ROC Trail Bits 2006 #24

Trail Bits # 24I

I think I need to clarify to all of you what is and isn’t taking place in regards to the Westwood Lake GutBuster and access to the Westwood Ridges in general. The newspaper and television reports are not correct.

1. First of all the Westwood Lake Half Marathon is still ago as far as Bryan Tasaka, Norm, Stefan and I are concerned. We have submitted an “access use application” to CFB Esquimalt and are still of the opinion that we will have a positive response from DND and that we will still be able to stage the GutBuster on the original race route.

2. In the event that we are not granted legal access to the Ridges we still plan on having both the short course (8km) and long course (21.1K) races starting at Westwood Lake. We will simply use a couple of new trails that will avoid the DND properties. The good news for all of you that are planning on racing in either of these events is that you will get to miss the nasty climbs up to the 1st and 2nd ridges. Don’t worry though, there are still lots of surprises we can throw at you and the race will still live up to the GutBuster standards.

3. Yes, it is true that the rifle range is going to be extremely busy this summer and yes it is true that public access is going to be somewhat restricted from the areas deemed to be dangerous. It is also true that area surrounding the lookout above Westwood Lake is considered by DND to be dangerous when the range is in use.



BITS

Ø BLUE RODEO – is coming to Nanaimo on July 16th and will be the headliner of the 1st annual “Music for the Mountain” Festival. The festival is being staged in order to help pay down the $ 500,000 debt that the Coalition to Save Mount Benson is responsible for. I will pass along more details to you after the Thursday Press conference at which time we will announce the full line up, tickets prices, etc. The festival is being held on the nice grass fields of the Beban Soccer Fields.



Ø Twilight Shuffle – WEDNESDAY JUNE 14Th - This race is a 4 Mile race on the streets of Chemainus – 7:00pm Get there really, really early if you hope to have any chance of getting parking close by.



Ø Runners of Compassion Bursaries- In early 2005, you the membership endorsed the Board of Directors setting up two $1,000 Bursaries that would be awarded through the Nanaimo School District. I am happy to report to you on behalf of the Board of Directors that the first two Runners of Compassion bursaries were presented by Lisa Crucil to the deserving recipients this week. The main difference between a bursary and a scholarship is that a bursary is based more on financial need, whereas a scholarship is generally awarded based on scholastic achievements.

Ø Frontrunners Tuesday Night Clinics are on summer break until September 12th.



Ø One of our female members that lives in the Rutherford Road area is looking for a during the week running partner. Any time after 7 00 in the morning or again in the evenings after 6 30. Any length of time from 30 min to 60 min she currently runs mostly group 2B on Saturdays or group 4 at Frontrunners. Email me if you are interested and I will send you the email address for her.



Ø The Triathlon of Compassion is happening on July 16, 2006. Online registration is up and running - http://www.vira.bc.ca/compassionregister.php

Race details and info is at http://victoria.frontrunners.ca/events/toc/index.php This is an ROC Victoria event.



Ø 24 Carrot on the Run ROC Energy Bars – don’t forget to stock up for summer with the great energy bars that Alex and her staff make. They are available at Frontrunners or at Carrot on the Run Deli, which is located next to Romeos for only $ 2.00. ROC receives .50 cents from each bar that is sold. Last year Alex and her partner presented ROC with a cheque for $1300.00 from this initiative…..thanks again Alex. Run lots and eats lots (of her bars)



Ø Still stinky on the Duomont Trails – Things are still a little ripe up in parts of this area and this is the Canadian Motto Cross Championships at the Wastelands. This area will be really busy.



Ø New trails up Mt. Benson – Norm Thibault and I are members of a committee that is helping the RDN plan and eventually build new trails up to and in the new Mt. Benson Regional Park. The first trail that the committee is working on is a proper trail that will lead up from Westwood Lake to the summit of Mt. Benson. As most of you know the trail has been covered over once it crosses the creek up in the saddle. The idea is to cut in a new trail that will avoid the logging companies land. We also hope to have some signage in place in time for this summers hiking season. Until the new trail is put in place and signed I would recommend that you hike up to the summit from Witchcraft Lake.



Ø Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run (“Knee Knacker”) is July 8th not last week as I mistakenly told you. If you are looking for a really great, epic trail run, then this is the baby for you. It is 30 miles and is on July 8th this year. The contact information is Kelsy Trigg - Knee Knacker 2006 Race Director - www.kneeknacker.com 604-787-8097. Check out the website!



Good luck to all of you taking part in either the Half Iron Man in Victoria this weekend or the Kusim Klimb in Sayward. Both are great events-Have fun And good luck to Norm and his crew of volunteers. I hope everything goes according to plan. I hope to make it down to watch on Sunday.



This week the run location is again Westwood Lake for a run of the Saddle 7:00 AM

We will try and run in this area until things get busy at the range in a couple of weeks. This trail is definitely one of the trails that we will not be able to access when the range is in use. I will again be biking (power-lines, Morrell, Colliery Dam) if any one wants to join me. The run and the bike will be about 1:20 in length.

Upcoming Stuff

* indicates trail race

· 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

· Lake Cowichan 56K, 16 September