Training Run — Sunday, May 23, 2004
Last Half, 24.3 Km
Thanks for your patience waiting for my run report this week. As it was a long weekend I took the time to do 2 longs runs instead of just simply doing the Last Half on Sunday with the group. And why not? It was yet another gorgeous weekend with spectacular weather. And you’ll note that Tuesday brought some much needed rain to our whole area. Thank you!
We ended up with over 35 runners on Sunday to run from Cleveland Dam to Deep Cove. Personally, I love this run because it seems like it is all downhill … well, sort of. After the nearly 2 km “run” up Nancy Greene Way to Grouse Mountain, we took to the trail that we have started on for the past 3 weeks. Being well warmed up already, it seemed a breeze to reach the summit and do our rolling traverse to Mountain Highway. From there, it truly is downhill into Lynn Valley all the way to Twin Falls.
I answered questions about which way to turn once coming out on to the pavement at Lynn Headwaters … please remember to turn left, run a short paved distance to the Varley Trail and then take Varley all the way to the pipeline bridge. This will be well marked on race day and we hope to have volunteer marshals helping out in this area.
After crossing the pipeline bridge, we go to the top of the short hill where a major aid station will be and turn down toward Twin Falls. (Notice how there has been a lot of downhill.) A relatively short climb up toward Lillooet Road and we were off toward Seymour Mtn. and once again down to Deep Cove.
I found myself running with a variety of different people on Sunday and noticed a recognizable trend. About this time in training each year, injuries start to appear. Many of us are getting tired from several months on the roads and trails and either we’re getting a bit too cocky or we’re just simply tired. I saw a twisted ankle, an unhappy foot with blister and other signs of weariness. Please be sure to take care of your weaknesses now as they will magnify into much unpleasantness later. And I’m included in that group right now as well since my right IT Band seems to be revoking my right to run as much as I want these days.
But besides facing our frailties face on, we were spurred by sunshine and thoughts of Honey Doughnuts (and muffins and coffee and other yummy breakfast treats) awaiting our arrival in Deep Cove. I finished up right around 3:45 and found a large part of the pack, with feet exposed, sitting on the grass in Panorama Park enjoying the sunshine. Of course smiles were abundant and I could tell thoughts were already forming about next Sunday’s training run.
For next Sunday, we are doing Cleveland Dam to Cypress via Brothers Creek and the Hollyburn Cross-Country Ski Area. What this really means is that we are starting at Cleveland Dam and running in groups as far as we can or want to on the way toward Cypress Bowl and back. If you don’t know the area, you will likely go astray so please, please, please, stay in groups. I really mean it this time!
If you want to take the direct race route, you will go straight up the Hollyburn Chute on the BP Trail and make your way across the Hollyburn ski runs and through the trees (and mud) to Cypress Bowl. There are lots of choices for runs here so, once again, please go with someone and stay with them. We meet at Cleveland Dam at 8:00 am and expect to be gone for at least 3 to 4 hours again.
Before I finish this report, please also be reminded that we need volunteers to make our race day a success. We still need many people to help with aid stations, marshalling and sweeping, not to mention the ever-important banquet. Volunteers get a really cool t-shirt and our undying gratification. If each runner gets one volunteer, we’re laughing. Please have them send a note my way to volunteers@kneeknacker.com.
Thanks to Phil for the awesome grapefruit and please remember to address those nagging sore sports now!
Craig Moore
trainingruns@kneeknacker.com
