The Big Picture
"Pure Satisfaction" was born in 2003. This trail run has been designed to challenge elite athletes who enjoy running long distances on technical trails as well as aspiring trail runners who want to play in the outdoors.
Why sit on the couch or lie in bed when you can be making valuable space for more seasonal food and drink? Impress your friends with your fitness tenacity and feel the pure satisfaction of logging those miles in mid December on a great trail!
Pure Satisfaction is held on the gentlest section of the Baden Powell trail in the north shore mountains above Vancouver. The Baden Powell Trail is one of the most popular and challenging trails in the greater Vancouver area and home to the infamous Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run. But make no mistake, gentle or not, this route is rocky, rooty, hilly, and slippery at the best of times. It is your responsibility to be well prepared for cold and wet weather and to stick with people that know the route well.
Route
Pure Satisfaction has been designed to test your running skills on a fairly technical course. Conditions on race day could amplify the difficulty of the route. Participants should be confident in their uphill and downhill running abilities on rocky, rooty, muddy trails.
For those of you familiar with the Knee Knackering North Shore Trail Run, you’ll get to see this last leg of the route with relatively fresh legs. It is picturesque with rolling sections of ups and downs. If you’ve not done this run before, you’re in for a treat.
The Differences
This event follows the guidelines provided by Club Fat Ass for safe and successful, informal endurance sports "parties":
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It is free for Club members
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It is hosted by a Club member
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It is small and informal.
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Guests should come well prepared for cold and wet weather and the challenging terrain and not expect aid or course marking. They should expect to follow detailed written course instructions
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Make sure to bring good trail shoes, gloves, hats, layers of clothing, and money (credit card and cash) for emergencies.
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It is environmentally friendly. We aim to leave our route in better shape than it was before we passed though. Extra points are given for picking up garbage.
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It is as much about the camaraderie as the competition.
Guests at the event download from the Internet directions based on natural and physical landmarks. As with orienteering, those who aren't familiar with the course will pause frequently to consult the written directions, giving a slight competitive advantage to those who have trained on it. Course directions are available year 'round on the agenda page of this website and we encourage everyone to enjoy the route as often as they please throughout the year.
Detailed questions and clarifications specific to this event are provided in the Pure Satisfaction FAQ.
