Trail Bits 2006 #11

ROC Trail Bits # 11

I forgot to Thank Kathleen and the Social Committee for organizing the Snow
Shoeing trip to Mt Washington. Good job, I still hear lots of people talking
about the adventure.

A Thank You also goes out to Norm and Stefan and all the Frontrunners staff for hosting us at the store for coffee and baked
goods this past Saturday.

March 25th is the first race of the 2006 GutBuster Trail Racing Series. In
case you weren't aware of it Runners of Compassion is the Official Charity
of the series. With that in mind I would like to encourage as many of you as
possible to attend the upcoming races. Don't let the distance frighten you,
there is a choice of either a 5 km or 11.7 km race. Both of these races are
distances that are under what most of you trail run every Saturday morning.

Also, Good Luck to all of you running the Comox Half Marathon on Sunday.

Be sure to read below as there are a few new additions in regards to races
and clinics.

*      GutBuster # 1- Judging by the talk at coffee on the weekend and by
the emails I have received it sounds like we are going on a road trip to
Royal Roads. The March 25th race takes place 10:00 am at Royal Roads
University just outside Victoria. Let me know if you want to come down.
<http://www.gutbustertrailrun.com/home.html>
http://www.gutbustertrailrun.com/home.html

*      Mountain Bike Racing - Robin Dutton and Arrowsmith Cycles are holding
two mountain bike races in April. One on the 2nd and the 9th.  The April 2nd
is a cross country time trial of the Humility / Abyss loop.  Registration
starts at 10:00 and racing commences at 12:00.  The April 9th race is a
downhill race on the trail named "What's it's name" on Duomont, registration
is at 10:00 and start time is 12:00

*     Bike Repair Clinic - Robin Dutton is also holding a road/trailside
repair clinic on the 28th of March.  Topics that will be covered are flat
tires, broken chains and broken derailleur's, as well as anything else that
comes up.  Cost is $15 and includes a water bottle and tube.      Email
Robin at dutwil@telus.net for the
time and place.

*     Mountain Bike Riding Clinic -Sean Lunny is once again offering ROC a
Mountain Bike Clinic. Saturday April 29th 8:00 am - 10:00am. This two hour,
$ 20.00 clinic will teach you the basic techniques you should know before
venturing off into the woods. Proper up hill riding, down hill riding, how
to get over those dam logs lying across the trail, what you should take with
you when heading out for a ride, etc. 100% of the proceeds from this clinic
will go back to Runners of Compassion..Thanks Sean      Email Sean at
seanlunny@shaw.ca to reserve a
spot.

*     Island Relay - is fast approaching - May 27th. The one day relay
starts in Courtenay and follows the spectacular scenic highway through the
picturesque Vancouver Island communities to Nanaimo. Only eight runners
required per team for eight stages or Ultra distances of 50 km or 100 km.
This year the race ends in north Nanaimo. For more details go to
http://www.vancouverislandrelay.com <http://www.vancouverislandrelay.com/>
we should try and get a couple of ROC teams together for the relay. I have
attached a PDF for the Island Race Series.

*     An Evening of Adventure Racing - Mind over Mountain Adventure Racing -
Frontrunners and Ocean River Sports is proud to present "An Evening of
Adventure Racing". Only $10.00. Call the store 729-8200 and reserve your
spot. It will fill up, so don't delay.  Click
<http://www.mindovermountain.com/momar/training/specialevent_ar_night1.htm>
here for more info.

*     MOMAR Training Clinics Schedule - is now available. They are offering
clinics in Vancouver, Victoria, Courtenay, Duncan, Nanaimo, and Squamish
before every MOMAR. They have specific clinics to teach you how paddle
faster as well as an intro to mountain biking. And the ever popular MOMAR
101 clinic is back. This is the one that will give you the knowledge and
confidence to get to the start line of the MOMAR and navigate your way to
success! Clinics start in April. Click here
<http://www.mindovermountain.com/momar/training/clinics.htm>
for more info.

*     This week's run - This week is a run and hike is of the Humility Abyss
loop. 7:30 am under the power lines on Harewood Mines Road. DRIVING
DIRECTIONS: Take 5th Street exit from the Parkway; turn Right on Wakesiah;
Turn right on Nanaimo Lakes Road - follow for about 10 minutes - Turn LEFT
on Harewood Mines Road; Drive past the Dog Pound until you come to the power
lines. Please allow yourself about 15 minutes of driving time from the
Parkway. Better early than late. The run and the hike will both be about an
hour and twenty minutes. The hike will be doing a shorter route than the
run, obviously. Please let me know if you want to lead. Thanks.


Upcoming Stuff

*         Comox Half Marathon - March 19th
*         GutBuster # 1 Royal Roads - March 25th
*         Sooke River 10km - April 2nd
*         Whidbey Island Marathon - April 2nd
*         Merville 15km - April 9th
*         GutBuster # 2Mt. Tzouhalem - April 15th
*         Boston Marathon - April 17th
*         Sooke Spring Triathlon - April 23rd
*         Vancouver Sun Run - April 23rd
*         Times Colonist 10K - April 30th
*         Vancouver Marathon - May 7th
*         Oceanside 10k - May 7th
*         Island Relay - May 27th
*         Knee Knacker 25km Trail Race, North Vancouver - May 28th
*         Oak Bay Half Marathon - May 28th
*         GutBuster # 3 Mt. Douglas,  Victoria - June 3rd
*         Panoramic Classic Triathlon, Saanich - June 4th
*         Edge to Edge Half & Full Marathon, Tofino - June 11th
*         New Balance Half Iron, Victoria - June 18th
*         Kusim Klimb, Sayward - June 17th
*         Scotia Bank Half Marathon, Vancouver - June 25th
*         Comfortably Numb 25km Trail Race - June 25th
*         GutBuster # 4 - Westwood Lake Half Marathon & 8km - July 16th
*         Full (50Km) & Half (25km) Monty Trail Races, Victoria - August 19th
*         Log Train Trail Half & Full Marathons, Port Alberni - August 20th