Trail Bits 2006 #38

Trail Bits # 38

Trail runs now start at 7:30 am

Well, the fall winds and the rains have finally returned to Nanaimo and with them the real fun of trail running begins. Now the runs will have the added enjoyment of water, mud, falling leaves, more mud, rain, a few deep puddles and the odd stream crossing. For those of you that are new to Runners of Compassion and/or the Saturday morning trail runs your official initiation to trail running awaits you. It won’t be long now and soon you will becoming home after the Saturday run with this smug little smile on your face knowing that only half an hour prior you were up running through the mud and water that crisscross the Saddle Trail while running on trails thick with fallen leaves and far from the noise of the city. Your family will probably think you are absolutely nuts when you tell them about having to cross the steam (calf deep) that happens to use the trail as it water course, they will no longer let your running shoes in the house and they may even make you change in the garage, but you will know that it was all worth it……just wait and see.

Speaking of those running shoes (this is not an advertisement) lots of you have been asking me about trail shoes lately and if they make a difference when running the Trails. Let me put it this way, does driving your car in the snow with snow tires make a difference compared to driving in the snow with summer tires? Your trail shoes should not be an old pair of runners that you no longer wear when road running. When you trail run where we do, you need shoes with good support, good drainage (remember the water I told you about) and you need a really good aggressive grip. A pair of SmartWool socks really helps a keep your feet warm once they have gotten wet. The shoes and socks are well worth the investment.



Ø Dover Bay High School Cross Country – each year members of ROC volunteer to help out as marshals at the different high school cross country races that take place in the fall. On Friday, September 22, 2006 Dover Bay High School is hosting the third annual cross country meet at Pioneer Park, behind Canadian Tire. Each year this event is gaining in popularity with schools as far south as Salt Spring Island, and as far north as Campbell River attending...Volunteers are needed to assist with the event and would be needed starting at 12 noon...The races will run as follows...

· -Grade 7 & 8 Girls: 2Km Race starting at 1:00pm

· -Grade 7 & 8 Boys: 2Km Race starting at 1:20pm

· -Grade 9 - 12 Girls: 4km Race starting at 1:40pm

· -Grade 9 - 12 Boys: 6km Race starting at 2:10pm



Any persons that are willing to help out could they please email Bob Saunders directly at bobjsaunders@hotmail.com



Ø Cyclo Cross Racing – the Diver Lake Cyclocross race was a huge hit thanks to the hard work put in by the gang that worked nonstop despite the rain and wind all morning at Diver Lake on Sunday morning. I have attached a race review; (compliments of Norm) I have also attached the results.



Ø Westwood Lake 6km “Run for the Mountain” Sunday, September 24, 2006 at 10:00am.



The cost of the race, which is being hosted the Nanaimo Area Land Trust, is $20.00.
100% of the race proceeds go to the Mount Benson fundraising campaign.
Registration forms are available at Frontrunners or at the NALT office on Wallace Street.
Bring the whole family, you don’t have to race,. Walkers are very welcome.
It would be fantastic if we had a huge showing from the over 300 of you that receive the Trail Bits each week. Mount Benson is now Nanaimo’s mountain, we own it. It is where we run, it is where we race (GutBuster) and it is where we hike. We need to help NALT pay off the $ 440,000.00 debt they have taken on to purchase the land and create the Mount Benson Regional Park.
Ø 3rd Annual Runners of Compassion – Bastion Running Club Winter (Christmas) Dance November 18th, $25.00 per person





This weeks run will be a run of the Dumont Trails. NEW 7:30am start time, don’t forget and show up early. Charlie and others will be leading this week.

The driving directions are fairly simple.

If you live in north Nanaimo,

o Take Metral Drive to Duomont Road.

o Turn on to Duomont Road and head out past the Black Bear Pub.

o Follow this road for 10 minutes or until you come to the T-Junction with Biggs & Weigles Road.

o Turn Right and head up the hill for a couple of minutes.



If you live in central or South Nanaimo

o Take the Parkway to the Jingle Pot/Mostar exit – Turn Left at this intersection.

o Immediately turn right on to Biggs Road. Stay on this road.

o You will drive past the Correctional Facility, past the farm fields and will then start heading up the hill. Keep heading up the hill.

o This road simply changes its name and becomes Weigles Rd. Keep driving up the hill.

You will see us on the side of the road by the yellow gate. If you get to the flat part of road near the Wasteland Motto Cross Track, you have gone too far.