Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #31

Trail Bits

What a great weekend. Saturday saw us venturing onto the Dumont trails for what the group thought was one of the best trail runs we had in a long time. We took in a number of real nice new trails, ran at a good pace and ended up at Chapters as usual….perfect! We should have realized that the Duomont trails being real muddy in July was a sign from Mother Nature that she had some interesting things in store for us the next day. Sunday saw about 30 of us meeting in the parking lot of Chapters as we arranged car pooling on a beautiful sunny morning. After a quick drive up the mountain we set off on what ended up being a 2:40 trail run. The SPEED hiking group did a 2:00 hike. I apologize to those of you in the hiking group that had to wait for us to return. I didn’t think it would take us close to three hours to run only 16k. But it was a tough run due to the mud. Yes, more mud. But this mud was deep and nasty, the kind that wants to keep your running shoe as a souvenir. I have never seen such a dirty group of people after a run. Despite the mud, it was a classic run. Lots of great scenery, mud, roots, big views, mud, and two big switch back hills climbs, and very few bugs. Apparently the meal afterwards at Atlas in Courtenay was fantastic as well.

Harbour City Half Marathon – James Williams has graciously agreed to be in charge of recruiting course marshals for the event which takes place September 11th. James is asking those of you who are able to commit to volunteering as a course marshal of in any other capacity to please e-mail, James Williams, at jfwilly@shaw.ca or telephone him at 250-390-3738. Thank you so much for your consideration of his request!

This weeks run is a Run of Linley Valley – 7:00am – Burma Road. Burma Rd. is off of Lost Lake Rd. Turn onto Lost Lake Rd at the very top of Rutherford Hill. Follow it for a long ways (5 minutes). When you come to Burma Rd turn right. We will run for about 75 -85 minutes.

Full Moon is Thursday Night. Anyone interested in a night run? 9:30pm Start - You have to email me for more details. You need an LED Headlamp if you want to trail run at night.

Early Warnings: Frosty Foot Race - December 4th, 2005, Bowen Park, Nanaimo, 10 am start, registration 9:15, 10km Run, 5km Run or Walk, 1km Tot Trot