ROC Trail Bits 2006 #21

Trail Bits # 21
Not much in the way of news to pass along this week.

A heads up that June 3rd is the date of the Englishman River (Parksville) run. It will be a 7:30 start. I will email driving and parking directions in next weeks email. This conflicts with the Victoria GutBuster, sorry.

Great news from Westwood Lake – the parks department has decided to leave ALL the gates around the lake unlocked and open 7 days a week. No more having to weave your way through the metal obstacles. This will be done on a trial basis. Hopefully all the motorbikes and ATV’s stay off the trail.

The Nanaimo and Area and Trust (NALT) is starting to offer two guided hikes. One is of the Westwood Ridges and the other is to the summit of Mt. Benson. The first Mt. Benson hike of 2006 is scheduled for this coming Sunday, May 28th. If you are interested in partaking in these hikes or want details of other dates, please call the NALT office at 714-1990. The hikers are being offered in order to bring public awareness to the new park. There is no charge for these hikes, but donations to NALT are encouraged.


Ø Island Relay is this weekend. The first runners will be arriving at Pioneer Park (behind Canadian Tire) at around 3:30 pm this Saturday if you want to come down and cheer them in. Over 250 runners have entered in to this year’s event.

Ø Ladysmith Holland Creek Crunch 8km Trail Race is this Saturday


This week is a run of the trails in the Morell Nature Sanctuary. We will start out from Westwood Lake at 7:00 am and head into Morell for what should be a 1:15 run. Up the lake hill, cut left at the top over to Lower Maple, Tranquility to the Beaver pond, left at the pond, down rocky Knoll, fire road back to the beaver pond connector trail, around the lake and back to Westwood. Or something close to that…..Simple!

I will again not be there to take out the run walk group. Can some one else please coordinate the groups on Saturday, thanks.

Upcoming Stuff

* indicates trail race

· Island Relay – May 27th

· Knee Knacker 25km Trail Race, North Vancouver – May 28th

· Oak Bay Half Marathon – May 28th

· Ladysmith’s Holland Creek Trail Race – 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