April already and have been busy running around Westwood Lake in Nanaimo. You  can see that its getting warmer by the amount of clothing the runners are wearing . I have been keeping my runs around 13K.M and Im gearing up for a trail run on good Friday held by The Runners Of  Compassion a running group that collects money and then gives it to needy individuals or groups , so its a worth while project. While Gail goes outrigering in the canoe I head up to the Lake and do my runs , And end up going  3 or 4 times a week each loop around the lake is close to 6 k.m and I usually end up doing-two loops some time I add  some by taking a different trail. Today I ended up on some mt bike trails up on top  Mt Benson  . I also found a couple of memorials  and a shelter  build by volunteers in memory off two young people  one died in a accident and the other  person died on mt Benson in a cabin . this is an isolated area and I followed a ridge here Finely coming to a good trail going down hill  then I ran into a well used Mt bike trail called ak2 which led me down to the power line by Morrell Lake so At least I knew were I was and had to retrace my steps a bid to get back to west wood lake all in all it was a good run.

Mt. Hall

Went for a run Tuesday morning with J. Edwards, I call him the Mt runner , because he finds all these tough runs running up different hills and Mt's. Today we left our vehicles at the top off Battie drive in Ladysmith. From there we proceeded to the power-line and ran along this for 10 minutes and then proceeded up an trail going up hill-towards the water pipeline trail that took us to bannon creek road  below Stocking Lake , running down hill a bit we turned up a narrow logging road going up towards a quad trail here we couldn't run because of the steepness and the trail-was nothing but boulders because off the quads and the rain washing the dirt away , once on top we came on a trail that takes you to Holland lake, but we turned left before we got to the lake getting to bannon creek we made a short stop at Joice's log cabin stuck way back in the shelter beside  the creek and a berm behind the building so it is hard to find,we ran to Mt hall and made it around the top left corner of the snow line on the picture only today there is no snow and only a little bit onparts of the trail, so I imagine we are going to have a dry summer this year. We ran to the 12 km marker on the road . here the road had just been made and it looks as if new logging is going to happen here soon . It took us a good 2 3/4 hrs to get up here with running and walking because of the steep and rough hilly terrain. the whole outing took close to 4 hrs so we made good time coming back , good be because we went straight down the roads and it was easier to run down hill.

My Mt run Saltair to stocking Lake

Trail besides Stocking lake.

Went for my run around mid morning taking Bud with me  . Still a bit cool outside but getting into a steady pace I warm up pretty good
Heading into the stocking creek trails and heading towards North Watts rd The incline started the logging road wasn't bad to run on and the little snow on it didn't bother me with the running, at one spot I was stopped by a screeching noise coming from the side of the road and stopping to find out what  was going on  I found a squirrel  trapped in a trap trying to get loos, Sorry I dint stop too let it lose . On the way back it was quit .   Getting to the trail too the power line I ran up this for about 15 minutes the making a left turn  to a trail that would take me up the mt to the pipe line trail which is part of the Holland creek trail system that takes you up to stocking lake, It was a bit colder  here and the ground was harder but not slippery so I could make good time here , as far as trail running goes you have to keep your eyes open looking out for roots sticks and rocks  , but that is part of trail running not to hit your toes on rocks when you bring your foot forwards to keep the momentum going forward, and not flat on your face looking  stupid because you didn't pick up you feet high over the obstruction. I ran past stocking lake then came Hearth Lake , which was also frozen over  going down by heart lake I took it easy , here it is pretty steep and a little slippery, Once down I ran to the power line and back to North watts rd . In all it took me about 2 1/2 hrs the first part was steep, and it didn't matter were you ran you always had to keep your eyes open looking out for obstacles on the trail. 

hiking up hear you have to make your own way.So you dont want to deviate to far from your strait line ahead , you set for your self, So some time when the way looks easy it isnt always the right way to go, especially if your limited for time. I covered 18 KM today and it took me 5hrs before i was home again.

 hiking up south watts road and going up banon creek road you would be amazed at the deer  bones and skins that have been dumped there, today I 'm making an other effort to hike up to silver lake . the trail leaving bannon creek rd isn't to bad although getting across the first creek is a bit tricky , the trail it self is a steady climb up and does get rocky and rough going.

