Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #47

Trail Bits for November 12th, 2005


Another large crowd out for the run on Saturday and yet again there were more new faces in the crowd….amazing! A Thank You goes out to Tim, Brad & Kathleen, and Mark & Stefan for leading the three individual groups that went out and did the tour of Morell. A special thank you to my guy, Bob for keeping me company on the bike. We had ample people show up to help with the work in the Loaves and Fishes warehouse. What the folks from Loaves and Fishes thought would take a crew of us about 2 hours to complete, actually took us about 25 minutes. I will send out more information later in the week about their need to have people come down and help them make up the actual Christmas hampers.

Please remember to email me any feedback you have regarding the runs. Here are a couple of comments from last week:
“I ran in the middle group, and really enjoyed it. There was some grumbling about how Brad was able to find hills to go up and none to go down, but that’s what makes us strong! Please extend my thanks to Brad and I look forward to this weekend”…………………..”I think having people come out to run on Saturday mornings is great. Fresh air, fun exercise (and often exhausting exercise for someone still trying to get used to hills and trail running), spectacular views (from some points of the trails), what's not to enjoy? It's given me a chance to see and appreciate some of the city's natural beauty”…….” I also like that the group now divides into smaller groups, with each running its own pace and route. This has been a nice change”

I have attached a 2006 Membership Renewal Form for you. Please fill all of it in so I can update your membership information. It can be dropped off to any of the ROC Executive or can be dropped off at Frontrunners. If you have just joined ROC in the past month or so, you are covered for your 2006 dues. If you are not sure of exactly how long ago you signed up, email me. You can also bring your membership form to the dance. Ross will be accepting membership renewals for both Bastion and ROC.

If you have anything that you would like to donate as a door prize for the dance, please let either myself or Kathleen Richardson know.

Lots of new information below:

Nanaimo Give & Go! – December 1st, 5:00pm – 7:00pm - Mark it on your calendar to either come down and help at the event or to drive by and drop off some food or clothing. Does someone want to volunteer to help coordinate the ROC members that want to help with this event? Let me know. Easy, easy job.

Sean’s Mountain Biking Course – is confirmed for November 19th, 7:30 am, $10.00, limit 20 people. There are still a couple of spots open.

Sale Item – Charline has 2 books of 6 tickets for Mount Washington Cross Country Skiing for sale. Available at the Early Bird price of $98.00 + GST = $107 each. If interested contact Charline Sinclair at 756-4569 or work 756-7222

Gunner Shaw Cross Country Race – if you run on Saturday mornings with the group, you are more than ready for this race. Not near as tough as some of the stuff we run on a regular basis, just a little bit wet in spots. It is Saturday, November 26th at Thetis Lake Park just outside of Victoria. It is the cheapest race you will ever enter, just $10.00 if register now on line. Make a plan on coming down with us. Last year I think ROC Nanaimo had about 20 racers entered in the event.

Marathon & Half Marathon and Learn to run Clinics – John Lowen and Stefan Jakobsen are once again offering long distance training, starting in January for a destination race in the spring. The races this year are the Whidbey Island Marathon & Half Marathon in April & The Newport, Oregon Marathon and Half Marathon in June. Details available through Frontrunners or via email at performance05@hotmail.com . First Come, First registered….space is limited so don’t delay.
The Learn to Run Program, which starts in late November, would be a great program for those of you that has a partner or friend that wants to get into running. The goal is to complete the Mill Bay 10k Race in January. See either Stefan or Gillian at Frontrunners for details. If you enjoy not having your spouse or significant other running, delete this email.

Party Tickets – Boy oh boy if you haven’t paid by now, you are in BIG TROUBLE with the gals in the social Committee.

Thetis Lake Relays – November 11th, Remembrance Day, 1:00pm. Good luck to all of you that are running on Friday. Man is it going to be wet and fun….ya hoo!!!! The boys from Frontrunners should do well (Steve Osiaduk, Jim Finlayson, John Lowen & Stefan Jakobsen). They are the team to beat right now. Steve set the course record last year running with Kevin as a two man team.

ROC Toques, ROC Technical Shirts & 2006 ROC Calendars - are all now in stock at Frontrunners. Great Christmas presents.

Request for Volunteers: ROC has been asked if we will provide volunteers and/or runners to help with the following races. Please support them if you can.
Nanaimo Track & Field Harbour Front 5Km – November 20th, starts and finishes at the Howard Johnson Hotel. Just like the name says, it is a run of the Harbour Front Walkway. This is a fundraiser for the Track & Field Club. Contact Brian Foan at befoan@shaw.ca Proceeds to re-surfacing the track.
Women Run Wild – November 27th, North Oyster Elementary School. Contact Carol Roy at 753-5844 or via email at mcroy@telus.net Proceeds to Haven House
Frosty Foot Race – December 4th Bowen Park Contact Sherri Wade at WadeS@MALA.BC.CA .Proceeds to youth sports.

This weekends trail run – This coming weekend – November 12, 2005 will be another run of about 1:20 min (one hour and 20 minutes) in time. This time, by special request we will be returning to the Lantzville Foothills. We will run the route that Andrea showed us a couple of weeks ago. This route is a tad bit hilly in case of haven’t run it before. I will again be on my bike if anyone wants to join me?
· 7:30am Start at the end of Harwood Road.
· Harwood Road – is located at the end of Ware Rd. Take Ware from the Island Highway (left turn if going North, Right turn if heading south). Follow Ware Rd it up the hill until you come to Harwood Rd. Turn left. We will be at the end of the road.
· Coffee at Starbucks afterwards.

Arrowsmith Bikes is offering all Runners of Compassion and Bastion Running Club members 10% off parts and accessories

Early Warnings
· 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 1 Nanaimo Give & Go! – Thursday December 1st is the date of the 3rd Annual Nanaimo Give and Go!
· 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.