Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Trail Bits 2007 #14

Trail Bits # 14

Every morning in Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must move faster than the lion or it will not survive. Every morning a lion wakes up and it knows it must move faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better be moving."

    I dont have a lot to write in terms of last weekends run, other than to say that even though I couldnt run with the group this weekend, I did hear good reports of the new routes that were explored. I was lucky enough on the weekend to have had reason to be on Hornby Island on Saturday morning and had the opportunity to run the cliffs and bluffs of Halliwell Park. If you ever have the opportunity to get over to Hornby you have to run in this park. It is one of the most amazing places to run on the West Coast of BC.

Ø Fletchers Challenge Trail Race and Walk- everything is set to go for Friday morning. You can register on the day of the race starting at 9:00am. Dont forget that we do have a walk available for those of you that dont want to trail run….lots of great draw prizes are available for both walkers and runners have been donated by Frontrunners, Howard Johnson Hotels, Arrowsmith Bikes, Running Room, Oak Bay Bikes, Yvonne Visser, Tony Pires. Race starts at 10:00…hope to see you there.

Ø News from Arrowsmith Bikes

· Now Open Sundays - Thats right, as of April they are now open on Sundays and will be until late September. Hours will be from 12 until 5. During these hours you will be able to drop off repairs, pick up repairs and grab any last minute items for your epic weekend ride.

· Kids Rides -Starting in April, every Thursday at 6:30pm kids between the ages of 8 and 12 are invited to come and join us for a cross country style mountain bike ride. The rides will range in duration between 1 and 1 1/2 hours. They will need a mountain bike in good working order and a safe helmet and weather suitable clothing. Parents are more than welcome to tag along for the ride. If you have any questions give Robin a call at the shop. 758-6675

· Upcoming Events -

o FloraGlo Island Series DH # 2 -On April 15, the Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club and Arrowsmith Bikes will be hosting the second downhill race in the FloraGlo Island Cup MTB Series. You will need a membership for a Vancouver Island based cycling club that belongs to the Vancouver Island Mountain Bike Association and pay about $15 for an entry fee, and you will be good to race. Shuttles, costing $10, will start at 9:00am well as registration and racing will begin at 12:00. The race will take place on Banshee Blvd. and the new trail Kiera, which are located up Duomont Rd by the Wastelands Motocross Track. If you have any other questions please call Arrowsmith Bikes at 250-758-6675. Full face helmets are mandatory.

o FloraGlo Island Series XC # 2 The Nanaimo xc race has changed venues this year and will be located up Duomont Rd. It will take place on April 22 and will be hosted by the Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club and Arrowsmith Bikes. Registration will commence at 10am and go until 11:30, with racing starting at 12:00. As with the dh races you must be a member of an island cycling club. The race fee is $15 and if you have any further questions please call the shop at 250-758-6675.

    This weeks Saturday Run will be a run of the Dumont Trails at 7:30am

                      DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

                      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.

                    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.

                      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.

    Upcoming Races

o Diez Vista 50km Trail Run www.diezvista.itgo.com

o Sooke River 10k April 15 www.vira.bc.ca/default.aspx?PageID=1002

o Whidbey Island Marathon & Half Marathon April 15 www.whidbeyislandmarathon.com

o Boston Marathon April 16 www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon

o GutBuster # 2 Mount Tzouhalem (Duncan) April 21 www.gutbustertrailrun.com

o Port Alberni Paper Chase 10km April 22nd http://arrowsmithradicalrunners.com

o Vancouver Sun Run April 22 www.canada.com/vancouversun/sunrun/index.html

o Times Colonist 10km April 29 www.tc10k.ca

o Elk & Beaver Lake Ultras (50k, 100k, 50miles, 100 miles May 5 www.pih.bc.ca/elk-beaver-ultra.html

o Vancouver Marathon & Half Marathon May 6 www.vanmarathon.ca/hm

o Mind over Mountain Adventure Race Squamish May 12 www.mindovermountain.com/momar/schedule/momar_001/momar_001.htm

o Oak Bay Half Marathon May 20 www.peninsularunners.com/events/oakbayhalf.htm

o Victoria International Triathlon May 26 www.lancewatson.com/VictoriaInternationalHalf-Iron.htm

o Iron Knee 25Km Trail Run North Vancouver May 27 www.ironknee.ca

o Tender Knee 12km Trail Run North Vancouver May 27 www.ironknee.ca

o GutBuster #3 Mt Douglas (ROC Victoria) June 2 www.gutbustertrailrun.com

o Port Angeles Marathon & Half Marathon June 10 www.nodm.com

o Edge to Edge Marathon Tofino to Ucluelet June 10 www.edgetoedgemarathon.com

o New Balance Half Iron (Norms Race) Victoria June 16 www.island-multi-sports.com/Half%20Iron/index.htm

o Scotia Bank Half Marathon & 5K June 24 www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm

o Mind over Mountain Adventure Race Shawnigan Lake July 7 www.mindovermountain.com/momar/schedule/momar_001/momar_001.htm

o Squamish Thunder Trail Race -10k or 16k trail race July 14 www.ironlung.ca

o GutBuster # 4 Westwood Lake Half July 15 www.gutbustertrailrun.com

o Iron Lung 10k & 20k trail races North Vancouver August 19th www.ironlung.ca

o Nanaimo Daily News Harbour City Half & 10K Road Race September 9 www.harbourcityhalf.com

o Run For the Mountain 6k Westwood Lake September 22

o Yellow Point Pant & Paddle September 23rd www.pantandpaddle.net

o Mind over Mountain Adventure Race Cumberland Sept 29 www.mindovermountain.com/momar/schedule/momar_001/momar_001.htm

o Haney to Harrison Road Relay & 100k Ultra http://www.bcathletics.org/H2H