Run To The Clouds

Views of sparking Buntzen Lake during the Club Fat Ass Run to The Clouds near Port Coquitlam, BC

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

What?

When and Where?

Who is Registered?

How Much?

 

Event Registration - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Please note that the Run to the Clouds will not be hosted 2013!

Thank you for registering online and in advance.

This is a Club Fat Ass (CFA) event, so we adhere to CFA event management guidelines and privacy policy. Please complete the whole form. Your personal information is needed to make sure I spell your name right in the results and so I can contact you... or your next of kin! The other information helps me to plan any aid or post-event activities. Please help me to host a safer, better event by registering early and by notifying me if you can't make it. I'm constantly looking for ways to improve, so please share your thoughts or questions with me in the Suggestion Box below. After you click on "submit" below, your registration details will be confirmed.

Pete Stace-Smith - Your Club Fat Ass Event Host

Results

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Run To the Clouds 2012 Results

3 March 2012

Report. Once again the weather gods were watching out for us, I had woken up more than a few times during the night to pelting down rain but by the time 10:00 am rolled around it had stopped, and other than a short sprinkle mid event, the fun stayed relatively dry. The course was by-in-large in great shape… a couple of mucky sections on the west side of Lesser Buntzen Lake loop and 4 or 5" of sloppy snow/muck on the upper part of the course for the keeners that did the full 25 km pull. 

Unfortunately with the CFA website down the attendance was a little smaller than usual, but that just meant more tasty snacks at the aid stations and finish line for the ones that did attend  :)  A selection of bagels, 3 types of chips, gummy worms, Red Bull, Gatorade, water, bananas, trail mix, nuts, bars, greeted the runners at the North Beach suspension bridge, where most runners passed twice on their figure 8.  A few of the runners also took advantage of the hidden stash of liquid up at the courses high point -- nicely chilled after cooling in the snow overnight. 
 
2012 event had 9 runners complete the full 25 kms distance on arguably a tough course with the big elevation gain and snow on the power line road up top.  Congrats to all.  Note:  I think about 7 of the 9 are doing the Chuck-A-Nut 50 k run in 2 short weeks, so this was a perfect taper run for them.  
 
Special props go out to Mark and Justin who ran the course and event for the first time, and still had enough left to turn it into a full sprint for the Gazebo finish.  I'm going to call them tied for FIRST to keep the peace OK guys.  They managed to stay ahead of the trailing runners despite stopping to consult the instruction sheet a few times, well done guys.   
 
It was also great to see the "local contingent" of runners from the Weather Fukarewe Tribe out running as strong as ever -- way to go guys! 
 
Welcome and congrats to Corinne and Keith running their first R2TC event, they had smiles on their faces every time we saw them -- even after running extra distance on the home leg  (apparently when they hit the lake trails just a short hop from the finish line they turned the wrong way and didn't realize their mistake until they got to the South Lake bridge again -- the same one they had crossed first thing this morning.  Opps… well, like Ean and Sibylle always say, there is no penalty for running extra mileage.  Haha…  
 
Oh and…  welcome to the few runners from North Van…  or lack of I should say ----- thus securing a beer (bet win) from Ean (CFA New Years Day run event host)…  he had bet me he would bring more runners from the North Shore to my event than I did down to his…  no way pal.  Better luck next time  :)  
 
A big shout out to the runners that came out for a figure 8 of the 2 lakes or a single lap of the big lake.  Always great to see you guys too.  Remember, that's what is good about the CFA events.  No one is holding a gun to your head to do the full distance.  Glad you enjoyed the shorter mileage day.  It was fun to see Newmann and Skeena (their 2 pups) out putting in the miles and getting some fresh air too.  
 
Special thanks goes out to my wife Diane for manning the Gazebo between the Start and everyone's finish and getting some fantastic home made soup all heated up and ready to serve so that when runners rolled in they were created with something nice and warm.  Thanks to Norco Bicycles for supplying the mugs that everyone had their soup in -- then were able to take home with them.  
 
Pictures to follow as soon as I can get them downloaded off my camera and up onto my Flickr site.  
 
Thanks to all the runners that "made the trek" out to come RUN TO THE CLOUDS today.  
 
Cheers   Pete SS,  event host.  
 
Photos will be posted on a slideshow posted here after the event. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss RunToTheClouds2012 RunToTheClouds ClubFatAssEvents ClubFatAssEvents2012. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.


 

Survey. We'd love to hear from you. Please add you comments below, write a blog post about your run and/or fill out this brief survey to let us know how we did.

Results.

First Name Last Name City Event Time Points
mark rowat New Westminster 25km 2:47 2
Justin  Wiens   25km 2:47 *** membership status?
Angela Spooner Port Coquitlam 25km 3:13 2
Mark MacRae Coquitlam 25km 3:13 2
Dan Daoust Coquitlam 25km 3:13 2
Robert Jones North Vancouver 25km 3:13 2
Rhonda Gallant Port Moody 25km 3:13 2
Corinne Pitre-Hayes Vancouver 25km 4:02 2
Keith Nichol Vancouver 25km 4:02 2+1*
Pete Stace Smith Port Coquitlam     2+2**
           
Herb Yang   13.5km 2:01 1
Lori  Clerkson   13.5km 2:01 1
Tammy Black   13.5km 2:01 1
           
Pete van Gaalen Coquitlam 10.5km 1:19  2
           
Tanis Speers Rimbey   DNS -1
Simone Lylack Maple Ridge   DNS -1
Eric Rannaud Burnaby   DNS -1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Garbage Points
** Event Host Points
 

Membership status needs to be updated at www.clubfatass.com/join

 

Run To the Clouds 2011 Results

Run To The Clouds Starter Photo - Club Fat Ass Trail Run 

6 March 2011


Report. Run to the Clouds, 6th year is now behind us.  Once again, someone from up above was looking down on us for great weather. The day was stellar. It was still "brisk" out in the Buntzen Valley, but then this place is known for how cool it is, even in the middle of the summer when it is hot everywhere else in the Lower Mainland. Still it wasn't raining!!  WhooooHooooo.

And the runners showed up!  There was 21 that came to run the challenging 25 km course, and 6 others doing shorter versions.  Note, once started, even the shortest lake loop this year was 13 kms.

Everyone got off OK pretty quick after 10:00 start, hoping onto the Energy Trail, then onto the Lake Detour Trail that took the runners all the way out to the park entrance before turning them North along the West side of Buntzen. After the first gravel road section, jumping into the woods and onto the detour route up "Lake View Trail" was the first order. This is the trail that is roughly half way up the ridge between the normal route (Lake Side Trail) and Diez Vista Trail along the top, although the runners today sure thought in a few spots they were pretty near the top of the ridge. Lake View does a lot of ups and downs and is certainly more challenging than the "normal RTTC route".  However, as Sybylle pointed out, what it DOESN'T do is give you some nice Lake Views as the name promises?  Sorry guys, I didn't name it, just borrowing the trail today.

Once that nasty leg was completed the runners cruised across the North end suspension bridge to an awaiting Aid Station that had whatever you had been dreaming about while running along...  

Next up was the North loop around lesser Buntzen, easy task for those having run this event before, a few left curves for newbies... back across the suspension bridge now completing 2/3rds of the figure 8 around these lakes. One last chance to grab a handful of Gummy Worms, Gatorade, chips, a gel or whatever you craved (all brought in under pedal power I might add), before heading back down the East side trail, back towards home.

Oh, but the fun doesn't stop there. For the keen 25'ers, sadly you get to run right by the finish line, jump onto the Halvor Lynden trail, then climb up the steep and unrelenting Academy Trail, till you pop out on the power line at close to 1000'. A short scamper back down the power line took the runners up to an amazing view point/drop off.  Luckily nothing went wrong up top there (if we don't count Lori's pup Newman, brazenly interupting some couple having a picnic up top, and walking off with a sandwhich)... haha, way to go Newman.  Keep those human's on their toes pal.

From the look out (which overlooks not only Buntzen lake, but Mt Seymour, Vancouver, and views all the way out to the Gulf Islands etc), the runners dropped into Eagle Trail and got to drop elevation for the next 30 min or so, back down Eagle, and Academy.  Finally, they could head for home...

From the end of Academy, they retraced their morning route, back through the overflow parking lot, zig-zagging all the way back to the Gazebo to tag out...  Although the route was "thrown together" with options left open from BC Hydro's closures, pretty much everyone coming in had + or -  less than .3 of a km of 25 ----- but it was pretty unanimous that this route was tougher. (note: some liked that fact others didn't)...  :)

Speedy devil  Matt Sessions took an early lead and stayed out front the entire run, rolling in at 2:36:30.  The trio of Ran Katzman, Dario Herrera, and Mike Palichuk, that ran together the entire time just behind Matt rolled in less than 9 minutes behind him for a smoking fast 2:45 time. Following these rippers was James Clarke and his pup, just sqeeking in under 3 hours.

