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.

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