Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #44

Trail runs now start at 7:30 am
Be careful out there.

As I mentioned last week, the leaves on the ground can hide a number of obstacles as one of the runners found out on the weekend. Please be extra careful with your footing. Even though the group was held back from venturing off to Hornby Island, the group did get in a good run ofthe trails and bluffs in the Linley Valley and managed to take in the later part of the sunrise when they reached the top of the bluff.

Tickets for theWinter Bash (Christmas party) were being sold at a very brisk pace as Brad can attest to. If you obtained tickets on Saturday, with the intent of paying at a later date, please remember to bring your money this Saturday. Tickets are available from Kathleen Richardson kathleenrichardson@telus.net or Judy Orosz janddorosz@shaw.caand/or Frontrunners. Don't delay on getting your tickets, they are going extremely fast. Your ticket also entitles you to enter a draw for a Weekendf or Two in Tofino at the Middle Beach Lodge, a draw for a Weekend for Two inVictoria at the Howard Johnson Hotel & Suites as well as a couple of other draw prizes.

If you have a new trail that you would like to take us out on please e mailme and let me know. Any new trail runs should be at least 60-70 minutes inlength. I will be scheduling runs to Ammonite Falls, Top Bridge - Rathtrevor Park Combo, Holland Creek (Ladysmith) and the Nanoose Hills. If you want to lead one of these runs, please let me know a date that works for you.

1. ROC Toques, ROC Technical Shirts & 2006 ROC Calendars - are all now in stock at Frontrunners and will make great Christmas presents or stocking stuffers. The toques are embroidered with the "ROC- Every Step Counts". The shirts you have all seen by now. The calendar is really nice and has most of the races that happen on Vancouver Island listed in it. Please think of buying one of these items as they have been brought in and paid for by Norm and Stefan with Frontrunners making virtually no profit on any of these items. In fact, any profit they make on these items they split with ROC. This is just one example of the continuing support that Stefan and Norm giveto ROC.

2. Frontrunners News
1st - They have just received theirfirst ever shipment of Montrail Trail shoes. Really great trail shoes, check them out.
2nd - They will be having an Adidas Testing Day at Frontrunners on theTuesday night clinic of the 1st of November.
3rd - They have Gunner Shaw and Thetis Lake entry forms
4th - The FRN Party and Cyclo-Cross race are shaping up. See Norm for details on the race and party.
5th - There are now Petzel lights in stock for those of you that night run.

3. Runners of Compassion Notice Board - The Board is being updated with photos of the Golf Tourney (not all photos turned out.sorry) and photos ofPort Angeles. We will also be starting to post the location of the WeeklyTrail Run on the board as well as a copy of the Trail Bits.

4. This weekends trail run - This coming weekend - October the 29thwill be a 1:30 run (one hour and 30 minutes) of the Morell Nature Sanctuaryand a few of the connector trails from Westwood Lake....Start time is7:30am, Meet in the main Westwood Lake Parking lot. It will be wet and it maybe muddy so be ready. See you at coffee afterwards. Remember to startout slow for the first 10 minutes. Talk time!

5. Arrowsmith Bikes is the store and Robin Dutton (ROC member) is the owner- Arrowsmith Bikes which is new to Nanaimo will be opening very shortlyin the same plaza as EARLS. Robin (I am a survivor of a close encounter witha truck) Dutton along with Kebble Sheaff from Arrowsmith bikes in Parksvillewill be partners in the shop. They will be carrying Santa Cruz mountainbikes, Haro BMX and mountain bikes, Masi road bikes and Trek bikes. As I said they are located directly behind Earl's restaurant in Rock City Center and will be doing sales, repairs and clinics. Some of which Robin will leadwhen he is more able bodied. Maybe we need to start a cycling chapter. Theywill also be doing a full line of road and triathlon bikes which issomething none of the bikes stores in this town seem to do..check it out

6. There is no # 6.
Gotta go!

Early Warnings* 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 (RemembranceDay) is a 4 X 5km Team Relay all run on single track trails.* NOV 12 Frontrunners Annual Shop Party - November 12th, DJ, Lotsof Friends, Lots of Food, Lots of Fun, Scooter Racing, more details to comeeach 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 youmust come to this race with us. It is one of the oldest x/c trail racesin BC. Draws a great crowd. Amazing course. It can be wet!!!! Put it onyour calendar right now, so you don't double book yourself.* NOV 27 Women Run Wild - Girls only. Annual fund raiser forHaven House. Details at Frontrunners or via Women's Pace website.* DEC 1 Nanaimo Give & Go! - Thursday December 1st is the dateof the 3rd Annual Nanaimo Give and Go!* DEC 10 Stewart Mountain Cross Country - 10 miles on a reallyclassic 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 TotTrot* 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 veryquick 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.