Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #51Trail Bits

Trail Bits

The Gals and Guys of ROC Rocked at the Gunner Shaw on Saturday. Several people finished 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their respective age groups, plus we had a couple of top ten overall finishers in the male and female divisions. Fantastic! Too Bad the weather was so crappy for all of you. Who wants a beautiful sunny day when you are running cross country? I eagerly wait to hear “the dirt” on how the race went and how deep the “puddle” was. That puddle is cold and smelly no matter what kind of weather you get.

FYI….. That was Norm’s last race as a single man. This coming Saturday he and Wendy are getting married…..Congratulations to both of them.

The turn out at Westwood was the smallest in ROC History…6 people showed up. 1 biked, 2 walked, and 3 ran.


Don’t Forget the Bastion Running Club’s Run & Dip on New Years Day…Westwood Lake

Runners of Compassion Bursary – On behalf of the Directors and Members of Runners of Compassion – Nanaimo Chapter, I am happy to announce that as a result our on going fund raising efforts we have been able to commit to two $1000.00 School District 68 Bursaries. One each will be awarded to a male & female Nanaimo student in financial need who has registered with a post secondary institution. There is a full written criteria available at the School Board offices.

Nanaimo Give & Go! – December 1st, 5:00pm – 7:00pm (longer if you choose to come back to Longwood afterwards for dinner) – I know that in the past we have had too many people well this year I am starting to panic. If you are coming please let me know. I know that a number of you have said you may come, but right now I have only had 3 people take the time to let me know they will actually be helping…. Don’t forget to drive buy and drop off your donations of food and clothing on Thursday. The shelters are in desperate need of winter coats, toques and warm socks. Please check you closets and drop off those items that you and your family don’t use anymore.

Frosty Foot Race – December 4th Bowen Park Contact Sherri Wade at WadeS@MALA.BC.CA .Proceeds to youth sports. There will be a child minding service available at this event.

Bryan Adams Benefit Concert- I don’t have any more details to pass along as of yet. As soon as I have them I will pass along the information to you. One thing I do know is that I am going to be looking for a number of volunteers to work during and after the concert. After the concert is over all the chairs on the floor have to be removed as does the wood from on top of the ice, the stands need sweeping and the Plexiglass needs to be re-installed, etc. Minor Hockey has graciously agreed to release the use of the arena to the Coalition on the Saturday, but we have promised that we will have the arena back in use for them by Sunday morning.


This Weeks Run – I have finalized details with Lynn & Kathy concerning their leading the group on a “NEW” run of the trails in Nanoose. We are good to go this Saturday…7:30 am. Lynn will run in all conditions. It will take you no more than 15 minutes to get from Chapters to the Trail Head.
Long Directions. Here they are...
· Head towards Parksville (hopefully that is a given) and turn right at the Petro Canada station.
· Follow the road up and over the two sets of railroad tracks.
· Take the first road on the right after the tracks this is Powder Point Road.
· Head towards Fairwinds Golf Course.
· You will pass St. Mary’s church on the right, then you will pass OZERO ACRES FARM on the left and then head up a big hill.
· Keep going until you reach a four way stop sign. There are big signs here that say Fairwinds on them at this point. Keep Straight
· Go straight for about .2 km and on the left there is a gravel parking lot with a wooden rustic fence here. This is the parking lot!
· The trail head is here! Park very tightly together please as the lot is not terribly large.

Early Warnings
· 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.