Notes from Bastion Ross

Dear Bastion

Anyone who showed up last week for the Cowichan Challenge Tri seemed to win something. Too many to mention but it must have been a glorious day for all. This week the main event is just that little bit closer to home as we gear up for the Nanaimo Gutbuster Half Marathon & 8 k. Dan Brady might need a few last minute volunteers so if you think you would be able to spare a Sunday morning herding mountain goats contact Dan at danbrady@shaw.ca and see if there is any role you can play. This is going to be a good one but there are just a few things to remember. Number one is that the race is this Sunday at 9 for the half and 9:30 for the 8 k, not Saturday. Look in the Events page for more details. Second, don’t be a hero about how little water or gels you can carry if you’re doing the half. Don’t bonk on us. Last but not least, stay alert looking for the flagging and don’t follow the pack blindly. They could be following an old logging flag to anywhere. Norm and Dan have been working hard on the course but there are always variables as to how clear the trail is marked. It might depend on how many drinks the ladies have had before they start flagging or whether a bunch of mountain bikers have moved through an area. The main thing is to avoid singing Lost Together out there. Save it for the concert Sunday night. There might be a few people headed to the Tri of Compassion in Victoria. Good Luck to all.
There is a Short and Fun Adventure Race in Ladysmith next week. It has a 3 k kayak, 8 k mountain bike, and 5 k trail run. It’s a good way to get started in Adventure Racing if you have been thinking about it. You can form a team of two if you are weak in one area like kayaking. But registration closes Thursday so decide fast.

Have a great week,
Ross

New Harbour City Half Web Site

The website for the half is now up and going.

http://harbourcityhalf.com

Dan

ROC Trail Bits 2006 #28

Trail Bits # 28
Really busy, short note…sorry!

GutBuster Volunteers – I can still use a few more people on Sunday morning if you can spare a couple of hours. Thanks.


I will be sending out an email tomorrow with all the details for those of you that have volunteered.

Ø BLUE RODEO – is coming to Nanaimo on July 16th. Don’t delay on your ticket purchase; they are now starting to sell quickly. Get your tickets at the Port Theatre or online through the Port Theatre box office at www.porttheatre.com
The run location will be Humility/Abyss starting from Harewood Mines Road at 7:00 AM. I will be biking if some one wants to join me. Email me if you need driving directions.

Notes from Bastion Ross

Dear Bastion

It was good to see old friends and familiar faces on the long weekend. Constable Wade turned up fresh from the multi month grind at the RCMP Depot. She is looking well and the best part is that she’s being stationed in North Vancouver and will be over here often. It would have been even nicer if she hadn’t given me a ticket for illegal parking. Kari McIntyre was here too, Saturday morning, looking as lovely as usual. However the best news is that our President, Dave De Pasquale, has finally been run down and got himself engaged to Shawnett. We’ll be waiting for word of the wedding date.
I’m glad to see the Wednesday night track workouts John Loewen has been doing have paid off. He finished fifth overall at the Victoria Run For Canada 10 K while Frontrunners Dan Frey finished 15th overall. Tom Buckley is still chugging along but is down to my speed now. I hope all the tri first timers have got their swim endurance in and are ready for the Cowichan Challenge. I’m just waiting to see if anybody actually drowns before I commit to one. There is a dragon boat festival this weekend with live music and a beer garden. These are always fast and exciting to watch.
Next week is the Nanaimo Gutbuster. You have a choice of a Half Marathon or an 8 K. Now before everyone decides on the 8 K, if there too many running that distance, some runners will be automatically assigned to the Half Marathon to even it out. There will be a wicked concert after featuring Blue Rodeo with tickets available at the Port Theatre and online at www.porttheatre.com . Dan Brady says they are going fast, so if you want to go, act now.

Thanks,
Ross

ROC Trail Bits 2006 #27

Trail Bits # 27
GutBuster Volunteers – A BIG thank you to all of you that answered my call for help. I know have 34 people that have indicated that they can help in some way with the race. I will be sending out a separate email directly to all of you that have offered your services explaining the where, when, what etc.
I can still use more bodies on the day of the race. 8:00 am – noon. Drop me a note if you can help.