Hear Buddy is trying to tell me, are you sure you want to go down there this is on the way down the mountain after looking at my watch It's  after 1 in the afternoon and its getting dark under the trees I have around 2 km to go but with the terrain being so rough I dont believe I could make there and back again before night time, so I turned around and found my way down the mt., This was tricky at times  buddy game down the really steep parts sliding on all fours and me closing my eyes hoping he would hit a flat spot so he would be able to stop , at times hucking the drop off as we made our way down.

taking breather  

{Stocking Creek}We  had some good weather for running and having  done my trails and routes around Saltair for some times this week I decided to do a different run then usual and ended up running to Ladysmith and holland creek trail, I havent run this for some time and found it hard going and the trail seemed in worse shape then I remember , so that was my excuse for not going like crazy and tripping and slipping on rocks and roots that always seem to connect with my toes, there by causing me to do a face plant. I made it to the through the trail without  having to stop very often and found  my jacket which I had placed somewhere before coming to the trail so that I could pick it up again after my trail run . I was happy to be running back on the road again and find that I have to up my mileage a bit to be able to run this route without having to stop to often.

Spending a day at Grahams place we managed to get a run in . we made our way to hollyburn mountain on the north shore Here you have trails running along the creek and up the mountain running along the creek we ran around 8.5 k.m , 4.3 K.M  Along the creek, there an other trail veered of to the left and we went up this trail, this was more of an cross country trail taking us through rougher  country going up and over roots and rocks trying to keep your balance as you made your way over little wooden burls which had been placed there so that you wouldn't have to run through water and mud then at other spots you jumped up on a raised boardwalks  to make it easier to go over the trails there by missing lots of roots and sharp rocks eventually we ran down hill  again its nice out here and the trails are busy with hikers runners an walkers . Back in Nanaimo Gail and I have been enjoying going out-in  out riggers some time catching a sight off sea lions as they come up with huge salmon shaking them to pieces before eating them , otters and eagles are also coming around feasting on the salmon that are getting ready to go up nanaimo river

Having all these paddling pictures on here you would think that I spent most of my time on the water, but I'm starting to ramp it up a bit with my running .My training , I guess I shouldn't  call it training because there is no consistency in my running I don't believe in doing long runs like running an marathon distance every other day. I find that running a more strenuous shorter route say 10 or 12km . :instead of running 20 km on the road"-- is just as beneficial  our breaking up your long run of 24 km in one day instead do a  12 km one day and the other 12 km the next day. But total distance is different for every one  some people think 20 km is long but then if your training for a marathon you should at least be able to run 30 km comfortable. I found that when I trained for a half marathon I rarely ran that distance, But was able to do the longer runs because with my training I did a lot of shorter hillier runs.

 I went for a harder and a bit longer run today doing as much up hill running as flat trail runs although nothing is actually very level around Saltair it seems , I am slowly building up  my mileage and I'm gradually doing harder runs always trying to do as much trail running as road running, not pushing myself keeping an even pace with a slight lean forward and not extending my legs to far past my body, as I move forward, So far every thing is going good.

Fall must be around the corner, I found this out by going for a hike along a narrow trail which I have travelled on a million times and have encountered numerous obstacles which I handled easily on my walks and runs.With the rains which we had a few days ago everything is getting a nice slimy coat on it Especially logs with no bark on them and roots sticking out of the ground, going along the trail I placed one foot on the log and with my momentum going forward I found my foot sliding along the log and the next thing I knew here I was  wondering how the heck I got on the ground so fast.

Battle Of the Bay