Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 10km Course

Please print out the course description and put them into a zip-lock baggie for the event (scroll down for a printer friendly version).

10km Course Description

• start at New Brighton Park near the playgrounds
• YOU WILL HEAD EAST ON OR PARALLEL TO THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL UNTIL YOU REACH NEW BRIGHTON PARK.  AT NO POINT SHOULD YOU BE HEADING BACK WESTWARD UNTIL THE TURNAROUND IN CONFEDERATION PARK.
• follow the path towards the beach, then to the right towards the pool and through the tunnel, then to the left and towards a gravel parking lot on the other side
• from here follow the Trans-Canada trail signs under the Ironworkers Memorial bridge
• RIGHT ONTO SMALLER TRAIL shortly after the trail turns from asphalt to gravel
• LEFT ONTO WIDE GRAVEL TRAIL at the top, follow back down to TC trail
• RIGHT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL follow the trail markings (watch out for the striped usually green and red posts at road crossings and trail logos on lamp posts and street signs)
• CONTINUE ACROSS WILLINGDON AVE ONTO SMALLER TRAIL 10 METRES TO THE RIGHT OF LARGE BLUE CHEVRON SIGN where the main Trans-Canada trail curves to the right in a grassy park towards a community centre a few blocks ahead across the street. Follow this trail alongside a green chainlink fence, ignoring any smaller off shoot trails.
• LEFT ONTO WIDER TRAIL 'CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP'
• LEFT AT 4-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION ONTO SMALLER TRAIL follow this trail with lots of wooden planks to the right and away from a fenced in area, then to the left past a larger trail that curves to the right and uphill. When you reach the railroad tracks go a few metres to your right without crossing
• RIGHT ONTO SMALLER TRAIL up the hill, with a yellow rope hanging on the steepest part
• LEFT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION
• LEFT AT SECOND 3-WAY INTERSECTION ONTO CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP follow this around until it comes back out to Penzance Drive                                                
• ***THIS IS WHERE THE 10K COURSE SPLITS FROM THE 25K AND 50K COURSES***
• RIGHT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL alongside Penzance Drive.
• RIGHT AND ONTO THE CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP TRAIL at the far side of the most western parking lot entrance for Confederation Park near a large park sign
• LEFT BACK ONTO THE SMALLER TRAIL YOU ENTERED THE PARK THROUGH (NEAR THE BLUE CHEVRON SIGN), you will see the entrance just before a green 'off-leash dog park' sign
• REJOIN THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL throught the park across the street where the trail brings you back out to Kensington Avenue
• LEFT AT TRAIL INTERSECTION 'TO BOUNDARY ROAD'
• RIGHT ONTO SMALLER TRAIL AT TOP OF HILL that you took up from the TC trail
• LEFT ONTO TRAN-CANADA TRAIL and retrace your steps through New Brighton park past the beach to the finish by the playground
• Meet at JJ Bean at Powell Street and Victoria Drive after
• you can find a map of the course here.

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 25km Course

Please print out the course description and put them into a zip-lock baggie for the event (scroll down for a printer friendly version).

25km Course Description

This first section heads east from on or parallel to the Trans-Canada Trail to Confederation Park.

• start at New Brighton Park near the playgrounds
• FOLLOW TRANS-CANADA TRAIL EAST under Ironworkers Memorial (Second Narrows) Bridge past CN Rail Turnoff on asphalt path
• RIGHT ONTO SMALLER PATH a few metres after the asphalt path changes to gravel
• LEFT ONTO WIDE GRAVEL PATH and follow it back down to the Trans-Canada Trail
• RIGHT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL follow the trail markers (pay special attention to the green and red striped poles and trail logos on street signs) until the trail goes diagonally through a park and curves to the right alongside Willingdon Avenue

The next section takes you through Confederation Park on some nice hilly trails.

• CONTINUE ACROSS WILLINGDON AVENUE ONTO SMALLER TRAIL approx. 10 metres to the right of a large blue Chevron sign follow this trail along a green fence ignoring any smaller offshoot trail until it comes out to a larger gravel trail
• LEFT ONTO 'CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP'
• LEFT AT 4 WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION ONTO SMALLER TRAIL with lots of wood planks keeping to the right and away from a fenced in area, THEN LEFT AGAIN staying on the smaller trail where a larger trail curves uphill to your right.
• HEAD TOWARD THE RAILROAD TRACKS, GO RIGHT A FEW METRES, THEN RIGHT ON A SKINNY TRAIL UP A STEEP HILL WITH A YELLOW ROPE
• LEFT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION
• LEFT AT SECOND 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION ONTO CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP follow it back out to Pezance Drive ingoring the smaller 'no trespassing' trails and a large wide service road to your right

This next section rejoins the Trans-Canada trail toward Burnaby Mountain.

