Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #41

Trail Bits

I left my house late on Saturday as usual and raced my way north in a
successful attempt on being on time for a Linley run. Thank god there isn't
lots of traffic on a Saturday morning. I made it just in time. What a sight
greeted me as I turned onto Burma Rd. There were cars parked bumper to
bumper on both sides of the road from end to end. In total I think we had
close to 50 people show up for the run, with lots of new faces in the group.
I have to tell you that you are all so predictable. As the temperatures
begin to drop and as the rain and winds of autumn begin to pick up in
intensity, out come the Trail Runners. Just like the swallows return each
spring to Capistrano, so do the trail runner's return to the woods of
Nanaimo each fall. It was great to see so many of you there.

We quickly broke the group up into three and away we went for about an hour and ten
minute run. Once again the group I was in got its butt kicked by a speedy 13
years old who never tires out. Next week Max is graduating to group 1. You
guys can try and tire him out. The make up of the groups seemed to work
really well. Each group that came off the trail at the end had lots of
smiles and lots of sweat. I hope that all of you people that are new to the
group enjoyed the run. I would, welcome any feedback, either positive or
negative that you might have.

I do need to speak in regards to the dogs. Dogs have always been a welcome
addition to the group and will hopefully continue to be a welcome part of
the group. Now that there are 5 or 6 dogs at a time showing up I think we
need to try and ensure that they do not become a bother to those of us that
don't have dogs. Can we try having those of you that bring your dogs not run
in the middle of the group when we are first starting out? This is the time
when everyone is closely grouped together and the dogs tend to be excited
and cut in and out of people. People are sometimes getting tripped up and
having to be careful of the dogs as we start out. If we keep the dogs and
their owners either at the front or back of the group to start with it might
alleviate some of the confusion. It's worth a try. Once we get a km or so
under our feet the group has spread out and the dogs have realized that they
are in for a run and settle down. The positive thing is that all the dogs
get along, as do the dog owners.

Good luck to all of you that are venturing off to either Portland or
Victoria for racing this coming weekend, travel safe and race strong. We
will look forward to your race reports when you return.

1. Abs Class "Second Session" - Couple of notes about Abs Class....
Due to Thanksgiving and the Royal Vic marathon there will not be a Monday
morning class on October 10th. That date will be made up on the 24th of
October. New sessions of Sean's Abs Class will start on Thursday October
2oth and Monday October 31st. Both sessions are five weeks in length and
cost $20.00. They are starting in different weeks due to the make up date.
If you want to re-confirm your spot or you want to join the Abs Class for
the first time email Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca as soon as you
can. The classes always fills up quickly.

2. Nanaimo Give & Go! - Thursday December 1st is the date of the 3rd
Annual Nanaimo Give and Go! Runners of Compassion in partnership
with The Nanaimo Daily News, Chek 6, and the Nanaimo Salvation Army stage
this annual event that is put on in order to help fill the food bank and to
collect warm clothing for those people in need. ROC has the fun task of
directing the vehicle traffic as it enters and exits the drop off area of
the Give & Go! It's always lots of fun so please mark this date on your
calendar to either help volunteer or to drive by and drop off some food or
clothing. I am already having people sending me their names offering to
volunteer, so please drop me a note if you plan on helping out.

3. CHRISTMAS PARTY - The combined Bastion/ROC Christmas Party (Fall
Dance) is confirmed for November 19th in the Legion Hall at Townsite &
Bowen.

4. This weekends trail run - This coming weekend - October the 8th will
be a run of the Lantzville Foothills...7:00am, yes it might be a little by
dark at that time, but I still think we can give it a go. Here are the
Driving Directions. Take the Island Highway to Ware Rd. Turn left if you are
coming from town, turn right if coming from Parksville. Follow Ware Rd to
the end. You will come to a T Junction. This is Harwood Rd. Turn left on
Harwood Road. We will be right around the corner. Please notice that I said
foothills. This might be a hint that there could be some incline to run up.
Nothing really steep, just typical Nanaimo stuff -gradual climbs.

Early Warnings

* OCT 17 FULL MOON RUN - Only if the weather permits.
* OCT 22 HORNBY ISLAND - Trail, Beach and Bluff Run - (no, not a
buff run.so keep your clothes on!) Depart Chapters 6:00 am, 1:00pm arrive
back. I need to know if you are coming.
* OCT 30 Shawnigan Lake Half Marathon - check out the P.I.H.
website for details http://pih.bc.ca/Calendar.php
* NOV 11 Thetis Lake Relays - ROAD TRIP! - The Thetis Lake Relays
($20.00 for a team) which takes place on Friday November 11th (Remembrance
Day) is a 4 X 5km Team Relay all run on single track trails.
* NOV 12 Frontrunners Annual Shop Party - November 12th, DJ, Lots
of Friends, Lots of Food, Lots of Fun, Scooter Racing, more details to come
each week.
* NOV 20 Nanaimo Track & Field Harbour Front 5Km - November 20th ,
Location and time to be announced, this is a fundraiser for the Track &
Field Club
* NOV 26 Gunner Shaw Cross Country - Saturday November 26th, Thetis
Lake Park Victoria, if you consider yourself a trail runner then you must
come to this race with us. It is one of the oldest x/c trail races in BC.
Draws a great crowd. Amazing course. It can be wet!!!! Put it on your
calendar right now, so you don't double book yourself.
* NOV 27 Women Run Wild - Girls only. Annual fund raiser for Haven
House. Details at Frontrunners or via Women's Pace website.
* DEC 10 Stewart Mountain Cross Country - 10 miles on a really
classic cross country course.
* DEC 4 Frosty Foot Race - December 4th, 2005, Bowen Park,
Nanaimo, 10 am start, registration 9:15, 10km Run, 5km Run or Walk, 1km Tot
Trot
* JAN 1st Bastion Running Club's Run & Dip - New Years Day,
Westwood Lake, Time - TBA, one lap or more of the lake, followed by a very
quick dip in the lake. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, it doesn't matter,
Darrell and the Bastion crew will be there waiting for you. Great way to
start off 2006.

That's enough..Gotta go!

Dan