ROC Trail Bits 2006 #22

Trail Bits # 22
A little bit more news to pass along to you this week.



Ø Kim Saywell was the winner of the women’s division of the C.O.P.S Crunch Adventure Run in Ladysmith this past weekend. Way to go Kim. Our newest ROC member.



Ø Newport Marathon – the last group of winter marathon trainees are heading down to Newport, Oregon for the marathon this weekend. Good luck to all of you.



Ø The Vancouver Island Relay went off without a hitch on Saturday thanks to the hard work of all the organizing committee members and all of the volunteers. Even the weather gods pitched in and helped out. A special thanks to all of you that answered the last minute call for help on Friday. There were 25 teams in this year’s race as well as 5 Ultra runners.



Ø Sunday was the Oak Bay Half Marathon which was won by Nanaimo’s own Steve Osaduik with a new course record time of 1:06:57. Other ROC members running in Oak Bay were Mike Thibodeau (a top 50 finisher), John Durkin, Dale Luxford and Susanne Voetmann.



Ø How great is it that we can now run, walk and or bike around Westwood Lake and not have to eave our way through those crazy gates. In case you didn’t know it, the Parks & Recreation Department of Nanaimo have agreed to leave the gates open on a trail basis. If you want to send along your thanks to them, send a short thank you email to Tom Hickey the Directors of Parks & Recreation. Tom.Hickey@nanaimo.ca



Ø This Saturday is the third race in the GutBuster Race Series. The race on Saturday takes place on the slopes of Mt. Doug in Victoria. This weekends run will feature three very scenic views. This obviously means that there are three major hill climbs involved which are followed by three really great downhill descents.



Ø Speaking of GutBusters, our Westwood Lake Half Marathon & 8KM Trail Races take place on JULY 16th. There will be ample opportunities for you to help out with the race. We do a couple mid week group runs of different sections of the routes that need to have windfall removed or branches pruned back. We again go out a day before the race and we flag and sign the race route and then again we go out on race day to help with marshalling and a number of other chores. I usually need close to 40 people on race day. I will be sending out a separate email closer to the race date asking for your help. There may be something very cool happening outdoors in Nanaimo on this very same night. I wouldn’t plan on being out of town this weekend. Once details are confirmed I will pass them along to you.



Ø Twilight Shuffle – WEDNESDAY JUNE 14Th - This race is a 4 Mile race on the streets of Chemainus – 7:00pm If you haven’t run in this race before you should give it a go. You will be amazed at the extremely large number of people that enter this race. Over 700 people registered for last year’s race. Make sure you get there really early on race night as parking can be tight and registration does get swamped. The beauty of running in this race is that you will be able to line up alongside some of Canada’s top runners and run the same course as them.



Ø Fathers Day Hike up Mt. Benson – On June 18th, Father Days, the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) will be having what they refer to as an Old Fashion Fathers Day Picnic. One of the activities they have planned is guided hikes up to the summit of Mt. Benson. There will be a number of hikes throughout the day apparently. If you are interested in coming along or want details on the Picnic call the NALT office at 714-1990



Ø Nanaimo Daily News Harbour City Half Marathon & 10km Road Race Clinics- Clinics for both the Half Marathon & the 10km are now starting to fill up. If you want to take one of the different clinics that are being offered, now is the time to get into either Frontrunners or Running Room and sign up. Details are available in either store.



Ø ROC Golf Tournament – Kathleen will have details for this years ROC Golf Tournament confirmed for next weeks Trail Bits. Book quickly as it will sell out again this year I am sure.



Biking Bits # 1

Something new - let me know if this is of interest or not?



Ø Ladies Only Learn to Mountain Bike Clinic - On June 11th at 9:00am in the morning come and learn how to handle your mountain bike with skill and confidence in a non intimidating environment. This clinic will give attendants the opportunity to learn how to ride trails, as well as climb and descend hills. This lesson, at a cost of $20 hours, will take approximately 2hours and a person can register at Arrowsmith Bikes (behind Earl’s) or by e-mailing ride@arrowsmithbikesnan.com 758-6675



Ø Monday Night Rides – at 6:15 pm on Mondays there will be a group of cyclists leaving Arrowsmith Bikes for a cross country style group mountain bike ride. No cost, just cool single track and 2+ hours of fun. For more info contact Arrowsmith Bikes at 758-6675 or e-mail at ride@arrowsmithbikesnan.com You can also meet this group at the trailhead if you want to avoid the road portion of the ride. Call the store each Monday for the ride location.



Ø Learn to Mountain Bike Clinic - June 10th from 8-10am you will cover how to go up and down hills, and how to get over obstacles. The cost is just $10, and you can register at Oak Bay Bikes. The course takes place up in the Dumont area. Email Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca for details or 760-0211



Ø Bicycle Maintenance Series. “The Zen of Bike Maintenance” These will be spread over two nights, June 14th and June 21st. They will cover basic bicycle maintenance and best of all they are free! They start at 6:30pm, meeting at Oak Bay Bikes in Longwood Station. Email Sean at seanlunny@shaw.ca for details or call 760-0211



Ø Learn to Road Bike Clinic - to start in late June. Check out Oak Bay Bikes for details at 760-0211



This week is the PARKSVILLE RIVER SOCIAL RUN – 7:30 am start time.

BRING WATER as it is now starting to get warm out.

We will meet and park on Tuan Road. From here we will work our way over to Rathtrevor Park and run the trail along the oceans edge until we come to the river estuary, we will then run the board walks in the estuary, cut back on to the road that follows the river for a km or two. We will then head under the orange highway bridge and start on the trail that takes us along the river up to the area known as Top Bridge. Once at Top Bridge we will hang out for a few minutes before staring back to the vehicles. I think we are out for about 1:20 – 1:30.

All fairly flat with a little bit of road, very scenic.

I will be biking as I am not up to this mileage yet if any one cares to join me.



Driving Directions: Take Highway 19 towards Parksville, stay in right lane and take the 19A off ramp; Turn Left on Tuan Road, Turn Left on Industrial Way, quickly Turn Right on Tuan Road. VERY SIMPLE. Remember we are starting at 7:30 so allow enough travel time.

Upcoming Stuff

* indicates trail race

· 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