***THE 10K COURSE SPLITS OFF TO THE RIGHT HERE, YOU WILL HEAD EAST***

• LEFT ONTO THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL ALONGSIDE PENZANCE DRIVE staying on the gravel path until you come to a crosswalk with a trailhead across the street
• CONTINUE ON THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL AFTER CROSSING THE STREET AT THE CROSSWALK
• LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK ALONG HASTINGS STREET on the same side until you reach Kensington
• RIGHT ONTO BIKE PATH ACROSS KENSINGTON AVENUE look down Kensington to the left about 15 metres from the corner
• CONTINUE ONTO BACK ALLEY follow the alley until you are forced to turn to the right near some used car dealerships and come out near Hastings and Cliff

This next section takes you to Kask Brothers where you cross to the Velodrome to enter the Burnaby Mountain trails via a mixture of trails and bike paths.

• LEFT ALONG HASTINGS THEN IMMEDIATELY LEFT ONTO BIKE PATH UNDER OVERPASS do not cross the overpass follow alongside Cliff Avenue
• LEFT ONTO SMALL UNMARKED TRAIL WHERE GREEN FENCE PULLS AWAY FROM ROAD shortly after you pass Belcarra Street
• CONTINUE ON BIKE ROUTE ACROSS STREET where trail comes out to road - follow the Francis/Union bike route for roughly 500m
• LEFT WHERE BIKE PATH SPLITS AWAY FROM ROAD towards a large trail sign
• LEFT ONTO DRUMMOND'S WALK which is a large gravel path
• GO ACROSS BARNET HIGHWAY AT PEDESTRIAN LIGHT where the trail takes you out near Kask Brothers

This next section is the turnaround and takes you through some of the excellent running trails of Burnaby Mountain.

• CONTINUE UP ROAD TO HARRY JEROME SPORTS CENTRE VELODROME go around the left side of the building and find a couple of paths, take the one along the fence onto the Velodrome trail
• LEFT ONTO VELODROME TRAIL AT TRAIL SIGN there is a sign saying that the trail is closed but there is another shortly after telling you to use at your own risk due to some steep hills with no stairs. Keep this in mind as you proceed and slow down here as the trail is somewhat overgrown. Ropes have been placed where the stairs are going to be put in but I didn't need them. The section is not long so take your time.
• RIGHT ONTO LARGER PANDORA TRAIL at first major intersection
• WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE IT IS EASY TO MISS!!! LEFT ONTO SMALLER UNMARKED NATURE TRAIL, where a tree with the middle cut out lies across the trail and a large tree stands just after the entrance to the trail, it is a small trail so keep your eyes peeled to the left. if you come out to a road you have gone approx 200m too far
• RIGHT ONTO LARGER BURNWOOD TRAIL at a clearing
• LEFT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL THEN TAKE THE SIDE MARKED PEDESTRIAN AT MAJOR TRAIL INTERSECTION WITH GATES ignore the path going down and to the right at a rustic bench, keep going up and to the left
• CONTINUE ACROSS CENTENNIAL WAY ON THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL by the info booth.

***THIS IS WHERE THE 25KM SPLITS FROM THE 50KM COURSE***

• CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE TRANS-CANADA OUT TO A GREEN FENCE
• LEFT ONTO PANDORA TRAIL follow it along the fence until it heads into the woods at the corner of a field
• LEFT ONTO GNOME'S HOME which merges into the Ridgewood trail
• LEFT ONTO BURNWOOD TRAIL

This next section back to the trail part of the Trans Canada is on the road and is why this course has more road running than the other two.  It is really only a couple km's though.

• RIGHT ONTO HASTINGS STREET WHERE THE TRANS-CANADA INTERSECTION IS
• FOLLOW HASTINGS TO INLET & CLIFF. CROSS AT LIGHTS TOWARDS THE OVERPASS AND FOLLOW THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL WEST BACK TO START

From here you are retracing your steps backward to the start/finish at New Brighton Park.

• RIGHT INTO BACK ALLEY, FOLLOW ONTO BIKE PATH, LEFT AT KENSINGTON AND BACK ALONG SIDEWALK ON HASTINGS TO TRAIL ENTRANCE. FOLLOW TRANS-CANADA BACK TO PENZANCE DRIVE AND GO RIGHT BACK INTO CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP WHERE YOU CAME OUT
• RIGHT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION
• RIGHT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION and down the steep hill with the yellow rope
• LEFT ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS AND LEFT BACK ONTO THE TRAIL WITH THE WOOD PLANKS
• RIGHT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION
• RIGHT AT 4-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION ONTO CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP
• RIGHT AFTER GREEN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK SIGN ON SMALLER TRAIL BACK TO WILLINGDON which comes out by the Blue Chevron Sign
• CONTINUE ACROSS STREET ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL
• FOLLOW BACK TO INTERSECTION WITH TRAIL 'TO BOUNDARY ROAD. GO LEFT ONTO THIS TRAIL
• RIGHT ONTO THE SMALLER TRAIL AND BACK DOWN TO TC TRAIL
• LEFT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL FOLLOW BACK TO NEW BRIGHTON PARK
• We will meet at JJ Bean at Powell Street and Victoria Drive after
• you can view a map of the course here

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 50km Course

Minister of the New Super-Heavy Funk 50K

Please print out the course description and put them into a zip-lock baggie for the event (scroll down for a printer friendly version).