Some exciting news about the race is that the Nanaimo GutBuster has been chosen to be a selection race for the World Mountain Running Team, which will compete in Turkey this fall. Our very own Stefan Jakobsen will be racing against some of the top mountain runners in Canada as they all battle for the coveted spots on the team. On the women’s side of the event we will also have several of the top female trail runners in Canada coming to town to compete. Both the male and female winners of the Grouse Grind will be here. It is going to be a pretty fast race. Being selected to host a qualifying race is pretty amazing when you consider that this is only our fifth year hosting the GutBuster and only the second year we have staged the Half Marathon distance trail race. Being chosen to host a selection race is a testament to the great community support we have along with an absolutely amazing race course we offer. None of this would be possible though if not for the great support that we receive from all of you all year long….Thank you.

If you want to watch some amazing trail racing this will be the race to watch. Don’t sit on the beach and wait for the runners to cross the finish line; get out on the Westwood Ridges or out on Humility/Abyss and watch these people run up inclines at a speed that will amaze you.

Ø Dragon Boat Festival – don’t forget to come down and cheer on all of the great folks that are paddling this weekend. Music, beer gardens, live music, lots of fun.

Ø BLUE RODEO – is coming to Nanaimo on July 16th. Don’t delay on your ticket purchase; they are now starting to sell quickly. Get your tickets at the Port Theatre or online through the Port Theatre box office at www.porttheatre.com

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.

· The run location will be both of the Westwood Ridges, starting from the parking lot at 7:00 AM. Can I please ask that you bring pruners with you as we really need to make sure that the course is well pruned? I will be biking and pruning out the power lines section of the course and the trails connecting to it if some one wants to join me? The Humility Abyss loop has now been pruned.

Gill in Peru #4

Thanks for the emails guys....we´re still having a wonderful time. We just arrived back in Cuzco after three daysin the jungle....40 deg and 93% humidity...that is freakin HOT. Everywhere else here is actually quite chillly ...especially at night with the altitude. The jungle was so amazing. we stayed at a jungle lodge in little bungalos with only netting separating us from the sounds and sights of the amazon jungle. The sounds and sights were amazng...10 species of monkies, guacamayo´s (parrots), wild pigs....there is a good story here when I return....tarantula´s, frogs, wild turkeys, pirhanas (we went fishing for some but no luck!), bugs....more bugs....and more bugs...good old deet...the varieties of trees was amazing...cures for rheumatism, garlic trees (the bark is used for cooking), mangos, bananas (imagine organic but better), papayas everywhere.....more types of palm trees than I can name... spectacular food at the lodge...I think I may be bringing back some souvineer poundage...meals cooked in banana leaves...fresh papaya, mango, cantaloupe, banana, pinapple, did I mention mango...yum! I chewed and spit out a grub in the jungle too...but couldn´t swallow ´(I´d be horrible on fear factor). Mike managed....swung on a rope like tarzan...or jane I suppose...
´Tomorrow we´re off to Puno and Lake Titicaca...the highest navagable lake in the world where we´ll stay with a local family. We also visited a local family in the jungle. It´s very interesting to see how local people live (out of the city)....it gives you another flash of appreciation for all the luxury we have at home.
Hope you are all well....see you in a week!
Gill and Mike in Cuzco Peru.

Gill from Peru #3

Mike and I are now in Aguas Calientes, a small town at the base of Machu Pichu mountain. We´ve spent today at Machu Pichu taking in the beautiful site. It´s absolutely jaw dropping. Amazing to think that they built such a huge city with only manpower. Only pictures will do it justice.
Some of the highlights from the trail-
-our amazing porters...this men ranging in age from 21 to 50 were astonishingly strong. they RAN the trail with packs of 25kg...at altitude.
crazy.
-the terrain and flora along the trail was remarkable. the area started off in a very arid dry river valley and climbed up and up and up....with the climatic region seeming to change with every kilometer (44k in total) -three mountain passes including dead woman´s pass...mostly a seriese of stairs going up up up...to 4520m. It´s crazy how short of breath you feel at altitude...it´s a whole other world!
-our wicked guide Pepe...he was awesome and very knowledgable.
-the food all carried by porters an cooked by our amazing cook. Three course meals for lunch and dinner...in a dining tent at tables and chairs carried by the porters. I felt like a pampered princess.
-mike´s birthday day three of the trail...and a surprise birthday cake and song by the whole gang...wicked!
-walking down 2000 stairs in succession...it seemed like way more.
-waking up to the peruvian andes
-more stars than I´ve ever seen.
-the sideways moon....southern hemesphere.
-realizing that the fastest time someone has ever RUN this trail was in 3hr 20min. CRAZY...
Norm...there is a marathon here every year...you´re the only person I know crazy enough to take it on...what do you think!!!
Gotta catch a train....thinking of you all!
Gill in Aguas Caliantes, Peru.