On the women's side, Angela Cullen Spooner cruised in looking like she could do it all again at 3:49, quickly followed by a big group that included female runners Sara Liljefors, Tammy Blackwell, Lori Clerkson, Carie Moran, all hot on her tail at 3:50. Well done girls ! 

Special shout out to Don Murray who hopped on a plane in Calgary to come down and run today, not wanting to mess up his 6 25 km finishes for 6 events record.  Way to go Don, great to see you too.

A did-not-show at the start and missed was our fearless CFA leader Action Jackson, but he sent his best delegate (and the person that probably runs CFA anyway) Sibylle Tinsel.  Great to see you out enjoying yet the tri cities once again. !  I think Ean took out a couple of others from North Van when he went AWOL, so officially I think he owes me a beer. (long standing bet of me bringing more Tri Cities runners to his New Years Day event than he does North Van Runners to my Tri Cities Event.  Haha...  Maybe next year pal.

The Golden Spike was a little quieter than usual, many people choosing to go enjoy the day rather than rehydrate with some fermented beverages... it's all good. Missed you, again, maybe next year OK.

So, till then, glad you all had a good time.  Thanks for coming out and playing in my back yard.

Cheers,    Pete Stace-Smith     Event Host  Run To The Clouds.  

Ps.  I'll get the finish time excel spreadsheet finished up ASAP here and off to Sibylle for posting.  And try to get some pics loaded up as well....
 

Photos will be posted on the slideshow below. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss RunToTheClouds2011 RunToTheClouds ClubFatAssEvents ClubFatAssEvents2011. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.


Survey. We'd love to hear from you. Please add you comments below, write a blog post about your run and/or fill out this brief survey to let us know how we did.

Results. 

 

First Name Last Name Event Finish Time Points
Matt  Sessions 25km 02:36:30 1
Dario Herrerra 25 km 02:45 2 + 1
Ran Katzman 25 km 02:45 2
Mike Palichuk  25km 02:45 2 + 1
James Clarke 25 km 02:59 2
David Papineau 25 km 03:12 2
Tim Wiens 25 km 03:12 2 + 1
Bill Dagg 25 km 03:17 2 + 1
Angela Cullen Spooner 25 km 03:49 2 + 1
Dan  Daoust 25 km 03:49 2
Sarah Liljefors 25 km 03:49 2
Pete van Gaalen 25 km 03:49 2 + 1
Tammy Blackwell 25 km 03:50 2
Lori Clerkson 25 km 03:50 2
Carie Moran 25 km 03:50 2
Don Murray 25 km 03:50 2
Craig Slagel 25 km 03:50 2
Gord Lord 25 km 03:53 2
Steven Lowe 25 km 03:53 2
Eric Rannaud 25 km 04:08 2
Graham  Perkins  25km  ?  1
         
Reagan White 15 km 02:29 2 + 1
         
Liza Flemming 12 km 02:01 2 + 1
Kelly Corday 12km 02:17 2 + 1
Jess Dagg 12 km 02:17 2 + 1
Jackie Montgomery 12 km 02:17 2 + 1
Sibylle Tinsel 12km 02:36 2 +1
         
David Papineau 27km  3:12 Saturday Start- lots of no-points-gained garbage collected
Tim Wiens 27km  3:12 Saturday Start
Heather with Dave and Ian Vestergaard 15km Saturday
38km Sunday
1:55 hrs
4:05 hrs
Saturday Start and another Sunday run in the area

 

Run To the Clouds 2010 Results

 

27 March 2010


Report. Hey Club Fat Assers,  wow, what a great day. 

NO RAIN and 33 runners came out and ran over 700 kms of trails today.

22 of our runners ran the full 25 km route or more  (remember no penalty for running more than the course requires)... and enjoyed the beautiful lake and mountain views. 

There was a couple of few Club Fat Ass members out on their first runs with the club -- congratulations you guys, and hopefully the butt kicker route didn't turn you off coming back out for some other CFA runs   And a new age record broken with Ronald rolling in a full 25 km run in the 70+ age group in under 4 hours. The course record was broken again today with 2 fast guys (Chris and Matt) in a smoking fast 2:06...  Props to Lysanne for a 2:42 fastest female time in, OH YEAH and the CFA pig even went for it's first "cool down swim" after a pretty easy 8 kms.  

Did I mention no rain!  That was sure nice.  Oh yeah, how about a shout-out to our 4 first aiders that rolled around the course on their mountain bikes -- that's why we had no big owees! And another big thanks sent out to Chris L who moto'd up to the 1450' high aid station with about 16 liters of fluid and lots of fun treats to reward the runners that made the huge effort to drag the fat asses all the way up there.

Thanks to my bride Diane who helped out with buying all the goodies you enjoyed, helping with registration etc. As usual, I owe her....  

Hmm, what else... Oh yeah, we thought Ean and Rob were lost but no ---- they were just off exploring. After hearing about an old ghost town off the north end of the course up in Indian Arm, these 2 guys decided to "take a small detour" off course and go check it out. See Ean's pictures and video's..... rad.  Maybe next year that detour and extra mileage may have to become part of the course.

Many of the runners re-grouped at the Golden Spike Pub in Port Moody for post run festivities. Prizes courtesy of Trail Runner Magazine, North Face, Brooks, Debbie Does Fitness, Kintec Footlabs and Norco Bikes were drawn and shared around. Thanks to these guys too.

Hope you all enjoyed the run,  see you next year.  

Cheers everyone !!!

Pete SS (event host, Run to the Clouds).

Photos are  posted on the slideshow below. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss RunToTheClouds2010 RunToTheClouds ClubFatAssEvents ClubFatAssEvents2010. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.



Survey. We'd love to hear from you. Please add you comments below, write a blog post about your run and/or fill out this brief survey to let us know how we did.

Results.

Runners Name Distance Completed Finish Time Place Extra notes
Chris Tomkinson 25 km 2:06 Tied 1st Men  
Matt Sessions 25 km 2:06 Tied 1st Men  
James Clarke 25 km 2:42 3rd place Men 1st male coming in the correct way
Lysanne Lavigne 25 km 2:42 1st place Women  
Desmond Mott 25 km 2:49 4th place Men  
Wayne Guest 25 km 2:51 5th place Men  
Mark MacRae 25 km 3:03 M  
Susan MacRae 25 km 3:03 2nd place Women 1st female coming in the correct way
Katie Longworth 25 km 3:08 3rd place Women Plus 1 point for garbage pick-up 
Baldwin Lee 25 km 3:06 M plus 1 point for garbage pick-up
Jess Dagg 25 km 3:15 F Plus 1 point for garbage pick-up 
Michelle Allen 25 km 3:15 M  
Debbie Suzuki 25 km 3:17 F  
Jordan Stace-Smith  25 km 3:17 M  
Peter van Gaalen 25 km 3:17 M  
Carie Moran 25 km 3:29 F  
Don Murray 25 km 3:29 M  
Gord Lord 25 km 3:29 M  
Lori Clerkson  25 km 3:29 F  
Steven Lowe 25 km 3:29 M  
Tammy Blackwell  25 km 3:29 F  
Ronald Ness  26 km 3:55 M First place in the 70 + age group
Ean Jackson 16 km 1:59 M  
Rob Ruft 16 km 2:05 M  
Rachel Tanya Fouladi 13.7 km 1:56 F  
Janet Bremmer 13 km 1:30 F  
Dan Daoust 13 km 1:38 M  
Ron Mayne  13 km 1:45 M  
Heather Urquhart  13 km 1:54 F  
Liza Flemming 13 km 1:54 F  
Peggy Brown 13 km 1:57 F  
Reagan White 13 km 1:58 M Plus 1 point for garbage pick-up 
Katherine Webb  13 km 2:06 F  
The golden pig 9 km 1:58 Hmm, not sure ?? Even went for a swim following the run
Pete Stace-Smith       Plus 2 points for Event Hosting
Diane Stace-Smith       Plus 1 bonus point for crewing
The moto and first aid crew      

Run To the Clouds 2009 Results

Club Fat Ass Event - At the Start of the Run To the Clouds: running, trailrunning, Vancouver, Club Fat Ass

Photos are  posted on the CFA Flickr page. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss, RunToTheClouds2009 and RunToTheClouds. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.

Survey. We'd love to hear from you. Please add you comments below, write a blog post about your run and/or fill out this brief survey to let us know how we did.

Report. Thanks goes to the 56 runners that came out in somewhat miserable conditions yesterday for a run in the woods.

Great to see such a turn-out. This is the 4th year that Run to the Clouds has been on, and the numbers keep on growing. Once again I was asked yesterday if there will be a 2010 version, and I'd say if there is this type of interest, the run must go on.

