Report: The Burnaby Mountain Run faced a few challenges even before we hit the trails this year. We were "competing" against the popular Diez Vista Trail Run and the event host, Tara, called in sick. Not discouraged, a group of 8 had signed up to hit the trails and test their winter training on a challenging hilly course.
I had taken over the Event Host duties, and after dropping Jackson off to run from the Second Narrows Bridge along the Trans Canada Trail to the start, was looking forward to "stretching with a view" before everybody arrived. No such luck as new member and keener, Mark, showed up just as I crawled out of the car.
The skies were steel gray and the temperatures cooler than expected as we huddled behind the car and chit chatted about the course, greeted the runners slowly arriving. Jackson and Eric made it up the hill on foot just in time for the starter photo.
We took off precisely at 9:00am. I was the token girl and after new member Mathew had dealt with his malfunctioning tech gear and collecting some garbage on the trail, I quickly found myself in last place and alone.
The course starts on a single track winding it's way steeply down the side of Burnaby Mountain to a residential neighborhood. The air was fragrant with pleasant spring blossoms until we passed by a cluster of Stink Cabbage. Oh, the joys of spring . One of the characteristics of the Burnaby Mountain Run are the breathtaking views of Indian Arm and the North Shore Mountains while descending to the ocean. Finally down on the shore, the course follows a flat gravel path before heading south across the train tracks and Barnett Highway and continuing on a stretch know as "Roller Coaster". For several kilometers brief, steep climbs follow, steep, brief downhills...until hitting Cardiac Hill.
Huffing and puffing up this infamous trail, I was surprised to see a mountain biker actually cycling up there. With an eagle circling overhead, I finally reached the the top, or rather the part of the course where the trail skirts the parallel to the slope, still mostly ascending, but at a gentler grade.
Descending on the final few hundred meters of trail, city views open up, before the finish line at the Horizon Restaurant comes into sight. The group of 11.2km runners was waiting for me, and we decided to continue the chit chatting and waiting for Jim and Mark, who had set out for a second loop, at the Cafe Artigiano on Hastings Street a few minutes drive away.
Thanks to Trail Runner Magazine, Mathew and Ean walked away with a 1 year long gift subscription. Mathew was still sipping coffee and waiting for Mark and Jim when we finally said our good-byes.
Your Chief Executive Fat Ass and substitute Event Host
Sibylle
Please feel free to add your comments/feedback via the comment link below. Please also take a moment to fill out this brief post event survey.
Photos: A slide show of event photos is posted below. Please post your own photos to Flickr, add them to the CFA Flickr group and tag with BurnabyMountainRun2011 BurnabyMountainRun ClubFatassEvents ClubFatAssEvents2011 ClubFatAss. They will automatically appear in the slideshow below:
Results: Please let me know if there are mistakes and email me if your times are missing.
Submitted by Ean Jackson on 10 April, 2011 - 09:40.
The threat of not being able to claim club points if I didn't arrive for the official start at 9:00 saw me bust a lung on my warm-up run, but thankfully, I arrived at 4 minutes to nine and had the opportunity to catch my breath before the starter photo. New guy Matthew was curious about my hydration pack, but declined to try it out when informed that he's have to carry Piggy if he did.
'Managed to keep up with Swad on the steep downhill to the Barnett Highway and keep the fast dudes in sight until they no longer needed me for directions. Saw my first stink cabbage in a little swampy area near the ocean. (Note: to me, the appearance of stink cabbage means that spring has really sprung and that it's OK to pack the gloves and heavy weather gear away.)
Reagan shared his impressions of his first ultra (Chuckanut) with Mathew and me and our little group weighted the benefits of training in the sun and heat against the cool and wet as we ran/walked up the steep return leg to Simon Fraser University. While there wasn't much of it, we all found at least a couple pieces of trash along the trail which we stuffed into pockets until we found a garbage can at the top of the hill.
Views from the finish of Indian Arm and points east were stunning. We waved to several friends who, off near the horizon, were running 50K in the Diez Vista race and spoke of the various bagger peaks up the Arm from Mount Seymour.
After the run, we regrouped at a coffee shop, where Matthew (a coffee professional) shared some hints and tips on how to appreciate a fine grind. There was some innuendo about Mathew hosting a Run for the Coffee some day when he becomes more familiar with Vancouver. Never did see Mark and Swad, so hope their run was a good as ours was.
. One of the characteristics of the Burnaby Mountain Run are the breathtaking views of Indian Arm and the North Shore Mountains while descending to the ocean. Finally down on the shore, the course follows a flat gravel path before heading south across the train tracks and Barnett Highway and continuing on a stretch know as "Roller Coaster". For several kilometers brief, steep climbs follow, steep, brief downhills...until hitting Cardiac Hill. 
Comments
Fun Run - Saw My First Stink Cabbage of the Year
The threat of not being able to claim club points if I didn't arrive for the official start at 9:00 saw me bust a lung on my warm-up run, but thankfully, I arrived at 4 minutes to nine and had the opportunity to catch my breath before the starter photo. New guy Matthew was curious about my hydration pack, but declined to try it out when informed that he's have to carry Piggy if he did.
'Managed to keep up with Swad on the steep downhill to the Barnett Highway and keep the fast dudes in sight until they no longer needed me for directions. Saw my first stink cabbage in a little swampy area near the ocean. (Note: to me, the appearance of stink cabbage means that spring has really sprung and that it's OK to pack the gloves and heavy weather gear away.)
Reagan shared his impressions of his first ultra (Chuckanut) with Mathew and me and our little group weighted the benefits of training in the sun and heat against the cool and wet as we ran/walked up the steep return leg to Simon Fraser University. While there wasn't much of it, we all found at least a couple pieces of trash along the trail which we stuffed into pockets until we found a garbage can at the top of the hill.
Views from the finish of Indian Arm and points east were stunning. We waved to several friends who, off near the horizon, were running 50K in the Diez Vista race and spoke of the various bagger peaks up the Arm from Mount Seymour.
After the run, we regrouped at a coffee shop, where Matthew (a coffee professional) shared some hints and tips on how to appreciate a fine grind. There was some innuendo about Mathew hosting a Run for the Coffee some day when he becomes more familiar with Vancouver. Never did see Mark and Swad, so hope their run was a good as ours was.
Thanks Tara and Sibylle for a great run!