Thanks from the Knee Knacker Community!

“WOW!! THANK YOU to everyone who e-mailed, called & thanked us in person. Your responses continue to remind us how much this race means to so many people and what an experience it is! Thank YOU for making KKNSTR 2005, “the Year of the Mud”, a year to remember!”

Kelsy Trigg
KKNSTR 2005 Race Director
(on behalf of the Knee Knacker Committee)
 

All of the following are posted with permission:

“I just wanted to write you and the team a short note to thank you all for the terrific KKNSTR 2005.  The course was beautifully marked, aid stations more than adequately equipped and the enthusiasm on the part of the volunteers was over the top.  You even managed to have the weather gods on your side!  While you recap the race's highs and lows, looking for areas of improvement, keep this in mind - the race you guys put on this year is one of the best I've attended, if not the best.  You all deserve to be congratulated and rewarded for your efforts.  Take a moment to recognize your achievements and know that for every one note you get from racers complimenting you on the race, there were at least 10 runners with the same thoughts! Looking forward to 2006 and a sub 6 hour finish.”  - Paul Quinn, KKNSTR Race Director 1999-2002

“Just want to say what a fab job you did this year.  Congrats and thanks so much for making it such a success for me!” - Lawrence Keenan

“Brilliantly organized and fun race.  Thank you and all of the volunteers very much.  I'll be crossing my fingers for a draw again next year.” - David Crerar

“I really enjoyed doing the race and the whole experience. You and the committee did a fantastic job organizing things and making it run smoothly, and the volunteers were great too (some of the aid stations with homemade cookies and brownies were very tempting!).  I hope you and the other committee members can now take a breather, relax and enjoy some time for yourselves.  Cheers.”  - Mark Bates, 2005 Overall Winner & Knee Knacker Champion

“I just wanted to take a minute to thank you, your organizing committee and all the volunteers for putting on a fabulous race yesterday. It was the most thought out and well prepared race I have run. Considering the challenges you face with the course alone you did a great job.  As is said "it's all in the details" and you guys sure take the time to do the things that make the event special.” - Jamie Leigh

“This was my first Knee Knacker and I have to tell you how awesome this race was.  I wanted to tell you in person, but I was unable to attend the banquet.  This was by far the best race I've run from top to bottom.  From the organization of the race entry application process to the lottery to the updated information on the website to the pre-race meeting at North Shore Athletics on Friday night.  The race course was very challenging and demanding and my quads are still sore! The aid stations were stocked with everything that I needed and the volunteers were so helpful and on top of everything. The shirt is brilliant and it'll be hard for me to take it off.  My hat is off to you as the race director and ALL of the people who helped in putting this race on! I look forward to entering the Knee Knacker next year and improving my time.  Thanks again for a real excellent experience!”  - Murray Lancaster

“Marie Rivard and I were pulled from the race at the first check point. We did not come to the banquet and it was NOT because we were upset with the race or the people who made the decision. It would have been too hard to share in the celebration and nothing should take away from the finishers accomplishment. I want to thank every member of the committee for all their hard work and the endless ... fun? we had sharing this adventure with you. In particular, I would like to thank the training run folks (Glenn Pace, Craig Moore) and most especially, Greg White who not only encouraged us, taught us and became dear to us but is completely forgiven for pulling us from the race and it didn't even take the two years he thought it might.

We are going to do a whack load of trail running the rest of this year and next, be the first to sign up for volunteering for the 2006 KKNSTR and we'll be back in the lottery for 2007.

Thanks again for a wonderful time.”  - Kristie Congram

“Many thanks for putting on such a successful KneeKnacker training and race year.  Your enthusiasm and dedication is an inspiration.  I am very aware that behind every successful race stand a race committee and volunteer group that make it happen.  Thank you again for all your hard work.” - Bill Legg

“Many thanks to all for another great race.  Just wanted to say how much all your work was appreciated.”  - Phil Seybold

“Thank you so much to you and your entire race committee for a superb event last weekend.  As always, the day was smoothly orchestrated from start to finish of the lovely banquet.  You all deserve a rest and time to enjoy your own trail running.  You and Enzo put so much into the presentations to ensure that all finishers receive recognition for making the distance over the north shore trails.  This is a testament to your philosophy and encouragement that all participants deserve that recognition.

Thanks again for the superb course marking as usual, the friendly folks who spend hours manning the aid stations, and to all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes.  We enjoyed our visit of the trails once again.  Now, I really ought to just plan to come down and run them at a more leisurely pace so that I do not miss any of this fabulous scenery.  I actually do take in a great deal as I make this traverse of the north shore and thank each and every one who is at the aid stations I travel past.  I could, however, take advantage of more of those special treats!  Hey, I did grab an egg/bagel sandwich believe it or not going through the British Properties.  Nice touch.  Please convey our (Debbie too) thanks to the race committee.  Have a wonderful summer.  Cheers and happy running.”  - Peter Findlay, 6-time Knee Knacker Champion

“Thanks again for a unique and wonderful Vancouver event - I hope to be back next year!”  - John Dove

“What a great event you guys organized!  The event looked like a great success and everyone was happy that I talked to … the race really is in my blood and y'all are like family!  Melissa and I loved marking the course and it really brought back a lot of fond memories of racing and training and the camaraderie that comes with it.  Mel and I will be racing next year (if we get in) and I hope to 'rip-it-up'!  Funny I just couldn't let the race go and had to run the 1st 3/4's on Monday to see what all the fuss was about and it was pretty mucky (also raining that day) anyhow it solidified my desire to race it again next year.  We really (Adrianna and Jacob) enjoyed being out on the course cheering everyone on it was great!  Take a good break and see you soon.”  - Michael Wardas, Knee Knacker Race Director, 2003-2004

“Thanks so much for such an awesome experience!  It was a great event from the night of the draw right through to the finish line!” - Carolyn King

“I raise a glass to you and your crew. You really have set the bar on events. Thanks once again for a great race, and to all the volunteers thank you. Hope you liked the article in the Whistler Pique.  See you next year.”  - Munro Duncan

“I am back in Managua now but wanted to send you a note of thanks for all the incredible work that you, the organizing committee and the volunteers put into the 2005 kneeknacker.  A challenging event for sure but it was the spirit, the stunning trail, amazing aid stations and volunteers, and the supportive community of runners that I will remember.  I was not able to make the post-race dinner because of prior commitments with friends but I have been told that it is a must-do next time.  I also had the opportunity to run the powderface42 the following weekend and met another kneeknacker who finished just ahead of me.  Great to know that there are so many like-minded ultra-marathoners.  Again, thanks for everything, and I look forward to the possibility of running it again. Take care.”  Richard McCabe, Managua, Nicaragua

“What a fantastic job… congrats on a monumental achievement and contribution to our wonderful racing community!” - Laddie Hannam

”Special mention should go to volunteer, Bruce Moore who helped me as timer at Cypress Bowl. He was supposed to run in the race but threw his ankle the weekend before. He showed it to me and it was kind of blue and yellow and BROKEN! After the race, he was going to get a cast put on! So there he was standing on a broken ankle at Cypress animatedly telling me a story about Costa Rica. Dammit, trail people are special people.”  - Heather Macdonald