Special thanks to Diane Stace-Smith (my wife) and our friend Ruby Ferguson who came out and help set up the aid station at the North end of the lake - getting all those health food chips, cookies and gummy worms ready for runners wanting a short break. Also thanks to Peter vanGaalen (another CFA runner) who took a few hours off on Friday to come lug water and Gatoraid up the mountain to the high point turn-around so that runners would have a stash to draw on if needed up top. Made my day when someone used the fluids and enjoyed them up there way out in the middle of nowhere.

Great job goes out to all runners that braved the upper 1/2 of the course too, with it raining hard down low and freezing level just above the lake, it was snowing flat out on the upper parts of the course. From what was only a few hundred meters of snow on Friday turned out to be a couple of Km slog. Way to go!!  You are all tough Fat Assers! 

Oh yeah, and speaking of tough... extra props out to Carie, Lori and Sarah for running the full 25 km, then promply turning for the lake and walking right in. I was told later they were in there for a full 10 minutes!  Man, I left after about 1 min as I was cold just watching them. Way to go girls.

Anyway, thanks to all that came out to run, thanks to Ean for talking a lot of runners into signing up from North Van and showing up -- hopefully he got you there once, but you will come back again because of the run -- see you all next year.


Cheers  Pete SS (event host, Run to the Clouds).

Results

 Name Finish Time Distance Points Extra notes
Matt Sessions 2:26 25 km 2 Tied for first place male
Tim Wiens 2:26 25 km 2 Tied for first place male
Daryl Spencer  2:27 25 km 2 Award for traveling the farthest (Kelowna)
Chris Benn 2:29 25 km 2  
Bill Dagg 2:48 25 km 2 + 1  gabage pick-up
Desmond Mott 2:53 25 km 2 + 1  garbage pick-up
Katie Longworth 2:57 25 km 2 Tied for first place female --
Maureen Forrestal 2:57 25 km 1 Tied for first place female --
Baldwin Lee 3:07 25 km 2 + 1 Garbage picked up. 
Hellen Tilley 3:22 25 km 2  
Jessica Glowacki 3:22 25 km 2  
Reg Blyth 3:22 25 km 1  
Stephen Blyth 3:22 25 km 1 Note: Hard to award points when I don't know your last name?  Need last name
Kirsten Ramage 3:26 25 km 2  
Lori Clerkson  3:26 25 km 2 went for a dip in the lake
Carie Moran 3:26 25 km 2 went for a dip in the lake
Don Murray 3:26 25 km 2  
Sal Bugliarisi 3:26 25 km 2  
Sarah Weinkam 3:26 25 km 2 went for a dip in the lake
Claudia Bullington 3:26 25 km 2  
Gilles Barbeau 3:26 25 km 1  
Martin Janzen 3:29 25 km 2  
Robin Furby 3:39 25 km 1  
Michelle Allen 3:49 25 km 2 + 1  Garbage picked up. 
         
Laddie Hannam 3:50 25 ++ km 2 +1 + 1 garbage and referal point  
Steven Lowe 3:25 25.5 km 2 No penalty points for running too far
Jess Bassil
3:49 25.5 km 2  
         
Michael Syrjala 3:15 13 km 2 Good effort… these guys did the upper 13 km loop on the course, much of it in fresh snow
Eileen Bistrisky 3:15 13 km 2 Good effort… these guys did the upper 13 km loop on the course, much of it in fresh snow
Lannie Thielen 1:28 13.5 km 1 membership needs to be updated
Sibylle Tinsel  1:30 13.5 km n/a Custom course - way to go - garbage pick-up
David Jenkins 1:34 13.5 km 2  
Erin Creak 1:34 13.5 km 2  
Susan Macrae 1:36 13.5 km 2 + 1 Extra point for helping an injured runner back to start finish, then going back out to run again.
Mark MacRae 1:41 13.5 km 2  
Rhonda Gallant 1:41 13.5 km 2  
Dan Doust 1:41 13.5 km 2  
Emma Morgan 1:41 13.5 km 2  
Todd Ulriksen 1:43 13.5 km 2  
Heather Summerville 1:43 13.5 km 1  
Gord Lord 1:45 13.5 km 2  
Gord Thompson 1:46 13.5 km 2  
Ean Jackson 1:51 13.5 km 2 + 1  
Jennifer Hiebert 1:51 13.5 km 1  
Anglela Spooner 1:56 13.5 km 2 + 1 Extra point for helping an injured runner back to start finish, then going back out to run again.
         
Rob Jones 1:08 10.5 km 2  
Lori Moody ??? 10.5 km 2  
         
Craig Moore 4h 25km n/a custom
Reg Hornsby 3:18 21.5 km 1  
Peter Stace-Smith 0:30 3 km 2 + 1 Event host, thanks to Ean for running the upper lake loop with me :)
Peter van Gaalen 2:00 15.0 km 2 Trail kudo's for looping back on the route and running with the 2 runners who had helped Debbie back
Debbie Suzuki 0:20 1 2 Our only injury for the day. Debbie roller he ankle badly just past the parking lot
         
Dave Berg DNS 0 -1  
Michael Wardas DNS 0 -1  
Krys Pick DNS 0 -1  




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Run To the Clouds 2008 Results

12 April 2008 - Starter Photo
32 Starters - 32 Finishers

Photos are posted on the CFA Flickr page. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss, RunToTheClouds2008 and RunToTheClouds. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.

Run to the Clouds event review

 

WHAT A GREAT DAY. Blue sky and warm temperatures blessed us at the end of yet another week or two of rain. 31 runners showed up to tackle the tough course and pretty much every single one of them had a big smile on their face at the end too. It was hard not to enjoy a run in the woods when the day was just so great. Thanks to all the runners who came out to play in the woods yesterday. Great to see you there and frankly as an event host, seeing you all having a great time makes it all worth while. With 18 runners completing the full 25 kms and another 13 doing one of the shorter options you all deserve great pats on the back, as this course is not an easy one. Well done!

Brief history here: As I look outside my window the morning after the event and at the rain falling once again, I smile and realize someone up there seems to want me to continue to put this event on. A loooong time back I talked to the good folks at CFA and suggested it would be cool to do a run out in the Tri-Cities area around Eagle Ridge and Buntzen Lake area. Of course they instantly tossed it back in my court but helped me organize my first event. Run to the Clouds was born in 2006. They also asked me for a minimum 3 year commitment on running the event. Since that time we have had 3 course changes (I’d like to think it is getting better) and hopefully I have got a bit smarter on how to do this all… but the fun is still there. Runners are still coming out to support it and it makes my day to see both local and runners from other parts of Vancouver coming out to see and enjoy some of the beautiful trails that we have out here.

I guess we will have to see about a CFA Run to the Clouds…

Of course, none of this would be possible without the help of others. I’d like to send out some well deserved thanks for helping Run to the Clouds event even exist. These people made the event possible and better:

  • Nick Balenzano, and the 3 John’s (Johnny Saunders, John Yap and Jon Mansaul) -- our fully trained first aid team that gave up their morning and were cruising around on the event course on their mountain bikes ready to help out should the need arise.
  • Chris Leupold and Greg Skerratt for helping with aid station #3 at the top of Eagle Ridge (Note: these guys moto’d in all the treats and liquid you enjoyed up there).
  • Kintec Footlab for donating some cool shirts and waterbottle prize draws.
  • Norco Performance Bikes for donating some cool beer mugs, t-shirts and draw prizes.
  • Trail Runner Magazine for donating 2 subscriptions that were given out as prize draws.
  • Sibylle from CFA for once again walking me through all the on-line headaches of posting and hosting an event.
  • Angela Spooner for donating some fantastic draw prizes (3 nice bottles of wine) that were given away at the after-party.
  • My wife Diane for buying all the treats and cutting up the watermelon that everyone enjoyed.
Highlights and other fun stuff:

As you can imagine, a lot goes on during an event and there is certain things that come to mind afterwards that are always good to share with others. Here is just some of the good, the bad and the ugly:
  • Again, as per last year’s event… it did NOT RAIN!! After a week or two of lousy weather, event day dawned sunny and warm, perfect (almost too warm?) running temperature and with no wind the lake was a gem to look at while doing the course figure 3 around it.
  • No negative points were awarded to a few of the runners who tried to make the course longer and harder than it already was by adding on extra spurs or additional mileage!
  • Props goes out to the fast four (Bill Dagg, Ran Katzman, Allison Mackay and Desmond Mott) who ran the course faster than any have before – new course records for men and women.
  • Extra point awarded to Mark MacRae who met a co-worker in the elevator less than 48 hours ago and talked her into a) joining CFA and b) coming out to run a 25 km trail run.
  • Apparently Buntzen IS still above 32 degrees or 0 degrees C as some keen runners didn’t have to break through ice to go for a swim after the run. Wow, now there is a hearty bunch!!!
The after-party at the Golden Spike Pub was well attended although they didn’t seem all to organized, the food tasted good and the bevies (strictly for re-hydration purposes) even better. It was also great to share some fantastic draw prizes awarded to runners present.


