Carlos Castillo's blog

Video links to 2011 Monty and last week's preview run.(with the views that we were denied today!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUKmDai759s

So once again the Monty has gone into the the books as done.

This year, what with at least three local events. the turnout was rather sparce!(3)

The Full Monty guy dropped out before the event with a hamstring injury.

I did the 12K Joselyn Jaunt, first then waited to see who would show for the main event at 11:00.

This was my second running of the soon to be Spring "Classic".

Kate had managed to convince the weather Gods to shine on us.

I was running with four well prepared women, the nuclius of which was my Sunday long run group, plus one brave newbie to CFA and my group of "usual suspects".

I have been thinking about this for some time now and this is what I am proposing.

The 1/2 Monty should in future be called. "The Monty". and the 50K (double distance) should remain as the "Full Monty".

This will also be the first year that I will offer a 12K out and back on Joclyn hill, which should be refered to as the " Joclyn Jaunt".The perfect run for active support crew members...

All on the same trails, out and back.

I'm excited?

Will it happen?

I think so.

http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/pih_eb/

Hello everybody!

Just a reminder of my race here in Victoria.

The 24th.Annual running of the

"Island Runner" Elk/Beaver Ultras 2011.

This race will always be flat, fast and early in the season.the first Saturday in May.

I think that the 50 Miler will get the nod this year as the National Championship race.

Any first time marathoners want to do it here around the lake?

No cars! No worries, we are still looking for a solid CR for a newbie...

Jeff Sean and I are doing an out and back tomorrow to get a feel of the load for the FLASH assault of the trail on the last Saturday of August.

stay tuned...

I will be offering two start times for the 1/2 Monty this year.

7:00 or 11:00.

For the people on the Island you can start at 7 with me and run the 1/2.

The Full Monty guys will start at this time.

For anyone else that needs the sleep, or the time to get over here from the Mainland,

I will be starting the 1/2 Monty again at 11:00, I am not sure what will be happening after the event, but I am open to suggestions.

The Scorched Sole 50 miler this year was a way tougher run than previous years.
Instead of a 20k romp up to the KVR then 40k of the basically flat, rail to trail corridor, then the decent to the start finish area, the course was redesigned to include a 2000m. mountain.
Little White was still snow covered at the summit, and was melting fast!
The lower trail were more like stream beds. The snowfields were "slurpee" consistency and with two rope ascents with the same two ropes for our return.
The summit was also the turn around for the 50k.

It starts every year, except this one, at Gold River and runs for 40 miles of logging road to Tahsis.

Brad and I have won it or placed in the top 5 on a number of occasions Ean has won it and run back home. This year the race was canceled, but my friend Cliff was going to run it anyway. It's some kind of a awareness campaign about wild salmon. Anyway, I said I would join him...

This year at least two serious runners will be doing it. Most years we, as runners, are in a huge minority. This year, unfortunately 600 hikers will not be with us.

After yet another wonderful CFA event, I am still none the wiser about where exactly to look for a Spaghetti Tree!

I know where to see some of the most awesome coastal views in the World, I now know six or seven more wonderful fun running people, and I am eternally grateful to the weather Gods who let us have our fun in mild calm and mostly sunny conditions.

The only thing that is keeping ALL my ducks from being nicely lined up is next week-ends trip to the Mainland...

The 50K has been chosen as the National Championships, so this is the year to see how you stand amongst the contenders for this title.

On line registration available on the Harriers website.

http://pih.bc.ca/elk-beaver-ultra.html

Don't leave it too late!