50km Course Description

The first section follows the Trans-Canada Trail east to Confederation Park on wide trail with rolling hills.

• start at New Brighton Park near the playgrounds
• FOLLOW TRANS-CANADA TRAIL EAST under Ironworkers Memorial (Second Narrows) Bridge past CN Rail Turnoff on asphalt path
• RIGHT ONTO SMALLER PATH a few metres after the asphalt path changes to gravel
• LEFT ONTO WIDE GRAVEL PATH and follow it back down to the Trans-Canada Trail
• RIGHT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL follow the trail markers (pay special attention to the green and red striped poles and trail logos on street signs) until the trail goes diagonally through a park and curves to the right alongside Willingdon Avenue

This next section takes you through the nice hilly trails of Confederation Park.

• CONTINUE ACROSS WILLINGDON AVENUE ONTO SMALLER TRAIL approx. 10 metres to the right of a large blue Chevron sign follow this trail along a green fence ignoring any smaller offshoot trail until it comes out to a larger gravel trail
• LEFT ONTO 'CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP'
• LEFT AT 4-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION stay right past a gated area, THEN LEFT PAST A LARGER TRAIL HEADING UPHILL TO THE RIGHT.  You will be on skinny trail which passes a bunch of wood planks.
• RIGHT AT RAILROAD TRACKS WITHOUT CROSSING for a few metres, THEN RIGHT ON A SKINNY TRAIL UP A STEEP HILL WITH A ROPE.
• LEFT AT A 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION
• LEFT AT 3-WAY INTERSECTION ONTO CONFEDERATION PARK LOOP follow this until it takes you out onto Penzance Drive ignoring the 'no trespassing' trails and the large trail on the right

This next section rejoins the Trans-Canada trail heading eastbound with the 25K runners.  

***THIS IS WHERE THE 10K COURSE SPLITS FROM THE 25K AND 50K COURSES***

• LEFT ONTO THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL ALONGSIDE PENZANCE DRIVE staying on the gravel path until you come to a crosswalk with a trailhead across the street
• CONTINUE ON THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL AFTER CROSSING THE STREET AT THE CROSSWALK
• LEFT ON THE SIDEWALK ALONG HASTINGS STREET on the same side until you reach Kensington
• RIGHT ONTO BIKE PATH ACROSS KENSINGTON AVENUE look down Kensington to the left about 15 metres from the corner
• CONTINUE ONTO BACK ALLEY follow the alley until you are forced to turn to the right near some used car dealerships and come out near Hastings and Cliff
• LEFT ALONG HASTINGS THEN IMMEDIATELY LEFT ONTO BIKE PATH UNDER OVERPASS do not cross the overpass follow alongside Cliff Avenue

This next section takes you to Kask Brothers on a mixture of trails and bike paths where you will cross to the Velodrome and Burnaby Mountain's excellent running trails.

• LEFT ONTO SMALL UNMARKED TRAIL WHERE GREEN FENCE PULLS AWAY FROM ROAD shortly after you pass Belcarra Street
• CONTINUE ON BIKE ROUTE ACROSS STREET WHERE follow the Francis/Union bike route for roughly 500m
• LEFT WHERE BIKE PATH SPLITS AWAY FROM ROAD towards a large trail sign
• LEFT ONTO DRUMMOND'S WALK which is a large gravel path
• GO ACROSS BARNET HIGHWAY AT PEDESTRIAN LIGHT where the trail takes you out near Kask Brothers
• CONTINUE UP ROAD TO HARRY JEROME SPORTS CENTRE VELODROME go around the left side of the building and find a couple of paths, take the one along the fence onto the Velodrome trail

This next section takes you on the some of the excellent running trails of Burnaby Mountain around to the Stoney Creek.  These trails are mostly obviously signed. 

• LEFT ONTO VELODROME TRAIL AT TRAIL SIGN there is a sign saying that the trail is closed but there is another shortly after telling you to use at your own risk due to some steep hills with no stairs. Keep this in mind as you proceed and slow down here as the trail is somewhat overgrown. Ropes have been placed where the stairs are going to be put in but I didn't need them. The section is not long so take your time.
• RIGHT ONTO LARGER PANDORA TRAIL at first major intersection
• WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE IT IS EASY TO MISS!!! LEFT ONTO SMALLER UNMARKED NATURE TRAIL, where a tree with the middle cut out lies across the trail and a large tree stands just after the entrance to the trail, it is a small trail so keep your eyes peeled to the left. if you come out to a road you have gone approx 200m too far
• RIGHT ONTO LARGER BURNWOOD TRAIL at a clearing
• LEFT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL THEN TAKE THE SIDE MARKED PEDESTRIAN ignore the path going down and to the right at a rustic bench, keep going up and to the left
• CONTINUE ACROSS CENTENNIAL WAY ON THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL by the info booth.