Results

#'s Runners Name Distance Completed Official Finish time CFA Points Awarded Notes:
1 Bill Dagg 25 km 2:38:30 1st Male 2  
2 Ran Katzman 25 Km 2:39 2  
3 Allison Mackay 25 Km 2:41 1st female 2  
4 Desmond Mott 25 Km 2:41:30 3 Plus 1 point for on-course garbage pick-up
5 Mark MacRae 25 Km 3:02 3 Plus 1 point for talking a fellow co-worker into joining CFA and coming out for 25 Km in the elevator the day before
6 Geoffrey Palmer 25 Km 3:02:05 2  
7 Peter Van Gallen 25 Km 3:04 2  
8 Rhonda Gallant 25 Km 3:08 2  
9 Angela Spooner 25 Km 3:08 3 Plus 1 point for helping support the event with some very nice and appreciated draw prizes. Thanks.
10 Dan Daoust 25 Km 3:08 2  
11 Donna Smood 25 Km 3:08 3 Plus 1 point for being talked into joining CFA in an elevator the day before and coming out and running 25 Km with us :)
12 Amy MacArthur 25 Km 3:14 2  
13 Carie Moran 25 Km 3:42 2  
14 Lisa Kirkland 25 Km 3:42 2  
15 Lori Clerkson 25 Km 3:42 2  
16 Steven Lowe 25 Km 3:42 2  
17 Gord Lord 25 Km 3:42 2  
18 Gord Thompson 24.5 Km 3:18 2 Went for the 25 but got mixed up in final Km
           
           
19 Janis Vallis 15 Km 1:59 2  
20 Wendy Wong 15 Km 2:03 2  
21 Lucy McNeill 15 Km 2:03 2  
22 Andrew Laing 15 km 2:05 2  
23 Jennifer Hiebert 15 km 2:10 2  
24 Christopher Atkins 12 Km 1:25 2  
25 Ruby Fergusen 12 Km 1:31 2  
26 Don Murray 12 Km 1:31 2  
27 Todd Ulriksen 12 Km 1:31 2  
28 Beth Van Gaalen 12 Km 1:59 2  
29 Debbie Clark 10 Km 1:15 2  
30 Sibylle Tinsel custom (less than Debbie) 1:18 3 Extra point awarded for holding event host's hand through many left curves and still coming out to run and support the event.
31 Claudia Bullington 12 Km 1:40 2  

2007



Photos are posted on the CFA Flickr page. If you like to add yours please add them to your Flickr account, then to the Club Fat Ass Flickr group. Make sure you tag all photos of today with ClubFatAss, RunToTheClouds2007 and RunToTheClouds. If you are not interested in Flickr, please send your photos to Sibylle or Pete and we'll post them.

Post Event Survey - please click here to participate.

Run to the Clouds event review
Well sports-fans, the 2nd annual Run to the Clouds event is now behind us. 28 keen CFA runners started the event yesterday and 14 of them finished the full 25 km challenging course. Some even did more! Whether you did the full course or one of the shorter options, give yourself a big pat on the back, you all did awesome!!!
Sending out thanks:

I’d like to once again thank the following people that made this event possible and better:

  • Carie Moran (CFA member) for giving up her run to come out and help with event sign-in and aid station #1 and #2 up at the North Beach.
  • Chris Leupold and Greg Skerratt for helping with aid station #3 at the top of Eagle Ridge (Note: these guys moto’d in all the treats and liquid you enjoyed up there).
  • Nick Balenzano and Johnny Saunders, our fully trained first aid team that were cruising around on event course on their mountain bikes ready to help out should the need arise.
  • Angela Spooner for arranging some fantastic draw prizes including a 60 minute massage from Lea Hartley (thanks to Lee too of course!) and a 30 minute massage session at Hyde Creek Clinic (again thanks to the massage therapists who donated the sessions too). These were both given away at the after-party.
  • Marlene Coleman for helping with aid station #1 and #2. and for arranging a fantastic hydrotherapy massage session draw prize (thanks also to Dr Wilbour Kelsick for this fantastic donation).
  • North Shore Athletics for donating some cool shirts and waterbottle prize draws.
  • Trail Runner Magazine for donating 2 subscriptions that were given out as prize draws.
  • Sibylle from CFA for walking me through all the on-line headaches of posting and hosting an event.
  • My wife Diane for pedaling her bike down to the after-party late that afternoon to get me and all the gear in my truck home safe…

Highlights and other fun stuff:

As you can imagine, a lot goes on during an event and there is certain things that come to mind afterwards that are always good to share with others. Here is just some of the good, the bad and the ugly:

  • How about the first big highlight was that it did NOT RAIN!! Even after the weather man promised 60% chance of showers right up till that morning. Event day was perfect running temperature with high overcast and the occasional blue sky and sunny break.
  • No negative points will be awarded to Don Murray and Gord Bell (competing in his first trail run) for running right past an important trail head (clearly marked in the instructions that they were both carrying in their hands at the time) and running almost all the way down to Indian Arm on the access road before figuring out they had gone wrong… Way to go guys! Way to add additional vertical elevation gain to an already hard course!
  • Don’t worry Matt, no negative points will be awarded to you for crossing the finish line in a smoking fast 2:08 but then complaining that aid station #3 was not set up when he was there (it was, but he had accidentally eliminated about 3 km from the course, so didn’t complete the full 25 km). Oops… next year OK Matt
  • HOWEVER, speaking of Matt, extra props has to be sent out to him for running 22 of the 25 km faster than anyone AFTER running a whopping 80 km run the day before! Yes, Matt was out for a big training run the Saturday before this event and still managed to look fresh and fast on event day! Holy smokes…
  • Props goes out to Stephen Lamothe and Karine Lavoie that did a lap of the Buntzen (the short course) with their son Takoda who is not even 4 years old yet. Takoda ran quite a bit of this too! Future competitor to Matt Sessions maybe???
  • Extra point awarded to Elizabeth McQuaid, Kelly Vermette, Jessica Watson and Sibylle Tinsel for helping out some poor lost soul and setting them straight again.
  • Props out to Pat Matthieu for her first CFA event! Welcome to the gang Pat.
  • Props out to Gord Lord who completed his first ever trail run, and did the whole thing. Actually he did more as he was one of the guys that ran right past the trail head and added on extra km’s. Don’t worry Gord, we don’t penalize folks that want to run LONGER than the set event course that day.
  • This in from our First Aid team positioned at the 16 km mark on route, way up high on Eagle Ridge. Nick says "three CFA gals arrived and they had pre-planned to turn around at the spot we were at. one asked if we had a cell phone she could borrow, so I let her use mine. She was huffing and puffing, so it sounded really authentic when SHE CALLED IN SICK TO WORK FOR THAT NIGHT. I guess she had no intention of going in after that workout...she was off to the after-party instead. Can't say that I blame her.
  • Also from our First Aid Team. I handed out a couple of band aids for chaffed nipples...if it was a woman, I would have been a good first aider and done a thorough inspection...but I had to let it slide since it wasn't.
  • Bummer of the day goes to defending course champion Elke Bauer who was looking like she would be the fastest women there once again, till her brain went on autopilot and she turned onto Eagle Trail to run up to last year’s aid station, taking her off course by more than 1 km and allowing Amy MacArthur to slip on by and beat her to the finish line.
  • Apparently Buntzen IS above 32 degrees or 0 degrees C as some keen runners didn’t have to break through ice to go for a swim after the run. Now there is a hearty bunch!!! On exiting the water Peter VG stated “it was sooo cold, his privates were “like a button on a fur coat”. Now that is cold !!
  • Oh yeah, I had more than a few runners want to know what the chips were that were so tasty… They were “Kettle Brand, Krinkle cut Salt and Fresh ground pepper” chippies. Gourmet, no trans fats, no MSG, and available at Costco. They come in a brown bag.
  • The after-party at the Golden Spike Pub was well attended and the Giants game was on. It seemed every time they scored there was $1 beers for us all! The beer was enjoyed (strictly for re-hydration purposes) and there was some fantastic draw prizes awarded to runners present.

