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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Looks like a good time was had by all. Still waiting for the times from all the girls - hope they didn't get lost in the wilds of Burnaby ;-)
I did a custom 20min out and 20min back. Ankle was not up for more. Swear I didn't do some of the twists and turns that Reagan led us on on the way out and that I remember from last year, but ended up back under the bridge and on the TCT.
Submitted by rosielarose on 3 October, 2010 - 17:18.
Put me down for 3:21 (including the wait for the toy ride by the velodrome, now that was incredible!). I'm quite sure I figured out 25k and then some.
Staying on track was a real team effort today. I am very grateful for the good company I had today keeping me on the right path. I had some good laughs, and I earned my couch time this afternoon doing it.
An enjoyable day on the trails. And for me a good introduction to the trails on the north side of Burnaby Mountain - seems like I saw them all. My (lack of) navigational skills - or more accurately ability to follow instructions - was well tested and as usual came up short. Eric: I'm sorry about that extra 3k out-and-back. Next time you'll know not to follow me so trustingly. And I had a significant blackberry incident when I couldn't find the "steep skinny trail" up from the railway tracks in Barnet Marine park. I was spooked by a train roaring past just after I had crossed the tracks and had to bush-bash through some ugly stuff. All in all a good day.
But where were all the Fat Asses. It was lonely out there after the first 15k. Thank goodness this bagging frenzy will end soon and we will see you all in the "real" runs.
Thanks Ryan, and put me down as 6:35 for 53.8k. I guess that makes it a custom, but I defy anyone to follow those trails exactly per spec.
Submitted by Eric Rannaud on 3 October, 2010 - 17:29.
Thanks Jim for pacing me during the common stretch up to the top of Burnaby mountain, I couldn't help but slow down after that. Of course, Jim was the one running 50k. I was running only 25.
No worries regarding the little detour: I read that sign just like you did and happily went off-track without an afterthought.
Thanks Ryan for the event, it was great. The treacherous wood stairs in Confederation Park, up from the train tracks on the way back completely killed my legs. Well done! :) Eric.
Comments
Looks like a good time was
Looks like a good time was had by all. Still waiting for the times from all the girls - hope they didn't get lost in the wilds of Burnaby ;-)
I did a custom 20min out and 20min back. Ankle was not up for more. Swear I didn't do some of the twists and turns that Reagan led us on on the way out and that I remember from last year, but ended up back under the bridge and on the TCT.
Thanks!
Put me down for 3:21 (including the wait for the toy ride by the velodrome, now that was incredible!). I'm quite sure I figured out 25k and then some.
Staying on track was a real team effort today. I am very grateful for the good company I had today keeping me on the right path. I had some good laughs, and I earned my couch time this afternoon doing it.
Chris.
Thanks
An enjoyable day on the trails. And for me a good introduction to the trails on the north side of Burnaby Mountain - seems like I saw them all. My (lack of) navigational skills - or more accurately ability to follow instructions - was well tested and as usual came up short. Eric: I'm sorry about that extra 3k out-and-back. Next time you'll know not to follow me so trustingly. And I had a significant blackberry incident when I couldn't find the "steep skinny trail" up from the railway tracks in Barnet Marine park. I was spooked by a train roaring past just after I had crossed the tracks and had to bush-bash through some ugly stuff. All in all a good day.
But where were all the Fat Asses. It was lonely out there after the first 15k. Thank goodness this bagging frenzy will end soon and we will see you all in the "real" runs.
Thanks Ryan, and put me down as 6:35 for 53.8k. I guess that makes it a custom, but I defy anyone to follow those trails exactly per spec.
jim
PS my gps track is at http://connect.garmin.com/activity/51617358
A curious case of reverse pacing
Thanks Jim for pacing me during the common stretch up to the top of Burnaby mountain, I couldn't help but slow down after that. Of course, Jim was the one running 50k. I was running only 25.
No worries regarding the little detour: I read that sign just like you did and happily went off-track without an afterthought.
Thanks Ryan for the event, it was great. The treacherous wood stairs in Confederation Park, up from the train tracks on the way back completely killed my legs. Well done! :) Eric.