***THIS IS WHERE THE 25K COURSE SPLITS OFF FROM THE 50K COURSE***

• CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE TRANS-CANADA OUT TO A GREEN FENCE THEN GO RIGHT after this you will be sticking to the left following the trail signs
• RIGHT ONTO SIGNED MEL'S TRAIL where there is a large trail map
• LEFT ONTO GEAR JAMMER a few metres after a turnoff to the right also labelled gear jammer - you should be headed generally downhill
• RIGHT ONTO UPPER CUT
• LEFT ONTO PIPE LINE
• CONTINUE ON PIPE LINE through the intersection with Jim's Jungle and Power Line
• RIGHT ONTO NORTH ROAD TRAIL, CONTINUE TO THE LEFT ON NORTH ROAD TRAIL at intersection with Jim's Jungle and follow it out to North Road

This next section follows the trails alongside the Stoney Creek out to Burnaby Lake.  They are fairly flat, with a mixture of wide gravel paths and single track.

• RIGHT ALONG NORTH ROAD A FEW METRES THEN RIGHT AGAIN ONTO THE URBAN TRAIL back into the same forest you just came out of but on the other side of the creek, which is a wide gravel path
• CONTINUE RIGHT ONTO GRAVEL URBAN TRAIL where trail turns to asphalt and goes under a bridge and which curves off to the left and up to the road
• CONTINUE PAST FOOTBRIDGE TO THE RIGHT WHERE THERE IS A BIG SIGN, THEN AT SECOND FOOTBRIDGE CROSS TO THE RIGHT you will go over a second footbridge and go left alongside creek until the trail leads you to a set of stairs
• CONTINUE STRAIGHT AND UP THE STAIRS cross the road at the crosswalk when safe
• CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON A SMALL GRASSY TRAIL TO THE RIGHT OF THE CREEK follow as long as you can until the river curves in front of it and you see a bridge above you
• LEFT ONTO WIDE GRAVEL URBAN TRAIL AND LEFT AGAIN AT INTERSECTION go under the bridge and follow out to Government Street
• RIGHT ONTO TRAIL SEVERAL METRES TO THE LEFT ACROSS THE STREET to the left of a fenced in area with no trespassing signs
• CONTINUE ACROSS RAIL ROAD TRACKS WHEN SAFE (THIS IS AN ACTIVE RAIL LINE) AND DOWN SKINNY PATH TO THE RIGHT OF THE POWER LINES

This next section follows a mixture of trails and a couple of blocks of road to the turnaround in the Burnaby Lake Park area, then takes you thorugh one of the nicest section of trail in the park.

• RIGHT AT WIDE BRUNETTE HEADWATERS TRAIL continue past turnoff to the right near an RV park
• CONTINUE ONTO PATH ACROSS ROAD AND TO THE RIGHT on the north side of Cariboo Place until it comes out to an intersection
• LEFT ACROSS STREET ON PATH ALONGSIDE CARIBOO ROAD
• RIGHT ONTO AVALON AVENUE
• TURN TO THE RIGHT JUST BEFORE THE PARKING LOT
• RIGHT ON THE TRAIL ALONGSIDE BURNABY LAKE leading towards the Cariboo Dam
• CONTINUE ONTO BRUNETTE HEAD WATERS TRAIL TO THE LEFT ACROSS THE DAM follow this past 2 turnoffs for the Spruce Loop Trail
• RIGHT ONTO CONIFER LOOP TRAIL continue to the left the Spruce Loop trail (do not go right) at the first intersection
• LEFT ONTO BRUNETTE HEADWATERS TRAIL AND STRAIGHT PAST THE CARIBOO DAM ON THE ASPHALT BIKE PATH
• CONTINUE ONTO SKINNY PATH ALONG CARIBOO PLACE WHERE BIKE PATH TAKES YOU OUT TO THE ROAD, THEN CONTINUE ONTO BRUNETTE HEADWATERS TRAIL AND PAST THE RV PARK

This next section takes you back to the Stoney Creek and retraces your steps to Burnaby Mountain where the route differs from the way out.