2007-05-27 Run To The Clouds 027a














 

Summary:

So, as event host, this is always fun to put on this event. It is my small way of “putting back” to the running community. I believe we will stick with the same route next year as most runners liked the route. (OK, maybe I’ll try to be a bit clearer on some of the directions). Talking to Sibylle, we may move it a little earlier or back into April again for 2008 so we don’t run into conflicts with some other runs later on like what happened this year. So, one final request… if you liked the event please tell your running friends and help me spread the word to get more runners out for 2008. If each of you brought 1 or 2 running friends it could be that much MORE fun.!! If you didn’t like something about the event or would like something changed or improved I would simply ask you to fire me back some feedback. I’ll put all your suggestions and notes into the file and will make next years event all that much better. Click here to send Pete feedback. You will also receive a post event survey and I would appreciate your time to fill this out.

Thanks again for coming out, see you all next year!!

Pete SS

Runners Name Distance Completed Official Finish Time CFA Points Awarded Additional Notes
         
Rob Ruff 25 km 2:48 2 First male, full course finisher in
Peter Van Gallen 25 km 3:17 2  
Mark McCrae 25 km 3:17 2  
Mark Yee Fung 25 km 3:17 1 Late entry
Amy MacArthur 25 km 3:18 1 First female, full course finisher in
Elke Bauer 27.5 km 3:20 2 Note: No penatly points for going too far…
Stephen Lowe 25 km 3:30 2  
Kim Taylor  25km  ? 2  
Angela Spooner 25 km 3:35 2  
Rhonda Gallant 25 km 3:35 2  
Heather Summerville 25 km 3:35 2  
Sonja Madsen 25 km 3:35 2  
Don Murray 26.5 km 3:34 2 Note: No penatly points for going too far…
Gord Lord 26.5 km 3:34 2 Note: No penatly points for going too far…
Baldwin Lee 27 km 3:44 2  
Matt Sessions 22.5 km 2:08 2 First one in, but missed a section on course
Peggy Brown 21 km 3:32 2  
Sara Weinkam 21 km 3:32 2  
Kandice Leaf 21 km 3:32 2  
Pat Matthieu 17.5 km 2:26 2  
Elizabeth McQuaid 13.6 km 2:22 3 Additional point for helping someone lost
Sibylle Tinsel 13.6 km 2:22 3 Additional point for helping someone lost
Kelly Vermette 13.6 km 2:22 3 Additional point for helping someone lost
Chris Tomkinson 12.5 km 1:11 2  
Dan Doust 9.5 km 1:10 2  
Stephen Lamothe 9.5 km 2:04 2 Mixed run and carry
Karine Lavoie 9.5 km 2:04 2 Mixed run and carry
Takoda (4 years old) 9.5 km 2:04 1 Mixed run and being carried
Carie Moran n/a n/a 1 Helped with sign-in and aid stations etc
Carolyn Goluza n/a n/a -1 Registered but did not show up
Joseph Chung n/a n/a -1 Registered but did not show up

2006

22 April 2006 - 23 starters, 23 finishers

Sure, it seemed like a good idea many many months ago when a few co-runners agreed with me that a hilly training route may make a cool new CFA event. Like the field of dreams movie, planning out and actually putting on this run seemed like it was meant to be yesterday when there was 23 friendly Club Fat Assers toed up to the start line in an area most were not from. First of all, thanks to all of those runners who had the faith that we wouldn’t leave them lost and stranded way out in the middle of nowhere and made the effort to come on out and sample some new trails and a new CFA run. You guys made my day!!


 

Run day dawned bright and sunny, much needed. Runners seemed to find the rec centre OK and after the usual quick chat rolled out at 10:02 am. Almost immediately a strong front group of 3 opened a gap when they made a light and the rest didn’t. Floating around on course I re-met the runners at the top of the first climb. Within 3 km they had already climbed more than 300 meters or close to a 1000’. There was a few good slam comments tossed my way

but in good CFA spirit, they all continued up the climb even higher. Their efforts were rewarded with fantastic views (as promised) along the top of Eagle Ridge and at the aid station ridge lookout.


 

The next section of trail down Eagle and Academy seemed to be the highlight for most, and offered a bit of a break from the climbing. Strong Road trail network was the hardest to navigate, but luckily there was a few runners intermixed that knew the way and the great part about this area is, if you get totally screwed up, head downhill on any of the many options and it will get you back on course pretty quick. Lori, one of our runners joked that through this section she used the “eenie meenie, I don’t know�? process to pick her route.

The final homeward stretch rhythm along the inlet was broken only by a nice aid station at the 16 km mark with lots of healthy and unhealthy (but enjoyable) treats. Thanks to Diane and Baldwin for manning this oasis.

 

The first strong runners came in together all in a smoking fast time of 2:07:26 with a short break to 3 others pretty quick behind. First female finisher rolled in with a 2:38:30 proving all the hill training and trail running she has been doing is turning her into a superwoman. Special additional mentions need to go out to Angela Spooner, Heather Summerville and Sharon Bryson who had just returned from racing the Boston Marathon just 5 short days ago. All three of these inspirational runners showed me they can mix in some CFA fun with some serious marathon racing and still enjoy both. Great job girls!

 

Shout outs also go to Lorraine Suomi who decided this new run would be “fun�? to do as her first run longer than 10 km in maybe a half a dozen years or more. She finished looking strong and still had a smile on her face so we may see her out for more runs in the future. CFA spirit thanks also goes out to Dan Daoust (local tri-cities runner) who sacrificed a much faster finish time to hang back and ensure a few out of town runners made it through the sometimes confusing trail route and didn’t get lost. And no Dan, although you thought you would be DFL, you weren’t.

 

Although we were 75 meters from the front door of a beautiful rec centre, most runners enjoyed laying out on the grass at the finish area and soaking in the sun. The only thing that dragged them away was the appealing thought of a cold fermented beverage and some food at the nearby pub. Rickers Red seemed the popular choice of runners, but I think it was consumed strictly for re-hydration purposes…

 

Because of the generous donations from North Shore Athletics, Norco Performance Bikes and Kinesis, every runner that came to the pup after party went away with some sort of draw prize. Thanks to these supporters for the icing on the cake of a fantastic day.

 

Also, in thanks mode, I have to send thanks out to the following keeners who made this run more enjoyable for all. First to Chris and Greg, the 2 volunteers who delivered the much enjoyed water, Gatorade, RedBull, fruit and treats in their backpacks on their off road motorcycles way up to a point on the run course that no regular 4 wheel vehicle could get to. Then to Ruby and Diane who helped out at the start line getting everyone checked in and accounted for. Ruby helped right through the day with logistics and Diane manned the oasis aid station on the homeward leg. After Baldwin figured out his couch wasn’t going to be delivered that morning, he was too late to run the event, but at least he came out and helped with an aid station. Way to go buddy, next time look at the date on the delivery notice... haha.

 

Special huge thanks goes out to Francisco and his crew from TrailSidePhysio who came out on their mountain bikes to support the runners in the event of injury. It was nice that we didn’t need their help, but sure good piece of mind that they were there. What goes around comes around, so if you need some runners specific physio, chiro, massage therapy or any injury relief, give these guys a call (604-432-6319).

 

And finally… from me as the event organizer… thanks to all you runners that came out to support a brand new event. Without you, the event wouldn’t have happened. I’ve been asked by CFA for a minimum 3 year commitment when putting on an event, so I’m looking forward to seeing you all next spring again for the second Run to the Clouds event. If each of you bring out a friend, we will go for 50 runners in '07 OK?? Look for some slight course changes next year that will add a bit more “singletrack trail�? up top instead of the gravel access road. I have some good ideas already... Also this may change it enough to get it up to a 25 km route… another request from many runners. Anyway THANKS for helping me make this new event fun and successful.

 

Pete SS

 

Click on the photo grid to see full-sized photos

This shows photos in a set called a xhref="http://www.flickr.com/photos/19621215@N00/sets/72057594115980471">2006 Run To The Clouds.

