Trail Bits 2006 #4

Trail Bits 2006 # 4

Saturday saw the usual 25 - 30 people show up for a run of the Humility Abyss Trails. The trail report was that the trails were in amazing shape considering the amount of rain we have had. On the same day a number of ROC Nanaimo members were seen snow shoe racing up at Mt. Washington on Saturday morning. The course was a 5k loop that saw the racers having to climb almost 1000 ft in the first 2km. What a fun little work out that would be. I am sure that everyone came home feeling a little sore and tight in their calf muscles as well as a number of the other smaller muscles that seem to get trashed when you snow show race. Speaking of snow shoeing, Kathleen and the Social Committee will be organizing a Saturday morning snow shoe outing for the Trail Group in the coming months. I think that it will be similar to when we went up last time, which was a price that included your snow show rental, a guide for two hours and a bag lunch back at the Nordic Lodge. This will be good chance for those of you that haven’t snow shoed to come up and try it. This will be a hike, not a run or a race. Kathleen will send out details at a later date.

Starting on February 4th after an extended period of no running, I will finally be starting up a walk/run program. If you have a friend/spouse/partner that would welcome an opportunity to get out and walk/run the trails with me, please let me know. The intention is to get myself and those that come out with me to the point where I/we can run with the main group by the end of March. It will obviously entail lots of hiking up and down hills, getting muddy and maybe even getting wet, but it will definitely not entail any whining. I will have the walk/run group out for the same period of time that the main group is out for their run and we will meet at the same location. Email me.
Ps. the walk/run is meant to be a training clinic so please DO NOT bring me your kids, your mom & dad, your grandparents or some visiting relative to baby sit while you are out for a nice run.

1. Mill Bay 10k – is this coming Sunday. Race time is 11:00. For those of you car pooling, people are meeting at the Southgate Tim Horton’s at 9:00am. Due to the large increase in the number of people racing in the Island Series (Pioneer 8km 2005 – 434 finishers) (Pioneer 8km 2006 – 729 finishers) you may need to get to Mill Bay early if you hope to find parking close by. Last year there were over 550 finishers at Mill Bay, so I would think it may have close to 800 this year.

2. Bike Repair Clinic- Arrowsmith Bikes is holding a Bike Repair Clinic this Wednesday Night, January 25, 6:30 at their shop located behind Earls Restaurant. Cost is $ 40.00 which includes a tool kit (Mini tool, tire levers, tube and patch kit) $10.00 with no repair kit. Learn how to fix a broken chain, change a tube, limp home on a broken derailleur, or a bent wheel. Call 758-6675 for more details or o book a spot.

3. Poop Patrol – a heads up that Malaspina University College will be applying Bio Solids in the forested areas in behind the Wastelands Motocross track up at the end of Dumont. Please avoid this area for the next while.

4. Oceanside Cross Country - the Oceanside Cross Country Race Sun. Feb. 5th. It is a very low key, fun event. The registration is day of race only at 12 noon in the parking lot behind the Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Quallicum Beach

5. Cedar 12k - this is Bastion Running Clubs big race of the year. Lots of volunteers, marshals and racers will be needed for this race. February 12th, please email Darrell Orosz at janddorosz@shaw.ca if you can help with set up, registration, marshalling. There are duties that will allow you to volunteer and race.

6. Bikes for Tykes (B4T) – we will be arranging a bike drop off day in the near future. Stay tuned for details.

7. Subway Island Relay – The organizers of the Subway Island Relay are in need of one or two bodies that would be able to commit to being the sweepers (in a vehicle) on the day of the Relay, May 27, 2006. The sweepers would follow the last runners as they make their way from Courtenay to Nanaimo. If you would like more information on this, please email me.

8. The RUN Details – Westwood Lake- main parking lot, 8:00 am for a run of the trails in Morrell and around the general Westwood Lake area. Hour & fifteen. Please let me know if you would be able to help with leading a group this Saturday. Thanks. Apparently the 5 minute late arrival rule has been removed; you need to be on time!

Upcoming Stuff

· GutBuster #1 – March 5th – only 5 more weeks until the inaugural ROC Victoria Chapter GutBuster

· Mill Bay 10km – January 29th

· Oceanside Cross Country – February 5th

· 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