• LEFT ONTO SKINNIER PATH NEAR THE POWER LINES, ACROSS THE RAIL TRACKS THEN LEFT AT THE FORK IN THE ROAD
• FIND URBAN TRAIL ACROSS ROAD AT GOVERNMENT STREET FOLLOW UNDER BRIDGE
• ***WATCH OUT FOR THIS ONE!!!***  JUST AFTER GOING UNDER BRIDGE TAKE FORK TO THE RIGHT THEN IMMEDIATELY FIND THE TRAIL JUST PAST THE METAL GATES NEAR THE RIVER JUST PAST A BRIDGE OVERHEAD
• PROCEED ONTO THE SKINNY TRAIL AND FOLLOW ALONGSIDE THE STONEY CREEK. CROSS AT CROSSWALK WHERE TRAIL TAKES YOU UP TO ROAD AND GO DOWN THE STAIRS.  FOLLOW THE TRAIL STICKING GENERALLY TO THE RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE CREEK, crossing two footbridges then you will be on the other side of Stoney Creek.
• LEFT ONTO URBAN TRAIL FOLLOW BACK OUT TO NORTH ROAD

This next section takes you through some of Burnaby Mountains other mountain biking trails on mostly single track to Barnet Marine Park.  Again most of these trails have obvious signage.

• LEFT ONTO NORTH ROAD TRAIL
• LEFT ONTO JIM'S JUNGLE at the first intersection
• CONTINUE ON JIM'S JUNGLE across Power Line
• LEFT ON PIPE LINE AT INTERSECTION WITH JJ & POWER LINE
• CONTINUE ON PIPE LINE past Lower Snake
• RIGHT ONTO NICOLE'S TRAIL
• RIGHT ONTO MEL'S TRAIL
• RIGHT ONTO GEAR JAMMER (SAME TURN YOU TOOK ON THE WAY OUT)
• CONTINUE TO THE LEFT ON GEAR JAMMER AT UPPER CUT TURNOFF
• LEFT ON FUNCTION JUNCTION, follow it slightly to the right across Power Line
• LEFT AT FIRST TRAIL (NORTH ROAD TRAIL BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S MARKED HERE) continue past a turn off to the right until a T-intersection, go right there
• LEFT ONTO DEAD MOPED past a bike park, take the trail the cuts away from the chain link fence at the fork
• RIGHT ONTO TRANS-CANADA TRAIL and downhill towards the Indian Arm
• LEFT ONTO COUGAR CREEK TRAIL at sign, CONTINUE ONTO BARNET TRAIL
• RIGHT ONTO HANG YOUR HAT
• RIGHT ONTO ELEPHANT RIDGE LOOP, follow this back out to Hang Your Hat and GO RIGHT
• RIGHT ONTO BARNET TRAIL under the power lines past the bike park

This next section takes you thorugh Barnet Marine Park and up to Kask Brothers from where you will retrace your steps to the start/finish at New Brighton Park.

• CROSS BARNET HIGHWAY AT THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHT where trail comes out to road
• CONTINUE AHEAD AND SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT across the street over the overpass crossing the rail lines
• LEFT PAST THE WASHROOMS, THEN LEFT ALONG THE TRAIL CLOSEST TO THE BEACH towards the off-leash dog park
• RIGHT ONTO DRUMMOND'S WALK BEFORE CROSSING THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS when the path goes alongside a green fence, watch for the fence to end
• LEFT ONTO SMALL TRAIL at the end of the green fence where there is a clearing with a bench along the shore, heading up towards the railroad tracks
• THIS IS AN ACTIVE RAIL LINE but you will be able to hear the bells from the crossing in the park if their is a train coming.  Please make sure to use your eyes and your ears.  When it is safe cross the tracks and find a trail to the left about 15 metres towards a power shack between two posts
• RIGHT ONTO THIS STEEP SKINNY TRAIL following it to the left where there is a retaining wall

You are now back at Kask Brothers and will follow in reverse the same route you got here on to New Brighton Park.

• RIGHT ONTO THE DRUMMOND WALK and right onto the bike route to Cliff Avenue
• CONTINUE STRAIGHT ONTO THE SMALL overgrown path near the route posts on Cliff you took to get here and take path back out to Cliff Avenue
• CONTINUE ALONG CLIFF AVENUE underneath the overpass on Hastings
• RIGHT INTO THE BACK ALLEY, FOLLOW IT TO THE LEFT TO THE BIKE PATH, BACK OUT TO KENSINGTON, THEN THE SIDEWALK TO THE TRAIL ENTRANCE ON HASTINGS AND FOLLOW THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL BACK TO PENZANCE DRIVE cross street and go right onto the trail and back through Confederation Park in reverse
• RIGHT AT 3-WAY TRAIL INTERSECTION THEN RIGHT AND BACK DOWN THE HILL WITH ROPE, FOLLOW THAT TRAIL BACK UP TO THE 4-WAY INTERSECTION AND GO RIGHT
• RIGHT AFTER GREEN OFF-LEASH DOG PARK SIGN ONTO TRAIL BACK OUT TO WILLINGDON AVENUE
• CONTINUE ON TRANS-CANADA TRAIL BACK TO SIGN FOR TRAIL SAYING 'TO BOUNDARY ROAD'. TAKE THIS TRAIL ON THE LEFT
• RIGHT ONTO TRAIL BACK DOWN TO TRANS-CANADA at the top of the hill
• LEFT BACK ONTO THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL
• CONTINUE ON THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL back to the start in New Brighton Park
• We will meet at JJ Bean at Powell Street and Victoria Drive after.

for best results view as 'hybrid' map

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2013

 2013 - 5 Starters

Report:  Good if not small run this morning. Frank Wimberly ran to and from the start plus our 10+k (more like 12 probably since we had a detour). We all ran together and with stops and detours etc. we all finished together in 1:23. 