 

 

 

 

 


First
Name
Last
Name
City/
Town
Event CFA Point
Series
Time
Geoffrey Palmer Coquitlam 22km 2 2:07:26
Matt Sessions Port Moody 22km 1 2:07:26
Mark Lesack Surrey 22km 1 2:07:26
Chris Tomkinson Coquitlam 22km 1 2:17:56
Peter van Gaalen Coquitlam 22km 2 2:19:08
David Jenkins Port Moody 22km 1 2:20 15
Darren Sawchuk Maple Ridge 22km 2 2:37:00
Elke Bauer Coquitlam 22km 2 2:38:30
Ean Jackson North Vancouver 22km 1 2:47:30
Doug MacKay North Vancouver 22km 2 2:48:06
John Smalley Vancouver 22km 2 2:52:20
Rhonda Gallant Port Moody 22km 2 3:11
Angela Spooner Coquitlam 22km 2 3:11:00
Heather Somerville Port Coquitlam 22km 1 3:11:00
Lori Clerkson Port Coquitlam 22km 2 3:12:30
Lisa Kirkland Port Coquitlam 22km 2 3:12:30
Lorraine Suomi North Vancouver 22km 2 3:13:00
Karl Jensen North Vancouver 22km 2 3:13:01
Sombrio
(4 legger)
Deller Vancouver 22km   3:13:18
Chin Chin
(4 legger)
Deller Vancouver 22km   3:13:18
Steve Deller Vanouver 22km 1 3:13:20
Sharon Bryson Richmond 22km 2 3:14:20
Dan Daoust Port Coquitlam 22km 2 3:14:30
Patricia Barry Vancouver 22km 2 3:23:56
Cynnimon Rain Port Coquitlam 22km 1 3:25:20
Bill Russell Surrey 22km -1 DNS
Baldwin Lee Burnaby Crew 1  
Ruby Willis   Crew 1  
Diane Stace-Smith   Crew 1  
Chris Leupold   Crew 1  
Greg Skerratt   crew 1  

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Not A Cloud In Sight

The first inaugural “Run to the Clouds

Background - Run To The Clouds

 

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact


2009 will mark the 4th year that Run To The Clouds has been on. It was added to the Club Fat Ass event schedule by Pete SS from the Coquitlam group of Fat Asses in an effort to
 

  • Add another fun event for other CFA members to enjoy
  • Bring people out to the Tri-Cities area and show them some fantastic trails and views
  • Put back something to CFA as we have enjoyed the events put on by other hosts.

The Differences

 

This event follows the guidelines provided by Club Fat Ass for safe and successful, informal endurance sports "parties":

  • It is free for Club members
  • It is hosted by a Club member
  • It is small and informal. Guests should come prepared for the weather and the terrain and not expect aid or course marking. They should expect to follow detailed written course instructions
  • It is environmentally friendly. We aim to leave our route in better shape than it was before we passed through.
  • It is as much about the camaraderie as the competition.

Guests at the event download from the Internet directions based on natural and physical landmarks. As with orienteering, those who aren't familiar with the course will pause frequently to consult the written directions, giving a slight competitive advantage to those who have trained on it. Course directions are available year 'round on the course page of this website and we encourage everyone to enjoy the route as often as they please throughout the year.

Detailed questions and clarifications specific to this event are provided in the Run To The Clouds FAQ.

Agenda - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Best you print this and the course description off if you don't want to get lost! Go to the bottom of this page and click on "printer-friendly version" for best results

3 March 2012

07:00? Drag yourself out of bed. Check the weather. Be sure to print off this agenda and the course description!
09:30 Arrive at Buntzen Lake Recreation area in sunny Port Moody BC. Please plan to be there at least 1/2 an hour early or more so you have time to park and come check in with us. Note: Parking is free at the main area, but does fill up on sunny nice mornings. To find the registration table please walk towards the main beach area from any of the 3 parking lots and head to your left. There will be a big wood gazebo about 100 meters back from the water. We will be meeting there. Note: there are also washrooms nearby the start area. Come on over and say Hi to all your fellow Club Fat Ass runners. Be ready to go by 9:50 am.
09:50 Welcome and final briefing
09:55 Photo
10:00 Start
12:30 ?? First 25K finisher?
14:00 ?? Last 25K finisher
14:00 on Food, fermented bevies and CFA runners celebration at the Golden Spike Pub nearby in Port Moody

Course

Despite the detailed description and warnings (e.g. If in doubt, read the directions!!), people may get lost and end up running way more than the planned 25 kms if they don't carry and read the course description. Consider it a rite of passage.

This is an informal, environmentally-friendly event. Be sure to print this agenda and the course description and bring them with you to the run as there are no flags, marshalls or other directions. (I recommend you put them in a plastic baggie, as they will otherwise surely turn to mush.) Better yet, go out and do a fun pre-run on the course to get to know it...  but still please bring the directions.

Getting to the Start

The start and finish is at Buntzen Lake
Coquitlam, BC, Canada. Click here for a map.

  • Driving east on #1 Highway take the last exit prior to the Port Mann Bridge.
  • Head due north along Lougheed Hwy to Coquitlam Center Mall
  • At the main Lougheed and Lougheed intersection there will be Coquitlam Dodge dealership on your right --  turn left/West.    
  • After you turn Coquitlam Center will be on your right.
  • You are now on Barnet Highway heading west.
  • Turn right onto Ioco Road (at Esso Gas Station). Honda dealership is across the street on your left. 
  • Go straight through the first light (Murray Street)
  • Go straight through the second light (Newport Drive)
  • Go straight through the third lights (Ioco Road). Note: There is an IGA and Starbucks on your right at this corner. Start to follow signs to Anmore and Buntzen Lake
  • The road you are on turns into Heritage Mountain Blvd and starts uphill and long sweeping left.
  • Go straight through light at Ravine Drive
  • Follow signs to Heritage Woods, Anmore, Belcarra, Buntzen Lake and White Pine Beach.
  • Go straight through the light (Parkside Drive)
  • Turn right at the roundabout, following signs
  • Turn left at light (Forrest Parkway). Follow signs.
  • Turn left at 4 way stop, and follow signs.
  • Go straight through at 3 way stop-sign. You are now on East Road.
  • Follow East Road right to stop sign. There will be a Fire Hall on your left.
  • Turn right onto Sunnyside Road. Follow signs to Buntzen Lake.
  • Follow Sunnyside Road right down to Buntzen Lake park entrance. Follow road into park.
  • If possible park in the last parking lot near Park Warden's house. Please ensure valuables are locked in trunk. Walk straight towards the lake (North) heading slightly left (west). You will see large wooden gazebo. This is the meeting and sign in spot.
  • Please plan to be there roughly 15-30 minutes.

Javascript is required to view this map.

What to Bring?

  • If you want, your own race number (for example, your favorite or most exotic race)
  • Although we will have some fluids available at roughly 8 kms, bring a bottle or Camelbak or whatever you normally use. Carry and use your own fluid...
  • bring your own aid (if you don't know what that is, better wait another year)
  • bring your own official timing system (a watch will do, even if the second hand doesn't work)
  • bring a change of clothes and towel ESPECIALLY if you feel like going for a swin in the lake following the run.
  • there's no cost to enter if you're a member of Club Fat Ass, but bring a few bucks to buy yourself a cold fermented bevie following your run at the finisher party

Post-Run Brunch

  • runners, friends and family are encouraged to meet afterwards for brunch and beverages at the Golden Spike...about 10 minutes drive back from the finish. It is located in Port Moody.
  • Golden Spike at 3224 St. Johns Street, Port Moody, Canada (604) 461-1188. Please google this for exact location or follow info below:
  • To get to the Golden Spike, head back out of the park, back to Fire Hall, turn left on East Road, back the same route you came this morning.. all the way down to Ioco past the IGA on your left and out to Barnet Highway. This time TURN RIGHT at the Esso gas station. The Golden Spike will be 100 meters up on your right hand side. Easy!!  Parking on street or in their parking lot.

Notes

  • Run to the Clouds is not a race, but we do keep track of your times so you have something to compare to next year
  • we hope everyone will run the same course, but won't disqualify folks for getting lost, adding on and running extra distance
  • this event is not sponsored, sanctioned, permitted or anything else that would qualify it as an official event
  • Free parking, washrooms/change facilities are available at the main beach area of Buntzen Lake.
  • The lake is clear (and cold) if anyone wants to go for a post run swim.
  • Expect rain, maybe snow, some trails, some gravel road, some old friends and maybe some new
  • Note: With the earlier date this year and the long cold winter we have been having, there may still be some snow or packed ice on the trails... please be careful and be prepared for this.

Course - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results |Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

 

March 9th 2009 Update: New for this year, 3 course length options...  for all you keeners of course there is the 25 km route complete with butt kicking climb up Eagle Ridge at the 15 km point (just when you are all warmed up).  If you have friends or family wanting to join us but for a shorter length, there is 13.5 and 10.5 km length options too. Bring em all out! 

Also the bridge at the South end of Buntzen Lake is now all fixed up and wonderful, so for those of you that have been doing RTTC's for a few years now, we are going back to the older route, so figure 8 of the lakes, then a climb up Eagle Ridge.  I have updated all the route descriptions but it is pretty clear.


25km Course Description

Please print out this course description (scroll down for a printer-friendly version) and bring it with you in a plastic baggie to the start.


