Notes from Dan the Trail Guy #54

Moderation, everything in moderation!

That is my resolution for 2006. I will still continue to bring to your attention the usual and unusual runs and races and the more challenging events such as 50km Ultras, snowshoe races, Half Marathon Trail races, etc. Don’t worry, I will still be promoting all the usual crazy crap that most of us all love, the only difference will be that I will be approaching the participation side of things with a little bit more laid back style.

Even though the later part of 2005 was tough in terms of personal injuries, the accomplishments of ROC in 2005 helped make it a fantastic year.
2005 was a banner year in terms of the number of things; we had lots of new members signing up. ROC – Nanaimo Chapter now has 177 members as of my last count; we raised more money for charitable works than any of the past years; the Nanaimo Daily News Harbour City Half Marathon & 10km Road Race grew both in the number of runners we attracted and the amount of money it raised; the Westwood Lake GutBuster grew to become a measured half marathon distance trail race, which drew rave reviews from all of those that had the opportunity to race it and 2005 also saw a large piece of Mt. Benson purchased for park land.

The Saturday morning trail runs of 2005 were consistently attended by in excess of 30 people and quite often we had over 40 people show up. Even a large number of the die hard road warriors now show up to get a little dirty. I would especially like to thank all of you that faithfully show up on a Saturday morning to help with leading the groups. Without the help of Brad, Kathleen, Derek, Dennis, Mark, Michael, Tim, Phil, Ken, Stefan, Janine, Sat, Tammy, Russ, Owen, Lloyd, Norm, Karen, Linda, Monti, Ross and a few others that I have probably forgotten (I apologize) it wouldn’t be possible to do what we all love to do.

Most importantly though in 2005 was the fact that the number of people who offer to help with the charitable initiatives that we under take continues to grow and the positive affect that we are having in our community continues to grow. Owen is preparing a document which we will present to you at the AGM which will show you the number of children, adults and agencies that that we have been able to assist in Nanaimo. You will be amazed!

Out with 2005 and in with 2006
I need your membership renewals in please. January 14th is the cut off date. If you wish to renew your membership, simply fill out the form, attach $10.00 cash or a cheque and give it to either myself, Owen Carr, Kelly Mckee, Kathleen Richardson, Ken Jones, Eric Sundby or Ross Palfrey. You can also mail it in or you can drop it off at Frontrunners. Lots of ways to renew. If you aren’t a member of ROC, but still want to receive this weekly email, please send me a reply email prior to January 14th and let me know. Membership in ROC is not a prerequisite to receiving the weekly email nor is it a prerequisite to enable you to trail run with us on Saturdays….we just tend to be more compassionate towards you on the run if you are a member!

After January 14th I will be reformatting the Trail Bits data base and I will be removing anyone that I have not had a response from or received a renewal from. There are 87 members that still have not paid out of a total membership base of 177. We either have a lot of forgetful, lazy members or we are going to experience a dramatic reduction in our membership. Hopefully, it is like last year and it is laziness and forgetfulness.

Couple of more new things to bring to your attention. Again, most of it is physical in nature…..sorry!
1. January 14th – ROC AGM – 10:00 AM, ABC Country Restaurant – $10.99 Breakfast Buffet available. Proceeded by a run of the Duomont Trails. Please attend.

2. Tuesday Night Clinics – Tuesday night clinics at Frontrunners start again, Tuesday January 10th – 6:30pm – $ 2.00

3. More Ab Classes – Susan Briggs and North Ridge Fitness are offering Ab Classes to ROC members. Eight sessions for $40.00 starting on January 10, February 7 & March 7.Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. (half hour class) or, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. (half hour class) (Susan teaches this one). Anyone interested can register by contacting Northridge at 751-0505. Between Susan and Sean classes this means you can now work your ABS Monday AM, Tuesday AM, Tuesday PM, Thursday AM and Thursday PM

4. Spinning Classes – The big news is that Sean has rented the spinning studio at North Ridge Fitness Center. This means people will have the option of bringing their own bike and wind-trainer OR just using the spinning bikes already there. I’m hoping this will allow more people, especially beginners to come out and get in some cycling training. Classes start Wednesday, January 18th at 7:15PM. The clinic will run for 8 weeks and cost $50. Drop in will be $10. There is limited space however. Contact Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca

5. Water Running – Denise Miller recently went down to a "Water Running" clinic in Sooke and is pretty excited about having classes out of NAC. Maurya Tatler (Aquatic Programmer) and Denise are starting classes on Sunday, January 8th at 10:30 a.m. The class will be 45 minutes long. It's geared to ALL levels of fitness. Tri-Athletes are welcome too as some of the moves in the class will be sport specific. Denise would like to invite any ROC members to the pool during this time slot. She will permit a maximum of 30 people in each class - so first come - first serve. Her hope is that runners in particular, will start incorporating the "Water Running" and "Tri-It! Water Running" classes into their weekly workouts. As a lifeguard/fitness instructor Denise sees many individuals that she knows from running clubs and Tri-Athletes who show up at the pool to do water running. Most of these individuals are there because of an injury. She would like to promote injury prevention and she believes working out in the water with proper form and technique will help with some of those injuries incurred in training.

6. AB Classes – Thursday Nights 6:30PM Starting January 12 and Monday Mornings 6:30AM Starting January 16 - The cost is $20 for five sessions, and the classes run in five week blocks and are one hour long. To register people can Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca

7. Malaspina 5 km – Is January 8th If you are not racing in the Island race Series and want a local run, here is one for you. It starts at 10 am from the Malaspina Gymnasium (Bld. 190) and runs around Colliery Dam and then heads along Wakesiah to 3rd street. Then it goes around the back side of the track along the Parkway and back to the gym. It is free and will have some great prizes and coffee from Jumpin' Java. Click on the link below for the route. http://www.nanaimo.ca/uploadedfiles/Site_Structure/Corporate_Services/Corporate_Administration/WalkRun.pdf

8. Island Race Series – race # 1.
Central Saanich Pioneer 8K Host: Prairie Inn Harriers
Sunday, January 15, 200611:00 a.m.
Race Brochure

Saanich Fairgrounds, 1528 Stelly's X Road, Saanichton

$15 early registration fee, students $10, $18 for everyone after January 10, $20 day of race

Optional New Balance Long-sleeve Technical Tempo Top for $24

Race Director: Sylvan Smyth
email: pioneer@vira.bc.ca
phone: 250-480-7869

9. This weeks trail run for January 7th is a run of the Saddle. 8:00am start from Westwood Lake. About an hour and 15 minutes in length. Don’t forget we always head back to Starbucks for coffee after our runs. I just hiked the Saddle on Monday with Maureen and Danielle it was beautiful. Lots of water rushing around everywhere, lots of fresh smells and lots of mud!
Upcoming Stuff
· GutBuster #1 – March 5th – only 8 more weeks until the inaugural ROC Victoria Chapter GutBuster
· Mill Bay 10km – January 29th
· Cedar 12km – February 12th
· Hatley Castle 8km – February 26th
· Bazan Bay 8km – March 12th
· Comox Half Marathon – March 19th
· GutBuster # 2 Royal Roads - March 25th
· Sooke River 10km – April 2nd
· Whidbey Island Marathon – April 2nd
· Merville 15km – April 9th
· GutBuster # 3 Mt. Tzouhalem – April 15th
· Kusim Klimb - June