2009 - Year 7 - Capilano Canyon Mardigras Night Run

As I was greeting runners at the start last night, it occurred to me that the MardiGras Night Run had grown up.

Why’s that, you ask?  No, not so much that it’s been an annual cult gathering for 7 years running.  Not because the event now attracts more than a handful of nutcases with headlamps.  Not because there were now starters from as far away as Singapore or Switzerland, either.  No… what impressed me the most as I stood in the parking lot checking folks in was that our little event boasted two portable toilets next to the start line… just like a “real” race!

This year, starters were blessed with clear skies, temperatures just below freezing and perfect winter night running conditions.  It was great to welcome friends and veteran Capilano Canyon night runners, but I was especially surprised to see so many keen first time night runners.  Are we at the forefront of  a new running trend?

Roxy the Ultradog howled with excitement as we took the obligatory starter photo, separated into short and long-course groups and headed off into the night.

The massive dump of snow around Christmas had melted away except for a couple of spots in the deepest, darkest corners of Capilano Canyon.  We had to jump the occasional tree branch or duck under a blown-down pine, but generally the course was clear of significant obstacles.  Brendan surprised everyone with an aid station in the middle of Capilano Canyon.  Bryce and Ron hosted Aid Station Adams and requested that all passing runners complete a hop-scotch obstacle course after filling up on potato chips and chocolate cookies.

Out for a romantic interlude next to the moonlit Capilano River, a couple must have wondered when they’d be able to get on with it, as wave after wave of night runners passed with bright headlamps and loud trail talk.   No bears were spotted as we made our way down the dark trails, and the skunk that welcomed us at Aid Station Adams last year didn’t show up again.  We did smell him, though (or so it seemed), as we passed a gathering of teens on Bowser Trail who were interrupted as they passed around the peace pipe.

Adrian, who sported spanking new, fire engine red runners, commented at the finish that he didn’t step in a single mud hole on the entire 17km long course.  A new course record!  In my own cruel way, I had hoped that someone on the long course would slide off one of the slippery logs into Mackay Creek.  Maybe next year?

As always, the second leg of the MardiGras night run at the Lonsdale Rec Center pool was a blast.  There were no wrassles on the hanging ladder and no games of murderball, as in past years, but most runners enjoyed the water slide, the sauna and the hot tub.  Several compared injuries from poolside.

The MardiGras theme continued at the party with crab jambalaya, eggplant casserole, fresh gingersnap cookies, diet-busting double chocolate cake and a host of other delicacies.  Thanks to everyone for making it a fine potluck.

Thanks to Kintec, Kinesys and Trailrunner, there were prizes for the farthest travelled, best surprise aid station, first night run and best boo-boo.  Leading up to the announcement of the Survive Outside seminar later this week, Baldwin and others shared their adventures about getting into trouble while on the trails.

Doug Keir shared his experience of finding an airplane crash site while bushwacking one day and the next thing you knew, we had all of the elements of a new Club Flash event… this one along the north shore mountains to at least 3 airplane crash sites that Club Fat Ass members had either found or stumbled across while out on trail runs! 

By the time the booze ran out and the party cooincidentally ended around 2:00 am, we had solved most of world’s problems… not a bad outcome for a little night run!

We look forward to seeing you in August for the Midsummer Night Dream version of the Capilano Canyon Night Run. Until then, happy night running.

Your hosts
Sibylle and Ean

Special Mention:

Kudos to Carlos the Jackal who ran to the start from Victoria, BC, completed the night run, the pool party and the potluck party.  He bunked the night and, hoping to get an early start on his run home, got up before the rest of the household.  Call it force of habit, we put the alarm on before hitting the sack, but forgot to tell Carlos.  The whole neighborhood awoke to the sound of a wailing alarm.  Dho... Sorry, bro!

Check out Carlos' video here:



Lost and found:

• veteran summer night runner Terry Lewis.  Terry didn’t clue into the warnings about different start/finish for the summer and winter versions of this event.  I received his sorrowful voice mail message about not being able to find the start soon after being woken by the burglar alarm this morning
• Adrian Rothwell, who made the start, got to the pool, found the beer store, but didn't find the party last night.  Missed you, bro.  'Wanted to check those red runners for traces of mud
• John Machray, who neglected to give the cap on his oil pan one last ½ turn and ended up blowing oil all over his driveway minutes before the start. Missed the run. Missed the pool.  Found the party and closed it down sometime after 2:00am
• 1 laptop bag. Brendan, I think it’s yours

Photos of the event can be uploaded to Flickr, added to the CFA Flickr group and tagged with CapilanoCanyonNightRunMardigras, CapilanoCanyonNightRunMardigras2009 CapilanoCanyonNightRun and ClubFatAssEvents. They will automatically be added to this slideshow.

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Results: Preliminary results are posted below. Please email us your missing times, mispelled names etc.

*     Bonus Point for garbage collection
**   Event Host Point
*** membership status