 
25km Course
Distance in KM's
1 Start at Buntzen Lake BC Hydro beach park. Park in far left lot, walk towards the beach, stay left. Gazebo on left side as you aproach the water. Elevation 420 feet/128 meters. 0.0
2 Start route from Gazebo.  Head down paved road towards the lake and boat launching area.  
3 Turn left onto Energy Trail just before the lake, near boat dock area. 0.1
4 Turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail (first right) follow sign to "Floating Bridge" 0.6
5 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail 1.0
6 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.1
7 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.5
8 Cross new bridge at South end of Buntzen Lake  
9 Turn right onto gravel access road when exiting bridge 1.7
10 Past "Saddle Ridge Trail" sign, stay on gravel road. (stay right close to lake). 3.0
11 Past "Buntzen Lake Trail, and Lake View Trail", again stay right on gravel road. Slight right curve down towards pump house. 3.2
12 Reference Point (RP) #1. Turn left onto Buntzen Lake Trail. Note: There is 2 trail entrances here, take the right hand (closest to the lake).  3.3
13 Stay right at trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail.  6.6
14 Stay right and cross suspension bridge. 6.7
15 On event day aid station #1 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. 6.8
16 After crossing bridge you will pass a wooden structure with maps of Buntzen Lake, turn left out onto gravel road, past a hanging wire gate then left again onto gravel road  6.8
17 Major creek crossing, small house on the right hand side.  7.0
18 You will pass Halvor Linden trail/Swan Falls sign on your right. Note: Ignore spurs and signs off to the right (uphill side). Stay on gravel road with Lesser Buntzen Lake off to your left.  7.2
19 Gravel road turns into paved road. 7.8
20 Straight through yellow gate. 7.9
21 Swing left and cross overtop of the pipeline. Sign on this bridge, Max 61,000 GVW. 8.0
22 Proceed over one lane bridge. Note, there will be a small rock quarry on your right here.  8.1
23 After passing over one lane bridge, go past a small rock quarry on your left. You will be looking for a wooden power pole that has the #3 mark on it.  8.2
24 Reference Point (RP) #2. Note: This is the lowest you will get on the Run to the Clouds route today. Elevation aprox 330 feet/100 meters. Turn left immediately after the wood power pole, up what looks like a creek bed. This changes into a trail within 15 meters.  8.3
25 After climbing up a nasty creekbed the trail swings left and starts downhill. At next junction turn right staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail. Spur down to left goes down to a dead end viewpoint.  8.4
26 Go straight through junction, staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail . Note, there will be an older pumphouse down on your left hand side here. 8.5
27 Turn left onto Lake View Trail. 9.3
28 Stay left at this trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail. Yes, you have been here before. Follow this trail down to the suspension bridge again.  9.4
29 Cross suspension bridge again. On event day an aid station #2 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. 9.6
30 After crossing bridge go out to the gravel road again, but this time turn right on the road and head up hill. 9.6
31 After climbing slight hill on gravel road, turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail, just past fence on right. Note: This area overlooks the inflow pipes coming down from Coquitlam Lake. 9.8
32 Cross Poplar Creek 10.7
33 Trail junction, marked "Powerhouse Road", stay straight on Buntzen Lake Trail (do not turn up). 11.1
34 Turn right, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail. Do not take Powerhouse Road exit. Trail starts down switchbacks. 12.0
35 Stay left, do not take spur out to viewpoint (unless you want to go have a look). Continue down switchbacks and across creek-bridge at bottom.  12.1
36 You will see "Dog Park" fenced area on your right. Continue straight up trail.  13.1
37 Note: For people doing the short route, cut through the dog park here to the right and head back to the gazebo for check in. For those wanting more fun, continue straight ahead. 13.3
38 Run to the Clouds main route, stay left, do not enter doggie park. Head up towards the gravel road  
39 Trail joins Powerhouse Road, continue straight ahead towards the gate on this road. 13.4
40 Turn left onto the Halvor Lunden Trail at signpost. This will be located just before the main gate on the Powerhouse Road. 13.9
41 Cross bridge and take immediate right fork onto "bike route".  14.7
42 Stay right at trail junction, along beside creek, do not turn uphill here. 14.8
43 Stay on trail past equestrian overflow parking lot. Note: there is an outhouse on your left hand side at this point.  15.0
44 Turn left onto Eagle Trail (note: this trail used to be known as Academy Trail). 15.9
45 Past a sign post that says Eagle Trail. Trail will swing left and head uphill here. Enjoy :) 16.1
46 Trail junction. Stay straight ahead on Eagle Trail and go over wood bridge. Left trail is marked Eagle Trail North. 16.6
47 Past Eagle Trail sign. Continue left, slightly uphill. 17.0
48 Exit Eagle Trail onto gravel road. Turn RIGHT for final climb to the highest point. "Run to the Clouds my friends" 17.6
49 Note: At the top of this climb, the road will level out and there is a large powerline pole on your right. You WILL KNOW you are at the highest part as the road levels out and then starts downhill again. You can see straight out to Mt Baker from this point and you are the highest elevation you will get today. Elevation 1450 feet/441 meters.  18.7
50 KEY POINT HERE…  At this top point, do a U-Turn and head back downhill towards Buntzen Lake.  Give props to the ones behind you still coming up hill to this point.   
51 Go past the top of Eagle Trail exit, stay on the gravel road, stay right. Follow road towards Buntzen Lake lookout up ahead at the end of the road 19.8
52 Follow road and enjoy the short steep climb to a cool lookout down at Buntzen Lake. You will be back down there in a few minutes…  Do another U-Turn and head back downhill.         Again, key trail entrance here. Pay attention!  20.8
53 After heading down from the look-out STAY RIGHT past the first powerline tower and into a small trail through the bushes here onto Eagle Trail.  20.9
54 Turn right at trail junction (there is a creek and bridge on your left) stay right,   21.4
55 Past Eagle Trail sign again, at bottom of switchbacks. 22.0
56 Turn right at the bottom of this trail (do NOT go towards park entrance again - if you get to the small stop sign again, you are going the wrong way).  22.3
57 Stay straight on main trail. Do not turn right uphill  23.0
58 Key turn… This time when you get back to the equestrian parking lot turn left and go through the parking lot. Note: Outhouse will be on your right if you need it 23.3
59 Cross road (watch for traffic). Stay on main trail back towards main lake parking lots 23.4
60 Past "Buntzen Lake" trail junction sign on your left. Stay straight on main trail  23.6
61 Stay right on Buntzen Lake Trail heading back towards the lake.  24.0
62 Stay left at fork in trail, Note: Where you just came from is signed "equestrian overflow parking lot". 24.1
63 Turn left onto Energy Trail a the top of a steep short climb. 24.2
64 Follow Energy Trail with the lake on your left - last leg around to finish area. 24.4
65 Past boat dock on your left, head up to the right and towards the gazebo where you started this morning. 24.9
66 Finish at Buntzen Lake Beach gazebo. Congratulations, you have just completed the “Run to the Clouds 25.0

 

13.5km Course Description

Please print out this course description (scroll down for a printer-friendly version) and bring it with you in a plastic baggie to the start.

 
Run to the Clouds new 15 km 2009 route
Distance in KM's
1 Start at Buntzen Lake BC Hydro beach park. Park in far left lot, walk towards the beach, stay left. Gazebo on left side as you aproach the water. Elevation 420 feet/128 meters. 0.0
2 Start route from Gazebo.  Head down paved road towards the lake and boat launching area.  
3 Turn left onto Energy Trail just before the lake, near boat dock area. 0.1
4 Turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail (first right) follow sign to "Floating Bridge" 0.6
5 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail 1.0
6 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.1
7 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.5
8 Cross new bridge at South end of Buntzen Lake  
9 Turn right onto gravel access road when exiting bridge 1.7
10 Past "Saddle Ridge Trail" sign, stay on gravel road. (stay right close to lake). 3.0
11 Past "Buntzen Lake Trail, and Lake View Trail", again stay right on gravel road. Slight right curve down towards pump house. 3.2
12 Reference Point (RP) #1. Turn left onto Buntzen Lake Trail. Note: There is 2 trail entrances here, take the right hand (closest to the lake).  3.3
13 Stay right at trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail.  6.6
14 Stay right and cross suspension bridge. 6.7
15 On event day aid station #1 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. 6.8
16 After crossing bridge you will pass a wooden structure with maps of Buntzen Lake, turn left out onto gravel road, past a hanging wire gate then left again onto gravel road  6.8
17 Major creek crossing, small house on the right hand side.  7.0
18 You will pass Halvor Linden trail/Swan Falls sign on your right. Note: Ignore spurs and signs off to the right (uphill side). Stay on gravel road with Lesser Buntzen Lake off to your left.  7.2
19 Gravel road turns into paved road. 7.8
20 Straight through yellow gate. 7.9
21 Swing left and cross overtop of the pipeline. Sign on this bridge, Max 61,000 GVW. 8.0
22 Proceed over one lane bridge. Note, there will be a small rock quarry on your right here.  8.1
23 After passing over one lane bridge, go past a small rock quarry on your left. You will be looking for a wooden power pole that has the #3 mark on it.  8.2
24 Reference Point (RP) #2. Note: This is the lowest you will get on the Run to the Clouds route today. Elevation aprox 330 feet/100 meters. Turn left immediately after the wood power pole, up what looks like a creek bed. This changes into a trail within 15 meters.  8.3
25 After climbing up a nasty creekbed the trail swings left and starts downhill. At next junction turn right staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail. Spur down to left goes down to a dead end viewpoint.  8.4
26 Go straight through junction, staying on Old Buntzen Lake Trail . Note, there will be an older pumphouse down on your left hand side here. 8.5
27 Turn left onto Lake View Trail. 9.3
28 Stay left at this trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail. Yes, you have been here before. Follow this trail down to the suspension bridge again.  9.4
29 Cross suspension bridge again. On event day an aid station #2 will be located here. There is also outhouses located nearby. 9.6
30 After crossing bridge go out to the gravel road again, but this time turn right on the road and head up hill. 9.6
31 After climbing slight hill on gravel road, turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail, just past fence on right. Note: This area overlooks the inflow pipes coming down from Coquitlam Lake. 9.8
32 Cross Poplar Creek 10.7
33 Trail junction, marked "Powerhouse Road", stay straight on Buntzen Lake Trail (do not turn up). 11.1
34 Turn right, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail. Do not take Powerhouse Road exit. Trail starts down switchbacks. 12.0
35 Stay left, do not take spur out to viewpoint (unless you want to go have a look). Continue down switchbacks and across creek-bridge at bottom.  12.1
36 You will see "Dog Park" fenced area on your right. Continue straight up trail.  13.1
37 Note: For people doing the short route, cut  through the dog park here to the right and head back to the gazebo for check in. For those wanting more fun, continue straight. 13.2
38 Finish at Buntzen Lake Beach gazebo. Congratulations, you have just completed the 13.5 km “Run to the Clouds" route 13.5

