Notes from Dan the Trail guy NUMBER 50!!!!

Trail Bits

Well it was a day of Running, Biking, Voting & Dancing on Saturday as originally planned.

Sean’s Bike course was about 2 hours in length, with lots of emphasis being given to the basic skills required to properly & safely ride off road. We worked on proper body position and gearing for hill climbs and descents; we worked on how to ride the trails and lift/jump your front tire over an obstacle and then how to kick up your back tire over as well. We addressed safety issues, what to take when heading out on a trail ride, etc. A couple of the guys even worked on how to not so gracefully flip themselves over their handle bars. All in all it was very informative and I know that we all came away from the course having learnt something new…..Thanks Sean…we raised $100.00 for ROC

The Long Run was spectacular from all reports. The group of about 20 headed into Boomerang Lake for what ended up being a 2 hour and 10 minute run. After the first 30-40 minutes, which was all climbing (as forewarned) the group ran down in towards the lake and was greeted to sunshine, a completely calm lake with bits of mist floating about and even a couple of swans (I think that was Derek & Brad in their Swan Lake costumes) The majority of people on the run commented that it was “the best trail run yet”…thanks Derek

The Short Run group ran for about 1 hour and 30 minutes and managed to not run on the poop trails. There was some confusion apparently in terms of the toughness of the run. Even though the run maybe purported to be a short run, it does not necessarily mean that it will be an easy run. If I gave you the impression that the short run was going to be easy I apologize.

Dancing….well what more can be said. Fantastic Party…thanks to the social butterflies of Roc & Bastion (Kathleen, Judy, Darla, Carrie, Karen, Iona, Linda, Anne, Charline, Steve, Darrell, Brad) Fantastic Food….Thanks to Alex Berlingette and her staff at Carrot on the Run, Great Music….thanks to Ron from RSM Productions, Great Door Prizes……thanks to Derek & Karen Riley – Riley Construction, Karla Davies – Zulak Financial, Tammy Phye – Lifestyle Harmony, Barry Roscoe – North Douglas Sysco Foods, Longwood Brew Pub, Mt. Washington Alpine Resort. Fantastic People…..all of you! You all looked Marvelous!!!!!!! As Ross stated in the Bastion email, black is still the colour to wear. All in all it was a great time; I think the final number of people attending was over 160 people. Special Thanks to Ross Palfery for so patiently sitting at the door taking tickets and membership renewals for both Bastion & ROC. Please remember to get yours in before the end of the year.

Yvonne Visser emailed me from god only knows where today, wanting some dirt on what happened at the party. Sadly there was nothing to report to her, everyone was so very well behaved. This according to the bartenders was amazing considering the volume of bar sales. They were very impressed with the amount of alcohol that such an athletic bunch of people could consume.

Nanaimo Give & Go! – December 1st, 5:00pm – 7:00pm (longer if you choose to come back to Longwood afterwards for dinner) – We need a dozen or so people to help with the traffic control. Please email me if you are planning on helping with this.

Gunner Shaw Cross Country Race – if you are heading down for the race and want to car pool, then meet at the Tim Horton’s in the Southgate Shopping Plaza at 10:45am. The race starts at 1:00pm. We should have you back in Nanaimo by 4:30ish. Remember to bring a COMPLETE CHANGE of clothes and shoes.

Runners of Compassion Annual General Meeting – will take place on January 14th at 10:00am. Location T.B.A. This will again be an après run, breakfast meeting. We seem to get the largest turn out for a meeting when we combine our meeting with running and food, which doesn’t’ surprise me. If you are interested in standing for a position on the Board of Directors of ROC please forward your name to Kelly McKee, the President of ROC Nanaimo kemckee@shaw.ca . If you would like more information in terms of what is the expected of you as a Director, what the time commitments are, etc please contact either Kelly or myself or any of the other ROC Directors.

This Weeks Run – If you are not coming down to The Gunner Shaw Cross Country race the meeting place for this weekends run will be Westwood lake Parking Lot at 7:30 am. This may end up being an unguided group run depending on who shows up for the run, as all of the usual suspects that lead the Saturday runs are apparently coming down for the Gunner Shaw. I am just finalizing details with Dr. Leuke and Ms. Barber concerning their leading the group on a “NEW” run of the trails in Nanoose. The tentative date for this run would be December 3rd.

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.
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. There will be a child minding service available at this event. I think this is what use to be called babysitting…????


Early Warnings
· 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.