Photos: If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2013 MuthasNatureTrailRun ClubFatAssEvents  ClubFatAssEvents2013.  

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Results:
 

** Event Host Points
* Good Sportsmanship Point

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2012

7 October 2012 - 5 Starters

Report:  This run has always been blessed with great weather nearly every year, and this year was certainly no exception.

While many others were no doubt away at the Victoria Marathon, a small but hardy group of Fat Asses met under the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver for Mutha's Nature Trail run.

On this beautiful sunny morning we set off just after 9:00 AM. Sibylle was running the 10 km and with two final projects due for school the next day and two final exams coming up the weekend after and work every day in between I had the same intention.

After snapping some starter pictures we started our loop through the park and out onto the Trans-Canada Trail. Sibylle peeled off at the first sign of a washroom, and the four of us continued on. Realising I was the only one who knew the course, and blessed with such beautfiful weather I couldn't help but switch back to the 25 km.

The run was relatively uneventful until we came out to Hastings street where the police has conveniently blocked off all the intersecting side roads along our course! What treatment for such a humble little run. When we arrived at Kask Brothers on the Barnet Highway the real reason for this treatment appeared; a neverending stream of motorcycles participating in the Toy Run from Coquitlam to Downtown Vancouver.

Robert and I managed to dash across in a gap through the motorcycles while Andy and Jeff held back briefly, then there wasn't another gap for some time so we waited while they considered how big of a gap they had to wait for before they went dashing through the chain of motornikes.

Eventually they made it across and we continued on to the Velodrome Trail which has been restored and is now completely clear in comparison to the early days of this run when it was quite grown in and the slopes which have now had staircases installed have degraded.

After a grunt up Burnaby Mountain we were treated to some beautiful views of the city of Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains before heading down to the Trans-Canada Trail again and back to the start. Andy departed us on the way back to pick his kid up from a pool, while the rest continued back to the parking at the start.

This was the last run on this course, it used to be a favourite training run when I lived in East Vancouver. When I started it I had envisioned a much different run over to the North Shore and then up to Elsay Lake via a little known route although the course would have been quite long. Now I live right where I intended to go go up to Mount Seymour and know of a secret parking lot and know the route a lot better. It will be around the same time of year, although I will probably put on a weekend other than Victoria Marathon Weekend.

Other impressions:
The good:  

• sparkling sunshine and bright autumn foliage,
• runable trails and splendid views of the north shore moutains and Burrard Inlet
• intense smell of ripe plums on part of the trails, no plum tree in sight

The bad:

• Haven't seen that much dog poop on the trails in a long time...
• lots of "pod babies" plugged in, but tuned out, stomping past without a reciprocal "good morning"
• refinery stink wafting through the first part of the trail

Photos: If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2012 MuthasNatureTrailRun ClubFatAssEvents  ClubFatAssEvents2012.  All photos will automatically appear in a slideshow posted here after the event:

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2011

2 October 2011 - 7 Starters

Report: As always, the weather gods shined down on the spirit of the Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite, James Brown.  RIP.  OK maybe not on him, but a trail run participated in a small but eager group of Fat Asses; which is named after his album Mutha's Nature, which aside from being one of his funkiest, also has a record cover which almost seems to be almost be a picture of his head superimposed on this course.  

For some reason this run always seems to be a great way to capture the last of the fall rays before the ten months of rain begin.  Eleven this year.  Not quite warm enough to get some sun on your balls at Wreck Beach, but not cold enough to go into hibernation just yet.

We had the pleasure of both Sibylle Tinsel, our club matriarch, and Ean "Somebody's Great-Great-Grandfather" Jackson, our club patriarch.  Usually eager to slug it out was Rachel Fouladi, although today she was eager to enjoy some beverages at her UniverCity condo instead after downgrading to the 10K.  We also had Jay Jardine and Kim Taylor doing the 10K, and Adrian Powell. who was the only person to take on the 50K.

I elected partway through the run to do the 25K.  I had threatened my coach with 50K at track but wisened up increasingly.  I really didn't see anyone out there after I passed Sibylle who cut through the park to take care of some business until I passed Adrian who was going up Pandora's Trail when I was coming down.

