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

Calais rd and Wicks rd

Going to Sharon Cryslers Hill training on Saturday morning, coming to a bunch of mail boxes on Calais Rd  I parked,Besides the  mail boxes the  trails start.  Its amazing how many little parks there are that nobody really sees.  Half a  dozen people showed up , Ceevacs running club had a different run going on in Maple  bay , we started  with a slow warm  up run and coming to the top of a hill we stopped and looking down this hill and Sharon says here's wear we are doing our repeats, It was a good spot with a trail going   around the side to the bottom again , there was no speed involved just make it to the top , recover when you go down hill and start over again using a short stride, landing on the front of your feet and jog up swinging your arms to keep your legs moving we did this for an hour , then it was back to our cars, and to Maple bay tennis court were we parked our cars and chanced into biking gear  I had taken out Kristels road bike pumped up the tires rode the bike to Chemainus and back the night before , So I  knew the bike was in good form it was only me that had to get used to switching gears, braking and being    clipped in your foot-pedals ,being able to get your foot loose when something happens our when you have to stop, then there was the cloud of dust that had collected on the bike by not  being ridden for some time, The bike seat was set up perfect and feels better then my Mt bike seat and I didn't get saddle sore at all.  We did  around 30 k.m a round trip to westholme and back to Maple bay,--- Good I keep up to Sharon?? No- Not having  ridden in 10 years or so , She even felt sorry and slowed down a bit and I  still had to stand on the pedals  to keep up although I should learn how to use the gears so I can stay seated and let the bike do more of the work.

Parksville Beach

 

  Riley Being chased by an other bumper boat

Dodging an other round of fire

Riley firing away with water cannon

 Minny golf  waiting for Simon to catch up

 Riley rushing to see were his shot ends

Back on the beech with endless channels and streams to play in

 Making a channel to help the tide get up the beech faster

Tide coming up faster on a  flat  beach then you can run.

Nanaimo Paddle Fest

Waiting in between heats took most of the day.

Our out rigger paddlers decided to take on the Dragon boat paddlers , having to paddle 500 m ,for some of us it was the first time in a dragon boat paddling to the starting line , waiting for some one to tell us to paddle on the other side but it never happened , we had to paddle on one side the whole way.  We won the first heat by 23 seconds, After a couple of heats our nearest rival was Save On Foods Dragon Slayers. The third heat we had 3 boats in it we ended up in the centre lane, the wind had picked up the tide had gone down and the water was a bit choppier . We  had a slight lead over the Save on foods boat , till we  hit shallow water and the boat slowed down and you could see  Save on pulling ahead , we pulled harder and cut out of the sucky water and slowly pulled even again, steering  towards the Save on foods boat seeing they had the deeper water  and the advantage, At the finish we didnt know who won till we got to the score keeper and we won in a time of 2.28.78 and save on time was 2.29.89. So it was an exciting  finish. and a good paddle.

 Waiting for the rain that never appeared

Okay how many people can we get on the dock
 Start of a new heat.

22 people per boat
 20 paddling 1 steering,and 1-cracking the whip or calling the time.

Campbell river boat trip

Results of one race-- And pictures from this weekend Island iron race

Chocolate, medal and watch 

Part of the Nanaimo outrigger  team

 Close to twenty  teams from  the island and main land took part in the-- Island Iron race . which was se-posed to be 17 k.m but because of the strong winds and rough ocean was cut back to 12k.m  starting  in Cadboro bay.

Woman team getting the outrigger to the water

Teams getting warmed up for the race

6 people per outrigger

The start of the race , push out rigger from beach into water and paddle

The start, with winds gusting up to 25 knots

It didn't take long , before some of these hats would be blown of and
and left to drift .

It looks nice and calm , But further out the waves were coming from all directions

the end of the Island Iron-- race