 

10.5km Course Description

Please print out this course description (scroll down for a printer-friendly version) and bring it with you in a plastic baggie to the start.  Here is a map.

 
Run to the Clouds new 10.5 km 2009 route Distance in KM's
1 Start at Buntzen Lake BC Hydro beach park. Park in far left lot, walk towards the beach, stay left. Gazebo on left side as you aproach the water. Elevation 420 feet/128 meters. 0.0
2 Start route from Gazebo.  Head down paved road towards the lake and boat launching area.  
3 Turn left onto Energy Trail just before the lake, near boat dock area. 0.1
4 Turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail (first right) follow sign to "Floating Bridge" 0.6
5 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail 1.0
6 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.1
7 Stay right at fork in trail, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail, towards "Entrance Gate" 1.5
8 Cross new bridge at South end of Buntzen Lake  
9 Turn right onto gravel access road when exiting bridge 1.7
10 Past "Saddle Ridge Trail" sign, stay on gravel road. (stay right close to lake). 3.0
11 Past "Buntzen Lake Trail, and Lake View Trail", again stay right on gravel road. Slight right curve down towards pump house. 3.2
12 Reference Point (RP) #1. Turn left onto Buntzen Lake Trail. Note: There is 2 trail entrances here, take the right hand (closest to the lake).  3.3
13 Stay right at trail junction of Old Buntzen Lake Trail, Lake View Trail and Buntzen Lake Trail.  6.6
14 Stay right and cross suspension bridge. 6.7
29 Cross suspension bridge again. On event day an aid station will be located here. There is also outhouses located down near the lake too. 6.6
30 After crossing bridge go out to the gravel road again, but this time turn right on the road and head up hill. 6.6
31 After climbing slight hill on gravel road, turn right onto Buntzen Lake Trail, just past fence on right. Note: This area overlooks the inflow pipes coming down from Coquitlam Lake. 6.8
32 Cross Poplar Creek 7.7
33 Trail junction, marked "Powerhouse Road", stay straight on Buntzen Lake Trail (do not turn up). 8.1
34 Turn right, stay on Buntzen Lake Trail. Do not take Powerhouse Road exit. Trail starts down switchbacks. 9
35 Stay left, do not take spur out to viewpoint (unless you want to go have a look). Continue down switchbacks and across creek-bridge at bottom.  9.1
36 You will see "Dog Park" fenced area on your right. Continue straight up trail.  10.1
37 Note: For people doing the short route, cut through the dog park here to the right and head back to the gazebo for check in. For those wanting more fun, continue straight ahead. 10.2
38 Finish at Buntzen Lake Beach gazebo. Congratulations, you have just completed the 13.5 km “Run to the Clouds" route 10.5

 

FAQ - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

Q: Where the heck is Buntzen Lake?
A: Buntzen Lake is a BC Hydro gem located just north of Port Moody. It is the suburb just east of Burnaby. It is a short hop from anywhere in the lower mainland.
Q: How do I get there?
A: Probably easiest to Google Map Buntzen Lake from where you are and follow the information, but if you can't do that....  it is easiest heading east on Hwy #1, then taking the last turn off before the Port Mann Bridge. Follow signs towards Coquitlam (and Lougheed Highway #7 east as it goes past Riverview and heads towards the mountains. After going under a train bridge go straight (still North) just 100 more meters to the big intersection. Turn left here and Coquitlam Center will be on your right hand side as you head west for about 2 minutes. They you will see signs to Ioco, Buntzen etc. See other additional information on how to get there in this posting..
Q: How long should it take me to drive out to the start/finish area?
A: At that time of day, it should take roughly 30 to 45 minutes from pretty much anywhere in Vancouver area. NOTE:  This is not way far away folks..  !!!  
Q: Will it be hard??
A: The course will be challenging for sure as it has roughly 2000' of elevation gain throughout the 25 km route. After completing a lap of Buntzen (lots of small ups and downs) it will head up the west flank of Eagle Mountain to a turn around point up high. Then, after descending back down to lake level it will return back to the start/finish area via the lower end of the lake and some of the first few km's of the route. Views are unreal, unless of course we are in the clouds. Hence the name of the event.
Note: for those not wanting to do the full 25 kms there is a 13.5 and 10.5 km route option this year. Don't let any excuse hold you or your friends back OK.
Q: What type of terrain should I expect to be running on?
A: The course will be mainly gravel topped singletrack trails through the woods. with a bit of fire road, mixed in. Other than crossing a road twice, there is no pavement. Care will have to be taken on the rougher surfaces as it might be easy to roll an ankle or get tripped up.

Note:  This route is not for runners who like tracks, flat courses, or 100% paved, groomed and raked surfaces.

Thank You - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

If you'd like to support the Run To The Clouds in some way, we'd love to have you onboard. At the very least, we can promise you a place on this Thank You page!


Kintec Footlabs
Thank you for the awesome recognition prizes.



TrailSidePhysio: Thanks to Francisco, John, Kevin and Erin from for their roaming first aid support



Norco Performance Bikes: Thanks for their much appreciated prizes.

TrailRunner: Thank you for the 2 gift subscriptions to your popular magazine as draw prize.

MEC and Nestle - Thank you for making sure that our aid station was well-stocked with PowerBars and PowerGels!

 

And to the Golden Spike Pub in Port Moody, for having us all over following the run and for the fantastic burger and beer special.

Please contact us with your thoughts on how you'd like to participate.

Confirmation - Run To The Clouds

The following people are registered for this event:

1) Chris Flood (Vancouver)

Contact - Run To The Clouds

Event Home | Registration | Agenda | Course
Results | Background | Thanks! | FAQ | Contact

I welcome your comments, criticisms, feedback and questions.

Please be sure to read the the Agenda and FAQ section of this website first, as this is where I've tried to answer the most frequently asked questions.

Pete Stace-Smith - Your CFA Event Host
if you have filled out your profile page this field will fill in automatically
please provide a valid email address, so I can follow-up with you

Post Event Survey - Run To the Clouds

Please take a moment to share your thoughts about the Club Fat Ass event you recently participated in. Your feedback will help your Event Host to refine their event next year.

This is an anonymous, confidential survey (as long as you are not logged in to the website) so please feel free to offer constructive criticism about any aspect of the event in the comment box.

Extremely UnsatisfiedUnsatisfiedSatisfiedExtremely SatisfiedN/A
Date (day of week, time of year, conflicts with other events)
Time (start time)
Start area (location, parking, washrooms, shelter)
Finish area (location, parking, washrooms, shelter)
The course itself (terrain, difficulty)
The course description (accuracy, complexity, measurement) Level of competition (too little, too much)
Post-event activities
Results (were they accurate, distributed promptly)
Event website (was it easy to find information, complete)
Overall event (value, challenge, course, atmosphere)
select all applicable
Please type answer in space provided above. Remember this survey is anonymous. If you would like a personal response to your feedback you can either add your email address here or contact us via the contact form on the website.
This survey is anonymous as long as you are not logged in. If you would like a personal response, please insert your email address.