Back on the Trans-Canada Trail I ran into Chris Downey, fresh off a 2nd place finish at the Pine to Palm 100 miler in Oregon. I ended up talking to him for about 20 minutes, then coasted in to finish in 2:30 on the button.  2:10 of running with a break near the end, I'm sure coach John Hill won't think I went too hard at least!  Oh well Victoria Half next weekend I'll be good and rested.

All in all beautiful weather and some good people for a casual run on some easy trails.

Photos: If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2011 MuthasNatureTrailRun ClubFatAssEvents  ClubFatAssEvents2011.  All photos will automatically appear in a slideshow posted here after the event:

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2010

3 October 2010 - 11 Starters

Report: This year's running of Mutha's Nature saw overcast conditions, but luckily despite there being not a sky in the cloud, the rain held off.  Perfect running conditions, especially at these low elevations, while for those who skipped it to go bagging, not so much.  A good day for a 'shit-bag' I guesss though.

Unfortunately life happened, and aside from working until 3 in the morning the previous night, I had to go move some large heavy stuff immediately afterwards, so I had to switch from the 50 k to the 10k, and draw prizes were given away at the start.  Turned out my ankle was giving me some grief so doing the shorter course was not a bad idea after all as it was pretty sore after as it is.

Everyone started off together in the short run through New Brighton Park, and out through the tunnel to the Trans-Canada Trail.  Shortly after that people began to settle into their pace and broke off into small groups.  I had stopped at my car and came up from behind.

On the way past I talked to Reagan, who was out for his second Mutha's Nature after completing the 10K last year as his first Club Fat Ass Event after he had just recently started running.  Turns out this year he was doing the 25K, maybe by next year we'll have officially turned the poor guy into an ultra runner!

I pulled ahead, and Eric settled in behind.  We headed under the Second Narrows Bridge together and then up the side trail that adds a bit of elevation and a tiny bit of extra singletrack into the course.  As we came down the other side, a group of four runners lead by Sibylle came up from behind.  I guess they had missed the turn, naughty, naughty, fat-asses!  Oh well, it is a bit unnecessary anyway, maybe next year I will remove it to simplify things a bit.

Anyway we continued along the Trans-Canada Trail, and shortly after I lost everyone.  When I got to Confederation Park, I was suprised to see that one of the sketchy downhills I had worked so hard to put into the course was sporting a new staircase.  I ran through the lower loop, and along the railroad track and back up, and when I arrived at the intersection, I could see a large group of runners looking at the staircase quite puzzled.  Sorry guys, news to me too!  It doesn't look nearly as much like a sketchy hill when its got a fancy brand new staircase I know.

At the top of the Confederation Park Loop was where my turnaround was, but I was pleased to see so many 25K runners.  The run back was uneventful but fast, the out section is flat to uphill, and the back section is flat to downhill so you can really get going if you still have some juice left.

I arrived back at Confederation Park after 46 minutes of running, and Sibylle was waiting there.  She had turned back after 20 minutes because she was nursing an injury.  We shared ankle injury stories and waited to see if any of the 10K runners would show up.  Unfortunately time started ticking by too close to when I had to be on my way to Surrey, and we both had to leave before anyone got back. 

Anyway, sorry to all participants I was not able to stick around after, but I have recently moved from a house into a 1 bedroom condo, and a friend who is letting me store some outside stuff at a property they own was available only at that time to load the stuff there as they work days and I am in the middle of 10 late night shifts straight.

I hope all had a good time, and if there are any comments/concerns about the course directions (especially if you notice anything that is unclear or unnecessary) please let me know.  When I created the course it was an attempt to run through a part of town where there are very few trails, on trails as much as possible.  So there are many short stretches of varying terrain and it is hard to make sure there is enough info to follow the course, but at the same time so that the directions are not 10 pages long.

Photos: If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2010 MuthasNatureTrailRun ClubFatAssEvents  ClubFatAssEvents2010.  All photos will automatically appear in a slideshow below:

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Results: coming soon

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2008

The first running of the Mutha's Nature Trails is wrapped up. Please find below results and event report. Make sure to email any missing times/names to Ryan or Sibylle.

Despite forecasts of rain, there were clouds blanketing the whole sky but only a very light mist of rain for the prelimenary running of Mutha's Nature.

We had 2 runners show up for the 50K and 4 for the 25K, which was not too bad considering there were at least 3 local trail races and a couple of road races that weekend.

After a quick briefing with me trying my best to describe the course a bit to help simplify the instructions and we were off. Mark and I were planning on doing the 50K and we set out at a slow pace so that the others could follow our lead at least out of the park. Behind us, Killaine and Allison ran together, with Amy and Kim behind them. Once we turned off the Trans-Canada and up a hill we pulled away and that was the last we saw of the 25K runners. We ran a fairly good pace through the first 10K until we slowed right down at the Velodrome trail. Even though it wasn't really raining the overgrown trail soaked us to the bone from all the water on the leaves. The last couple weeks seem to have allowed the bushes to encroach further onto the trail although thankfully they weren't thorn bushes (the trail along Cliff Avenue was overgrown with thorn bushes but I got out and trimmed them back before the run).

