2006/09/16 JDF 3

Well here we go again with the weekly Juan de Fuca Marine Trail report!  This is the third weekend in a row that CFA members have done this event.  Des had planned for Chris, Bill Dagg, and I to run it this Saturday since we were all unable to do it on the long weekend.  Bill jammed, but for a great reason --  he was offered a trip to New Zealand on short notice.

Des planned for an eight to nine hour run starting at 7:30.  The idea was to enjoy the day and not try to set any speed record.  As planned, we left China beach at 7:25.  Showers the night before had us a little worried, but the weather was perfect.  Clear skies and a moderate temperature.  Carlos had recommended running the trail from the top end, but Des thought running from China beach would get the more difficult sections out of the way while we had more energy.  The day unfolded according to plan.  Great views and hours of listening to the surf while we took our
time running / hiking along the coast.  It took us about five hours to get to Sombrio where we took a 20 minute break for lunch.  We had stashed some food and water there the night before (no drinking from creeks necessary).  Des had his second of three containers of Mott’s tomato juice.  He kept boasting about the “2600 milligrams of Sodium!” in every container.  Seems to have worked.  The only thing I stashed were some Purdy’s almond clusters but they were welcome too.

I was surprised at how much climbing and descending we had to do on this trail.  I was picturing a nice trail along a sandy beach or something.  It was a little frustrating in that every time we tried to get some kind of running rhythm going, the trail would turn a corner and we would have to navigate a mud pit or some steep, slippery descent.  When we finally reached a section of access road, we blasted through it and finally had a chance to stretch out a little.  The only real disappointment of the day was the absence of whale sightings.  Just a couple of snakes.  The low high tides meant we could travel all the beach sections.  We tired a little toward the finish, but when the last kilometer turned into access road again, Chris and I charged up the hill to finish off the day’s trek.

Des talked a friendly Texan couple into giving Chris a drive down to Port Renfrew to pick up his vehicle and within a few minutes we were having cold beer at the local pub.  Unfortunately for Des there was no Guinness on tap.

It was good to get out on a trail after five weeks of no trail running.  I was a little worried about being able to run with these guys, but our 8:20 time allowed me to keep up.

So who’s planning to run the JDF next weekend?

Tim