazed at the difference that it makes to your running when your core is in shape, just ask anyone who has taken the clinic. Don’t be afraid of the pain, the pain does go away eventually. It’s one of those Hurts So Good, kind of things. Sean is also available to do an evening session on Thursday nights if there is enough interest.

6. Runners of Compassion – Hey, don’t forget that your membership dues are now payable. $10.00 each or $25.00 for a family.
· The weekly email that I send you is also available on the Frontrunners Blog at http://frontrunners.blogspot.com
· I am hoping in the near future to be able to post this directly onto the ROC Website each week and avoid having to bug you with an email each week.
· We are also going to look at having a spot on the ROC Website where you can post a question or inquiry that can get directed to the proper person for answering.

7. Saturday Morning Biking The start time is now 7:15 AM…..The ride will be 1 to 1 1/2 hours and will probably follow the Parkway and E&N trails. The bike group will meet back for coffee at Starbucks with the rest of the group.

8. Cedar 12k Volunteer Appreciation: Bastion Running Club is holding a volunteer appreciation party for any of you that volunteered at the Cedar race. The function is 8:00pm, March 18th at where, else but the Howard Johnson Hotel. In the room above the restaurant. Email Steve Gagliano if you are attending. gaglianos@shaw.ca

You’ve got to get up each morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction. George Horace Lorimer