I began to have some pain in my foot and leg which were tightening up at this point and began to slow down especially on the climbs. When we reached the top of Burnaby Mountain near the park there were beautiful views which were added to but also obscured by a light fog. Amy and Kim had cut off a couple km up here so they could get home a bit early, while Killaine and Allison came up to the intended turnoff up here before heading back towards the start.

The east side of the mountain was a blast with long downhills and some technical trails and then we arrived at North Road and the trail along Stoney Creek. By now my foot was starting to pinch and burn and I was starting to think that it wasn't such a good idea for me to finish the run. When we arrived at Burnaby Lake I asked Mark if we could stop for a couple minutes and I tried to stretch it out. We ran the short loop at Burnaby Lake and turned around to go back, but my leg just wasn't having any of it so I told Mark to go ahead and I was going to get to the Sky Train and then ride my bike back to get my car. It was at 27.2 K where I dropped out.

Mark pressed on ahead and without me limping along slowing him down he picked it back up to post an impressive finish of 5:05.

When I arrived back at the car on my bike later that afternoon I was suprised to find that the signup sheet was gone from under my car. I guess someone couldn't resist getting their hands on the well used bic pen. Goes to show that people will steal anything in East Van.

If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2008 MuthasNatureTrailRun and ClubFatAssEvents.

Please also take a moment and give us your feedback here.

Results

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Mutha's Nature Trail Run - 2009

20 September 2009 - 5 Starters, 5 Finishers + the Red Bull gals

Report: It was a beautiful day for a run this morning but with a small turnout on an action packed weekend.  We changed the date from last year to avoid a contact with Gottfried's apparently totally stunning Frosty Mountain 50K.  Unfortunately it ended up being the day before, along with the Buntzen Lake 5 Peaks event.  Add the Grouse Grind Mountain Run and there were a small but enthusiastic group of runners.  Only Craig actually took up my advice to run this as a way to recover from Frosty, but apparently it actually worked quite well for him.  Seriously this is an easy course, but interesting for any level of runner with great views of the Indian Arm from 'the other side of the tracks'.

At the start line we had the Red Bull Girls show up, with some ice cold Red Bull and for a photo op.  They said they might actually join us for a run sometime and one took this picture while the other one joined us (far left).  Then they left and we started our run.  Ean and I pulled away pretty quickly chatting about possible ideas for future runs, including some of our more isolated local trails and an idea for a forage run where we run to collect food such as a sweet potato like vegetable called wapato that was a staple of the Coast Salish and many other native people, mushrooms ect... and cook it up after.

Reagan (on his first organised run ever) had run the course a few times preparing for the event and led Craig and Sibylle to a steady pace not far behind us.   Clear skies and a warm autumn morning greeted us as we entered the trail section of the Trans Canada Trail.  We passed many people out for walks with their dogs enjoying the beautiful day. 

My favourite section of the 10K course is the section heading into Confederation Park, a nice rocky little piece of single track.  Shortly after turning onto Confederation Park Loop, we see a big barrier at the next intersection where we are supposed to go left.  It had warnings on it but someone also drew a little picture on it that said 'why?' turns out there was a piece of the staircase missing but we were just running beside it anyway.

We barely made it up the short, steep, slippery section and it wasn't even that wet.  Reagan commented on that afterwards then mentioned how cruel I was when I told him that the 25 and 50K courses also go back down that little hill.  As long as you don't want to stop until the bottom it is OK though.  If you want to stop, then you're pretty much screwed to sliding down on your butt.

There is a decent climb out to Penzance Drive where the trail is beside the road for a short stretch back to the park entrance, then we started our return leg.  It was pretty uneventful until we got close to the finish and I had to stop and think for a second which was the right turn.  Ean bugged me that the event host had almost taken him off course.  After 50 minutes we were back at New Brighton Park.  Not long after we saw Sibylle steaming in with Reagan keeping up and Craig falling just a few metres behind on his tired legs.

We headed to JJ Bean of Powell and Victoria for coffee and muffins where Reagan cleaned up in draw prizes, since only him and Craig were eligible to win any.  He walked away with a Trail Runner Magazine subscription, a Nalgene Water Bottle, a Devinci/Jim Beam shirt and some running socks.  Craig walked away with a 3 pack of technical socks and could have won the other Trail Runner subscription but had just won one recently.

Anyway next year we will try to find a quieter weekend, this course would be fine for a rainy day or even when there is snow up higher but is still quite enjoyable.  Hopefully we see more of you out next year!

Photos: If you have photos of the day, upload them to the Flickr CFA group, tag them with MuthasNatureTrailRun2009 MuthasNatureTrailRun ClubFatAssEvents and ClubFatAssEvents2009.  All photos will automatically appear in this slideshow.

Please also take a moment and give us your feedback here.

Results:

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